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Handmade pastas, exceptional antipasti, and wonderful brunch have earned homey Aurora a loyal following. Most ingredients are locally sourced, though the mozzarella and burrata hail from Italy. Ricotta, black truffles, and prosciutto di Parma elevate the eggs Benedict at brunch, when the French toast comes stuffed with apple compote and topped with Amarena cherries. The trattoria's main dining room is inviting enough, but angle for a seat in the enclosed garden (heated in winter), where lush ivy covers the brick walls.
70 Grand St., Brooklyn, New York, 11211, USA
Known For
- Rustic space with an enclosed garden
- Authentic Italian food
- Superlative brunch
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Self-described coffee aficionados line up for the espresso and pour-overs at Blue Bottle, which originated in Oakland but feels very much at home in Williamsburg. The former factory building has light streaming in through large windows so the La Marzocco espresso machine seems to shine, and a Kyoto-style iced-coffee dripper, which looks like it belongs in a science lab, is displayed opposite the coffee counter. There's not much seating, so it's best to get your coffee and snack (mmmm, s'mores) to go. Beans are roasted in a vintage Probat roaster in back.
160 Berry St., Brooklyn, New York, 11249, USA
Known For
- Third-wave coffee
- Great pastries
- Cool design
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At this coffee shop with roots in Bogotá, the beauty of the space is matched by the quality of the coffee, which comes exclusively from small farms in Colombia. Fresh beans are brought directly to Brooklyn, where they're roasted on-site within a few days of arrival. Take a seat on one of the leather sofas under the skylight or at a table in front of the living wall, and enjoy a cappuccino with one of the homemade medialunas or croissants. The stylish space has books, magazines, and even dominoes—perfect for a relaxing Sunday afternoon.
69 Grand St., Brooklyn, New York, 11249, USA
Known For
- Third-wave Colombian coffee
- Bright, welcoming space
- Living plant wall
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$$ | Williamsburg |
The word "diner" might evoke a greasy spoon, but this trendsetting restaurant under the Williamsburg Bridge is nothing of the sort. Andrew Tarlow—the godfather of Brooklyn's farm-to-table culinary renaissance—opened it in 1999 and launched an entire movement. The restaurant occupies a 1927 dining car, and foodies cram into the booths to partake in eclectic dishes from the regularly changing menu, based on seasonal ingredients from farms in the Greater New York area. They're also known for their grass-fed burger, available year-round.
85 Broadway, Brooklyn, New York, 11211, USA
Known For
- Rotating, eclectic menu
- Farm-to-table fare
- Intimate space in a vintage dining car
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations not accepted
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The chefs here consider pizza-making both art and science, and their wood-fired creations prove just how deftly they balance the equation. The funghi misti—a white pie with mozzarella, wild mushrooms, and truffle oil—is downright irresistible. It’s no wonder locations in Brooklyn Bridge Park and Greenpoint have joined the original, which is casual in style but gourmet in quality. Check for seasonal specials, like the fig, Gorgonzola, and arugula pizza offered in summer.
291 Kent Ave., Brooklyn, New York, 11249, USA
Known For
- Wood-fired pizza
- Casual vibe
- Great for families
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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$$ | Williamsburg |
With its green-and-white-striped awning, this place looks like a vintage grocery store, but don't let that fool you. This a buzzy bistro from restaurateur Andrew Tarlow is a destination for in-the-know foodies, featuring locavore cuisine on two different menus. The grab-and-go daytime menu includes pastries, gourmet sandwiches, and salads, while the sit-down night menu features creative plates celebrating the bounties of local fishermen and farmers.
81 Broadway, Brooklyn, New York, 11249, USA
Known For
- Pioneering restaurateur
- Inspired locavore fare
- Vintage grocery store–inspired design
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Amid Williamsburg's culinary landscape of casual, comfort food–centric bistros with rock-and-roll sound tracks, this Michelin-starred restaurant and bar feels thoroughly grown-up. Chef-owner Polo Dobkins serves New American cuisine in an airy space with blond-wood accents. The striking mosaic floor was preserved from the original 1890 building, at one point a kosher cafeteria. The sophisticated dishes might include crispy baby artichokes peeking out of a mound of arugula and topped with shaved Parmesan or wild-caught sea bass with stewed tomato, yellow squash, zucchini, and olive vinaigrette. If you can't choose, the $75 tasting menu is a great way to sample the greatest hits.
