Things to Do in Brooklyn

A guide for our wedding weekend

Welcome to Brooklyn! We’re so happy you’re here. Below are a bunch of our favorite places - tap any venue name to open it in Google Maps.

A quick lay of the land: Williamsburg and Greenpoint sit on the East River with sweeping views of Manhattan, killer food, and a buzzy waterfront. Hop on the G Subway going south and then you’ll make your way over to Brooklyn Heights - quieter, leafier, brownstone-lined, with the iconic Promenade overlooking Lower Manhattan. DUMBO sits between them, right under the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges, with the city’s best waterfront park. Wander a few blocks past the Heights and you’re in Cobble Hill - our home! Enjoy the tree-lined streets and indie shops on Court Street - which blends straight into Carroll Gardens, home to some of the borough’s most beloved old-school Italian restaurants.

Eat

Neighborhood classics. Reserve a few days ahead for dinner!

Pizza & Italian

Juliana’s: DUMBO · Coal-fired pies from the original Patsy Grimaldi. The line moves; the pizza is worth it.

Grimaldi’s: DUMBO · The other coal-oven legend, right next door. Pick your team.

Lillo: Cobble Hill · A tiny, candlelit pasta spot - maybe 10 seats, hand-rolled everything, chalkboard menu, BYOB. The most charming dinner in the neighborhood.

Sam’s Restaurant: Cobble Hill · A 90-year-old red-sauce holdout with checkered tablecloths and zero pretense. Cash only.

Frankies 457 Spuntino: Carroll Gardens · Handmade cavatelli, a candlelit dining room, and a back garden that feels like Italy. Our forever favorite.

Lucali: Carroll Gardens · Brick-oven pizza in a candlelit former candy shop. Walk-in only - line up by 4pm or call ahead in person. BYOB. Worth every minute.

Around the world in Brooklyn

Oxomoco: Greenpoint · Wood-fired Mexican with a Michelin star but a casual neighborhood feel. Tacos, mezcal, killer margaritas.

La Vara: Cobble Hill · Michelin-starred Spanish-Moorish small plates in a warm, low-key brownstone room, right around the corner from where we live.

Bar Tabac: Cobble Hill · A long-running French bistro on Smith Street - steak frites, mussels, live jazz on Sundays.

Hibino: Cobble Hill · Kyoto-style obanzai (small seasonal dishes) and house-made tofu.

Brunch & sandwiches

Montague Diner: Brooklyn Heights · A no-frills neighborhood diner on Montague Street - eggs, coffee, the works, no fuss.

Café Luluc: Cobble Hill · Cobble Hill’s famous pancake spot.

Salt’s Cure: Carroll Gardens · Hearty, all-day breakfast favorite - eggs, griddle cakes, house-cured meats.

Court Street Grocers: Cobble Hill · The platonic ideal of a New York sandwich shop. Get the Italian Combo, take it to a park.

Neighborhood bars

Westlight: Williamsburg · 22nd-floor bar at the William Vale with a 360° view of Manhattan. Drinks are pricey, but you’re really paying for sunset.

Harriet’s Rooftop: DUMBO · On top of 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge - Brooklyn Bridge in one direction, the Statue of Liberty in the other.

Long Island Bar: Cobble Hill · Old-school chrome diner reborn as one of the best cocktail spots in Brooklyn. Get the cheeseburger!

Henry Public: Cobble Hill · A turn-of-the-century gastropub with one of the best burgers in the borough and excellent old-fashioneds.

Congress Bar: Cobble Hill · A Court Street cocktail bar around the corner from us.

Clover Club: Carroll Gardens · One of the country’s great cocktail bars with a flawless drink list.

Breweries

Brooklyn Brewery: Williamsburg · The OG. Walk-in tastings, weekend tours, plenty of seating.

Talea Beer: Williamsburg · Female-founded brewery with bright, easy-drinking beers and a cute snack menu.

Threes Brewing: Greenpoint · Beer-nerd favorite; the back room hosts shows and DJs.

Coffee & Pastries

Start your day slow. The pastries here are some of the best in the world.

Devoción: Williamsburg · Cathedral-like flagship roastery with a skylight and a courtyard.

Partners Coffee: Williamsburg · Reliable, friendly, great espresso.

Radio Bakery: Greenpoint · The croissants people are losing their minds over. Get there early.

Diljan: Brooklyn Heights · Persian-inspired bakery - saffron, cardamom, rosewater, beautifully laminated pastries. Unlike anything else nearby. A favorite of Daniel’s.

L’Apartement 4F: Brooklyn Heights · The buzzy French-style bakery on Hicks Street. Sourdough croissants, kouign-amann, the works. Go early - they sell out.

Sights & Strolls

The most Brooklyn thing you can do is walk along the water and act like you’re in a movie.

Domino Park: Williamsburg · Old sugar refinery turned waterfront park. Tacos, fountains, and that view.

