Apartment swap with us
We have a light, central, spacious 2 bedroom, 1.5 bathroom apartment. See photos and reviews on https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/51969
We are two non-smokers in late 30s/early 40s. I am starting a PhD in London, and my partner is an academic in Amsterdam. We want to spend 5-8 weeks in London, starting in mid-January. If you'd consider a swap, we are looking for responsible non-smokers to take care of our house. We prefer that no meat be cooked in the house, if possible.
Please be in touch!
Side note: Barcelona
Long weekend in Barcelona led s some excellent food, a lot of it was vegetarian friendly. Rasoterra is an all vegetarian, organic restaurant in the Barrio Gotico. Excellent. A lot of it comes from their garden.
Bar Seco has 6 types of veggie burgers and organic beef burgers. The servings are somewhat small, its more of a sidewalk cafe than a restaurant, but they are very eco conscious and veg friendly.
Sensi tapas and Sensi bistro. Really fun, lovely owners, very good food. Slightly more expensive but really not expensive- food in Barcelona is just really cheap. Carrer Regomir 4
For Jamon Iberico, especially the de bellota (acorn fed), try Enrique Tomas, c/Argenteria 27.
Not food, but to remember: really nice pedicures at Aqua Bliss fish spa. They spent an hour and a half scrubbing our feet!
Park Slope
5th Avenue
Off 5th Ave and St. Marks: Melt. Good brunch rarely a wait, really cute 70s place.
Al Di La: Very solid Italian. Always a wait.
Blue Ribbon Brooklyn: Go for dessert. The chocolate chip bread pudding is a dessert for 4 people (as you would hope at $15). Cold ice cream, hot chocolate sauce, warm crispy bread pudding. YUMM.
Blue Ribbon Sushi: next door, really delicious. Pricey.
Song: Thai food on 5th Ave and 2nd St. Pretty good very affordable thai food. Loud and hipstery. The sibling of Joya on Court St.
Moutarde, 5th and Carroll St. Good fries and eclairs.
Bierkraft: beer shop, ridiculous variety, back yard to drink it, and amazing sandwiches. Each sandwich is $10 and large- a full meal for 2 people.
Bogota: 5th Ave and St. Johns. Yummy for brunch or dinner. Usually packed and loud. Yummy.
Union St.
Rosewater, on Union St. and 6th Avenue, is a lovely brunch. I love the breaded cod cakes and poached eggs so much that I order it every.single.time. Coffee is not the best though.
Scottadito, next door to the Food Coop, is really fine- organic Italian, brunch and dinner, not usually a wait. For some reason I rarely go there, but you could do a LOT worse.
Blue Apron Fine Foods: good for gourmet provisions, and on weekends they carry amazing croissants.
Sweet Melissa, on 7th and 1st St. Good pastries, particularly the little passion fruit tarts. There is a Sweet Melissa on Court St. too.
South Slope
Cafe Grumpy: 7th Ave and 12th St. Serious coffee.
Off 5th Ave and St. Marks: Melt. Good brunch rarely a wait, really cute 70s place.
Al Di La: Very solid Italian. Always a wait.
Blue Ribbon Brooklyn: Go for dessert. The chocolate chip bread pudding is a dessert for 4 people (as you would hope at $15). Cold ice cream, hot chocolate sauce, warm crispy bread pudding. YUMM.
Blue Ribbon Sushi: next door, really delicious. Pricey.
Song: Thai food on 5th Ave and 2nd St. Pretty good very affordable thai food. Loud and hipstery. The sibling of Joya on Court St.
Moutarde, 5th and Carroll St. Good fries and eclairs.
Bierkraft: beer shop, ridiculous variety, back yard to drink it, and amazing sandwiches. Each sandwich is $10 and large- a full meal for 2 people.
Bogota: 5th Ave and St. Johns. Yummy for brunch or dinner. Usually packed and loud. Yummy.
Union St.
Rosewater, on Union St. and 6th Avenue, is a lovely brunch. I love the breaded cod cakes and poached eggs so much that I order it every.single.time. Coffee is not the best though.
Scottadito, next door to the Food Coop, is really fine- organic Italian, brunch and dinner, not usually a wait. For some reason I rarely go there, but you could do a LOT worse.
Blue Apron Fine Foods: good for gourmet provisions, and on weekends they carry amazing croissants.
Sweet Melissa, on 7th and 1st St. Good pastries, particularly the little passion fruit tarts. There is a Sweet Melissa on Court St. too.
