If you’re visiting NYC, you definitely shouldn’t miss out on Williamsburg as there are a lot of fun things to do in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
The neighborhood has a lot to offer. From seeing art to listening to music to having a drink with a view, you’ll be surprised by all the fun activities!
Whether you’re staying in the neighborhood or going there for a day, just be sure to put these Williamsburg things to do on your list. I made sure to include a large variety of fun things to see and do to help you make the most out of your time here.
Best Things To Do in Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Go to The Watertower Bar for a Drink With a View
The Watertower Bar is a great rooftop bar that you can find in Brooklyn’s Williamsburg neighborhood.
This rooftop bar is located inside of The Williamsburg Hotel at 96 Wythe Avenue. From up there, you can enjoy a great view of the East River and the skyline of Manhattan.
You can get delicious drinks and food here.
This is also an incredible spot if you want to take photos when you are in Williamsburg.
You can also find this spot close to Smorgasburg, Brooklyn Bowl, and many other great places in the neighborhood! So you can combine going to those places.
Address: 96 Wythe Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11249
Go to Partners Coffee
Partners Coffee is a specialty coffee shop where you can get very flavorful coffee drinks.
This coffee shop uses great single-origin coffees and other types of coffee.
In addition to that, there are unique drinks, including seasonal coffee drinks, and you can get coffees made using a variety of techniques, such as cold brew coffee.
This coffee shop also has great seating, including outdoor seating, which makes it a great place if you want to have a relaxing time.
Address: 125 N 6th St, Brooklyn, NY 11249
Go to a Concert at the Music Hall of Williamsburg
The Music Hall of Williamsburg is a great place to check out if you’re wondering what to do in Williamsburg. This is one of the best music venues in New York City that is operated by The Bowery Presents.
This live music venue used to be the rock club called Northsix, but that club closed. The club was renovated and transformed into the Music Hall of Williamsburg.
This venue has a capacity of 650 people and it is a standing-room-only venue where you can listen to great live music during most days of the week.
You can listen to a wide variety of genres at this concert venue. For example, up-and-coming rock bands perform at this venue, and the venue is a great place in general for discover new music.
Address: 66 N 6th St, Brooklyn, NY 11211
Go to Artists & Fleas Williamsburg
Artists & Fleas is a great shop that opened in 2003 and that you can find at 70 North 7th Street.
It is an indoor market where you can find more than 50 different sellers every weekend. These sellers sell many different items. From art to design to fashion, you can find it here.
The sellers are designers, creators, curators, collections, and there are many other kinds of sellers. Because of this, you can be sure of finding a unique item when you go here.
Address: 70 N 7th St, Brooklyn, NY 11249
Relax at Domino Park
Domino Park is a great park in the neighborhood that you can find on the waterfront next to the East River. This is a park located on the former Domino Sugar Refinery.
The park has an area of 5 acres and spans about 0.25 miles.
Going to this park is a very fun thing to do in Williamsburg as you can enjoy a great view of the East River and the skyline of Manhattan from there.
What’s great is that you can find several lawns here, which makes the park one of the best places for a picnic in NYC.
In addition to that, there is an elevated walkway where you can go for a relaxing stroll.
Also, the park has a very central location and you can find many restaurants and stores near it.
Address: 15 River St, Brooklyn, NY 11249
See a Movie at Nitehawk Cinema
Nitehawk Cinema is a great dine-in movie theater where you can see both independent movies and blockbuster movies while you can enjoy great food at the same time.
Through its very varied film selection which includes independent films, classics, and the latest movies, this is a movie theater that is great to visit for everyone.
What’s great is that there are also often special events at the movie theater. For example, you can sometimes meet filmmakers in person here. Also, there are sometimes live performances at Nitehawk Cinema.
The theater has two locations in Brooklyn, and one of these locations is in the Williamsburg neighborhood. You can find Nitehawk Cinema at 136 Metropolitan Avenue.
Nitehawk Cinema is also amazing if you’re looking for date ideas in New York City.
Address: 136 Metropolitan Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11249
Have Coffee at Devoción
Devoción Coffee is a great coffee shop with several cafes in Manhattan and Brooklyn, and one of these locations is located in Williamsburg.
At this coffee shop, you can get very fresh coffee that is directly sourced by Devoción from their network of independent coffee producers. The coffee beans travel from Colombia to Brooklyn in just a few days, the beans then get roasted, and you can get a fresh cup of coffee.
What’s unique about this process is that you can drink coffee here made with beans that only 10 days before left their origin, which is a huge difference in comparison to other coffee shops where it usually takes months.
The coffee here is very delicious and I’m sure that you’ll like it a lot.
Also, what’s great is that the interior of this coffee shop is very cozy and elegant.
