Williamsburg

Flickr/bondidwhat

Known in the past as a haven for hipsters, Williamsburg now has a peaceful combination of old-timers, families and the young and single crowd. It meshes modest frame houses with high-modern condos, and has some of the borough’s most ambitious development projects; its waterfront was recently rezoned, allowing condo and apartment complexes, along with recreational facilities, to rise there.

The nightlife is not to be underestimated: restaurants, bars, music venues, and a brand new art cinema are just a few of the cultural treasures to be found. But there are also plenty of quiet streets with children playing and businesses catering to families. Serviced by the L and J/M/Z lines along with water taxi service, the neighborhood is just one subway stop from Manhattan. It also has a very popular park, McCarren, and a newly refurbished Olympic-sized swimming pool.