Get to know Vinegar Hill

Is it pungent? Acidic? Steep? Altitudinous? No to all of the above — Vinegar Hill is but a small neighborhood on the East River waterfront at the edge of the Navy Yard, found east of DUMBO and north of Downtown Brooklyn. Neither rich in vinegar nor set upon a hill, the neighborhood’s name comes from the 1798 Battle of Vinegar Hill in Ireland. All of six or so blocks today, Vinegar Hill used to be much larger — extending all the way down to Tillary Street and present-day Downtown Brooklyn. However, a series of construction projects — the Manhattan Bridge, the Farragut Houses, and the BQE — drastically ate away at its boundaries. But, a few short blocks are all Vinegar Hill needs to retain its distinct sense of place within the greater city. This atmosphere is seen in pre-Civil War Greek Revival rowhouses that predominantly line the blocks. A series of unpaved Belgian block streets only heightens that feeling.

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Vinegar Hill Commerce & Culture

As already established, Vinegar Hill is tiny. Plus, a powerplant occupies a chunk of the neighborhood, so Vinegar Hill is even smaller unless you work there or are really into electrical utilities. Space is further taken by the historic yet privately-owned Commandant’s House, a Federal Style mansion attributed to America's first native-born architect, Charles Bulfinch. But while certain amenities may be limited, you’re likely coming to the area to embrace its quiet hamlet vibe, not searching for a raging nightlife. That said, there is a highly regarded restaurant and a cafe within the Vinegar Hill boundaries. For everything else, the wonders of DUMBO and Downtown Brooklyn await mere minutes away. You’ll also be close to subways (the A and C at High Street, the F at York Street) that can take you further into Brooklyn or under the East River into Manhattan.