Bushwick’s transformation from a working-class industrial neighborhood to an arts district is recent enough that both layers are still visible. The Puerto Rican and Dominican community that has been in Bushwick for decades exists alongside the galleries and bars that have opened in the past ten years. The tension between these layers — the longtime residents who have seen rents rise dramatically and the creative community that arrived because the rents were low — is real and ongoing.
What’s worth acknowledging before going: Bushwick is a neighborhood in genuine flux. The art scene that makes it worth visiting was created by artists who could afford to be there, and those artists’ presence has made it less affordable for the people who were already there. This is a common pattern in New York neighborhoods. Understanding it doesn’t make the street art less interesting.
The Bushwick Collective
The Bushwick Collective is an outdoor art project founded in 2012 by Joe Ficalora, a Bushwick native, that has commissioned murals from artists around the world on the streets of the neighborhood. The murals are concentrated on Troutman Street, Jefferson Avenue, and the surrounding blocks near the Jefferson Street L train stop.
The quality varies — this is outdoor public art commissioned from a wide range of artists, not a curated gallery show — but the best murals are genuinely exceptional. The scale of some works is architectural: buildings covered floor-to-roof in imagery that requires stepping back to see fully. Walking the main mural corridors takes 45-60 minutes and is free. New murals are added regularly; the collection is always changing.
Bushwick Open Studios in late April or early May opens hundreds of individual artist studios to the public over a weekend, giving access to the working processes and spaces that produce the neighborhood’s art culture. It’s the largest open studios event in the United States and one of the most genuine cultural experiences available in Brooklyn.
The Bar and Music Scene
Bushwick’s nightlife is the most music-forward in Brooklyn. The combination of artists, musicians, and a community that takes live music seriously has produced a venue density that’s genuinely impressive for a neighborhood this far from Manhattan.
Elsewhere at 599 Johnson Avenue is a multi-stage music venue that has become one of the most important mid-size concert venues in New York — the programming covers electronic, indie, and experimental music at a level that competes with Manhattan venues three times its size. Bossa Nova Civic Club on Myrtle Avenue is the neighborhood’s most respected electronic music club, small enough that the sound system and the dance floor interact correctly. The House of Yes on Wyckoff Avenue is the most theatrical — performances, elaborate themed events, and costume culture that makes each night genuinely distinctive from the last.
Where to Eat
Bushwick’s food scene is less polished than Williamsburg’s but more honest. The neighborhood’s Latin American restaurants — particularly the Mexican spots along Knickerbocker Avenue — are excellent and priced for the neighborhood. Roberta’s on Moore Street is the most famous restaurant to emerge from Bushwick — the wood-fired pizza and the creative small plates have been consistently excellent since 2008, and the outdoor space (an elaborate patio and garden) is one of the best in Brooklyn. Expect a wait on weekends.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bushwick safe to visit?
Yes. Bushwick has changed significantly over the past decade and the main art and bar corridors on Wyckoff Avenue, Troutman Street, and the areas around Jefferson and DeKalb subway stops are active and safe. The neighborhood’s reputation has lagged behind its reality — standard urban awareness applies.
What is Bushwick known for?
Bushwick is known for its street art scene — the Bushwick Collective murals on Troutman Street and Jefferson Avenue are among the most significant outdoor murals in the United States — and for the art studios, galleries, bars, and music venues that have made it Brooklyn’s primary arts district since Williamsburg became too expensive.
What subway goes to Bushwick?
The L train stops at Jefferson Street, DeKalb Avenue, and Myrtle-Wyckoff Avenue. The J/M/Z trains serve Kosciuszko Street and Gates Avenue. The neighborhood is about 25-30 minutes from Midtown Manhattan.
When is the best time to visit Bushwick for art?
The Bushwick Collective murals are accessible any time. Bushwick Open Studios (held annually in late April or early May) opens hundreds of artist studios to the public over a weekend — the largest open studios event in the United States. Gallery First Fridays along the main art corridors happen monthly.
Also see: our best Williamsburg bars guide
Also see: our free art in Brooklyn guide
