Originally published August 25, 2023 • Updated July 4, 2025
Our home base in Williamsburg this past weekend was the new Moxy Williamsburg on Bedford Ave. There’s something about being right in the heart of the neighborhood that makes staying at the Moxy feel like you really live there. We loved the plush bed and modern room a lot… and we loved the fun vibe and lobby arcade game (possibly) even more!
Another reason the Moxy helps you feel like you’re a part of the neighborhood is that people who live in Williamsburg actually hang out there. Everyone enjoying a rooftop apertivo at Lillistar was clearly a local and while having a fantastic Israeli dinner at Mesiba, we ran into a handful of friends - including ones we had dinner plans with the following evening!
Clockwise from left:
Room at the Moxy Williamsburg, Bar Bedford, Lillistar, Mesiba
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We’ve publicly (on this website) critiqued Williamsburg in the past for, at times, feeling a bit like a mall. BUT that’s unfair to the many amazing independent shops in the neighborhood. Let’s set the record straight with six great stores you need to check out as soon as possible – especially Haricot Vert's Dreamworld, a very cool jewelry shop with a charm bar, craft nook, and café!
Clockwise from top: Haricot Vert, Beam, Mociun, Seven Wonders Collective, Lief
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Williamsburg, like much of Brooklyn, is a great coffee shop neighborhood. Whether you’re lingering over a cup in the backyard of Homecoming or taking a cup to-go from Buddies before going skating, there’s a coffee waiting for you in Williamsburg. Here are our favorites:
Clockwise from left: Homecoming, Devoción, Bakeri
A benefit of having a young-leaning neighborhood demographic is just how many casual and affordable places there are to grab lunch. Seriously, we could do an entire guide on just where to eat a midday meal in Williamsburg. But for now, here are a few we keep coming back to:
Clockwise from left: Super Burrito, Martha's Country Bakery, Depanneur
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Williamsburg has strong Italian roots (as well as Boricua, Jewish, and Irish) so it’s no surprise it has some of the best slices in the city. We love sitting down for dinner at Leo’s or just keeping it casual by grabbing a slice to go from Fini.
Clockwise from left: Leo, L'Industrie, Fini, Ace's
While the phrase, “dinner in Williamsburg,” might make you shudder and think of an 8-person dinner where splitting the check was…confusing, let us reassure you that Williamsburg has many fantastic places for a date or dinner for a small group. All more formal than the great slices listed above, some of these places are downright celebratory (hello Michelin-starred Four Horsemen.) So get out your reservation app, because these spots book up quickly.
Clockwise from left: Maison Premiere, Brooklyn Winery, The Four Horsemen, Diner
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What could be a more classic pairing than drinks in wburg with friends? Some of our favorite bars in Brooklyn are here in this neighborhood, like Hotel Delmano, and we keep returning time & time again. If you’re into having live music alongside your bevvys, try St. Mazie or Lot Radio.
Clockwise from left: Layla, EBBS, St. Mazie, Sauced
For all the commercial to-dos in Williamsburg, it’s easy to forget that its outdoor spaces are some of the most widely utilized in the city (raise your hand if you’ve been to a birthday party in McCarren Park.) So think of this closing note as a little reminder to take a break and enjoy the city air while you’re enjoying the best of what the neighborhood has to offer.
Left: Domino Park, Right: McCarren Park Greenmarket
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