Things To Do
Brooklyn Bridge
While in Brooklyn, you'll probably want to see one of the most famous bridges in the world. We walked the bridge on our second date; the initial plan was to meet in Manhattan, walk across, and then have lunch in Brooklyn. What ended up happening was a date that lasted until almost midnight! Be sure to also visit Brooklyn Bridge Park for panoramic views of the skyline, and lots of seasonal activities.
Felice Montague
After walking the bridge, you can either stroll through the charming, historic neighborhood of Brooklyn Heights, or walk down Brooklyn Bridge Park until Joralemon Street, to get to this lovely Italian restaurant. This was formerly an Irish pub, the site of where our day-long second date ended. The new menu is delicious, but we are mostly happy to see they kept the original bar from the old pub, which is where we sat and agreed that things were going well. Daniel's exact words were, "Let's see where this goes."
New York Transit Museum
Fans of engineering and transit buffs will love this museum, dedicated to the history of mass transportation in NYC. Learn about how the subway tunnels were built, take a seat inside a vintage subway car, and check out a working signal tower. Five minutes away from NU Hotel, look for a subway station as the entrance, as the museum itself is located inside a decommissioned subway stop. (This is Daniel's favorite train museum!)
Alamo Drafthouse Brooklyn
A ten minute walk from the Transit Museum, this is one of our go-to places for date night. We come here a lot. Like, a lot. Have dinner and a movie all at once, with comfy seats and great service. You can catch the latest blockbuster, or a special screening of a classic movie with themed menu items. Or see the movie first, and then head downstairs of the building to DeKalb Market, where countless food options abound.
Brooklyn Academy of Music
The US' oldest performing arts center, BAM is known for showcasing innovative art across all media. Their calendar is full of film, theater, dance, music, and comedy events, so no doubt you'll find something here you want to see. Aleeza managed to get two tickets to see Conan O'Brien tape an episode of his podcast here, and made Daniel come along. Daniel's favorite part was when the tickets were not even seated next to each other.
Tacombi
This is one of our regular spots for tacos. Directly across the street from BAM's Peter Jay Sharp building, you can also jump in for a bite before or after a show. We like the relaxed, beachy feel, and the tasty, authentic flavors. Our favorites are the Baja Crispy Fish, Beef Birria, and Al Pastor tacos. And don't forget to try the margaritas!
Brooklyn Museum
The second largest art museum in NYC! We like coming here and seeing the new exhibits, which often feature Brooklyn-based artists, and highlight cultural moments that are integral to Brooklyn and NYC history. The permanent exhibits are an expansive collection of ancient art, American art, and a very cool design gallery. Iconic paintings such as "Portrait of George Washington" and "The Peaceable Kingdom" are also here.
Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Right behind the Brooklyn Museum is the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Beautiful scenery and flowers in full-bloom will make for a lovely and magical visit. We love coming here in the spring for cherry blossoms. Our other favorite areas are the Rose Garden, Shakespeare Garden, Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden, and the Tropical Pavilion. And in Aleeza's opinion, out of all of NYC's cultural institutions, the Botanic Garden has the best gift shop.
Prospect Park
When you've finished with the Museum and/or the Botanic Garden, relax and take a break in Prospect Park! Have a picnic, or check out Smorgasburg, a popular food festival with a variety of delicious cuisines from local vendors. The Prospect Park Zoo is also a fun spot where you can keep company with the roaming peacocks.
Kings Theatre
South of Prospect Park is this ornate and opulent theater. This historic venue hosts all sorts of live entertainment and film screenings, and we love the grand atmosphere. We saw Wardruna here, which is a Norwegian band, and the experience was truly unforgettable (partly because of the viking cosplayers).
Industry City
If you could take the essence of Brooklyn and put it in one place, it would be here. Industry City is a massive complex that truly has a bit of everything. You could easily spend the whole day here, exploring art galleries, bookshops, housewares, artisan goods, several distilleries and breweries (including a sake brewery), a literal blacksmithing forge, live music, and never-ending restaurants.
Brooklyn Bowl
Bowling may not be the first thing that comes to mind as an activity in Brooklyn, but this place is so much fun! Bowl a few frames, and then catch some live music afterwards. There's a great menu for drinks and food, especially the fried chicken. We played several games with friends, and Daniel's score was higher than Aleeza's every time. We have agreed that his longer arms give him an unfair advantage.
Brooklyn Brewery
Right around the corner from Brooklyn Bowl is the home of this iconic brewery. Relax with a pint or try a flight in the spacious main room, or book a brewery tour to go behind the scenes. Daniel likes the IPAs and Aleeza likes the Summer Ale, but no matter what, make sure to try some of the limited edition beers!
Beacon's Closet
Arguably Brooklyn's best-known thrift store, the Greenpoint location of Beacon's Closet is about a ten minute walk from Brooklyn Brewery. Huge and expansive, browse designer brands and vintage clothes to your heart's content. Aleeza has found *many* gems at this store.
Pierozek
A historically Polish neighborhood, Greenpoint has many restaurants for delicious pierogi. But if you're looking for pierogi that have been in the Michelin guide, Pierozek is currently the only Polish restaurant with that distinction. A four minute walk from Beacon's Closet, this spot is perfect for a break after shopping. Daniel likes the Pierogi Tatarskie, Aleeza is a fan of the Sauerkraut & Mushroom, but the BEST one is the Murray's Cheese pierogi!
The Bushwick Collective
The location of Aleeza's first Brooklyn apartment (which was on Stockholm Street!), Bushwick is a neighborhood full of artists and incredible street art. The Bushwick Collective is an outdoor gallery, spanning several streets that are covered in art. Take a guided walking tour, and learn about the artists behind the impressive murals.
Fette Sau
Converted out of an old garage, this BBQ restaurant is meat on trays, local beers, and whiskey flights. Is there anything else that needs to be said? We try not to eat insane amounts of food whenever we come here, but we fail most of the time. We suggest coming early, or at off-peak meal times to beat the crowd.
Domino Wine Bar
If you'd like something lighter than BBQ and whiskey, oysters and wine would be our next recommendation. Four blocks south of Fette Sau is this cute and cozy wine bar, which drew us in with its signage for light bites, natural wines, and its mid-2000s playlist. Oysters, shared plates, and a port to finish make this a perfect spot for a date!
Barcade
Once you're full of either BBQ or oysters, take a short walk to this favorite arcade bar for the best selection of retro games and classic pinball under one roof, with an extensive list of craft beers to match. Daniel usually gravitates towards the pinball machines, while Aleeza goes towards Tetris or Street Fighter (but if anyone wants to race in Daytona USA, let her know, because Daniel doesn't fit inside the arcade cabinet).
Brooklyn Children's Museum
If you have little ones with you, check out the US' first children's museum! This museum has lots of highlights of the neighborhood and local community. It's also just a few blocks away from our apartment, so come say hello and hang out with us after your visit!