Stay In The Know
Things To Do In Brooklyn
Make the most of your time in Brooklyn with our insider's guide to navigating the neighborhood. Uncover obscure art galleries, tuck into local bars and coffee shops, and make your way to live music venues and intimate fitness studios. We’ll let you in on our favorite places to drink, dine, shop, and dance.


Restaurants
Lilia
567 Union Ave., Williamsburg, Brooklyn | 9 min. walk
Italian restaurants aren’t hard to come by in New York City—or Brooklyn, for that matter—but Missy Robbins’s pastas and inspired plates give relative newcomer Lilia lasting power. This restaurant is a classy yet approachable place you can take a first date or group of friends.
Sundays in Brooklyn
348 Wythe Ave., Williamsburg, Brooklyn | 12 min. walk
Three gastronomy veterans and team man the take-out window, elegant walnut bar, and full-service restaurant in a three-story corner building on Wythe. Like the name suggests, Sundays are best for malted pancakes with hazelnut maple praline, smoked salmon grain bowls and more.
Pies ‘n’ Thighs
166 South 4th St., Williamsburg, Brooklyn | 18 min. walk
Pies ‘n’ Thighs serves classic Southern fare, and recently ditched its counter-only for an actual brick-and-mortar restaurant, with a vibrant red awning, exposed brick, and schoolhouse chairs. The menu might seem a bit overwhelming, but that’s just because there’s something for everyone.
Cafe Mogador
133 Wythe Ave., Williamsburg, Brooklyn | 2 min. walk
The Williamsburg outpost of this popular Moroccan restaurant has somehow improved on the original East Village location. The restaurant is a network of cozy rooms and an open, greenhouse-style space filled with flora—but you’re here for the brunch—and it’s well worth the wait.
The Meatball Shop
170 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11211
Lots of meatballs plus Italian comfort food in a no-frills setting on Williamsburg’s main drag.
Oregano
102 Berry St, Brooklyn NY 11211
Home made style dishes with Neapolitan-style pies in a small eatery.
Allswell
124 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11211
American pub with a daily changing menu served in an old-time setting with a communal table.
Fedoroff’s Roast Pork
178 N 10th St, Brooklyn, NY 11211
Counter BBQ /South Philly meaty sandwiches.
Fette Sau
354 Metropolitan Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11211
Popular dry-rub BBQ, beer & bourbon purveyor with an industrial, cafeteria style setting.
Rosarito Fish Shack
Address: 80 N 7th St, Brooklyn, NY 11249
Cuisine: Seafood · Mexican · American
S.E.A. Thai Bistro
Address: 114 N 6th St, Brooklyn, NY 11249
Cuisine: Thai
Llama Inn
50 Withers St., Williamsburg, Brooklyn | 11 min. walk
Inside Llama Inn’s imposing, carved wooden doors, you’ll find a light-filled space finished with Andean crafts and colorful lanterns. Chef Erik Ramirez conjured memories of his childhood trips to Lima to deliver authentic Peruvian cuisine—think ceviche, anticuchos, and pisco sours.
King’s County Imperial
20 Skillman Ave., Williamsburg, Brooklyn | 13 min. walk
King’s County Imperial has a contemporary, decidedly Brooklyn interpretation of the Far Eastern cuisine. The popular dim sum menu includes Berkshire pork dumplings, wok-fried bowls of gulf shrimp, chicken with roasted Georgia peanuts, and a section dedicated to street noodles.
Antica Pesa
115 Berry St, Brooklyn, Ny 11249
Small, upscale bar setting & seasonal, Authentic Italian with sophisticated touches.
Zenkichi
77 N 6th St, Brooklyn, Ny 11211
Guests at this dimly lit triplex can share Tokyo-inspired small plates or opt for the tasting menu.
Traif
229 S 4th St, Brooklyn, NY 11211
A young crowd populates this pork-focused American eatery in an older Williamsburg neighborhood.
Peter Luger Steak House
178 Broadway, Brooklyn, NY 11211
Cash-only steak icon where old-school waiters serve aged beef in a German beer hall setting.
La Nonna Ristorante & Bar
184 Kent Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11211
Upscale-casual Italian restaurant & wine bar offering traditional fare & outdoor seating.
5 Leaves
18 Bedford Ave.
One of the original cool hang out spots of Williamsburg, this restaurant offers amazing Brunch and dinner options. From Ricotta pancakes to their Five Leaves Burger with a sunny egg the options are endless.
Sauvage
905 Lorimer St.
This French/American spot is both comfortable and wide spaced, always easy to get into and with a friendly local staff.
Misi
359 Kent Ave.
Chef Missy Robin’s second Williamsburg outpost delivers their delicious homemade pasta with every option on her menu. If winning Best New Chef doesn’t convince you, the delicious pasta bowls will.
Mole
2 Hope St
This restaurant is new to the neighborhood, offering exquisite and authentic Mexican Food. All furniture seen in the restaurant is hand made by the family who run the business, having a sense that you are actually in a restaurant in Mexico.

