Posted by A decade or so ago, Williamsburg was a refuge for young creatives and professionals who were priced out of living in Manhattan precincts like Hell’s Kitchen or East Village. Today it’s a somewhat different story, as one local describes it, the ‘Chanel-ifcation’ of Williamsburg has taken hold, with upmarket stores, high-rise condo buildings and the resulting rising rents changing the makeup of the population. Always known for its interesting street art, a sign of this gentrification is that now amongst the authentic street art are murals masquerading as advertisements for big brands like Cartier and Mercedes.
But there’s still a more laidback neighbourhood vibe than you’d generally find in Manhattan and a wonderful array of bars and entertainment venues that can keep you busy for days and nights on end, and it has to be said that boozy weekend brunches are very popular here too. Many of the better bars and eateries are on residential streets, so don’t limit your exploring to the major thoroughfares like Bedford Ave. There’s also a growing collection of rooftop bars, most offer views across the East River to the Manhattan skyline that will take your breath away.
Williamsburg is easy to get to from Manhattan, the L-Train from Union Square will scoot under the river and drop you off on vibrant Bedford Ave in just a few minutes, or it’s a pleasant 20-minute stroll across the Williamsburg Bridge from the Lower East Side.
Once you are ready to venture across the river to Manhattan, check out Travis’ other NYC guides to the Lower East Side and the West Village.
Just Coffee..
Partners Coffee | 125 N 6th St
There’s a chance you’ll encounter a line up here, testament to the fact that it’s possibly the best coffee you’ll find in Brooklyn, with the beans roasted on-site right behind the coffee machine. It’s also a lovely venue to sit and linger in, with shelving arranged with vintage books and artefacts, a double-height ceiling and huge windows that let the afternoon sunlight stream in. Partners Coffee
Hungry Ghost | 231 Bedford Ave
A growing local chain that was born in Brooklyn, Hungry Ghost now has eleven locations around the city. The Bedford Ave outpost is a tiny bolt-hole, with just three small tables and vintage-chic style. They’re serving Stumptown Coffee, which is roasted in nearby Red Hook. Hungry Ghost
Olso Coffee Roasters | 328 Bedford Ave
A Brooklyn born roaster that’s been around for twenty years and now has a handful of outlets. The Bedford Ave store is a small, no fuss place to grab a good coffee on the go – there’s just a couple of tables if you plan to linger though. Oslo Coffee Roasters
Black Brick Coffee | 300 Bedford Ave
This old-school style coffee house proves popular with Williamsburg hipsters, it’s rustic and dark with exposed brick walls and a ceiling made from old crates. There’s wonderful coffee, yummy cookies and light jazzy tunes – this is the type of place you’ll feel completely comfortable quietly reading a book whilst sipping on your cuppa. Black Brick Coffee
Butler | 101 N 8th St
A blink-and-you’ll-miss-it coffee window attached to Fellow Barbers, stop by Butler for a quick and fulfilling caffeine hit, they use quality beans from Intelligentsia. They also have three sit down cafes in other cool neighbourhoods around the city. Butler
Pueblo Querido Coffee Roasters | 34 N 6th St
With four outlets around Brooklyn, this colourful chain of cafes is owned by a Columbian family whose mission is to support small Latin-American coffee growers, whilst serving very good coffee at the same time. Pueblo Querido Coffee Roasters
Breakfast & Brunch…
Bakeri | 150 Wythe Ave
A cute and petite European bakery and café, there’s clearly a lot of love and passion that goes into the delightful treats on offer here – from diminutive muffins to perfectly puffy croissants and pain au chocolat. There’s also great bread and coffee too. Inside is super cosy with just a handful of seats, there’s seating on the sidewalk and a pleasant garden out the back. Bakeri
Café Mogador | 133 Wythe Ave
Founded in 1983, this buzzing weekend brunch spot serves delicious Moroccan fare, eggs are well represented on the menu and there’s pancakes and granola if the Moroccan dishes don’t take your fancy. Cocktails flow freely during brunch, the large dining room is homely and charming, with just a hint of Moroccan style, and there’s a pleasant garden patio at the rear. Café Mogador
The Egg Shop | 138 N 8th Ave
This is a simple formula expertly executed; a menu that revolves around eggs as a brunch staple, with magical sandwich combinations and mains such as Turkish eggs (and yes, a fried chicken sandwich if eggs aren’t your thing) – it’s hard to choose when it all sounds delectable. Even a simple egg, bacon and cheese roll is elevated to something quite special here, the coffee is very good and the mezzanine dining area is a pleasant place to start your day in. The Egg Shop
Sweet Chick | 164 Bedford Ave
A friendly and welcoming restaurant and bar that serves good southern fare. Brunch features items like fried chicken & waffles and bacon, egg & cheese on a buttermilk biscuit. They also open for lunch and dinner, with fried chicken and sandwiches to tempt you through the day. Sweet Chick
K’Far | 97 Wythe Ave