South Slope
Cafe Grumpy: 7th Ave and 12th St. Serious coffee.
Ditmas Park
Cortelyou Rd.
Mimi's Hummus: I claim some credibility here, since I was born in the motherland. This is the best hummus I've had in NYC. Really yummy!
Sycamore: Across from Mimi's, so when you have to wait for a table have a drink here. Lovely yard, also this bar doubles as a flower shop.
Farm on Adderly: Another farm-to-table little place.
Purple Yam: Haven't eaten here, but it's supposed to be great Filipino food.
Mimi's Hummus: I claim some credibility here, since I was born in the motherland. This is the best hummus I've had in NYC. Really yummy!
Sycamore: Across from Mimi's, so when you have to wait for a table have a drink here. Lovely yard, also this bar doubles as a flower shop.
Farm on Adderly: Another farm-to-table little place.
Purple Yam: Haven't eaten here, but it's supposed to be great Filipino food.
Flatbush Ave (Park Slope/Prospect Heights)
Flatbush Avenue Park Slope/Prospect Heights
Franny's: I wish I didn't love it so much, cuz it's not cheap. But every time I go, I am impressed all over again. They source ingredients in the best possible way. Their staff is extremely nice and knowledgeable. Their wine list is extensive and the staff nearly always direct you to a good match. My recommendation: share a range of the vegetable-based appetizers, since they are the most creative, always reflecting what is in season. Then, get a pizza (my two favorites: provolone picante, clam). Some people love the pasta, which is made in house. Personally, I'd stick with appetizers and pizza. And always, always end with the panna cotta. No reservations, so expect to wait. For 2, sometimes you can get seated at the bar with less wait- and it's a bit quieter there than in the back. In summer, nice back garden too. 295 Flatbush Avenue at Prospect Place.
Brooklyn Larder: Franny's opened this shop with some great ingredients- olive oil, bread, cheeses, etc. Also some simple take away food. 228 Flatbush near Bergen St.
Flatbush Farm: This is another Farm to Table go-to spot. Organic and really nice food. Good for brunch, lovely outdoor garden with tables, and split between a restaurant and bar. You can order from both menus at the restaurant. I really love their burger, deviled eggs, and they have nice cocktails. 76 St. Marks at the corner of Flatbush.
Geido: This is a solid sushi/japanese restaurant in Brooklyn. Interesting mix of sushi and cooked Japanese food. Very quirky. 331 Flatbush near Prospect Place.
Christie's Jamaican Patties: 387 Flatbush at 8th Avenue. When I need a hearty snack and I'm on the run, I stop by here for a patty. For $2.50 you can get a savory, delicious snack. Also, the coco bread is delicious.
Franny's: I wish I didn't love it so much, cuz it's not cheap. But every time I go, I am impressed all over again. They source ingredients in the best possible way. Their staff is extremely nice and knowledgeable. Their wine list is extensive and the staff nearly always direct you to a good match. My recommendation: share a range of the vegetable-based appetizers, since they are the most creative, always reflecting what is in season. Then, get a pizza (my two favorites: provolone picante, clam). Some people love the pasta, which is made in house. Personally, I'd stick with appetizers and pizza. And always, always end with the panna cotta. No reservations, so expect to wait. For 2, sometimes you can get seated at the bar with less wait- and it's a bit quieter there than in the back. In summer, nice back garden too. 295 Flatbush Avenue at Prospect Place.
Brooklyn Larder: Franny's opened this shop with some great ingredients- olive oil, bread, cheeses, etc. Also some simple take away food. 228 Flatbush near Bergen St.
Flatbush Farm: This is another Farm to Table go-to spot. Organic and really nice food. Good for brunch, lovely outdoor garden with tables, and split between a restaurant and bar. You can order from both menus at the restaurant. I really love their burger, deviled eggs, and they have nice cocktails. 76 St. Marks at the corner of Flatbush.
Geido: This is a solid sushi/japanese restaurant in Brooklyn. Interesting mix of sushi and cooked Japanese food. Very quirky. 331 Flatbush near Prospect Place.
Christie's Jamaican Patties: 387 Flatbush at 8th Avenue. When I need a hearty snack and I'm on the run, I stop by here for a patty. For $2.50 you can get a savory, delicious snack. Also, the coco bread is delicious.