Coffee Shops & Treats
Sweatshop
232 Metropolitan Ave., Williamsburg, Brooklyn | 12 min. walk
Sweatshop coffee doesn’t just serve caps and brekkie. The part shop, part studio was designed to bring creative Brooklyners together. Grab a seat at the communal table and don’t feel bad about lingering to get work done—that’s exactly what two Melbourne pals/owners are doing, too.
Partners Coffee
125 North 6th St., Williamsburg, Brooklyn | 6 min. walk
Australia’s coffee scene continues to woo Brooklyners, and there’s no greater proof than the success of this Sydney-born coffee company. Order a cup of the house Bedford Espresso blend while enjoying baked goods from local purveyors, including Balthazar Bakery and Doughnut Plant.
Blue Bottle
160 Berry St., Williamsburg, Brooklyn | 7 min. walk
Don’t come to this petite Blue Bottle café for a quick coffee to-go. The Oakland, California-based brand is known for taking its time with every individual order. Your coffee might come from an impressive, three-foot-tall Japanese slow-drip device or the intricate pour-over bar.
Bakeri
150 Wythe Ave., Williamsburg, Brooklyn | 2 min. walk
Vintage accents and the aroma of fresh-baked breads give Bakeri a warm, homey atmosphere. Head to this North Williamsburg cafe and linger over coffee served in teacups and specialty baked goods (try the skolebrod, a Norwegian sweet roll with custard and coconut).

Shopping
Artists & Fleas
70 North 7th St., Williamsburg, Brooklyn | 4 min. walk
One of Brooklyn’s most famous shopping venues is a year-round indoor market that welcomes hundreds of vendors every weekend. The marketplace, founded by husband-and-wife team Ronen Glimer and Amy Abrams, specializes in vintage wares and products from local designers.
Antoinette
119 Grand St., Williamsburg, Brooklyn | 8 min. walk
Named after the store owner’s mother, Antoinette focuses on vintage finds, though there are new items for sale from local Brooklyn designers too. Look out for items under $20 and fun mod frocks (secondhand items were typically created between the 50s and 90s.)
Kinfolk Store
94 Wythe Ave., Williamsburg, Brooklyn | 1 min. walk
Upscale menswear is the focus of this hip boutique. Shoppers can find edgy takes on Hawaiian shirts, Tokyo threads from Bedwin & The Heartbreakers, contemporary sunglasses and glossy coffee table books. In addition to international labels, Kinfolk sells their own branded wears too.
IGWT
129 Bedford Ave., Williamsburg, Brooklyn | 4 min. walk
In God We Trust owner Sasha Tabor studied fashion and jewelry at FIT, and her creations are all expertly (and ethically) designed and produced in neighboring Greenpoint. Standouts are delicate, geometry-driven pieces like brass and silver pendants as affordable as $20.
The Vale
113 North 7th St., Williamsburg, Brooklyn | 4 min. walk
High-end fashions from a global roster of designers make Stephanie McDermott’s shop, cafe, and private event space feel ultra luxe. Meant to be approachable, don’t think twice about coming in to admire an outfit while only purchasing a hot cup of Long Island City Birch coffee.

