35 Best Things To Do In Williamsburg, Brooklyn
New York City is always changing, growing, and expanding…and nowadays, waterfront neighborhood Williamsburg in Brooklyn has become one of the hottest around. From their evolving restaurant scene to the cultural street art and creativity that runs through the community, it’s a meteoric rise that many have taken notice of in recent years. To make the most out of visiting, we’ve put together a list of the best places to eat, things to do, and places to stay in the area. Here’s the perfect itinerary for a day in Williamsburg.
Table Of Contents
Best Things To Do In Williamsburg
Let’s start with Williamsburg’s best attractions and things to do in the area! From vintage shopping to notable food festivals, there’s so much happening here. See our favorite things to do in Williamsburg below:
1. Bedford Avenue
Williamsburg’s main strip of Bedford Avenue (conveniently located off the L train) is chalk full of trendy restaurants and shops that you should spend time exploring! We suggest starting at the south end of the street and heading north, trying out spots like Joe’s Pizza or a table at Sweet Chick, before eventually landing at McCarren Park!
2. Domino Park
Catch some sun or walk your dog through Domino Park, Williamsburg’s stunning waterfront park that offers incredible Manhattan skyline views. The 5 acre park is one of the best in all of NYC, and spans from S 5th Street to Grand Street. During the spring and summer, it’s the perfect place to go for a jog or lay out for a picnic. There’s also an awesome playground for kids, taco stand, and remnants of the old Domino Sugar Factory.
3. Smorgasburg
Every April – October, NYC’s premier seasonal food festival returns to Williamsburg, with over 100 food vendors! Smorgasburg is an open-air food market that takes over Williamsburg’s waterfront on Saturdays, where visitors can stop by and feast on the finest food around. Smorgasburg’s 2024 season is set to start up on April 6!
Where: 90 Kent Ave, Brooklyn
4. Brooklyn Brewery
Williamsburg’s powerhouse brewery is one of our favorite things to do in the area, and is a great place to stop for a pint along your travels. It’s home to their in-house brewed hops which you can taste test (and bring home with you), as well as unique brewery tours which give you a behind the scenes look at how the beer is made!
Where: 79 N 11th St, Brooklyn
5. Brooklyn Bowl
In the mood for some bowling? Williamsburg’s Brooklyn Bowl is one of our favorite alleys to hit some strikes, listen to some tunes, and hang out with friends. Their high-tech lanes make them one of the best in the area, and their DJs and live music they book pairs wonderfully with the food provided by NYC’s Blue Ribbon!
Where: 61 Wythe Ave, Brooklyn
6. Nitehawk Cinema
Nitehawk Cinema is much more than your average movie theater. The Williamsburg entertainment spot is a movie + dining experience that you can’t get in many other places. You’ll be able to watch your desired movie alongside a table-side food and beverage service that has speciality menus.
Where: 136 Metropolitan Ave, Brooklyn
7. Live music
If you’re looking for night time plans in Williamsburg, you should definitely take advantage of Williamsburg’s night clubs and live music venues! Some of our favorites in particular are Music Hall of Williamsburg, Brooklyn Steel, and Baby’s All Right…which welcome in the largest touring artists in the world!
8. McCarren Park
McCarren Park is the much larger park in Williamsburg at 35 acres, and it’s the perfect place to grab some fresh air or a spot on the grass during a nice day. It’s home to so many amenities as well that are available to the public, including a public swimming pool, a full size running track, soccer fields, a tennis center, and much more.
9. Williamsburg Bridge
The eye-catching Williamsburg Bridge connects Brooklyn to Manhattan, and its pedestrian walkway can be a good little stroll if you’re looking for a change of scenery! The route is just over 1 mile long, and will take you right into the Lower East Side after about 30-40 minutes or so. It’s also great for bike rides too!
Best Shopping In Williamsburg
There’s a reason Williamsburg has become so trendy and cool, and it has a lot to do with the vibrant shopping scene that’s taken the neighborhood by storm. Many call it the vintage capital of NYC, but it’s more than that…thanks to hole-in-the-wall boutiques, seasonal pop-ups, and more.
10. Artists & Fleas
For over 20 years, Artists & Fleas in Williamsburg has been showcasing 50+ individual vendors every weekend in their Brooklyn location. Ranging from vintage clothing to art, they turn their former dry goods and provisions warehouse into a shopoholic’s dream of a one-of-a-kind shopping experience. Artists & Fleas is open Saturdays and Sundays from 11 am – 6 pm.
Where: 70 N 7th St
11. McNally Jackson
One of New York City’s most notable independent bookstore chains McNally Jackson has a storefront in Williamsburg! Stop by this lovely literary spot to pick up your next read or even to chat with the lovely staff that loves books as much as you do!
