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12 Amazing Things To Do in Brooklyn Heights (+ Map!)

River Cafe, one of the best things to do in Brooklyn Heights
Best things to do in Brooklyn Heights

With all the fun things to do in Brooklyn Heights, you can spend a lot of time in the neighborhood without getting bored.

Brooklyn Heights is a neighborhood in Brooklyn that you definitely shouldn’t miss out on if you’re going on a trip to NYC. From roller skating to seeing vintage trains to having food with a gorgeous view of Brooklyn Bridge, you’ll be surprised by all the activities in the neighborhood.

If you’re wondering what to do in Brooklyn Heights, I got you covered! This guide includes the most fun activities so you can make the most out of your time in the neighborhood.

Best Things To Do in Brooklyn Heights

Roller Skate at the Pier 2 Roller Rink at Brooklyn Bridge Park

View of Pier 2
View of Pier 2 from the water – Molly NZ / Shutterstock.com

The Pier 2 Roller Rink at Brooklyn Bridge Park is one of the best places to visit when you are in Brooklyn Heights.

This is a roller rink that you can find on Pier 2, which extends into the East River.

It is a large outdoor skating rink that is covered, which means that you can always go there no matter the weather outside. In addition to that, what’s great is that you can enjoy a view of Manhattan while rollerskating here.

Going to the Pier 2 Roller Rink at Brooklyn Bridge Park is also a great idea for a birthday party!

Go to the New York Transit Museum

Vintage train at the New York Transit Museum
Train at the New York Transit Museum – Felix Lipov / Shutterstock.com

A great thing to do in Brooklyn Heights is to go to the New York Transit Museum.

This is a unique museum that you can find inside the former Court Stree subway station which is no longer in use. This subway station can be found at Schermerhorn Street.

The museum focuses on transportation in New York City and covers all types of transportation. For example, you can go here to learn about the NYC Subway, railways, the tunnels of the city, and much more.

You can find a lot of memorabilia related to these topics, and you can also find historic subway railcars at the museum. Furthermore, there are often events at the museum, including vintage rides during which you can ride a historic subway railcar that is no longer in use.

Address: 99 Schermerhorn St, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Have Dinner at the River Cafe

The River Cafe in NYC
The River Cafe in New York City

The River Café is a wonderful restaurant that you can find next to the Brooklyn Bridge. The bridge is located on the river and is in part underneath the bridge.

At this restaurant, you can enjoy incredible food that I’m sure you are going to enjoy. The dinner menu includes dishes with unique ingredients. For example, you can get incredible Gnocchi with truffles here, and the desserts of this restaurant, such as its “Chocolate Brooklyn Bridge”, are incredible to try!

Moreover, The River Café has a great atmosphere and what’s great is that, because of the restaurant’s location, you can admire an incredible view of the skyline of Manhattan when you are having dinner here.

Address: 1 Water St, Brooklyn, NY 11201

See the Brooklyn Bridge at the Brooklyn Bridge Lookout

Brooklyn Bridge Lookout in NYC
Brooklyn Bridge Lookout

The Brooklyn Bridge is one of the most famous bridges in NYC. It was built at the end of the 19th century and has a beautiful and impressive architectural style.

There are several places in Brooklyn Heights from where you can see this iconic landmark, and doing so is a lot of fun.

Going to the Brooklyn Bridge Lookout is one of the best activities in Brooklyn Heights. This place offers an incredible view of the bridge and it is also a great place for photos.

Explore the Brooklyn Heights Promenade

People walking at Brooklyn Heights Promenade
People at Brooklyn Heights Promenade – kristof lauwers / Shutterstock.com

The Brooklyn Heights Promenade is a wonderful place in the neighborhood to explore.

It is a walking path along the East River from where you can enjoy amazing views of Manhattan and its skyline and the New York Harbor.

Furthermore, you can find beautiful nature along the walkway, which makes it a wonderful place for a relaxing stroll or jog. In addition to that, there are many benches on the promenade, which are great if you want to relax as well.

See an Outdoor Movie at Movies With a View in Brooklyn Bridge Park

For those who like movies, this next activity is a great activity to consider when you are in Brooklyn Heights.

You can go to Movies With a View in Brooklyn Bridge Park.

This is a free outdoor film series that takes place in the months of July and August. This film series takes place on the Harbor View Lawn of Pier 1 in Brooklyn Heights on eight Thursdays in summer.

