Brighton Beach

Brighton Beach shares a boardwalk with neighboring Coney Island, but it's the kind of place where you can settle rather than just visit for summertime fun. The neighborhood was revived by an influx of Russian-speaking immigrants (the population has somewhat diversified in recent years). Walking along bustling Brighton Beach Avenue will make you feel as if you've been transported to another country, with bakeries, supermarkets, and restaurants offering a vast selection of goods. Commuting to Manhattan can be time consuming, so Brighton Beach might make more sense for families and people who spend most of their professional and leisure time in Brooklyn.