Prospect Heights/ Crown Heights
The spots below are listed from West to East
Vanderbilt Ave. - Prospect Heights
Milk bar- in had an impeccable capuchino here recently. Nice. Cafe open till 6, but not quick. Chuko- amazing ramen bar, don't miss it. Weather up is a bar across the street, great decor and cocktails. Their Averna cocktail is amazing. Joyce Bakeshop: really nice baked goods, nice cafe.
Le Gamin: a small chain, there is one here and another in the W. Village. Lovely backyard, good breakfast/brunch and nice atmosphere. French cafe.
Amorino: Decent pizza and great eggplant parmesan.
Beast: really good brunch and dinner. More meat-focused food. Also some organic options. Lately had half priced bottles of wine mid-week and other deals.
Underhill Ave. - Prospect Heights
Cherly's Global South. Great brunch spot.
Washington Ave. - Prospect/Crown Heights
Tom's Diner. A well-known local. Great crab cakes.
Ortine: lovely little coffee shop, good strong coffee. Good place to park and work.
Gen Sushi: Also a good sushi spot.
Classon St. - Crown Heights
Chavella's: quite decent Mexican food, for NY. Though Sunset Park has better... They also deliver, including to Franklin Park, the bar on Franklin and St. Johns.
Franklin Ave. - Crown Heights
Breukelen Coffee House: serving nice croissants and Stumptown.
Dutch Boy burger: Lobster rolls! and burgers and fries.
Vanderbilt Ave. - Prospect Heights
Milk bar- in had an impeccable capuchino here recently. Nice. Cafe open till 6, but not quick. Chuko- amazing ramen bar, don't miss it. Weather up is a bar across the street, great decor and cocktails. Their Averna cocktail is amazing. Joyce Bakeshop: really nice baked goods, nice cafe.
Le Gamin: a small chain, there is one here and another in the W. Village. Lovely backyard, good breakfast/brunch and nice atmosphere. French cafe.
Amorino: Decent pizza and great eggplant parmesan.
Beast: really good brunch and dinner. More meat-focused food. Also some organic options. Lately had half priced bottles of wine mid-week and other deals.
Underhill Ave. - Prospect Heights
Cherly's Global South. Great brunch spot.
Washington Ave. - Prospect/Crown Heights
Tom's Diner. A well-known local. Great crab cakes.
Ortine: lovely little coffee shop, good strong coffee. Good place to park and work.
Gen Sushi: Also a good sushi spot.
Classon St. - Crown Heights
Chavella's: quite decent Mexican food, for NY. Though Sunset Park has better... They also deliver, including to Franklin Park, the bar on Franklin and St. Johns.
Franklin Ave. - Crown Heights
Breukelen Coffee House: serving nice croissants and Stumptown.
Dutch Boy burger: Lobster rolls! and burgers and fries.
Boerum Hill
Mile End: montreal jewish deli. the smoked meat sandwich is the way to go, but their apple fritter was also spectacular. http://www.mileendbrooklyn.com/
Rucola: new Italian in a more residential block of Dean St. Yummy and nice wine list. http://www.rucolabrooklyn.com/
Building on Bond: great to hang out with a laptop for hours. Not a food destination (ie, don't bother). http://buildingonbond.com/
Rucola: new Italian in a more residential block of Dean St. Yummy and nice wine list. http://www.rucolabrooklyn.com/
Building on Bond: great to hang out with a laptop for hours. Not a food destination (ie, don't bother). http://buildingonbond.com/
Cobble Hill/Carroll Gardens
Court St.
Cafe Peddlar: go there for the stumptown coffee, beautifully served. Stumptown was just bought by a larger company that may slowly affect the quality, but so far so good.
Brucie: cozy, usually not too long a wait (and empty during lunch), local/organic yumminess. The tagliatelle with brussel sprouts is my favorite.
Watty and Meg: Have the steak. It's my favorite, and well-sourced. The rest of the food is above average.
Karloff: the best ice cream in the hood, (but don't try the beet and dill), made by a mom and pop shop in the hudson river valley. This place is also never crowded, and is open for mid-week breakfast/brunch time, which is hard to find.
At the south end of Court St.
Frankies is a classic. Always expect a wait (or go off-hours). The garden is lovely, food fantastic classic Italian with a foodie edge.
Prime meats: I've never been, but this is owned by the Frankie's folks, supposed to be great, and also has very well sourced meat.
Buttermilk Channel: I never went, but intended to. Just a bit past frankies, also supposed to be great and has a good vegetarian menu. 524 Court St.
