30+ Fun Things to do in Williamsburg Brooklyn

Ready to explore one of NYC’s most exciting neighborhoods? Williamsburg is known for its vintage shops, exceptional food scene and hipster vibe. There’s so much to do right off the L-train, so let this guide kick start your adventures. With more than 30 fun things to do in Williamsburg Brooklyn, you won’t have any trouble building your perfect Williamsburg day trip itinerary.

Getting There

If you are heading to Williamsburg from Manhattan, you will most likely need to take the L-Train. This line makes stops along 14th Street in Manhattan. Depending on where you want to start exploring in Williamsburg, you can get out at Bedford Ave, Lorimer St, Graham Ave. or Grand St.

You can also take the J or M trains from Manhattan to South Williamsburg. If you are traveling from Queens or another part of Brooklyn, take the G train to the Metropolitan Av or Broadway stations.

Want to take a ferry? Hop on the East River ferry at Wall St/Pier 11 to reach North Williamsburg.

Transportation in Williamsburg

Williamsburg is a very walkable area, so once you arrive you can travel on foot. If you prefer, you can take the subway to get around Williamsburg. But most things are close enough that you shouldn’t need to get on the train. Another option is to rent a Citi Bike and pedal around the neighborhood.

Good to Know

You might have heard about the L Train shut down that interrupted subway service on nights and weekends to Williamsburg. Luckily, this project wrapped up ahead of schedule in April 2020 and regular subway service has returned to the L Train.

30+ Fun Things to do in Williamsburg Brooklyn

Delicious Eats:

Williamsburg has tons of incredible eateries. The only question is where to start! This list just scratches the surface but these are the Williamsburg restaurants that I’ve loved or have my eye on:

Llama Inn (50 Withers St)- Come here for the chic atmosphere and modern Peruvian dishes from Chef Erik Ramirez. You’ll enjoy elevated twists on classics like Lomo Saltado (my favorite) and ceviche in this Bib Gourmand and 2 Star NYTimes-reviewed spot. Enjoy craft cocktails with dinner or on the rooftop bar. You’ll find options like the Llama Del Rey (Pisco, Rum, Red Wine, Chicha Morada, Lime, Grilled Pineapple, Pink Peppercorn) in this cocktail program, which was expertly created by Lynnette Marrero.

Joe’s Pizza (216 Bedford Ave)- If you are looking for a classic NY slice, you’re in the right place. Joe’s first opened in Greenwich Village in 1975 and it has since opened multiple locations throughout the city (including this spot in Williamsburg). It’s a no fills spot that was once named “best pizza in New York” by New York Magazine. As you pick up your order, admire the walls which are filled with photos of celebrities enjoying their slices.

Best Pizza (33 Havemeyer St)- When making a food list for NYC, how could you just include one pizza spot? Frank Pinello (graduate of the Culinary Institute of America at Hyde Park) opened Best Pizza in Williamsburg in 2010. He combined what he learned in school, throughout his career and what his Sicilian grandmother taught him to create incredible wood-fired slices.

Tacombi (242 Metropolitan Ave)- You’ll find these bright, inviting Mexican eateries in a few locations around NYC. The Williamsburg outpost is close to the Bedford Ave station. So, it won’t be too long once you hop off the L Train until you are enjoying authentic Mexican tacos or aguas frescas.

Le Crocodile (80 Wythe Ave)- The Wythe Hotel is home to this 3 Star NYTimes-reviewed French brasserie. Brunch, lunch and dinner are available in the dining room, terrace or charming sidewalk cafe.

Lilia (567 Union Ave)- Here you can enjoy Italian seafood and pasta dishes in a renovated autobody shop. It’s from Chef Missy Robbins, who happens to be one of President Obama’s favorite chefs.

Reunion (544 Union Ave)- This is an Israeli cafe serving breakfast dishes all day. Order a mezze spread or try one of the best shakshukas in NYC.

Birds of a Feather (191 Grand St)- This bright Szechuan spot comes from the same team who runs Cafe China in Manhattan. Here you can try modern and original takes on classic Szechuan dishes.

The Best Treats:

30+ Fun Things to do in Williamsburg Brooklyn- The Adventuring Millennial

When you are thinking about all of the fun things to do in Williamsburg Brooklyn, don’t forget about getting a treat (or two)!

Mr. Dips (111 N 12th St)- Stop by Vale Park for ice cream with a view. Order a specialty ice cream cone from the vintage airstream and enjoy your Chocolate P.B.D. (dark cocoa + salted peanut butter drip) or Lickety Split (banana-berry twist + soda fountain toppings) while soaking in the waterfront sights.

Milk Bar (9382 Metropolitan Ave)- If you’ve never tried Milk Bar, the Williamsburg location is a perfect place to start! This is Pastry Chef Christina Tosi’s imaginative bakery where you can order slices of birthday cake or try cereal milk soft serve.

Martha’s Country Bakery (263 Bedford Ave)- Once you see the pastry case, it’s going to be hard to leave with just one treat. This is a classic American bakery serving everything from cheesecake slices to cake pops.

Doughnut Plant (198 Bedford Ave)- This NYC-doughnut staple serves a variety of sourdough, yeast, vegan and cake doughnuts. Fun fact- this bakery created the world’s first filled square doughnuts.

Dun-Well Doughnuts (222 Montrose Avenue)- This all-vegan doughnut shop has a rotating menu of over 200 flavors. You’ll find classics like vanilla sprinkle and creative combinations like pistachio raspberry pie.

Van Leeuwen Ice Cream (204 Wythe Ave)- Here you’ll find artisanal scoops made from high-quality ingredients. Both dairy and non-diary options are available in a selection of flavors like Honeycomb, Passionfruit Layer Cake and Brown Sugar Cookie Dough Chunk.

