If you want to bring a friend somewhere that feels really “cool,” you should take them to Roberta’s. There’s graffiti on the walls, an outdoor area populated by park benches, and rap music playing at all hours. (A radio station is housed in the back of the building). Don’t be fooled into trying any of the other locations. The one in Prospect Park is expensive, the food unsatisfying, and the ambiance nonexistent. But in Bushwick, things have remained unchanged. Grab a pizza from the wood-fired oven and sit by the fire pit in the backyard. It’s the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of downtown Manhattan, yet feels quintessentially New York. Buy one of their red baseball caps, and if you’re feeling frisky, stop by one of their Tiki disco parties, which happen around Brooklyn most weekends. —Elena Clavarino

Elena Clavarino is the Senior Editor at AIR MAIL