Where: 76 N 4th St Unit G, Brooklyn
12. By Liv Handmade
This sustainable clothing brand based locally in Williamsburg earned our Secret NYC stamp of approval and rightfully so! The studio storefront in Brooklyn is home to plenty of hand-crafted garments created by Liv herself. We’re talking everything from formal wear to her own “Essentials” line!
Where: 293 Manhattan Ave, Brooklyn
13. Awoke Vintage
Awoke Vintage started out in Australia back in 2007 before reaching the streets of Williamsburg, and now it’s a great spot to score your next vintage piece of clothing. There’s a reason it’s been visited by the likes of Olivia Rodrigo, Emily Ratajkowski and more! There’s also a few other locations just a little north in Greenpoint too!
Where: 132 N 5th St, Brooklyn
14. Seven Wonders Collective
Yet another vintage clothing spot on our list, Seven Wonders Collective stocks tons of locally-curated vendors on their shelves.
Where: 203 Grand St
Best Restaurants In Williamsburg
Williamsburg’s culinary scene is one of the best in Brooklyn, and even New York City as a whole. The buzzy neighborhood has attracted local and foreign newcomers that are infatuated with eye-catching cuisines and aesthetic dining rooms. Check out our list of the best restaurants in Williamsburg below.
15. Lilia
We’ll start with one of Williamsburg’s hottest Italian restaurant reservations, and it’s Lilia. Chef Missy Robbins is at the helm here, and it’s gained extreme notoriety in recent years for pasta dishes like the Pink Peppercorn Mafaldini and Rigatoni Diavola. There’s also fish and meat on the menu too, but if you’re lucky enough to snag a table you can’t pass up a chance at what many call “the best pasta in NYC.”
Where: 567 Union Ave, Brooklyn
16. Le Crocodile
Le Crocodile is located inside the Wythe Hotel and takes our spot as the best French restaurant in Williamsburg. The all-day brasserie not only has a gorgeous dining room, but also a divine menu inspired by Paris. We recommend options like the Roast Chicken with Herb Jus and Frites, Escargots with Parsley, Pernod, and Fennel, and Leeks with Vinaigrette and Hazelnuts.
Where: 80 Wythe Ave, Brooklyn
17. Laser Wolf
Score a table on the rooftop of The Hoxton, Williamsburg and you’ll be delighted to an award-winning Isreali spot that includes Manhattan skyline views. All the food here is cooked over charcoal grills, meaning their meat skewers and salatim are some of the best around.
Where: 97 Wythe Ave, Brooklyn
18. The Four Horsemen
The Four Horsemen is the brainchild of James Murphy from LCD Soundsystem, and it’s a delightful wine bar-restaurant combination that you should definitely have a meal at. Of course the natural wine is the celebrity on this menu, but don’t discount bites from their concise menu like Manila Clams, Crispy Potato Pavé, and Olive Oil Poached Cod.
Where: 295 Grand St, Brooklyn
19. Misi
From the same team as Lilia comes Misi, yet another Italian sit-down spot known for handmade pasta and vegetable antipasti. Everything on the menu is delicious, but some of our personal favorites include the Sheep’s Milk Ricotta-filled Occhi, Mezze Rigatoni, and Fettuccine w/ Buffalo Butter.
Where: 329 Kent Ave, Brooklyn
20. Maison Premiere
If you’re seeking the best oysters in Williamsburg, Maison Premiere is an oyster bar is your best bet. Their New Orleans-looking dining room is quite welcoming and their expansive menu of oysters is enough to make your jaw drop. Not to mention they have the largest absinthe list in the US and wines imported from all corners of the globe.
Where: 298 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn
21. L’Industrie Pizzeria
If you only have time to stop for a slice of pizza amongst your Williamsburg travels, let it be at L’Industrie. Don’t be discouraged if you see a line out the door of this pizza shop, it’s worth the wait! Grab a slice of their burrata pizza and thank us later.
Where: 254 S 2nd St, Brooklyn
22. Birds of a Feather
Birds of a Feather is our vote for the best Chinese restaurant in the area, and it’s because their Sichuan cuisine is masterfully carried over from Asia right into Brooklyn. Try out their homemade dim sum, spicy Sichuan noodles, and everything in between. It’s from the same group as Michelin-starred spot Café China, so you know it’s incredible.
