A neighborhood in the Brooklyn borough that straddles the old and the new, Williamsburg is one of New York’s most spirited cultural enclaves. Amidst steady gentrification over the past decades, this former working class and industrial neighborhood has evolved into a vivid hipsturbia on the river.
A mecca for young creatives, this kitschy locale hosts a flourishing art scene, an incredible array of restaurants, fashion boutiques, and a thriving nightlife. Beyond normcore, electroclash, and artisanal gin bars, this nugget of mismatched vistas is a traveler’s delight!
DO THE VINTAGE CRAWL
9:00 am: Start your day with a precious cup of coffee at Blue Bottle on Berry Street. Micro-roasting and organic beans, this café is artisanal coffee at its best. With their expressos and pour-over brews ground and prepared to order on a vintage Probat roaster, served on a restored 1958 Faema Urania lever espresso machine, and cold-brewed iced coffee served through Oji-style slow-drip brewers, Blue Bottle café promises one of the most theatrical drip bars in the country.
5:00 pm: Choose to partake in one of the many sights that Williamsburg has to offer — head to McCarren Park, with its pop-up events and gorgeous views of the Manhattan skyline, or walk along the iconic Williamsburg bridge.
Although gentrification has relegated many artists to adjoining areas, Williamsburg remains a haven for creativity. Check out the Sketchbook project at the Brooklyn Art Library — a collection of sketchbooks from thousands of artists across the world, watch a screening of an Indie documentary at Union Docs or head to Nitehawk Cinema — Brooklyn’s first dinner and movie theater with global fare and craft cocktails served at patrons’ seats. True to its creative distinction, the neighborhood also offers various Paint Nite BYOB events.
7:00 pm: What better than a glorious view of the Manhattan skyline and where better than The Ides on the eighth floor of the Wythe Hotel? With a sweeping roof deck and stunning panoramic views, this hotel bar offers great photo-ops as the sun sets behind the Chrysler and Empire State buildings in the distance.
Although the neighborhood’s upscale restaurants receive the lion’s share of attention, Williamsburg is teeming with more affordable options as well. Pies ’n’ thighs rave sumptuous fried chicken, Allswell boasts seasonal unpretentious fare, Llama Inn highlights Peruvian culinary deliciousness and Snacky presents low-key hipster fusion. One of the area’s worst-kept secrets, Williamsburg Pizza oozes lusciousness with its ‘old school Brooklyn’ crust and top-quality ingredients.
9:00 pm: Kick off the night in spectacular fashion with live indie music at any of these hip venues — Knitting Factory, Union Pool, or Music Hall of Williamsburg. Electro-music lovers head to Output or Verbotem, some of the city’s premier music spots. If R&B is more your speed, Brooklyn Bowl — bowling alley, dance club, and performance stage rolled into one; hosting Soul Clap and Dance Off with DJ Jonathan Toubin — is the place to be.
Chockablock with unpretentious bars, Crown Victoria is a neighborhood favorite, housed in a former police car repair shop. Spuyten Duyvil and Radegast are great to throw back those beers while, if you are in the mood for a more upscale offering, try the modish Hotel Delmano, and cozy up over exotic concoctions.
If you are in New York with a day or two to spare, be sure to make a trip to this treasure trove of eccentricities. Is luggage weighing you down? Vertoe presents a unique and exclusive solution to the short-term luggage storage problem. Vertoe has a new partner store in Brooklyn where you can store your luggage and roam hassle-free.
Happy travels!
Submitted by Shwetha Shanthakumar. To see her work, you can visit her blog here.
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