Address: 69 Grand St, Brooklyn, NY 11249
Listen to Live Music at Brooklyn Steel
At 319 Frost Street, you can find Brooklyn Steel. This is one of the best music venues in Brooklyn. It is operated by The Bowery Presents, which is an organization that also operates many other live music venues in the city.
This venue has a capacity of 1,800 people and it is located in a historic warehouse, which is a great space to see a concert.
Lots of different types of concerts take place here that make for incredible things to do in Williamsburg, and in the past many famous musicians performed at Brooklyn Steel.
In addition to that, Brooklyn Steel is a great place if you want to attend concerts by indie artists.
Address: 319 Frost St, Brooklyn, NY 11222
Listen to Great Music at Brooklyn Bowl
Brooklyn Bowl is a great venue that is located in Williamsburg. You can find this live music venue at 61 Wythe Avenue.
At Brooklyn Bowl, you can enjoy great live music by rock artists, and artists that perform other genres of music.
But Brooklyn Bowl is not only great for its live music events, this is also a bowling alley with 16 bowling lanes and you can get delicious food from Blue Ribbon food when you are here. This is all possible in the same building!
Moreover, what’s great is that the Brooklyn Bowl building is a historic building that dates back to the year 1882, and used to be a factory.
Address: 61 Wythe Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11211
Go to Williamsburg Cinemas and See a Movie
Williamsburg Cinemas is a movie theater that is located at 217 Grand Street.
This movie theater is a modern place with 7 screens. Each screen uses a Dolby sound system, such that you can enjoy great sound when you see a movie here.
Furthermore, what’s great is that you can get delicious concessions here, such as popcorn, that are also very affordable in comparison to other movie theaters.
What’s interesting to know about the movie theater as well is that many premieres of movies took place here.
Seeing a movie at Williamsburg Cinemas is also one of the best date ideas in Brooklyn.
Address: 217 Grand St, Brooklyn, NY 11211
Try Out Delicious Food at Smorgasburg
Smorgasburg is a great weekly open-air food market that is one of the most popular sights in Williamsburg.
This food market started in 2011 and it is a great place to check out during the summer months.
At Smorgasburg there are a lot of vendors that serve delicious food. In total, there are more than 75 vendors at this place. Each vendor serves a different type of food, so you can be sure that you can get food here that you’ll like! This is especially great when you go here with friends that all have different preferences.
Furthermore, the many vendors make it possible to discover new cuisines that you might love!
You can find Smorgasburg in Williamsburg at the Marsha P. Johson State Park at 90 Kent Avenue.
Address: 90 Kent Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11211
Go to The City Reliquary
The City Reliquary is a museum that you can find at 370 Metropolitan Avenue.
This is a nonprofit museum where you can learn about the history of each borough of New York City.
At the museum, you can see permanent displays with interesting artifacts from New York City. Many of these objects relate to specific historical events that took place in the city. For example, you can find objects here related to the 1964-1965 New York World’s Fair.
In addition to that, there are often temporary exhibitions at the museum, and there are events, such as film series, talks, and workshops at the City Reliquary Museum.
Address: 370 Metropolitan Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11211
See the Williamsburg Bridge
One of the most iconic bridges in NYC, the Williamsburg Bridge, is a bridge that connects the Lower East Side of Manhattan with Brooklyn’s Williamsburg. Seeing this bridge is one of the best activities in Williamsburg.
This is a historic bridge that opened in the year 1903. It is a suspension bridge and what’s interesting to know is that this bridge was the longest suspension bridge in the world when it opened, a record which the bridge held for more than 20 years.
The total span of the bridge is 1,600 feet, which is amazing. Furthermore, the towers that you can see at both ends of the bridge have a high of 310 feet.
In addition to that, the bridge has a beautiful design.
Bowl at The Gutter
The Gutter NYC is a bowling alley with several locations in New York City, and one of these locations can be found in Williamsburg. You can find this place at 200 North 14th Street.
There are 8 vintage hardwood lanes at the Williamsburg location.
What’s great is that this bowling alley has a very cozy and nice atmosphere.
The bowling alley also has a pool table and a large bar area where you can get all kinds of drinks, including American independent craft beers.
Keep in mind that you have to be 21+ years old to go to The Gutter.
Address: 200 N 14th St, Brooklyn, NY 11249
Get Delicious Food at Shelter
Shelter is a wonderful pizza restaurant that you can find in the neighborhood at 168-170 Wythe Avenue.
There are many delicious types of pizza to choose from. For example, you can go for the classic Margherita pizza, which is a very delicious option.
There are also unique types of pizza to choose from. For example, you can get a Brussels sprouts pizza at this place.
In addition to that, this restaurant also serves great burgers, empanadas, and lots of other main dishes.
Also, when you are having dinner here you should definitely check out one of the restaurant’s delicious desserts. For example, you can get a delicious slice of chocolate lava cake.
Address: 168-170 Wythe Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11249
Play Arcade Games at Barcade
Barcade is one of the most fun places to check out in Brooklyn’s Williamsburg.
