10 Things to Do in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, I Keep Recommending
The Williamsburg Bridge lit up at night with the Manhattan skyline in the background, Brooklyn, NY.
I lived in Williamsburg for a few years, and I'm never short of reasons to go back. There's a Japanese-inspired outdoor shop where I always walk out with something I didn't realize I needed, brunch at a place that still feels like a treat no matter how many times I've been, and a dine-in movie theater with a lineup that mixes first-run releases with indie films and 35mm classics. These are the things that make a slower day in Williamsburg worth having, and I hope they bring you the same comfort they bring me.
1. Upstate Stock: Fresh Coffee and New York-Made Goods
Upstate Stock is a local business specializing in fine knitwear and sustainable, American-made products, mostly upstate New York-themed. I stop in for their brewed coffee and the (most delicious) flourless chocolate walnut cookies after a fun browse around the store.
2. Ten Ichi Mart & Deli: Ramen, Snacks, and a Reason to Linger
Ten Ichi Mart on Berry Street is part Japanese grocery, part deli, with a few other locations around New York City. I love dining in for a bowl of ramen, picking up my favorite snacks, and browsing the housewares before I leave.
3. Mogutable: Thoughtfully Sourced Design from Two Taiwanese Sisters
Mogutable is a little slice of thoughtfully sourced design tucked into Williamsburg, pulling from Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, and the U.S. Founded by two sisters, born and raised in Taiwan, with a second location now in the East Village. I've walked out with a wooden spoon or a ceramic mug more than once.
4. Sunday in Brooklyn: My Answer to "Where's Good for Brunch"
The hazelnut maple praline pancakes alone are worth the trip, but Sunday in Brooklyn is a genuinely fun spot for a slow day (cocktails included). My recommendation: sit inside for the full experience.
5. Snow Peak: My Guilty Pleasure Outdoor Shop
Snow Peak sells premium, Japanese-designed camping gear and technical apparel, and their Williamsburg, Brooklyn store is my guilty pleasure every time I walk past. I always leave with something extra I didn't plan on buying, but everything I've bought there has earned its keep.
6. Beco Bar: A Taste of Brazil in Williamsburg
Beco Bar brings São Paulo's neighborhood bar energy to Williamsburg, with bauru sandwiches, strogonoff de frango, and caipirinhas by the pitcher, in a space that feels like a trip to Brazil without leaving Brooklyn.
7. McNally Jackson Books: Easy to Spend an Hour (or Three)
McNally Jackson Books has locations across the city. However, the Williamsburg outpost still feels like its own thing, with high ceilings, curated tables, and a selection that makes an hour (or several) disappear.
8. Devoción: Colombian Coffee, Roasted Days from Origin
Devoción's Williamsburg café is their flagship, and the only company in the world roasting truly farm-fresh coffee within 10 days of leaving origin, sourced directly from Colombia. Beyond the coffee, the industrial space (a former warehouse, all skylights and greenery) makes sitting down for a cup and a chocolate croissant feel like an occasion.
9. Nitehawk Cinema: 35mm, Cocktails, and Whatever's Screening
Nitehawk Cinema is an independent dine-in movie theater with locations in Williamsburg and Prospect Park, known for being the first in the state to serve alcohol and bring food tableside during the show. Even the menu plays along; dishes are named and themed around whatever's screening. My brother and I still talk about the Home Alone brunch we caught here. One of those afternoons that turns into a core memory.
10. Domino Park: Still the Best Sunset in Williamsburg
This was our daily stroll when we lived in Williamsburg, and it's still the first place we go back to whenever we're in the neighborhood. Domino Park sits right on the East River, with the Williamsburg Bridge and Manhattan skyline as the backdrop — a dog run, a playground, and a Sunday Greenmarket, with newer spots like Café Susanne just steps away for coffee or a sunset drink after. But the real reason to come is to stay for the sunset, watching the sun drop behind the skyline.
Williamsburg is changing quickly, even since I lived there. Every time I go back, there's something new. But I have an endless list of spots I love, and these are the 10 I always find myself telling people they have to check out.
✧ For the intentionally curious traveler - pass it on.
If you have more time to explore Brooklyn, I recommend: A Perfect Day in Dumbo, Brooklyn: 12-Hour Guide
Karen Gomez
I'm a NYC-based travel writer, photographer, and the founder of Passport in Photos — for those who want to feel somewhere, not just see it.