Astoria-Ditmars, Queens: What to do, eat and drink in the neighborhood

• Neptune Diner, at 3105 Astoria Blvd. S., is one of the few true diners left in New York. The restaurant is located just under the Astoria Boulevard N and W subway stop — you can feel the rumbling of the trains at your table. Its 24/7 hours are ideal for locals seeking a late-night snack or travelers heading to LaGuardia Airport.

  Grab a coffee to go — or order your go-to diner meal — before you venture into Ditmars.

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• Astoria Park, about a 15-minute walk west of Neptune Diner, along 19 Street between Astoria Park South and Ditmars Boulevard. Head to the park’s playgrounds, walking trails, basketball courts or its massive public pool (weather permitting).

  The waterfront park boasts Instagram-worthy views of the East River, as well as the Triborough and Hell Gate bridges. (Hell Gate, pictured, turned 100 in 2017.)

  Grab a seat on a bench and soak in the scenery.

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• Head to The Ditty, at 35-03 Ditmars Blvd., a bar with a neighborhood vibe that’s stocked with board games, from Scrabble to Candy Land.

  Be sure to try the bar’s most raved-about dishes: Buffalo cauliflower ($8) and fried chicken ($15). And try one (or more) of its unique cocktails, like the Head Hancho ($11), pictured, made with tequila, Mezcal, chili hibiscus and lime. It’s one of the cocktails that have remained on the menu since The Ditty’s 2015 opening.

  While most mixed drinks are made the old-fashioned way, the bar has one rotating cocktail on tap. Also on tap: a nice selection of beer and wine.

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• A historically Greek neighborhood, Astoria boasts an impressive variety of eateries and bakeries offering a taste of Greece. And just down the street from your fried chicken and drinks destination lies a great option for dessert.

  Lefkos Pirgos Café, at 33-02 Ditmars Blvd., offers a variety of authentic eats, bringing in Greek locals and American dessert lovers alike. Though Lefkos Pirgos has been a Ditmars establishment for more than 30 years, it recently reopened in a new location, just blocks from where the original bakery stood (now a Time Warner Cable store). The bakery’s Greek owner works the shop most days — the extensive hours are 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. — making sure all of the dessert cases are kept filled.

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• You may accidentally walk past this craft cocktail bar a few times before finding the door. Hidden behind a front of a very convincing hardware store — it actually smells like your neighborhood Ace Hardware — is one of the newest high-end bars.

  Not even a full year in business, having opening in August 2016, The Last Word, located at 31-30 Ditmars Blvd., has already established itself as a go-to place for unique drinks. Snag yourself a reservation — this place gets packed on weekends — and try a cocktail from its extensive menu.

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There’s something about Astoria’s Ditmars neighborhood that truly feels like a community.

Strolling down 31st Street, you may feel like you’re in Manhattan, with chains like Artichoke Pizza popping up along the bustling road. But local spots still reign, with restaurants, shops and more owned and operated for decades by Queens residents.

Hop on the N or W and take it to Astoria-Ditmars north of Hoyt Avenue for a true neighborhood experience. Here’s where to go while you’re there.