From time to time, I enjoy a wander in a neighbourhood far from my own. On a recent winter morning I visited Brooklyn Heights, a charming corner in Brooklyn known for its beautiful architecture and serene charm. This neighbourhood isn’t a shopping or dining destination, but it is a feast for the eyes and a place where you can leave with an appreciation of the city.

As I weaved through Pineapple and Cranberry Streets off of Henry, it was easy to understand how this Brooklyn Heights provided inspiration for literary legends (and Brooklyn Heights residents) Walt Whitman and Truman Capote. Although they are long gone, there is a sense of times previous, of stories told and untold.

Eventually I found the mansion on Willow Street where Truman Capote wrote part of Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Holly Golightly is forever associated with Fifth Avenue, but she was imagined here in Brooklyn Heights.

• Cafés: Stumptown at the border of Cobble Hill and Brooklyn Heights, Amy’s Bread, Salter House, which is also a home shop, and Joe’s coffee on Pineapple for people watching

• A lovely walk: Take a stroll down Henry Street, which runs through the neighbourhood and whose path leads to charming streets and mews

• A quiet place: Brooklyn Historical Society for Brooklyn history and its heavenly library–a haven for writers

• The waterfront: Brooklyn Bridge Park overlooks the East River and Manhattan, and during the summer, visitors lounge on the grass with lemonade or ice cream; there are plenty of shops and restaurants nearby

• Beautiful views: The Brooklyn Heights Promenade is a tree-lined walkway with views of the Brooklyn Bridge, the Statue of Liberty, and the Manhattan Skyline

• The neighbourhood tavern: Jack the Horse Tavern is an all around favourite for oysters, beverages, hearty dinners and brunches