5 neighborhoods to explore in New York if you've already seen Midtown

Last weekend my niece visited. It was her first time in New York and she wanted to check off as many tourist highlights as possible in four days. The tough cookie managed it and left with the message: ‘Now I can take it easier next time I'm here and see the less touristy things.’

For people like my niece who have seen the busy streets of Midtown and SoHo, I have a few tips for neighborhoods that you can now explore at your leisure.

Greenpoint, Brooklyn

Last week I finally went to Greenpoint. There’s a bakery there that sells good, cheap donuts, Peter Pan, which I had wanted to visit for about a year. So on a beautiful autumn day, my wish finally came true and man oh man, what a nice neighborhood Greenpoint is. I almost got a cramp in my neck from looking around and then quickly swiveling my head towards my phone to mark every nice spot on my Maps.

Nice for: Vintage interiors, design concept stores, and Parisian-style cafés.

Snack: Chez Ma Tante – American restaurant with a French name (because that's chic, right?).

Drinks: Alameda – Nice bar with good cocktails.

Coffee: Sweetleaf Coffee Roasters – A nice, bright café for a coffee break.

Streets: start your tour at the most northern corner of McCarren Park (where Lorimer, Bedford, and Nassau intersect). Then take Manhattan Avenue north and walk back via Franklin Street.

East Village, Manhattan

When I moved to New York, I knew one thing for sure: I wanted to live in my favorite neighborhood, Nolita, the smaller neighbor of SoHo. I'm just not the only one who finds this a cute neighborhood, so the rent prices are frighteningly high. A stroke of luck in a price accident, because I eventually ended up in Alphabet City, a part of the East Village. And I vote that we should make that an official part of everyone's to-do list.

Nice for: Trendy boutiques, relaxed restaurants, and vibrant nightlife.

Snack: Veselka – This 24/7 Ukrainian diner is a neighborhood classic.

Drink: Maiden Lane – This cozy bar is on a corner by the park and has a small terrace in the summer.

Coffee: Future You Café – This café is perfectly sunny, sells special coffee drinks, and has the friendliest staff.

Streets: everything between Tompkins Square Park and, roughly, 2nd Avenue. On East 9th Street, you’ll find nice boutiques and on East 7th, 8th, and 10th, you’ll find countless cafés, restaurants, and bars.

Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn

Carroll Gardens is classy. The houses resemble those in the West Village, but here they have front yards. It’s still quite undiscovered, so you won’t encounter many tourists while buying a book at Books Are Magic or a gift for yourself at Regular Visitors. The fact that even in the local brewery, Other Half Brewing Company, families with small children enjoy their afternoon shows how relaxed the atmosphere is.

Nice for: Sunday afternoon vibes, nice boutiques, and great restaurants.

Snack: Bar Tabac – A café where you feel like you’re in France.

Drink: Franks Wine Bar – Here you can enjoy a nice glass of wine.

Coffee: Hungry Ghost – If you need an extra strong cup of coffee, you’re in the right place.

Streets: Smith Street and Court Street, between Centre Street and Atlantic Avenue.

Lower East Side, Manhattan

The Lower East Side is the neighborhood where the hip people hang out. There’s a good mix of shabby spots and luxury boutiques. The buildings are low and all have those typical fire escapes, giving it an authentic New York vibe.

Nice for: drinks and unique shops.

Snack: Kiki’s – Here you get the best Greek food outside of Greece.

Drink: Kind Regards – This is my new favorite cocktail bar (yes, I have a new favorite every week). The interior is goals and there’s a disco ball (!).

Coffee: Irving Farm – For my parents and me, this is our farewell café where we will cry after they have visited, for the rest this is a nice corner café with good coffee. If I’ve ruined it now with this emo detail, go to Hotel on Rivington which has an incredibly handsome bar with really good cappuccinos (and espresso martinis, if the occasion calls for something stronger).

Streets: walk like a Snake game through Clinton Street, Suffolk Street, Ludlow Street, and Orchard Street.

Bushwick, Brooklyn

A few years ago, everyone was talking about Williamsburg when discussing (read: complaining) about gentrification. Now Bushwick is the example of a cheap neighborhood that is slowly being taken over by hip people. Such a transformation comes with pros and cons. It’s tough for the people who have lived there for a long time and are suddenly faced with higher rents, but it also breathes new life into a neighborhood. Bushwick is now the epicenter of cool clubs and trendy breweries.

Nice for: vintage shops, hipster bars, and cozy restaurants.

Snack: Roberta’s – Wood-fired pizzas with unique combinations.

Drink: The Rookery Bar – Chic pub with high ceilings and a small garden.

Coffee: Swallow Cafe – A large café (by New York standards) where many Bushwickers sit working behind an open laptop.

Streets: walk around between the Jefferson and Morgan subway stops of the L line over Bogart Street, Flushing Avenue, Wyckoff Avenue, and Irving Avenue.