Bay Ridge vs. Astoria (Bedford, Hamilton: apartment, city hall, houses)

[RagerNYC]

(I'm not looking for an apartment in these areas nor am I a hipster just want opinions) Based on locals who've been to both Bay Ridge and Astoria, I was curious to know your opinions on the similarities between the two hoods. Ive been to both and not only I noticed buy my friends noticed many similarities. Similar demographics, Both are Very Diverse, Many Greeks, Egyptians, Middle Easterns, Italians, Puerto Ricans etc.. Both Bay Ridge and Astoria have similar architecture (many row houses and buildings) Both have high night life with Hookah Bars, Bars, Lounges etc.. Both have upper class neighborhoods within it (Ditmars and Fort Hamilton) with many bigger houses, both are two sides of the N/R line. Both have major bridges, Steinway St. Vs 86 St or 5th Avenue, also 3rd Avenue Vs Ditmars Blvd.

[BSL1534]

I live in the southern part of Bay Ridge and a few years ago went apartment hunting in Astoria. Both have good housing stock, but you get more space for the money in Bay Ridge.

The biggest factor there is probably access to Manhattan, which is much easier to get to from Astoria. I work downtown, so I'd rather be where I am, but if I worked in Midtown I wouldn't be here. I take the express bus and to downtown it is about 30-40 minutes. I've taken it several times to the last stop in Midtown (57th and Madison) and it is an hour or more every time. I cannot imagine it takes much more than half that time from most of Astoria.

Astoria was also "grittier" to me than Bay Ridge. I suppose the northern edge of Bay Ridge most resembles Astoria. The Ft. Hamilton area where I am, not so much.

[brooklynmama0217]

If you're a native NYer non hipster looking for a safe neighborhood go for bay ridge, from 3rd Avenue to the ocean is very ritzy and big and expensive homes...however past 3rd avenue on the other side is congested and not as nice IMO from 65 to maybe 75 or so, lots of Arab immigrants and mosques and probably some spillover from the ghetto Sunset Park right on the other side of 65th street.

I would stay below 86th if you're looking for an apartment or a non-mansion type home. It's very nice from 86th street all the way down to the water.


If you're not a NYer and want hipster things, I don't see the appeal. There isn't many trendy things there and it's on the slowest subway line the R



Astoria is a more hipster bay ridge with better access to the city. If you're not a NYer you will like Astoria better.

[RagerNYC]

I agree Astoria is closer to Midtown but like you said Bay Ridge is closer to Downtown, the R from 86 takes me to City Hall in 25-30 minutes. If you ever been to the Ditmars section of Astoria the Fort Hamilton area of Bay Ridge is very similar to the Ditmars area of Astoria, they have residential huge houses up there.

[RagerNYC]

Nah bruh definetely not a hipster, lol I can't stand them, Brooklyn born and raised, I just love culture and my city, but Bay Ridge is starting to get hipsters now sadly.... I'm not looking for an apartment, just asking this to see other opinions.

[BSL1534]

People keep saying we are getting hipsters, but I don't see them. Must be flocking to the 60s and 70s. I can see hipsters being drawn up there, but down here in the 90s I cannot see the appeal for them.

[brooklynmama0217]

Originally Posted by BSL1534

People keep saying we are getting hipsters, but I don't see them. Must be flocking to the 60s and 70s. I can see hipsters being drawn up there, but down here in the 90s I cannot see the appeal for them.

no hipsters in bay ridge that I can see. I am in that area every day as my elderly father lives in an apartment over a store on colonial road. They haven't even really penetrated sunset which has more affordable "interesting" housing, or ever the area by greenwood which is still very Italian and Polish and Puerto Rican. There are more professionals I see and young families but no Bedford avenue hipsters

[RagerNYC]

Yeah they won't go as far as the 90s, but they're in the 60/70s if you go to 3rd avenue by Ovington there's a café bar that serves vegan soy ice cream.... And they charge obserd prices. I think the appeal is because Bay Ridge has a lot of night life.

[brooklynmama0217]

People confuse hipsters with young professionals. I welcome young professionals like recent grads working their first city job and young families looking for a historic home with LOTS of private school options. It would be great to see them move in up in the 60s and 70s. I think that's the type who would come in anyways because they are priced out of park slope and afraid of sunset park: I don't think we will see wburg/Bushwick hipsters over there. It's too far from all the stuff they are into in wburg and the LES and they like areas with street cred it seems like Bushwick and Bedstuy.

Professionals I welcome but the annoying wannabe "artists" are horrible

[brooklynmama0217]

Originally Posted by RagerNYC

Yeah they won't go as far as the 90s, but they're in the 60/70s if you go to 3rd avenue by Ovington there's a café bar that serves vegan soy ice cream.... And they charge obserd prices. I think the appeal is because Bay Ridge has a lot of night life.

I know who owns that. Check the clientele...it's yuppies not hipsters