Mill Basin, Bergen Beach & Marine Park Neighborhood Guide

I’ve been visiting every NYC neighborhood, trying to explore my own city the way I do when I travel. I’m 202 (!!!) neighborhoods deep now and have documented it all on TikTok.

Now I’m on a mission to write it all out. Next up: Mill Basin, Bergen Beach & Marine Park

These neighborhoods make up a very suburban stretch of southeast Brooklyn. Start off with a coffee in Bergen Beach—I liked Highly Grounded Café, which had a lot of syrup options. Bergen Beach and Mill Basin were once part of Mill Island, originally inhabited by the Canarsie tribe, and later owned by the Bergen family, where it became marshland. The Dutch used this marshland to grow grains. I’m not entirely sure how that process worked, but due to the surrounding waters and isolated geography, the area developed names like Mill Basin and Bergen Beach.

After walking through suburban Bergen Beach with my iced coffee, I headed into Mill Basin and stopped at Dolly’s Ice. They’ve been open for 20 years with a walk-up window format, and I tried their PB&J cup—it was delicious. Dolly’s has had to relocate twice due to fires and natural disasters, but they’re still going strong, so definitely check them out.

Next, head to Landi’s Pork Store, a cornerstone of Italian heritage in Mill Basin. It’s been family-owned since 1928 and honestly feels stuck in time—in the best way. It’s such a cool spot to browse, pick up fresh mozzarella, and try their traditional sausages. Many Italians settled in this area after World War II, bringing a suburban-style lifestyle into the city. That’s reflected not only in Landi’s but also in the pizza shops, sit-down Italian restaurants, and bakeries—so of course, I had to go to a bakery.

I went to Palermo Pastry Shop, which is basically Italian cookie heaven. It’s been family-owned since 1974, and when she rang me up and said it was 80 cents for a few cookies, I was honestly shocked—I’ve never heard prices like that in New York City.

Mill Basin, along with being a strong Italian community, is also a largely Jewish community, with a lot of Russian speakers as well. And like many Jewish neighborhoods, there’s a great deli—so I headed to Mill Basin Deli. Established in 1973, they’re known for their overstuffed sandwiches. If you’re coming here, definitely get one, but since I had already eaten a lot, I went with matzo ball soup, latkes, and applesauce.

Mill Basin is also known for its luxury homes, so definitely take a walk around. National Drive is especially known for its waterfront estates—the house from the movie Anora is actually located there. It’s such a nice walk, and I loved looking at the architecture and, of course, the classic cars—my favorite part of exploring neighborhoods like this.

I somehow ended up at Kings Plaza Shopping Center when my phone died and I needed a portable charger. If you love a good mall, you can definitely stop here.

The food tour continued—since I was by the water, I had to go to Nick’s Lobster House. It was founded in 1955 by a local fisherman who sold lobsters off his boat. There are scenic waterfront views of the basin, so you can see the same houses from a different angle. It’s a beautiful seaside restaurant with an expansive menu, or you can just come for drinks. Of course, I had to try the lobster roll, and they definitely don’t skimp on portion sizes.

The final neighborhood, Marine Park, is another suburban, family-friendly area named after Marine Park—the largest park in Brooklyn, and possibly in all of New York City. I loved the Lenape Playground, named after the people who originally inhabited the area.

When I got to the Salt Marsh Nature Trail, I completely forgot I was still in Brooklyn. It’s a 1.1-mile loop through marshlands and wetlands, and if you’re lucky, you’ll spot wildlife. They even host events—I happened to catch a family camping night when I visited.

This is the largest remaining salt marsh in New York City. It’s not just beautiful—it plays a crucial role in filtering water, providing habitats for migratory birds and marine life, and protecting the shoreline from storms. It’s also the best-preserved salt marsh in the city.

I’ve been to a lot of parks in New York, but none have felt as peaceful as this one. It’s such a hidden gem. I’d love to come back, do a longer loop, and maybe bring a book. Even during the short loop I did, I completely forgot I was in the city—it felt like I had been transported somewhere else.

I know someone is going to comment this, but I did pass by Brennan & Carr, which is known for its roast beef sandwiches. It’s right on the border of Sheepshead Bay, which is why I didn’t include it here—and honestly, I couldn’t eat any more. But if you go, definitely try it.

Let me know what spots I missed in these three neighborhoods, and which neighborhood you want me to cover next.