Situated within the sunken lobby of The Hoxton Hotel, K’Far is an all-day hangout and dining space that serves an Israeli inspired menu of snacks and brunch treats. The mid-century styled dining room and glass house space feel like you’re dining in an indoor garden, it’s always busy with quite a hip and happening crowd of locals. K’Far
Nem’s Japandi Bistro | 80 N 6th St
This January 2024 newcomer to the neighbourhood packs a surprising punch for its petite size, offering up a Japanese-Scandinavian menu of treats from brunch through to early-dinner. Their brunch is a delight, with quick snacks like Balthazar pastries or their intriguing but utterly delicious Norwegian Style Soft-Boiled Egg plate. There’s also a speakeasy and izakaya on the second level. Nem’s Japandi Bistro
Dining & Drinking…
Maison Premiere | 298 Bedford Ave
If you only make it to one venue in Williamsburg, make it Masion Premiere. An elegant bar and dining room with an old-world New Orleans ambience, it celebrates all things oysters and absinthe. There are over twenty oyster varieties available, plus other seafood plates including shrimp, lobster and caviar, and a handful of non-seafood comfort dishes. The absinthe fountain takes centre stage behind the horseshoe shaped bar, there’s a range of absinthe cocktails as well as original Maison cocktails and a tight wine list of French and Spanish drops. Eternally popular, there’s little signage but always a clique of eager drinkers and diners passing through the doors. Maison Premiere
Traif | 229 S 4th St
In an older, traditionally Jewish part of Williamsburg, Traif celebrates all things ‘unkosher’, so you’ll find an array of pork, shellfish and globally inspired soul food prepared by their Jewish chef and co-owner. The food is a wonderful selection of small dishes, order as you like or let them take the decisions out of your hands with the Chef’s Selection (which is very good value at $56) – you won’t leave hungry. It’s an intimate dining room, so be sure to book. Traif
Café Colette | 79 Berry St
A charming café and bar with black and white chequerboard tiles on the floor and a tin ceiling, it’s a cosy setting that’s easy to settle into. They serve a tight menu of rustic American fare, the food is relatively simple but beautifully prepared and quite delectable. The wine list isn’t overly long, but it has some European gems on it that will leave you wanting a second glass. Café Colette
Hotel Delmano | 82 Berry St
A rollicking speakeasy style cocktail bar, from outside you’d have no idea how fun and lively it gets inside. The vintage décor has a New Orleans meets Parisien touch to it, a welcoming space that feels like it’s been here forever. The house standard cocktails are anything but standard, there’s a handful of seasonal cocktails on offer and a super interesting, though not too expansive, wine list. They serve mostly seafood on the food menu, it’s ok, but the drinks are what you’re really here for. Hotel Delmano
Mexi | 149 N 9th St
Richly decorated with a high ceiling, colourful floor tiles and large-scale artworks on the walls, there’s a long prominent bar or ample dining tables if you’re here for a longer stay. The food offers contemporary takes on Mexican fare from all regions across the country, there’s flare in the presentation of the dishes and twists include things like fire roasted pepitas in your guacamole. The share plates comes in entrada or main sizes, and don’t expect tacos here. There’s Mexican beer, mostly mezcal based cocktails and a wine list from Latin American countries that even features some nice Mexican drops. Mexi
Sushi on Jones | 97 N 10th St
The fourth outlet for this contemporary Japanese omakase restaurant, the compact warehouse style space has been simply decorated, with all white walls and blonde timber tables, allowing the food to take centre stage. Whilst the twelve or twenty course omakase is the way to go if you really want to indulge, it’s also a welcoming place to sit at the bar for some sushi, maki and nigiri snacks – the food is top notch and as fresh as can be. There’s cheerful service and a buoyant playlist of tunes. Sushi on Jones
Westlight | The William Vale, 111 N 12th St
Atop the very contemporary The William Vale hotel, this rooftop bar has panoramic views across the East River and the magnificent Manhattan skyline, which are particularly special at sunset. Featuring a large open-air terrace (which can get windy at times) and a spacious lounge with floor to ceiling glass walls, it’s a rather fancy spot for cocktails and creative bar food. Westlight
Bar Blondeau | Wythe Hotel, 80 Wythe Ave
Located on Level 6 of the Wythe Hotel, Bar Blondeau is an elegant supper-club style bar with mezmerising views over the twinkling Manhattan night skyline from its big picture windows. There are slinky booths to slip into or a glamorous marble bar to perch at and live jazz or piano on selected nights of the week. The menu has both snacky and heartier seafood focused fare, the cocktails are spirited in both their names and their ingredients, whilst the wine list features European and Latin American varietals. In the warmer months, the big L-shaped ‘garden-like’ terrace will win you over, where you feel like you can literally reach out and touch the view. Bar Blondeau
The Four Horseman | 295 Grand St
