Maybe it’s the abundance of specialty shops or hipster fashion. Maybe it’s the proliferation of dual-language schools or the “European” feel of some Brooklyn neighborhoods. Whatever it is, Brooklyn has been Frenchified. So, cancel that trip to Paris or summer break in Nice. Brooklynites can get the French experience without ever leaving the borough.

Read on for where to eat, drink, and feel French. 

Where to Eat

Bien Cuit (Cobble Hill & Prospect Heights) 120 Smith St. and 721 Franklin Ave.

Bien Cuit smells like France. Or, more precisely, like flakes of buttery bread. The second you bite into one of their baguettes—crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside—or taste the melt-in-your-mouth layers of an almond chocolate croissant, you will understand why owner Zachary Golper has been nominated by the James Beard Foundation five times for a Best Baker award.

Le French Tart Deli storefront. (306 Court St.) Photo courtesy Emelie Murphy

Le French Tart Deli (Cobble Hill) 306 Court St.

Le French Tart Deli opened in early 2020 by Laurent Chavenet, founder of Le French Tart bakery in Park Slope. The eatery is a French twist on a New York deli (or épicerie fine, if you want to feel fancy). Serving  croissants and macarons alongside saucisson, foie gras and raclette imported from France, there is hardly a place more français than this. 

Le Garage (Bushwick) 157 Suydam St.

There is no better place to try a classic French dish than Le Garage. The brainchild of Normandy-native Catherine Allswang and her daughter, Rachel, Le Garage serves up all-you-can-eat mussels, buckwheat crepes and wild mushroom bourguignon, among many other delicious specialties.

Kombit Restaurant (Prospect Heights) 279 Flatbush Ave.

Brooklyn has the largest concentration of Haitian-Americans in the city, and the third largest in the country, according to the think tank, Migration Policy Institute. It’s no surprise, then, that the borough also has a number of delicious Haitian restaurants, with Kombit being top of the list. Don’t miss out on the griot, braised and fried pork shoulder, and be sure to round out the meal with a side of fried plantains. 

Simple Cafe storefront. (346 Bedford Ave.) Photo from Simple Cafe Facebook

Simple Cafe (Williamsburg) 346 Bedford Ave.

The French diaspora is huge and includes many countries outside of Europe. Some of the best French food is actually a fusion of cultures, like at Simple Café. Owned by chef Samia Behaya, Simple combines influences from her Algerian heritage as well as her home country of France.

Where to Drink

Bar Tabac (Cobble Hill) 128 Smith St.

One of the best ways to experience Paris is from its sidewalks, preferably perched at an outdoor table with a carafe of wine at your disposal. This isn’t always easy to recreate in Brooklyn, but Bar Tabac offers its own little slice of the city of lights.

The most common side effect is foea.org buy cheap levitra a dry cough.

Barbès (Park Slope) 376 9th St.

An institution for nearly two decades, Barbès has seen rapid change in its neighborhood of Park Slope, yet remained fundamentally the same since its opening. And this is what we love about it. Channeling the laid-back vibe of an old-school Parisian jazz club, Barbès offers great live music alongside good drinks. Check out their Dirty Dozen series, an ongoing series of intimate concerts happening through May 31st. 

Inside Chez Oskar. (310 Malcolm X Blvd) Photo from Chez Oskar Facebook

Chez Oskar (Bed-Stuy) 310 Malcolm X Blvd.

This self-proclaimed “Le Funky French Bistro de Brooklyn” has stayed true to its funky roots since 1998. While the food is also a reason to frequent this long-standing joint, Les Cocktails and a beautifully curated wine list make this spot hard to beat. There are few things more enjoyable than sipping a “No words, I’am Drinking” while listening to one of their live music acts. Santé!

La Cigogne (Cobble Hill) 215 Union St.

La Cigogne is a nod to Alsace, the region of France that borders Germany and Switzerland and has often alternated between French and German control. Because of its history, the area has a distinct culture that La Cigogne pays homage to. Try one of their Alsatian beers or delicious, dry white Rieslings.  

What to Do

Invisible Dog Art Center storefront. (51 Bergen St.) Photo courtesy Emilie Murphy

Invisible Dog Art Center (Cobble Hill) 51 Bergen St.

Launched in 2009 by Frenchman Lucien Zayan, the Invisible Dog Art Center displays rotating exhibitions of contemporary art and offers studio space to artists on its second and third floors. Zayan writes small notes beside each exhibition piece, giving his own perspective or a bit of interesting history.

New York Petanque Club (Prospect Park)

If you ever walk through a park in France, there’s a high chance you’ll find a group of older men in flat caps playing pétanque, or bocce. But this popular pastime is not limited to spaces across the pond. Brooklyn has its very own pétanque group, operating out of Prospect Park. Head over to the parade ground and give those boules your best throw. 

Moliere in the Park (Prospect Park)

Manhattan may have Shakespeare in the Park, but Brooklyn has Molière in the Park, a theater group that stages the plays of Molière in Prospect Park – for free! The shows are normally live, but have gone virtual for the time being. Check out the current production, “Pen/Man/Ship,” on view until April 26th.

The Language Itself

It wouldn’t be a complete round-up if we didn’t mention the beautiful language, for which the French take much pride. For those who want to brush up on their own skills, are looking to learn a new language or want to keep their tongue sharp, enroll in a conversation class through Brooklyn Public Library, sign up for a course through Learn French Brooklyn or join a guided tour in French via New York Off Road.  

Profitez bien!