Best Sandwiches Restaurants in Brooklyn Heights & Downtown Brooklyn (11201)
6 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: January 2026
Our Top Pick
Al Badawi
Palestinian feasts built around wood-fired breads, slow-cooked meats, and shareable mezze in a Michelin-recognized setting.
Notable Picks
#1
Al Badawi
8.8
Al Badawi brings Palestinian home cooking to Atlantic Avenue, turning a narrow Brooklyn Heights dining room into a busy hub for mezze and family-style platters. Since opening in 2021, it has earned Michelin Guide attention for wood-fired breads, slow-cooked meats, and generous hospitality that make it a destination well beyond the neighborhood.
Must-Try Dishes:
Msakhan with sumac-roasted chicken and onions, Lamb chops over rice with roasted peppers, Warm house flatbread with hummus and mezze
What makes it special: Palestinian feasts built around wood-fired breads, slow-cooked meats, and shareable mezze in a Michelin-recognized setting.
8.6
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Quick Bites Champions
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
Hidden Gems Heaven
In a slim Downtown Brooklyn counter shop, Bread & Spread turns out hefty hot sandwiches like porchetta and short rib on crusty bread with thoughtful sides, leaning into rich flavors over frills. Office workers and locals rely on it for deeply satisfying lunches that still move fast enough for a break between meetings.
Must-Try Dishes:
Breakfast sandwich with fries, Pressed sandwich with fries, Side of fries
What makes it special: Sandwich shop where unexpectedly solid fries ride alongside excellent baguettes.
#3
Sanpanino
8.4
Sanpanino is a compact Italian sandwich café in Brooklyn Heights where pressed panini and heroes come layered with prosciutto, fresh mozzarella, and roasted vegetables. Regulars treat it as a dependable stop for thoughtfully built sandwiches on quality bread rather than quick, generic deli fare.
Must-Try Dishes:
The Sanpanino Hero, Prosciutto di Parma Sandwich, Vegeterraneo Sandwich
What makes it special: Italian-style pressed sandwiches built on good bread and ingredients.
8.1
This all-day café in DUMBO leans into breakfast and lunch sandwiches built on quality bread, from egg-and-cheddar builds to turkey clubs and roasted vegetable combinations. With coffee, wine, and pastries in a bright, design-forward room, it works equally well for quick bites or lingering laptop sessions.
Must-Try Dishes:
Breakfast Sandwich #1, DTD Turkey Club, Roasted Sweet Potato Sandwich
What makes it special: Design-forward café with serious breakfast sandwiches and house-baked treats.
8.0
Vibes:
Comfort Food Classics
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Quick Bites Champions
Family Friendly Favorites
Family-owned since the late 1940s, Lassen & Hennigs is a Brooklyn Heights deli and bakery where grab-and-go sandwiches share case space with pastries and prepared salads. Locals use it as an all-purpose stop for breakfast sandwiches, hefty deli combos, and dessert in one run.
Must-Try Dishes:
Red velvet cake slice, Black-and-white cookie, Pumpkin or classic cheesecake slice
What makes it special: Decades-old deli-bakery turning out classic New York cakes, cookies and party platters.
Worthy Picks
7.7
Brooklyn Heights Deli is a neighborhood bodega-style deli where made-to-order heroes and grill items anchor a long menu of cold cuts, hot sandwiches, and platters. It’s more about big portions and everyday convenience than curation, but locals praise the hefty chicken cutlet and turkey combinations.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicken Cutlet Sandwich with Mozzarella and Avocado, Turkey Hero, The Fat Boy Sandwich
What makes it special: Bodega-style deli turning out stacked heroes and hot sandwiches.