Duvu Field Notes: NYC Spring Favorites
- 1 day ago
- 5 min read
We survived winter.
You know that feeling when the weather finally turns, and you want to be everywhere all at once? This is our edit of what's been pulling us in lately. The spots we keep coming back to as we run into summer.
FOOD
BKB
Our gem. The kind of place that works for drinks and food, literally any time of day. There's outdoor seating, a real bar, and after a few visits, the staff starts to feel like family. That sense of community is rare, and this place has it.
Cervo’s
Okay, if you haven’t been here yet, please go. It’s a Portuguese-Spanish-inspired restaurant and oyster bar in the LES, and it’s so good. Get the tinned fish, or get whatever they tell you to get. You will stay way longer than you planned, and that’s the point.
LadyBird
I went to LadyBird when my friends came to town, and for a group of girls with different dietary restrictions, we all found something delicious at this plant-based wonderland. We tried many plates off the menu, and everything was great, especially the Inari Nest. The whole vibe is a treat, from the room to the people and the energy.
Saraghina
A Bed-Stuy classic. Wood-fired pizza, beautiful garden out back, and it has that feeling of a place that’s been there forever. Their sheep’s milk whipped ricotta and Brussels sprouts are some of the best things I have ever eaten. I keep bringing people for the first time, watching them immediately get it, and then asking, “How do they make these brussels sprouts?”
DRINK
Frog Wine Bar
Brooklyn’s natural wine scene keeps winning, and Frog is a big reason why. Funky glasses, an amazing backyard, and a pool table in the back of the bar as well. It’s the kind of neighborhood bar that makes you want to move to the neighborhood.
Colbo
Okay, so Colbo is a shop, but also a wine bar, and a record store. You go in, they’re playing something good on vinyl, you get a glass of natural wine, and the people-watching is genuinely elite. Someone near you will be discussing their new brand concept very seriously. I have also attended a couple of events there as well, and they are just awesome about supporting artists.
Lunàtico
Live jazz most nights, and it's one of the best places to share some small plates. They also have a daily happy hour until 7 pm. It is a small place that fills up fast, so go early for a bite to eat and one too many drinks, and stay for the music. It’s in Bed-Stuy, and if you’ve never been, that’s a great reason to finally make the trip.
Time Again
Fun vibe. It’s on the edge of Chinatown, super stripped down, nice to sit outside when the weather is good. But I don’t like going there too late because it just gets too crowded. Great place to start the night.
LATE NIGHT
Le Dive
The LES location is my preference. French tabac vibes upstairs, amazing wine, steak frites, and a really good crowd. And then there’s a whole basement hangout situation that some people don’t know about when they walk in. It just never misses.
Damballa
First: order the yuca fries. Second: stay for the dancing. Damballa has this really natural looseness that a lot of bars try to manufacture for years and never quite get. It just already has it.
Funny Bar
Small and dark and very downtown. It fills up fast, and this is one of those places where you go once and want to keep going back.
The River
Feels a little hidden and small, but the vibes are everything. An insane whisky list, natural wine, silver service hot dogs, and champagne by the glass. The French onion dip is also amazing. You can sit at the bar and chat, or you can dance under the disco ball. Truly one of those spots that feels like its own thing.
COFFEE & SWEET TREATS
Rita & Maria
The pastries here are so good that my roommates and I have planned our mornings around them. Tiny spot, go early, don’t skip the savory options either. This one is a regular thing for us.
Glacé
Worth crossing the city for. The flavors are creative without being annoying, and the shop itself is so cute and considered. They also offer gluten-free options.
Bub’s Bakery
Bub’s is an allergy-free bakery (if you haven't noticed, I'm gluten-free) that does it right. They do bake goods that are free from the top 9 allergens. Everything is so delicious, but they are most known for their cinnamon buns. I love to treat myself to a trip there and then go read my book in the park.
BOOKSTORES
Sweet Pickle Books
A bookstore that also sells pickles. The selection is small and completely intentional. Every book on that shelf was put there by someone who actually read it and thought you should too.
Printed Matter
Artist books, zines, publications you cannot find anywhere else. If you’ve never been, it’ll completely change how you think about what a book can be. Chelsea institution, non-negotiable visit.
LOCAL & VINTAGE SHOPS
LES Miss
This is the vintage shop I always end up at on a Saturday when I’m not even really looking for anything. Curated but not precious about it. I’ve walked out with things I didn’t know I needed more times than I can count.
Dobbin St. Vintage Co-op
A co-op in Greenpoint with a bunch of different vendors all in one space, so the selection is always rotating and there’s always a reason to go back. Good for basically anything: clothes, jewelry, home stuff, random finds.
I Like Mike’s Mid-Century Modern
Furniture, objects, and just really good stuff. Go when you don’t have anywhere to be because you will be there for a while.
MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES
Brooklyn Museum
I am a member at the Brooklyn Museum, and they have really interesting programming. The permanent collection is incredible, and the member’s benefits are worth it. In spring, you can sit on the steps outside, and it’s genuinely perfect.
The Cloisters
Okay, I know everyone says to go, and then nobody goes, but please, actually go. It’s built from pieces of real European monasteries, and it’s sitting above the Hudson River, and it feels nothing like New York in the most necessary way. Go early, go slow, and bring someone good to talk to.
Pioneer Works
A converted factory in Red Hook that somehow manages to be an art space and a music venue and a community thing all at once, and pulls it off. The programming is wide-ranging, from visual art to performance and artist talks.
see the full list below