Music Venues
Music Hall of Williamsburg
66 North 6th St., Williamsburg, Brooklyn | 4 min. walk
A three-story event space with multiple rooms, including a massive ballroom, Music Hall is one of the swankiest venues in Williamsburg. Local musicians can make lasting impressions here, though the venue also books widely recognized artists that can draw serious crowds.
Brooklyn Steel
319 Frost St., Greenpoint, Brooklyn | 25 min. walk
From the masterminds behind Terminal 5 and Bowery Ballroom, Brooklyn Steel brings in musical acts ranging from rock to folk—and no matter where you’re standing, you’ll enjoy the view. The mezzanine level and raised floor makes it easier for concert-goers to see performing acts.
Brooklyn Bowl
61 Wythe Ave., Williamsburg, Brooklyn | 1 min. walk
Perfect for a night of live music and bowling, this Williamsburg venue has 16 bowling lanes, a restaurant, and a concert stage. Performances range from electronic and indie to Elton John tributes and instrumental salsa. Come for the bowling, stay for the music.
Knitting Factory
361 Metropolitan Ave., Williamsburg, Brooklyn | 14 min. walk
With a 300-person capacity in the front room and intimate live performances, this is the place to discover emerging artists. The line-up focuses on underground, little-known, and novice performers, and even includes some non-music events like stand-up comedy in the front bar.
Baby’s All Right
146 Broadway, Williamsburg, Brooklyn | 9 min. walk
This buzzy venue is where you’ll come to see unusual, lesser-known acts and DJs. Baby’s All Right is a creative, art-driven space with a surprisingly strong cocktail game, and an Asian-inspired menu that makes it easy to spend all night noshing while watching your favorite band.
Black Flamingo
168 Borinquen Pl., Williamsburg, Brooklyn | 19 min. walk
Black Flamingo is a taqueria meets dance club that serves a menu of fruity cocktails and plant-based tacos, and hosts regular house music parties in its downstairs, 70-capacity club—perfect for people who want to rave but can’t handle the massive crowds at other Brooklyn night clubs.
The Panther Room
74 Wythe Ave., Williamsburg, Brooklyn | 2 min. walk
A snug cocktail bar that hosts wild DJ parties at night, The Panther Room is adjacent to the Output club, and just downstairs from its sister joint, Canopy Bar. On Sundays, revelers can extend the weekend well into Monday morning during no-cover house music sets.

Fitness & Wellness
MNDFL
208 North 8th St., Williamsburg, Brooklyn | 8 min. walk
Travelers needing to unwind should book a meditation class at MNDFL. Classes here focus on breath, sound, emotion and other ways of getting in touch with your physical and mental self. Pop in for a quick, 30-minute session or get immersed in an hour-long class.
Yoga to the People
211 North 11th St., 2nd Floor, Williamsburg, Brooklyn | 7 min. walk
In an expensive city like New York, Yoga to the People make fitness accessible to everyone. There’s no advance registration or membership necessary, and class fees are donation only, meaning you pay what you can (although $10 is the suggested price).
Modo Yoga
109 Metropolitan Ave., Williamsburg, Brooklyn | 8 min. walk
Modo Yoga has ditched the typical Bikram carpet and brought in sustainably-harvested cork instead. And that’s not all that’s different. Modo Yoga uses around 40 postures, and classes vary in length and format. At this location, you can drop into a class for $20
Sync Studio
133 South 2nd St., Williamsburg, Brooklyn | 15 min. walk
Before there was SoulCycle or FlyWheel, there was Sync—and it’s still one of the hottest gyms in Brooklyn. In addition to spin, the studio also offers yoga and circuit-style classes. First-time visitors can get two weeks of unlimited classes for only $45 or a day pass for $25.
Brooklyn Athletic Club
8 Berry St., Williamsburg, Brooklyn | 5 min. walk
Offering fitness fanatics four-stories of workout space, the 17,000-square-foot Brooklyn Athletic Club features personal training, group training, open floor space, and resistance pools. On pleasant summer days, head to the rooftop deck for cycling or yoga classes—and hard-earned views of Williamsburg.
Williamsburg Bathhouse
103 North 10th St.
Offering several saunas, steam rooms, bookable massages and a heated marble hammam this Bathhouse is sure to relax and soothe even the busiest person.
Domino Park
300 Kent Ave.
At the site of the former Domino Sugar Refinery, this 6-acre public park has stellar views of the East River, elevated walkway, a public park playground and the delicious taco stand Tacocina.
East River State Park
90 Kent Ave
The 11-acre state park stretches along the East River near North 7th, 8th and 9th streets, and offers unobstructed views of the Williamsburg Bridge and Midtown Manhattan.