Williamsburg, Brooklyn is an up-and-coming neighborhood filled with chic, boho vibes, music, art, and a prevalence of young adults. The community has never been more lively following a rezoning in 2005, making Williamsburg a great destination for New York natives and tourists alike.

Manhattan draws millions of tourists worldwide each year with its tried-and-true sights and landmark attractions, but visitors need only take a short subway ride or hop over the Williamsburg Bridge to visit one of the hippest cities in all of New York.

Here are our favorite things to do in Williamsburg Brooklyn.

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Our List of the Best Things to do in Williamsburg Brooklyn

We have found there is a TON of things to do in Williamsburg Brooklyn and think it can be overwhelming if you are visiting. That is why we thought it was best to break it down with our list below! Enjoy!

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The Williamsburg Bridge

If you’re headed to Williamsburg from Manhattan, going over the bridge might be the first activity you do anyway. New York natives often overlook the Williamsburg Bridge, considering it a component of commuting instead of an artistic and architectural attraction. 

Nonetheless, the Williamsburg Bridge, a cerulean suspension bridge constructed from 1896 to 1903, is a sight itself and offers walking, biking, photo ops, and a view of Manhattan and Brooklyn.

There are also plenty of restaurants in the vicinity or underneath the bridge for an unbeatable view. Grab a cup of coffee or a slice to get the day going when you first make it into town.

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Domino Park

Just north of the Williamsburg Bridge you’ll find Domino Park, a brand new public park that includes 5-acres of property, a dancing fountain, a children’s playground, dog run, volleyball court, bocce court, and a sports field.

Opened in 2018, the park is named for the iconic Domino Sugar Refinery which was a conspicuous sight along the banks of the East River. The refinery operated throughout most of the 20th century, and was a total titan in terms of sugar production.

It was for that reason that they shut it down in 2004 because they could no longer sell all that was being processed.

Now, parts of the refinery have been demolished and repurposed into functional pieces for the park and art. Reclaimed syrup tanks serve as statues. All wooden structures like planters and benches are made from wood that was used at the refinery.

Domino Park is not just a great public park, but it contains a storied history and shows us how we can combine recycling, reusing, and repurposing with recreation.

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Take a Walking Tour

Williamsburg is full of history and charm, and a walking tour is the perfect way to explore it. Choose from a variety of tours, including street art, food, and architecture.

Prices vary, but most tours start around $30 per person. If you have a teen that is really into Art, like our Ella, then it is worth checking out!

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McCarren Park

Another famous park on the border of Williamsburg and Greenpoint is McCarren Park. While Domino’s 5-acres include everything you need in a quaint little hangout spot, McCarren sprawls across 36-acres. That’s four city blocks!

The park features softball and soccer fields, volleyball courts, tennis and handball courts, and a running and walking track. On the east side lies the McCarren Play Center,  the Bathhouse, a great brick structure designed and constructed in 1936 by Robert Moses, and a sizable pool.

Unfortunately, the pool remains closed for the 2022 season due to the national lifeguard shortage. However, the adjacent bathhouse received historical landmark status as of 2007, and remains a site for tourists to visit nonetheless.

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Don’t Miss Out on The Shopping

Shopping in Williamsburg, Brooklyn is not to be missed! We listed some of our favorite places below!

Explore Bedford Avenue

This bustling street is the heart of Williamsburg and is filled with trendy shops, cafes, and restaurants. It’s the perfect place to spend a lazy afternoon browsing and people-watching.

Check out the vintage clothing stores

Williamsburg is known for its vintage shops, and there are plenty to choose from. Some of our favorites include Awoke Vintage, Stella Dallas Living, and Monk Vintage Thrift Shop. Prices vary. You know our Ella was all over the vintage stores and absolutely loved them all.

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Brooklyn Bowl

Brooklyn is known for their art and music scene among many other things, and one place where the effects can be seen is at Brooklyn Bowl. Right to the west of McCarren Park, Brooklyn Bowl sounds like your run-of-the-mill bowling alley, but it’s so much more.

By day, families may enjoy Brooklyn Bowl as a great spot for food and bowling using their numerous high-tech lanes. In the evening, the place becomes a haven for live music acts, food, drink, and, you guessed it, bowling too!

Where else can you get a dose of live rock music while knocking down pins and knocking back brews? It’s a unique experience, and guaranteed to stand out in your mind for years to come after a visit.

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Westlight Rooftop Cocktail Bar

Head north to the William Vale Hotel and head to the 22nd floor rooftop bar, Westlight. The lounge offers balconies and glass-in sections that provide guests with a panoramic view of the skyline and near 360-degree viewing of Brooklyn and the adjacent Manhattan.

While the skyline is a visual feast, especially at night when the bright lights illuminate everything in sight, there’s plenty to see at Westlight from the chic decor to the food and mixology artistry.

Fare includes bar basics like sliders and other appetizers, while signature drinks and premium liquors comprise a comprehensive menu of cocktails.