Caputos bakery: Get the olive bread. It's loved by all.
Atlantic Avenue:
Colonie: a great splurge. I've been 3 times and never been disappointed by a single dish. I rarely say that. Good for brunch and dinner. The atmosphere is lovely, too. Check out the wall of plants.
Catania: new sicilian spot. Homemade food ready made so quick to take out or eat in. Owned by a family of pastry chefs- though I prefer their cooked food to desserts.
Clinton St.
Ted and Honey- cute organic cafe with great breakfast sandwiches and a knock out BLAT (bacon lettuce avo tomato). All their meat is organic and comes from small local farms. Great to sit and hang with a laptop, also a park next door if you want to be outside while you eat.
Henry St.
Lucalis: expensive pizza, done right. BYOB. Only pizza on the menu.
Farmacy: an old school soda fountain, all organic/local. Also they sell various pickled yuminess and other local products, and have a CSA pick up (localrootsnyc)
Henry Public: a prohibition-era-style bar with good cocktails but sort of average snacks.
Hibino: a nice japanese restaurant, amazing home made tofu, generally yummy and good lunch special. Solid sushi.
Smith St.
Bon cuit: bakery that just opened, really good.
Van Leeuwen: a cafe and ice cream shop. Its a good combo- the affogato pulls it all together.
Ki Sushi: fresh, yummy and good lunch special. I saw Bloomberg there once.
Bar Tabac- can be super crowded but if you are in the mood, great for some wine, steak frites, or moules frites. Occasional live music/jazz.
Cafe Cubana: great mojitos and nice cuban food. Really affordable.
Eton: dumplings! the other stuff isn't my favorite.
There is a farmers market on Carrol and Smith on Sundays.
Cafe Peddlar: go there for the stumptown coffee, beautifully served. Stumptown was just bought by a larger company that may slowly affect the quality, but so far so good.
Brucie: cozy, usually not too long a wait (and empty during lunch), local/organic yumminess. The tagliatelle with brussel sprouts is my favorite.
Watty and Meg: Have the steak. It's my favorite, and well-sourced. The rest of the food is above average.
Karloff: the best ice cream in the hood, (but don't try the beet and dill), made by a mom and pop shop in the hudson river valley. This place is also never crowded, and is open for mid-week breakfast/brunch time, which is hard to find.
At the south end of Court St.
Frankies is a classic. Always expect a wait (or go off-hours). The garden is lovely, food fantastic classic Italian with a foodie edge.
Prime meats: I've never been, but this is owned by the Frankie's folks, supposed to be great, and also has very well sourced meat.
Buttermilk Channel: I never went, but intended to. Just a bit past frankies, also supposed to be great and has a good vegetarian menu. 524 Court St.
Caputos bakery: Get the olive bread. It's loved by all.
Atlantic Avenue:
Colonie: a great splurge. I've been 3 times and never been disappointed by a single dish. I rarely say that. Good for brunch and dinner. The atmosphere is lovely, too. Check out the wall of plants.
Catania: new sicilian spot. Homemade food ready made so quick to take out or eat in. Owned by a family of pastry chefs- though I prefer their cooked food to desserts.
Clinton St.
Ted and Honey- cute organic cafe with great breakfast sandwiches and a knock out BLAT (bacon lettuce avo tomato). All their meat is organic and comes from small local farms. Great to sit and hang with a laptop, also a park next door if you want to be outside while you eat.
Henry St.
Lucalis: expensive pizza, done right. BYOB. Only pizza on the menu.
Farmacy: an old school soda fountain, all organic/local. Also they sell various pickled yuminess and other local products, and have a CSA pick up (localrootsnyc)
Henry Public: a prohibition-era-style bar with good cocktails but sort of average snacks.
Hibino: a nice japanese restaurant, amazing home made tofu, generally yummy and good lunch special. Solid sushi.
Smith St.
Bon cuit: bakery that just opened, really good.
Van Leeuwen: a cafe and ice cream shop. Its a good combo- the affogato pulls it all together.
Ki Sushi: fresh, yummy and good lunch special. I saw Bloomberg there once.
Bar Tabac- can be super crowded but if you are in the mood, great for some wine, steak frites, or moules frites. Occasional live music/jazz.
Cafe Cubana: great mojitos and nice cuban food. Really affordable.
Eton: dumplings! the other stuff isn't my favorite.
There is a farmers market on Carrol and Smith on Sundays.
