New York Know
Little Caribbean works best as a neighborhood walk, not a single-attraction visit. Allow two to four hours, arrive hungry and follow Nostrand Avenue south from Sterling Street to Church Avenue. The route connects a bakery, Caribbean grocery, record shop, cultural space and sit-down restaurant without requiring a second subway ride.
The short plan
- Start: Sterling St subway station
- Finish: Church Av subway station
- Subway: 2 train; the 5 also serves both stations on weekdays
- Walking: About one mile, plus small detours
- Timing: Late morning through lunch; avoid Monday if Allan’s Bakery is essential
- Best for: Caribbean food, neighborhood shopping and cultural businesses
What is Little Caribbean?
Little Caribbean is a cultural district in and around Flatbush and Prospect Lefferts Gardens. CaribBEING founder Shelley Worrell led the campaign to name it in 2017, recognizing the area’s Caribbean-American culture and commerce.
The original footprint covered Flatbush Avenue from Empire Boulevard to Nostrand Avenue, Church Avenue from Flatbush to New York Avenue, and Nostrand Avenue from Flatbush Avenue to Empire Boulevard. It was a designation in name rather than a protected historic district, according to reporting from the 2017 launch.
That helps explain why there is no gated entrance or single attraction marking the neighborhood. For a first visit, Nostrand Avenue provides the simplest introduction. It also makes clear that “Caribbean” here encompasses businesses and traditions connected to several countries and islands, not one uniform cuisine.
A one-mile Little Caribbean walk
1. Start at Sterling Street
Take the 2 train to Sterling St, at Sterling Street and Nostrand Avenue, then walk south. The 5 is an additional weekday option. The MTA’s 2 line station guide lists both Sterling St and Church Av; it marks Church Av as accessible but not Sterling St.
For a cold first stop, Crème & Cocoa Creamery, 1067 Nostrand Ave., is near the northern end of the route. The shop makes fresh, small-batch ice cream in flavors influenced by its owners’ Caribbean backgrounds, according to NYC Tourism’s listing. Check same-day hours before making it a required stop.
2. Choose a small order at Allan’s Bakery
Continue to Allan’s Bakery, 1109 Nostrand Ave. This third-generation Caribbean bakery has operated since 1961 and is known for patties, hard-dough bread, currant rolls and pastries. The bakery’s official location page confirms the address.
For a multi-stop food walk, one patty or currant roll leaves room for what follows. As checked September 25, 2026, Allan’s posted hours were 7:30 a.m.–7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, 7:30 a.m.–6:30 p.m. Sunday and closed to walk-in customers Monday. Weekend lines are possible.
3. Browse Labay Market
A few doors south, Labay Market, 1127 Nostrand Ave., gives the route more depth than a sequence of restaurant stops. This Grenadian-rooted grocery sells items including soursop, breadfruit, herbs, roots, juices, spices and kitchen goods. The market says some fresh produce comes from its 60-acre farm in Grenada; its history page explains that connection.
Remember that this is a working neighborhood grocery, not an exhibit. Buy something useful and ask before photographing people. Labay’s posted hours, checked September 25, 2026, were 8 a.m.–9 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.–10 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m.–8 p.m. Sunday.
4. Check the African Record Centre
Continue to African Record Centre, 1194 Nostrand Ave. NYC Tourism includes the store with Allan’s, Labay and Crème & Cocoa in its Little Caribbean itinerary and confirms the 1194 Nostrand Ave. address.
Reliable daily hours are harder to establish, so treat it as an optional browse rather than a timed appointment. The same principle applies to the corridor generally: leave time for produce stands, bakeries, beauty shops and takeout counters that catch your attention.
5. Visit I AM CARIBBEING
Farther south at 1399 Nostrand Ave., I AM CARIBBEING is the organization most closely associated with Little Caribbean’s naming. Its headquarters serves several purposes rather than operating like a conventional museum. The organization describes it as a shop, gallery, work atelier and seasonal Mas Camp, with Caribbean household items, books, art, vintage goods and products from local makers on its 1399 Nostrand page.
Do not assume daily museum-style opening hours. Check the organization’s current listings before visiting; scheduled talks, workshops and tastings can make the space a more substantial stop. CaribBEING also offers culinary and cultural tours, which NYC Tourism describes as running periodically and by appointment.
6. Finish at Aunts et Uncles
Nearby, Aunts et Uncles, 1407 Nostrand Ave., is the route’s straightforward sit-down finish. The Brooklyn restaurant describes itself as plant-based, and its current menu includes plantain waffles, curry chickpea bowls, mushroom dishes, sorrel, ginger juice and cocktails with Caribbean accents. Most sandwiches and bowls were $16–$23 when checked September 25, 2026; see the current menu before visiting if price or ingredients matter.
Although the restaurant uses “plant-based” in its positioning, the captured menu also lists eggs and cheese. Strict vegans should confirm individual dishes rather than relying on the label alone.
The restaurant’s ordering page listed hours of 10 a.m.–8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10 a.m.–10 p.m. Friday and Saturday as of September 25, 2026. After eating, use the nearby Church Av station for the 2 train or weekday 5 service.
Pair the walk with Prospect Park—not DUMBO
Do not add Williamsburg, DUMBO and Downtown Brooklyn simply because they are in the same borough. Little Caribbean is far better as a focused half-day.
The natural extension is the southeast side of Prospect Park. Drummer’s Grove, near the Parkside Avenue and Ocean Avenue entrance, has longstanding ties to Caribbean community life; the Prospect Park Alliance calls it a Caribbean institution. Visit the park before the food walk for a longer day, or keep to Nostrand Avenue when time, energy or weather is limited.
For a step-free subway plan, begin at accessible Church Av, walk north as far as comfortable and return to Church Av. This creates some backtracking but avoids depending on the non-accessible Sterling St station. Check the MTA immediately before departure for elevator outages and service changes.