McCarren Park: Williamsburg / Greenpoint · Locals reading, dogs off-leash, weekend softball. A perfect afternoon hang.

Smorgasburg: Williamsburg · Saturdays in Marsha P. Johnson State Park — NYC’s legendary outdoor food market. Don’t fill up at the first stall.

Artists & Fleas: Williamsburg · Weekend indoor flea market with vintage, jewelry, and prints. Great for souvenirs.

Brooklyn Bowl: Williamsburg · Bowling, bands, and the famous Blue Ribbon fried chicken under one roof.

Music Hall of Williamsburg: Williamsburg · Mid-sized venue with consistently great bookings. Check the calendar.

Brooklyn Heights Promenade: Brooklyn Heights · A short, level walk with arguably the best Manhattan view in the city.

Walk the Brooklyn Bridge: Brooklyn Heights → Manhattan · Go at sunrise to skip the crowds, or at golden hour for the photos.

Brooklyn Bridge Park: DUMBO / Brooklyn Heights · Six piers of waterfront fun: lawns, basketball, kayaking, the Pier 6 playground, Pebble Beach.

Jane’s Carousel: DUMBO · A restored 1922 carousel inside a glass pavilion under the bridge. Yes, ride it.

Washington Street view: DUMBO · The famous Manhattan-Bridge-framed-by-buildings shot. Go early to beat the photographers.

Time Out Market: DUMBO · Rooftop food hall with a curated lineup of NYC’s best restaurants in one spot.

Cobble Hill Park: Cobble Hill · A pocket-sized, tree-shaded park where the whole neighborhood ends up on Saturday morning.

Court Street stroll: Cobble Hill · Brownstones, indie shops, bakeries, bookstores - walk it slowly from Atlantic down to Carroll.

Atlantic Avenue antiques: Cobble Hill · A run of antique shops on Atlantic between Hoyt and Court. Treasures, oddities, the occasional bargain.

Shop & Browse

Bring a tote. You’ll need it.

Beacon’s Closet: Greenpoint · Legendary vintage. Hunt patiently - the rewards are real.

Catbird: Williamsburg · Dainty, well-loved jewelry brand - the flagship is worth a peek.

Bird: Williamsburg · Beautifully edited boutique; small designers, great gifts.

Brooklyn Flea: DUMBO · Saturdays - antiques, vinyl, vintage clothes.

Front General Store: DUMBO · Beautifully merchandised general store - vintage workwear, ceramics, the lot.

Books Are Magic: Cobble Hill · Emma Straub’s perfect indie bookshop. Don’t miss the back room.

Sahadi’s: Cobble Hill · The Atlantic Avenue Lebanese-American institution since 1948 - olives, spices, dips, dried fruit, the works. A genuine Brooklyn classic.

If You Cross the Bridge

A few classic Manhattan picks for guests with a free afternoon. Nothing fussy — mostly the greatest hits.

Eat & drink

Russ & Daughters Cafe: Lower East Side · Bagels, lox, blintzes, egg creams - a true New York pilgrimage. Get there before noon.

Katz’s Delicatessen: Lower East Side · Pastrami on rye since 1888. Order it the way the carver tells you to.

Joe’s Pizza: West Village · A perfect plain slice, eaten standing up on a Greenwich Village corner. Open late.

Wander

The High Line: Chelsea · Elevated park along an old freight rail line. Walk it from Gansevoort up to Hudson Yards.

Chelsea Market: Chelsea · Snack your way through - lobster rolls, tacos, ice cream, bookstores. Right under the High Line.

Washington Square Park & Greenwich Village: West Village · NYU students, chess players, MacDougal Street brownstones. The wander itself is the activity.

Central Park: Midtown / Uptown · Bethesda Terrace, Bow Bridge, the Ramble, the Met steps. Pick a corner and roam.

Museums & views

The Metropolitan Museum of Art: Upper East Side · You can’t see all of it. That’s fine. Pick a wing and stay until you’re hungry.

MoMA: Midtown · The classics - Starry Night, Water Lilies, the Picassos. Reserve tickets online to skip the line.

Top of the Rock: Midtown · Our pick for the iconic skyline shot (you can see the Empire State Building from up there). Pricey, but worth it once.

A few practical notes

Getting around: The L train connects Williamsburg to Manhattan in minutes. The G is your friend between Williamsburg and Greenpoint. Brooklyn Heights, DUMBO, and Cobble Hill are on the 2/3, 4/5, A/C, F, and R. The NYC Ferry between Williamsburg, DUMBO, and Wall Street is genuinely lovely if the weather cooperates. Cabs and rideshares are everywhere.

Reservations: For Frankies 457, Oxomoco, La Vara, and Clover Club, book a few days to a week out on Resy. Lucali is walk-in only. Most of the rest are walk-in friendly.

See you in Brooklyn ♡