During the events of the film series, you can see a film while being outdoors while you can enjoy a view of the Manhattan skyline and the East River, which is amazing!

Go to the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory and Have Ice Cream

Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory from the outside
Exterior of the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory – Julien Hautcoeur / Shutterstock.com

The Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory is a wonderful ice cream shop that you can find in Brooklyn Heights.

This ice cream shop is located at 14 Old Fulton Street but used to be at a different location in the city. The original ice cream store was located inside a former 1922 fireboat, very close to the current location.

At the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory, you can get amazing ice cream and it is one of the best ice cream shops in New York City. This ice cream store makes fresh ice cream in small batches and in unique flavors.

Furthermore, what’s great is that you can enjoy ice cream with a view of the Brooklyn Bridge here.

Address: 14 Old Fulton St, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Go to the Center for Brooklyn History

You can find the Center for Brooklyn History in the neighborhood and going there is one of the best things to do in Brooklyn Heights. This is a museum and library that was created in 1863, and it is dedicated to the history of Brooklyn.

The center organizes interesting exhibitions with objects related to the borough’s history. These objects include historic maps, old pamphlets, objects related to firefighting, and much more.

In addition to that, one can see paintings at the center that can be interesting to see. The center also organizes the types of events related to Brooklyn’s history.

Furthermore, the center is located inside a beautiful Romanesque Revival building that dates back to the end of the 19th century.

Address: 128 Pierrepont St, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Explore Montague Street

Montague Street in New York City
Montague Street – Warren Eisenberg / Shutterstock.com

Montague Street is one of the most famous streets in Brooklyn, and it is a must-see in Brooklyn Heights.

The street is home to many interesting stores and historic buildings, which makes it perfect for a relaxing stroll.

In addition to that, one can find many restaurants and other eateries on the street, such as the Brooklyn Cat Cafe, which is a cafe with great drinks and cute cats.

Shop at Henry Street

Another great street to check out when you are in Brooklyn Heights is Henry Street. This is a beautiful street with interesting architecture and trees that line the street.

The street is great if you want to go for a relaxing walk when you are in Brooklyn.

Also, the street is home to interesting shops and great eateries.

For example, you can find the Brooklyn Farmacy & Soda Fountain here, which is a wonderful place for tasty ice cream, good coffee, and much more.

Go for a Stroll at Brooklyn Bridge Park

Trees and grass in Brooklyn Bridge Park
Trees in Brooklyn Bridge Park – jumis / Shutterstock.com

Brooklyn Bridge Park is a beautiful park located on one side of the East River in Brooklyn Heights.

The park has a beautiful design and greenery, which makes it ideal for a stroll or a bike ride. In addition to that, there are historic 19th-century structures in the park that are very interesting to see.

Moreover, the park includes Pier 1 to Pier 6 and you can find the Fulton Ferry Landing here.

Another one of the highlights of Brooklyn Bridge Park is Jane’s Carousel, which is a historic carousel that dates back to the year 1922 and was built by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company. Although this sight in the park is located a bit outside of Brooklyn Heights, going here when you explore Brooklyn Bridge Park is a lovely activity!

Go to the Brooklyn Cat Cafe

Do you like cats? Then, going to the Brooklyn Cat Cafe is a perfect thing to do in Brooklyn Heights.

This is the only non-profit cat cafe that you can find in New York City. This place is dedicated to ‘rescuing and rehoming’ cats that don’t have a room.

At the cafe, the public can engage with the cats in a comfortable setting. There are several spaces in which you can have a nice time with the cats, and if you like one of the cats a lot, you may decide to adopt it.

You can also get bottled drinks at The Brooklyn Cat Cafe when you are engaging with the cats.

Address: 76 Montague St, Brooklyn, NY 11201

More Brooklyn Articles

Things to do with kids in Brooklyn

Things to do at night in Brooklyn

What To Do in Brooklyn Heights Tips

Brooklyn Heights is a lovely neighborhood with beautiful streets, and the neighborhood isn’t very large, so exploring the neighborhood on foot is a great idea.

For example, if you can’t decide what to do in Brooklyn Heights, you can combine several of the activities on this list and walk from one place to the other place. That way, you can have several hours of fun in Brooklyn Heights.

Brooklyn Bridge and the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory
Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory and the Brooklyn Bridge – f11photo / Shutterstock.com

Things To Do in Brooklyn Heights Map


As you see, there are many great things to do in Brooklyn Heights. I hope I helped you decide what to do!

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