To many who live in NYC, the Brooklyn Flea market is not necessarily the best, or the cheapest flea market in the city. For my money, that title belongs the 25th Street Flea Market, which has a very eclectic selection of vintage wares in all price ranges (my last find was a vintage mirrored vanity tray for $20!). However, the Brooklyn Flea does have some advantages over the other flea markets in the city 1) food and 2) its winter location.
Vintage Jewelry
First off, the food. For anyone who has visited Dough in Bed-Stuy, I need say no more. This amazing doughnut shop has a stand at the flea with all of their regular flavors (my favorite is lemon-poppy). During the summer, there are lots more vendors, including the excellent Mile End, McClure’s Pickles, and People’s Pops. I did, however, have an excellent brisket sandwich from Lonestar Eatery, accompanied by plenty of hot sauce, pickles, and creamy potato salad. There are still many other options for food, including tacos and porchetta, but the downside is that the tables are set up in a rather dark basement setting (hence why I didn’t take any pictures).
Ceiling
Second, the location. Nothing beats eating outside, but being able to walk around the original Williamsburgh Savings Bank does help. As you can see, the building is filled with mosaic ceilings, iron and stonework, and beautiful wood carvings. If it weren’t for the hipsters everywhere, you could almost imagine you were in the middle of completing a bank transaction 100 years ago.
Mannequins
View from the mezzanine
Books
