Pic courtesy of TastingTable.com

Not really a mansion; more like a tiny cottage on the hill. Vinegar Hill, to be exact—one of the most startlingly quiet, out-of-the-way little neighborhoods in the city.  Vinegar Hill House gets plenty of charm-mileage out of its setting, enough to forgive the sometimes inconsistent food. But even if every course may not be a home run, a night here is a night well spent. The short menu of Americana changes constantly, but you might luck into the fluffy chicken liver mousse with vinegary onions and pistachios, or the wood-fired tart topped with bacon, leeks, and scallops. The house feels like your own—if you lived in a little cottage on a tree-lined street, decorated it with quirky-ironic hillbilly knicknacks, hired a staff of friendly hipsters, and filled the dining room with locals and curious Manhattanites (but not the obtrusive kind).

Vinegar Hill House. 72 Hudson Ave. between Front and Water Sts., Dumbo;  (718) 522-1018.

Prices/Features: Moderately Priced/Drink Destination

Pic courtesy of Jacques Torres Chocolate

Something about the wide, windy streets of Dumbo seems to call for a hot chocolate—or a stiff drink. But let’s stick with the hot chocolate idea for now, specifically the spicy Mexican-style Wicked Hot Chocolate at the Jacques Torres Chocolate shop. Some people hate spicy hot chocolate, but if you’re down with the concept—or have never had yours spiked with ancho chilies or chipotles (and made with real chocolate instead of cocoa)—you won’t find a better rendition anywhere. (And they have the non-spicy kind here too.) If it’s hot out and you’d rather ingest something freezing-cold, step next door into Torres’s ice cream shop for a scoop of one of the dozen or so flavors, like hazelnut gelato, coconut sorbet, or the spicy Wicked chocolate on a homemade waffle cone.

Jacques Torres Chocolate. 66 Water St. between Main and Old Dock Sts., Dumbo; (718) 875-1269.

Prices/Features: Cheap