Your Guide to Visiting Brooklyn: Food, Drink, and Things to Do
Let’s get right into it, shall we? I’ve compiled a list based on recommendations from a local source of the best things to eat, drink, and do in Brooklyn, New York City.
If you use this guide, don’t forget to tag me in your photos on Instagram @thisboundlesslife.
Be sure to check local COVID-19 regulations before traveling. When I visited NYC in September 2021, proof of vaccination was required to eat indoors.
Things to Do in Brooklyn
Brooklyn Promenade Heights
Part of Brooklyn’s first Historic Preservation District, this pedestrian walkway offers amazing views of Manhattan, the East River, and the Brooklyn Bridge.
DUMBO
An acronym for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass, the DUMBO neighborhood is known for its cobblestone streets and architecture. DUMBO features art galleries, bookstores, boutiques, and more.
Brooklyn Bridge
Spanning the East River between the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn, you must walk across the bridge and take in the views of the skyline. Don’t forget to snap your Instagram pictures here too!
Brooklyn Bridge Park
This free park, spanning more than 1.3 miles of waterfront, offers almost any recreational activity you could think of while providing stellar views of the Manhattan skyline and the New York Harbor.
Washington Street between Front and Water Street
If you’re looking for an Instagram picture, this is your spot. This intersection is Brooklyn’s most IG-worthy spot with views of the Brooklyn Bridge and the DUMBO cobblestone and unique architecture.
Coney Island
Queue Taylor Swift’s “I’m sitting on a bench in Coney Island…”. Coney Island is a Brooklyn residential neighborhood with everything from an amusement park, to a minor league baseball team, to an aquarium, and even to a world-renowned boardwalk.
Prospect Park
Prospect Park a 585-acre park in Brooklyn perfect for relaxation and recreation.
Brooklyn Botanical Garden
A 52-acre garden in the heart of Brooklyn, this spot is adjacent to Prospect Park and a nature lover’s dream.
Brooklyn Museum
This art museum is home to roughly 1.5 million pieces of work. You can get tickets here.
Barclays Center
If sports are your thing, take a stroll by the home of the Brooklyn Nets.
Williamsburg Smorgasburg Food Market
Smorgasburg is the largest weekly open-air food market in America operating every Saturday and Sunday from April through October.
Bars in Brooklyn
Freddy’s Bar
With a history dating back to Prohibition, this bar is a neighborhood favorite. It features live music, art exhibits, late-night food, and outdoor spaces.
Lucky Dog
This dive bar is dog-friendly, laid-back, and has a nice backyard for humans and canines alike.
Rocka Rolla
This dive bar in Brooklyn is known for its classic-rock décor and super-loud rock music.
Westlight
If you’re looking for something fancier, this rooftop cocktail bar is 22-floors-up which offers breathtaking panoramic skyline views.
Food in Brooklyn
Milk and Honey Café
This neighborhood café in Brooklyn was a personal favorite of mine for an incredible iced matcha latte. Its atmosphere is cute and cozy.
Juliana’s Pizza
This pizza place sells classic and specialty pizzas by pizza legend Patsy Grimaldi.
Di Fara Pizza
Considered by many to be New York City’s best pizza, this pizza place is pricey and has notoriously long waits. Only you can decide if the taste is enough for the price and hours in line.
Grimaldi’s Pizzeria
This is the original, historic Grimaldi’s location which has an open-kitchen concept allowing you to watch the pizza-tossing fun.
MooBurger
This burger joint is the coziest spot for comfort food and specialty shakes. Its meat is always fresh and organic/grass fed. They offer the following choices for their burgers: Beef, Bison, Chicken, or Beyond Meat.
Bonnie’s Grill
Bonnie’s Grill has served up hot and spicy American cuisine for over 20 years.
Williamsburg Pizza
This local chain is another great pizza option for a thin-crust slice.
Desserts in Brooklyn
Martha’s Country Bakery
Whether you’re a coffee lover or have a sweet tooth (or both like me), this local bakery makes its desserts on-site and can whip up a superb cup of coffee.
Kulu Desserts
Kulu Desserts serves Asian desserts such Bubble Waffle, Taro Mochi, and Tong Sui. It also makes crepes and smoothies.
Milk Bar Williamsburg
This bakery is known for its quirky, innovative desserts since 2008.
Brooklyn Cupcake
This cupcake heaven plays on the diversity of Brooklyn by bringing it to life through a classic favorite – cupcakes. It offers favorites like Tres Leches, Coquito, and Tiramisu.
The Brooklyn Sweet Spot
This bakery offers cakes, cupcakes, pies, brownies, cookies, and more. Baked fresh every day and from scratch, this shop serves excellent treats.
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