A stylishly understated wine bar with romantic candle-light and contemporary timber finishes, the intimate room gets tightly packed at dinner time. Taking their wine seriously, you’ll find a wine list that runs to nearly fifty pages, though the food is just as important, with an inventive menu of seafood leaning dishes, served in small plate portions so you can enjoy more of the menu – a perfectly grown up venue for great vino and fabulous wine friendly fare. The Four Horseman
Teddy’s Bar & Grill | 96 Berry St
Brooklyn’s longest continually operating bar is steeped in history, features like the stained-glass windows, the tiling and the actual bar are all original, and the room still feels as warm and welcoming as it would have been back in 1887 when it first opened. You’ll find an extensive selection of craft brews, signature cocktails and a concise but sufficient wine list, whilst sustenance comes in the form of an eclectic menu with bar favourites like burgers and wings balanced by more interesting entrée size dishes. Teddy’s Bar & Grill
Sweetwater Restaurant | 105 N 6th St
French comfort fare, like French Onion Soup, classic house cocktails and a short list of wines (just three different grapes available by the glass) make this lovable bistro an easy place to slip into for a comforting drink and meal. There’s nothing trendy or contrived here; the walls are covered in historic photos, there’s a pressed tin ceiling and rich burgundy booths to add to the ‘boho’ allure. Sweetwater Restaurant
MIDNIGHTS | 149 N 6th St
An intimate and easy-going bar with a cosy and comfortable front bar plus a rear patio. The drinks list is pretty simple, just a short & sharp cocktail list (well priced at $12 to $14 each), craft brews and a handful of wines. It attracts a clean-cut younger crowd who are here for good conversation and good times, so it gets loud when busy. The food offering is rather basic. MIDNIGHTS
The Bedford | 110 Bedford Ave
The ideal neighbourhood hangout where the service is friendly, the vibe is relaxed, the food is more than satisfying and the kitchen is open until late. The menu has a little of everything on it and the wine list is much nicer than you’d expect in such a low-key bar. The Bedford
Skinny Dennis | 152 Metropolitan Ave
You might think you’re in Nashville if you stumble across this good-times honky tonk bar; there’s good country music, dancing, drinks flowing easily and a lively crowd that really gets into the spirit of things. It’s small, so everyone gets to know each other easily and you’re guaranteed to have one hell of a good time here. Skinny Dennis
The Gutter | 200 N 14th St
Bowling lanes and a dive-style bar in one, The Gutter attracts a young crowd who love their beer, hard liquor and shots. It’s a little dark, a little grungy, with 15 years of history displayed on the walls – a taste of what Brooklyn was like before it became gentrified, yet ironically most of its current clientele would not have come near Brooklyn back in those days! The Gutter
The Kent Ale House | 51 Kent Ave
This relaxed pub is a neighbourhood gem, situated close to the river, with views over to the city skyline – you may get a surprise when you look up through one of the windows and glimpse the Empire State Building. It’s all about beer here, with around twenty brews on tap – the wine choice is limited and comes in cans. There’s decent pub style fare including quite good burgers, and it gets quite lively when there’s a big sporting match being shown on the screens around the bar. The Kent Ale House
Where to Stay…
Hoxton Williamsburg | 79 Wythe Ave
They’ve successfully replicated the compact but extremely comfortable rooms, vintage-chic décor and at-home vibe that the original Hoxton in London’s Shoreditch is so well known for at this Williamsburg sibling. The F&B outlets include one of the most happening hotel lobby’s you’ll ever come across, plus a rooftop restaurant, the food across all venues is Israeli themed. Spend the little extra on a Manhattan view room, so you really get those NYC feels! Hoxton Williamsburg
Wythe Hotel | 80 Wythe Ave
One of the first boutique hotels to call Williamsburg home, the Wythe is an old cooperage that’s had a stunning conversion, including a modern ‘glass-box’ addition added to the top of the building. The décor blends heritage and modern elements effortlessly and there’s an intimacy in the entire building that many hotels don’t achieve. The loft rooms in the modern extension (levels seven and up) are flooded with natural light and fabulous views if you are on the Manhattan side. Bar Blondeau on level six is also a standout. Wythe Hotel
The William Vale | 111 N 12th St
This striking hotel is Williamsburg’s tallest, affording unparalleled views, with many rooms even offering balconies. The décor is bright and contemporary and there’s local Brooklyn artists featured throughout the hotel. Westlight on the 22nd Floor is one of the districts premier rooftop bars. The William Vale
Moxy Brooklyn Williamsburg | 353 Bedford Ave
A little out of the centre of Williamsburg, the Moxy is situated next to the Williamsburg Bridge, so it’s convenient if you plan to spend time in the Lower East Side or East Village as well (just a 20-minute walk over the bridge). Like all Moxy’s, it’s got compact but well-fitted rooms, a welcoming lobby and lounge and chic design throughout. Moxy Brooklyn Williamsburg
Featured Photo: ‘Up In Lights’ – Wythe Hotel, Williamsburg
Travis. 
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