Red Hook
I'm a little bit obsessed with this neighborhood, and most of that is due to the food.
Red Hook Lobster Pound: Lobster rolls. Amazing. Delicious. I go with Connecticut style (warm and with butter) rather than Maine style (cold and with mayo). At $15, its not a cheap snack but there is a hefty portion of lobster on a perfect bun, and they bring in fresh lobsters from Maine weekly. You can also buy live lobsters there. They have a food truck that is in a different neighborhood everyday, so check their website for that.
Brooklyn Ice House: This bar is on the same block at the lobster pound, with super affordable drinks and a lovely outdoor garden. Their sweet potato fries were great.
The Good Fork: cozy restaurant, local / organic sourcing, and really great food. the surprise winner was the vegetarian steak and eggs- consisting of the best tofu ever + eggs + kimchee and rice. But, everything was really good.
Baked: a bakery with YUMMY cupcakes. My favorite: chocolate with a caramel and sea salt frosting.
Steve's Key Lime Pies: erratic hours, check their twitter feed. Delicious key lime pies- including small ones dipped in chocolate served on a stick.
Sunny's: awesome divey bar, open just a few days a week.
Botanica: nice bougie bar, but no fan or A/C and expensive (artisanal, fresh) cocktails- seems to be closed often though.
The Red Hook Ball Fields: each weekend in the summer, a range of food trucks with foods from various latin american countries park here and you can sit in the grass and eat your heart out. My favorites: the barbacoa (goat) tacos from the truck on Clinton, furthest away from Bay St. I also love the quesadillas from the truck on the corner of Bay and Clinton. Get a fresh agua de fruta from the neighboring truck. Or, pupusas Bay St. at the corner.
Sol Goldman pool: kitty corner from the Ball Fields is an awesome, huge, free pool. There are strange hours and rules to get in, so check their website. A good swim is nice to work up an appetite for the ball fields.
Transportation: getting to and from Red Hook can be a pain unless you are on bike. There is the Ikea ferry from Wall St. to Red Hook (free weekends, $5 otherwise, runs every 40 minutes- see website). The F train is a solid 20 minute walk. Or the B61 bus runs erratically.
Other sights: Walk along the water to the pier near Fairway- in the summer check out the Rube Goldberg machine near the Barge Museum.
Red Hook Lobster Pound: Lobster rolls. Amazing. Delicious. I go with Connecticut style (warm and with butter) rather than Maine style (cold and with mayo). At $15, its not a cheap snack but there is a hefty portion of lobster on a perfect bun, and they bring in fresh lobsters from Maine weekly. You can also buy live lobsters there. They have a food truck that is in a different neighborhood everyday, so check their website for that.
Brooklyn Ice House: This bar is on the same block at the lobster pound, with super affordable drinks and a lovely outdoor garden. Their sweet potato fries were great.
The Good Fork: cozy restaurant, local / organic sourcing, and really great food. the surprise winner was the vegetarian steak and eggs- consisting of the best tofu ever + eggs + kimchee and rice. But, everything was really good.
Baked: a bakery with YUMMY cupcakes. My favorite: chocolate with a caramel and sea salt frosting.
Steve's Key Lime Pies: erratic hours, check their twitter feed. Delicious key lime pies- including small ones dipped in chocolate served on a stick.
Sunny's: awesome divey bar, open just a few days a week.
Botanica: nice bougie bar, but no fan or A/C and expensive (artisanal, fresh) cocktails- seems to be closed often though.
The Red Hook Ball Fields: each weekend in the summer, a range of food trucks with foods from various latin american countries park here and you can sit in the grass and eat your heart out. My favorites: the barbacoa (goat) tacos from the truck on Clinton, furthest away from Bay St. I also love the quesadillas from the truck on the corner of Bay and Clinton. Get a fresh agua de fruta from the neighboring truck. Or, pupusas Bay St. at the corner.
Sol Goldman pool: kitty corner from the Ball Fields is an awesome, huge, free pool. There are strange hours and rules to get in, so check their website. A good swim is nice to work up an appetite for the ball fields.
Transportation: getting to and from Red Hook can be a pain unless you are on bike. There is the Ikea ferry from Wall St. to Red Hook (free weekends, $5 otherwise, runs every 40 minutes- see website). The F train is a solid 20 minute walk. Or the B61 bus runs erratically.
Other sights: Walk along the water to the pier near Fairway- in the summer check out the Rube Goldberg machine near the Barge Museum.
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