Westlight is a great restaurant and bar, and a superb dining experience all-around.

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Visit the Brooklyn Brewery

Beer isn’t just for adults! This family-friendly brewery offers tours and tastings for all ages.

Visitors can take a tour of the brewery to learn about the brewing process and the history of the Brooklyn Brewery. The tour guides are knowledgeable and passionate about beer, and they’ll walk you through the entire brewing process, from the selection of ingredients to the packaging of the final product.

The tours are free, but if you’re 21 or older, you can opt for a tasting of their delicious beers for an additional cost.

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Barcade

For more beer drinking and retro recreational vibes, head south from McCarren Park and hit up Barcade, Williamsburg’s bar-arcade combo that boasts vintage videogames and a wide selection of craft brews to sample.

Pac-Man, pinball, and Donkey Kong provide endless entertainment reminiscent of the arcade heydays of the 1980s. In keeping with this theme, most games cost merely a quarter, and patrons revive the old tradition of stacking quarters on the machine to signify their place in the queue.

Even without the video games, Barcade is a great place to have a drink because of their constantly rotating selection of high quality beers.

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Visit the George Washington statue

Did you know that Williamsburg has a statue of George Washington? It’s located at the intersection of Broadway and Havemeyer Street and is worth checking out for any history buff.

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Peter Luger’s Steak House

Founded in 1887, Peter Luger’s Steak House is a cash-only old school steakhouse renowned nationally and globally as one of the best steakhouses anywhere in the world.

Using only the finest and most robust cuts of USDA Prime beef, the steaks are second to none and cooked to perfection every time. For maximum flavor, Peter Luger’s uses a dry aging technique on site that regulates the temperature, humidity, and air circulation.

There’s a lot of tradition and care that goes into each Peter Luger’s steak, and it very well may be the best steak you’ve ever had. The sides are standouts as well, and their creamed spinach may be just as famous as the beef.

You can’t go wrong having dinner at the famous Peter Luger’s. Just be sure to make reservations in advance, as the restaurant fills quickly, and bring cash.

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Brooklyn Flea and Artists & Fleas

Brooklyn and Williamsburg are renowned as havens for art and music, but also for fashion and style. A great place to find unique and distinct threads that you can’t get anywhere else requires visiting any of Williamsburg’s prevalent flea markets like Brooklyn Flea and Artists & Fleas.

Artists & Fleas is an especially eclectic marketplace where designers, collectors, curators, tastemakers and fashionistas converge in a creative community of shoppers and sellers. You might find one-of-a-kind styles to sport at your next night out or custom crafts that will work excellent in your apartment back home.

Flea markets may house all sorts of diamonds in the rough. To stop by and check out the wares, head north from Domino Park and the Williamsburg Bridge. Note that the markets are only open on the weekends.

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Nitehawk Cinema

Nitehawk Cinema is an independently-run theater founded in 2011 to provide more than just the movie, but a viewing experience like no other. The theater enjoys status as the first movie theater in New York State to receive a liquor license and the first to provide table service during the movie.

The food is excellent at Nitehawk Cinema, and patrons can enjoy a wide variety of cuisines including American usuals like burgers and salads and Caribbean cuisine like jerk chicken tacos and shrimp ceviche.

In addition, the beer selection is vast and there are premium spirits for signature cocktails and bar classics brought right to your seat during the movie.

Nitehawk Cinema surpasses the Hollywood blockbuster popcorn movie experience and elevates it to a sophisticated viewing experience like no other.

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Take a Food Tour

Williamsburg is home to some of the best food in New York City. Take a food tour and try everything from pizza to bagels to artisanal chocolates. Prices vary. We found this great list to help you choose!

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Devocion Roastery and Coffee Shop

Everyone in Brooklyn knows that the best way to spend a morning or early afternoon is by making a pit stop at a cafe or coffee shop. While endless Dunkins and Starbucks line everywhere in New York, Williamsburg offers more depth to the experience with a wealth of excellent coffee shop options throughout the neighborhood.

Devocion is one of the best around, and they claim to offer the freshest and most flavorful cup of coffee you’ve had anywhere around. We love the coffee, but also are impressed by the architecture of the building and decor of the interior which dates back to when the area was a working waterfront district. 

Industrial flair pervades everything from exposed steel beams and classic Brooklyn bare bricks for a visual experience that sends you back in time while you enjoy an excellent cup of coffee. 

Although Devocion is an unassuming coffee shop where you can have a great cup, it’s also a microcosm of Williamsburg. Everywhere you look and every place you visit is dripping with rich history and old construction that gives us a glimpse into an older world that’s been all but forgotten in our modern day.

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Things to do in Williamsburg Brooklyn: The Overall

Through the art, music, and fashion renaissance happening in Williamsburg right now, we’re seeing an honorable nod to the old ways and a blooming of the new.

There’s a lot to love about Williamsburg, Brooklyn right now.

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Map of Things to do in Williamsburg Brooklyn

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Frequently Asked Questions about Things to Do in Williamsburg Brooklyn

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