This is a video arcade with several locations in the United States. The first location opened in Brooklyn, and you can find the Williamsburg location at 388 Union Avenue.
At Barcade, you can find a lot of different types of vintage arcade games that can be a lot of fun to play. You can play each one for a very low fee.
In addition to that, Barcade is also a bar, so you can also get delicious drinks here. For example, you can get great American craft beer here.
Address: 388 Union Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11211
Get a Delicious Sandwich at Anthony & Son Panini Shoppe
Anthony & Son Panini Shoppe is one of the best places in NYC to get a sandwich.
This is a sandwich shop that has been in operation since the year 1994 when it was founded by Anthony and his family.
You can get delicious classic New York Italian sandwiches here with a contemporary take.
There are so many different types of sandwiches and paninis to choose from, so I’m sure there is one that you’ll like!
Keep in mind that there is sometimes a line in front of this sandwich shop because it is such a popular place.
Address: 433 Graham Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11211
Go to the Brooklyn Brewery
Brooklyn Brewery is a microbrewery that you can find at 79 North 11th Street. The brewery was founded in the year 1988 and produces many different types of craft beers.
When you are in the neighborhood, you can go to the tasting room of Brooklyn Brewery. Here, you can try their beers.
In addition to that, there are often events at the brewery that you can attend. For example, there are often live music events, trivia nights, and other types of events.
Also, you can do a tour of the brewery which is also a very fun activity in Williamsburg. There are free tours during which you can learn about the brewing process and taste beer. As the tours are free, this is also great if you’re looking for free things to do in Brooklyn.
Address: 79 N 11th St, Brooklyn, NY 11249
Attend a Concert at Warsaw Concerts
Warsaw Concerts is a live music venue that has a capacity of about 1000 people.
Lots of great live music events take place here that are very varied. For example, this is a great place to check out up-and-coming bands.
Also, there is a great bar at Warsaw Concerts where you can get good drinks.
Address: 261 Driggs Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222
Go to Hatchets and Hops for Axe-Throwing
You can go to Hatches & Hops if you want to experience axe-throwing. This is an axe-throwing bar that you can find in various locations in the United States, including in Brooklyn’s Williamsburg.
You can find eight wooden targes at Hatches & Hops that you can throw axes at with a group of friends, which can be a lot of fun to do. It is a lot like darts but then with axes, and what’s great is that this is an experience that everyone can do as it is very easy.
In addition to that, there are 10 rotating local beer taps at Hatches & Hops and you can get delicious pizza and other food here too.
Address: 98 N 11th St, Brooklyn, NY 11249
Enjoy a Drink With a View at Westlight
Westlight is a rooftop bar that is located on the 22nd floor.
At this rooftop bar, you can try out many different types of cocktails. For example, you can get very unique ones, such as one with espresso coffee in it.
Also, you can get delicious small bites at Westlight. For example, the guacamole is very tasty!
What’s great is that when you have food and drinks here, you can enjoy a view of the East River and see the skyline of Manhattan at the same time!
Westlight is also one of the most romantic places in Williamsburg, which makes it a great place if you want to have a date.
Address: 111 N 12th St, Brooklyn, NY 11249
Go to National Sawdust and Listen to Music
National Sawdust is a music venue that is located in Williamsburg.
You can find this place at 80 North 6th Street inside a former sawdust factory that operated here during parts of the 19th and 20th centuries.
The factory closed down and was left empty for many years.
The new music venue opened in the year 2015 and since its opening, many famous artists performed here. You can listen to lots of different genres of music when you go to National Sawdust, from jazz to hip-hop to electronic music to R&B music.
Furthermore, lots of special events take place at this place besides concerts, such as dance shows. These event are also great to check out if you’re looking for things to do in Williamsburg.
Address: 80 N 6th St, Brooklyn, NY 11249
Get Amazing Pizza at Best Pizza
Best Pizza is a great place to check out if you want to have pizza when you are in the neighborhood. You can get delicious wood-fired pizza here and the restaurant serves very tasty classic New York City slices.
Best Pizza has several locations, and you can find one of the locations at 33 Havemeyer Street.
This restaurant was opened in 2010 by Frank Pinello. He sought to bring back the time of when Brooklyn had many amazing slice joints.
What’s amazing about this restaurant as well is that it uses an oven that is 100 years old and that the restaurant has great vintage decor. This adds a lot to your experience!
Address: 33 Havemeyer St, Brooklyn, NY 11211
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What To Do in Williamsburg Tips
Here are some tips before you’re going to choose what to do in Williamsburg. When you consider going to any of the venues mentioned in this article, I recommend booking tickets in advance as this is often necessary! Also, when you are going to one of the restaurants on this list, you might want to make a reservation as some can be very popular places!
Williamsburg Things To Do Map
These were my favorite things to do in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. I hope I helped you plan your trip!