Where: 191 Grand St, Brooklyn
23. Sunday in Brooklyn
For a no frills American restaurant, head to Sunday in Brooklyn, which we highly recommend for brunch as well. It’s a neighborhood feel good kinda spot where you can order American classics like a double cheeseburger, hot chicken sandwich, spinach & artichoke dip, and french onion soup. Or go for brunch and get pancakes, steak & eggs, plus more…
Where: 348 Wythe Ave, Brooklyn
24. Birria Landia
Perfect for on-the-go adventures, Williamsburg’s favorite food truck, Birria Landia is home to some of the best tacos in the entire city. The food destination is now nationally recognized as one of the best, and many flock from all over just to experience their mouth-watering birria tacos, tostadas, and quesadillas topped in consome.
Where: 491 Metropolitan Ave, Brooklyn
Best Bars In Williamsburg
Brooklyn’s bar culture is awesome, and attracts a unique crowd that you won’t find in other parts of NYC! There’s a balanced mix too, ranging from hotel cocktail bars to under-the-radar dives. Here’s our favorite places to drink in Williamsburg right now!
25. Barcade
Combine a dive bar with a classic arcade and you get the appopriately named Barcade! Sip on cheap drinks while running up the score in arcade games like Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, and Tetris. There’s also locations in Chelsea and East Village in Manhattan!
Where: 388 Union Ave, Brooklyn
26. Rocka Rolla
Where’s our rock music fans at?! Rocka Rolla’s dive bar will fully immerse you into the culture of the genre, from the blasting ACDC over the loud speakers to the neon band signs on the walls. Grab a beer served in a huge cup and grab a booth while you catch up with friends or people watch around you. It’s one of the best social spots!
Where: 486 Metropolitan Ave, Brooklyn
27. Radegast Hall & Biergarten
Step into Williamsburg’s raucous beer hall and be greeted to German brews, picnic table-style seating, and live music on certain nights. Stop in for a European draught while you feast on jumbo pretzels, bratwurst, schnitzels, and frankfurters (among more).
Where: 113 N 3rd St, Brooklyn
28. Union Pool
Despite not actually having a pool table, Union Pool is a popular weekend spot that welcomes a regular Williamsburg crowd frequently. You can hang in their front room at a booth and chat with friends, or make your way to their outdoor backyard for more mingling and a pull-in taco truck. They even have live music in a backroom on certain nights!
Where: 484 Union Ave, Brooklyn
29. The Commodore
This corner bar is from the team behind Pies ‘n’ Thighs, and attracts a crowd thanks to their kitschy cocktails and fried chicken.
Where: 366 Metropolitan Ave, Brooklyn
30. Westlight
Elevate to the 22nd floor of The William Vale and you’ll walk right into one of our favorite rooftop bars in Williamsburg. Westlight is the perfect spot to impress a date or some friends, thanks to their glassed-in bar room and outdoor table space too.
Where: 111 N 12th St, Brooklyn
31. Bar Blondeau
Bar Blondeau is a French-inspired cocktail lounge that resides in the Wythe Hotel on the Williamsburg waterfront. We recommend trying out their seafood-forward menu and sipping on a glass of their imported natural wines…pinkies up of course.
Where: 80 Wythe Ave, 6th Floor
Best Hotels In Williamsburg
Looking for a place to stay in Williamsburg? The neighborhood is full of beautiful boutique hotels that are perfect for your accommodation. Many of them even have rooftop swimming pools, spas, and more! Check out our favorite Williamsburg hotels below.
32. The William Vale
Since opening in 2016, The William Vale is one of the best…thanks to their amenities, waterfront views, and exceptional rooms. The hotel offers 183 rooms of different price ranges and views, as well as a massive pool, rooftop bar and seasonal skating rink, winter spa, rooftop movie screenings, and a whole lot more.
Where: 111 N 12th St, Brooklyn
33. Arlo Williamsburg
Arlo Williamsburg (formerly The Williamsburg Hotel) is another luxury hotel located along the strip of Wythe Avenue, and features beautiful rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows, a rooftop pool, a Water Tower bar, events like Candlelight Concerts, and more. It’s the perfect place to eat, stay, and play.
Where: 96 Wythe Ave, Brooklyn
34. Wythe Hotel
The Wythe Hotel is an old Brooklyn factory-turned boutique hotel, and the rustic and chic vibes blend beautifully with modern day accents. It’s home to rooms that range from classic Brooklyn stone walls to elevated lofts with leather couches. There’s something for every budget, including at the in-house restaurant Le Crocodile and Bar Blondeau.
Where: 80 Wythe Ave, Brooklyn
35. The Hoxton Williamsburg
The Hoxton Williamsburg has 175 rooms that come complete with modern services and is extremely accessible to the Williamsburg neighborhood. Within the hotel itself, it’s home to multiple restaurants (
Where: 97 Wythe Ave, Brooklyn
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