Williamsburg & Brooklyn
Williamsburg
Williamsburg is Brooklyn's (and thus New York's) hippest district — what Berlin-Neukölln aspires to be. Former industrial buildings converted into craft breweries, vintage shops, galleries, and restaurants that would cost three times as much in Manhattan.
- Bedford Avenue: The main street — boutiques, cafés, bookstore (Spoonbill & Sugartown), the best ice cream in the city (OddFellows).
- Smorgasburg: On weekends, the largest street food market in New York — 100 stalls with food from around the world, on the East River waterfront with a view of the Manhattan skyline. Saturday in Williamsburg (April–October). Free entry.
- Brooklyn Brewery: The craft beer pioneers — taproom with tastings and tours (Sat/Sun, free!).
- East River State Park: The waterfront park with the best skyline view of Manhattan — sit on the lawn with friends and a pizza at sunset.
- Street art: The walls along Wythe Avenue and Berry Street are covered with murals and graffiti. Constantly changing, always photogenic.
Other Brooklyn Highlights
- Prospect Park: Brooklyn's version of Central Park (237 hectares) — designed by the same landscape architects (Olmsted & Vaux). Less touristy, just as beautiful.
- Brooklyn Heights Promenade: The pedestrian promenade above the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway with a postcard view of Lower Manhattan, the Brooklyn Bridge, and the Statue of Liberty.
- Coney Island: The legendary beach and amusement park at the southern end of Brooklyn — Luna Park (Cyclone roller coaster, since 1927!), Nathan's Famous Hot Dogs (since 1916, the annual hot dog eating contest on July 4th), and a mile of boardwalk. Accessible by subway (D/F/N/Q line to Coney Island–Stillwell Ave, about 1 hour from Midtown).