Where to Grab a Drink:

Williamsburg has tons of breweries and wine bars. Here are some of my favorites.

Talea Beer Co. (87 Richardson St)- This women-owned brewery (the first one in NYC!) just opened in March 2021 and already has so much buzz. It’s the type of place to go with people who don’t usually like beer. You can relax at a sidewalk table, order a flight of brightly colored sours (the Pink Berry Punch Sour Ale is especially delicious) and catch up with friends you haven’t seen in a while.

Brooklyn Brewery (79 N 11th St)- This microbrewery evolved in the 1980s from two Brooklyn neighbors quitting their jobs to follow their brewing dreams. Today, their brews are available in more than 30 counties. Enjoy the local brews for yourself in the indoor or outdoor tasting rooms. There’s currently a waitlist to be notified when brewery tours start up again.

Hound’s Tree (335 Bedford Ave)- Get a taste for Long Island’s North Fork in Williamsburg. Hound’s Tree is the only estate winery tasting room in NYC. Browse the curated menu for a selection of Hound’s Tree’s best wines plus food pairings from New York growers and fishers.

The Essential Coffee Shops:

Williamsburg is packed with excellent cafes. But if you have to narrow it down, here are the ones you can’t skip.

Devocion (69 Grand St)- If you’ve been following my adventures for a while, you’ll know that Devocion is my favorite coffee shop in New York. The Williamsburg location is huge, has a greenhouse feel with the skylight + tons of plants inside and serves incredible fresh coffee that goes from being harvested in Colombia to being roasted in Brooklyn just 10 days. Whatever you do- don’t forget to get a croissant while you’re here!

Hungry Ghost Coffee (231 Bedford Ave)- Hungry Ghost first opened in Brooklyn in 2012 and now the local chain has 13 locations around the city. This cafe partnered with Stumptown Coffee from the beginning and continues to serve excellent espresso drinks.

Partners Coffee (125 N 6th St)- The Williamsburg roastery opened in 2012 (under the name Toby’s Estate) and the Brooklyn company has only continued to grow. You know you want to order a cortado with their flagship Bedford espresso to go so you can sip it outside on Bedford Ave.

Blue Bottle (76 N 4th St Store A)- In the 2000s, the first Blue Bottle locations opened in California. They served coffee to order made with the pour-over method. Today, locations have expanded to Japan, Korea and other US locations. Order a pour over or a New Orleans-style iced coffee.

Variety Coffee (368 Graham Ave)- This Williamsburg-based roastery serves some of the best coffee in the city. Sit at one of the sidewalk tables to get some work done or catch up with friends as you sip your iced latte (that’s what I’m drinking anyways).

The Best Things to Do:

Alright, we’ve talked about the food + drinks, so now it’s time to dive into all of the fun things to do in Williamsburg Brooklyn.

Relax at a park– There are plenty of grassy spots where you can picnic or just sit back and soak up the sun.
- Domino Park (300 Kent Ave)- This 5-acre park on the East River is my favorite spot to relax in Williamsburg. Here you can take in the views of the Manhattan skyline or the old Domino Sugar Refinery. You play bocce or beach volleyball before visiting Tacocia for some delicious tacos and cocktails.
- Marsha P. Johnson State Park (90 Kent Ave)- This park is partly under construction but once it fully reopens, it will feature tons of updated amenities. This park used to be called East River State Park and offers an excellent view of the Manhattan skyline. It was recently renamed in honor of Marsha P. Johnson, the legendary Black transgender woman who pioneered the LGBTQ civil rights movement in NYC and was a major figure in the Stonewall Uprising.
- McCarren Park (776 Lorimer St)- This sprawling park is part of both the Williamsburg and Greenpoint neighborhoods. It’s the perfect place to BBQ, go for a run or meet up with friends to play soccer or baseball. A greenmarket is held here year-round on Saturdays.

Sample eats from the area’s best food trucks at Smorgasburg– The country’s largest open-air food market has attracted thousands of hungry visitors to Williamsburg since it first launched in 2011. The Williamsburg location is expected to reopen in Summer 2021 so stay tuned for updates. (P.S. a new Jersey City location is officially opening this summer!)

Ride the ferry– If you want to get out on the water but stay on a budget, the ferry is the way to go. For just $2.75 you can hop on the ferry at North Williamsburg and travel to Wall St./Pier 11 while taking in the incredible views of downtown Manhattan. The ferry also travels from Williamsburg to Greenpoint, 34th Street in Manhattan and Hunter’s Point South.

Visit the vintage shops around Bedford Ave– Williamsburg is known for having some great vintage shops. You can hop between many of these if you stay right around Bedford Ave.
- Awoke Vintage (132 N 5th St)
- Amarcord Vintage Fashion (223 Bedford Ave)
- Buffalo Exchange (504 Driggs Ave)
- 10 ft Single by Stella Dallas (285 N 6th St)
- Artists & Fleas (70 N 7th St)- this vintage market is only opened on Saturdays + Sundays

Go for a Citi Bike ride– See the sights while getting in a bit of a workout. There are multiple Citi Bike stations in Williamsburg + some great routes (like this one along the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway). If you don’t have a membership, you can take a single 30-minute trip for $3.50. Or, buy a $ 15-day pass that gives you unlimited 30-minute trips (but to go longer than 30-minutes without paying you would have to dock and unlock a new bike after each 30-minute segment).

Ready to explore Williamsburg? There’s so much to do! I hope my guide to some of the most fun things to do in Williamsburg Brooklyn helped give you some inspiration for summer fun!

Looking for more than just fun things to do in Williamsburg Brooklyn? Check out these posts:

Your Guide to Visiting the High Line Park in Summer 2021

Central Park Self-Guided Walking Tour