Guide to Williamsburg, New York

How to Visit Williamsburg: An Artists’ Enclave with an Upscale Vibe

Not long ago, Williamsburg was mainly home to starving artists - but in the past 15 years, high-end shopping and luxury housing has transformed the once-sleepy artist community into a veritable tourist destination with plenty of boutiques, parks, galleries, and restaurants to keep you busy for an afternoon.

Laura Ratliff

June 12, 2023

Williamsburg has had the biggest transformation of any neighborhood in New York City over the past two decades. What once was a neighborhood mainly made up of musicians, artists, chefs, actors, and other creative types looking for cheap rent with easy access to Manhattan has slowly turned into one of the hottest neighborhoods in the city. While many of those creatives have since been pushed further into Brooklyn (causing those neighborhoods to now become desirable, as well), the artistic spirit still flows through the area. While heavily polished, there are still enough rough edges to give this neighborhood a feel similar to the East Village.

A Former Industrial Area Becomes an Urban Hotspot

After a 2005 rezoning by the city, Williamsburg became less known for commercial manufacturing than it had in the past, causing former factories like the Domino Sugar Refinery to sit vacant for many years. Since converted into residential and commercial use, along with the surrounding land, it’s become one of the highlights of the new era of Williamsburg. The rezoning brought hundreds of new apartments and homes, resulting in a population explosion for the area, bringing everything from Whole Foods to Apple to J. Crew into the neighborhood. Despite a more corporate feel in recent years, the area still has plenty of the hip restaurants, bars, and art-house theaters that initially attracted so many to the area.

Getting to Williamsburg

Williamsburg is accessible by subway via the L, G, J, M, and Z lines. If traveling by bus from Manhattan, you can take the B39 from the Lower East Side into Williamsburg and the B62 bus line from Downtown Brooklyn. You can also travel via car or bike over the Williamsburg Bridge from Manhattan. The East River Ferry also makes two stops in the neighborhood in North and South Williamsburg.

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What to see and do Williamsburg

Domino Park

Pedal Your Way to Adventure

If you really want to fit in with the neighborhood’s locals, try exploring this bustling hipster community by bike. The area caters to cyclists, so expect plenty of places to park safely - along with more than enough Citi Bike docks should you take one of those. Nothing says Williamsburg quite like riding your bike down to a corner cafe for an iced coffee.

A relatively recent addition to the neighborhood’s green space, Domino Park is a family-friendly area that includes an elevated walkway reminiscent of the High Line in Manhattan. The park includes a sand volleyball court as well as bocce courts. While strolling through the park, you can get tacos from Danny Meyer’s Tacocina to be enjoyed on the waterfront with beautiful views of Manhattan.

Brooklyn Bowl

This bowling alley meets restaurant meets bar meets live music venue covers all the bases for a night out. The venue hosts live music almost every night, and the party lasts until midnight, with DJs spinning hits on certain nights. The lanes here are first-come, first-served, so plan to come earlier on the weekend for a chance to score one; it can get pretty packed.

Laser Wolf

The first outpost of this Philadelphia hotspot is located on the roof of the Hoxton Hotel, pairing exceptional Israeli cuisine with unparalleled views of Manhattan. Along with a selection of craft cocktails to enjoy, Laser Wolf is known for its extensive natural wine list. Their brown sugar soft-serve ice cream is not to be missed!

Nitehawk Cinema

Catch an independent movie at this neighborhood favorite, featuring a full menu of food and drink to enjoy while your movie plays. Nitehawk also specializes in screening cult films at midnight and other special film series like their Saturday morning cartoon brunch featuring all-you-can-eat milk and cereal. The theater also features a full bar for enjoying a pre or post-film cocktail.

Brooklyn Brewery

Tour the iconic Williamsburg brewery that has been in operation since 1987 for free on Sundays from 1-6 pm, or book a small-batch tasting during weeknights. The brewery operates a tasting room open from Monday-Saturday so you can taste all of the brewer’s offerings, including unique and limited beers.

Music Hall of Williamsburg

Check out the best the neighborhood’s local musicians offer at this live venue, featuring touring acts from indie bands worldwide. Most shows are only general admission, so be prepared to stand for the duration. Arrive early to enjoy the bar’s happy hour before 8 pm.

Smorgasburg

While cruising around on your bike, ride along the waterfront to stop and explore the various parks along the East River. You can hop off to view the Manhattan skyline for a few minutes before riding to the next destination.

If you’ve worked up an appetite after a day of shopping, there’s no other place to go on a weekend than Smorgasburg, Williamsburg’s long-running outdoor food market. With more than 50 vendors, Smorgasburg is basically a Disneyland for foodies. From traditional BBQ and seafood boils to artisanal ice cream and decadent doughnuts, there’s a dish for every palate. The views of the Manhattan skyline from Smorgasburg’s location along the Brooklyn waterfront are stunning on a clear day, making it the perfect place to enjoy a picnic-style lunch. But be warned, Smorgasburg can get pretty busy, so be prepared to wait in line for some of the more popular food stands. The market is open on Saturdays from 11 am to 6 pm.

Where to Stay in Williamsburg

More and more boutique hotels have popped up over the past few years, giving visitors many luxury and budget options for spending time in the area. The Hoxton, The Moxy Brooklyn Williamsburg, and the Pod Hotel Brooklyn offer excellent accommodations, each featuring a rooftop for taking in city views.

If you’re looking to get a feel for what the neighborhood was once like, the Hoxton is located in a former factory with plenty of industrial-chic beauty. The Moxy Brooklyn Williamsburg features a large garden, rooftop terrace, restaurant, and bar, so you may not even feel the need to leave. The Pod Hotel Brooklyn offers a boutique hotel experience at a budget-friendly price that pairs minimalist hotel rooms with a large rooftop and a co-working space.

Williamsburg is Perfect for You If…

You are looking for the hippest neighborhood in the city with no shortage of top bars and restaurants, as well as boutique shopping. If you love the arts and want to spend an entire afternoon discovering the many hand-painted murals splashed over the neighborhood’s buildings while gallery hopping. Or, if you love ample green space and outdoor activities, which can be found in the many parks along the waterfront and McCarren Park.

About the author

Laura RatliffLaura Ratliff is a New York-based writer and editor. She lives in downtown Brooklyn with her husband and their beloved dogs. Originally from Texas, she now considers New York City her home. She typically spends more than 200,000 miles on a plane each year and stays in plenty of hotels.