149 Broadway, Brooklyn, New York, 11211, USA
Known For
- Sophisticated design
- Michelin-starred New American cuisine
- Excellent tasting menu
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Tues. No lunch Mon. and Wed.
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Tokyo-born chef Tomoko Kato came up through New York's famed Le Bernardin and the East Village teahouse Cha-An before opening this pastry shop. Her inspired desserts marry Japanese flavors and French techniques, resulting in original creations like black-sesame crème brûlée, sake ice cream, and green tea mousse cake. Ingredients like matcha, yuzu, and mochi are sourced from Japan, appearing alongside seasonal items like chestnuts and cranberries. Sit at the dessert bar for a three-course tasting of sweets, or take them to go.
568 Union Ave., Brooklyn, New York, 11211, USA
Known For
- Japanese-French pastries
- Matcha lattes
- Great design
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
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$$$$ | Williamsburg |
Despite scathing food critic reviews in recent years, steak lovers (and food bloggers) continue to embrace to this steak institution that's endured since 1887. It's known for dry-aged cuts of meat and classic steak-house sides, as much as its old school, high-handed waiters. While burgers, lamb chops, and salmon are on the menu, the reason to make reservations is indisputably their prime aged steaks, served in cuts for one to four people. Book a table as far ahead as possible, as choice dining times fill up more than a month in advance.
178 Broadway, Brooklyn, New York, 11211, USA
Known For
- Being a steak institution for over 135 years
- Historic Brooklyn environs
- No credit cards
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential
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$ | Williamsburg |
Smorgasburg, the acclaimed open-air food market, is the portmanteau of smorgasbord and Williamsburg, its founding location at Marsha P. Johnson State Park. Here, vetted food vendors serve delicious treats to foodies (and provide photogenic content for food influencers), from arepas to yakitori. Even with the Smorgasburg branded concept dispersing crowds of foodies across other locations across New York, Jersey City, LA, Miami, Toronto, and Sao Paolo, the original Williamsburg location still draws close to 30,000 people each Saturday in the summer, so get there before noon if you don't want to spend most of your time there in queues. The original Smorgasburg is open from April through October, but check the website for details of the other locations in Brooklyn Manhattan.
90 Kent Ave., Brooklyn, New York, 11211, USA
Known For
- Beloved by locals
- Diverse selection
- Reasonably priced
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Modeled on Tokyo's intimate brasseries, this hidden Japanese restaurant serves no sushi: they specialize in exquisitely composed small plates, best enjoyed as part of the eight-course omakase (chef's tasting menu), though you can also order à la carte. Instead of a dining room, guests are seated in private booths separated by bamboo curtains, so other diners are audible but not visible. The gracious waiters can recommend sake to pair with your meal. This might be the closest to Tokyo you can get in Brooklyn.
77 N. 6th St., Brooklyn, New York, 11211, USA
Known For
- Japanese omakase
- Private booths
- Romantic date spot
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch, Reservations essential
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This Turkish-owned bakery is a cozy stop for a quick breakfast, lunch, or afternoon snack. Grab a table in front of the street art--style mural and settle in with sandwiches and wraps, or vegan and gluten-free pastries like the coffee cake (served with berries in summer, pumpkin in fall). Chocoholics should try the intense Nutella pouf, a flaky confection filled with Nutella and served warm.
347 Bedford Ave., Brooklyn, New York, 11211, USA
Known For
- Bakery with vegan and gluten-free options
- Street art mural
- Small but cozy space
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An alum of Manhattan's much-lauded Spotted Pig gastropub opened this popular spot, where closely packed tables, medieval-looking chandeliers, and a patchwork of patterned wallpaper are a rustic backdrop for elevated pub fare. At dinner the roast chicken is a standout; at brunch it's hard to choose between fluffy pancakes and eggs Benedict.
124 Bedford Ave., Brooklyn, New York, 11211, USA
Known For
- Gastropub fare
- Old-time decor
- No reservations
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The Williamsburg outpost of the historic Roman restaurant serves handmade pastas in an upscale setting. Though the decor is modern, the recipes uphold tradition: try the spaghetti cacio e pepe (al dente pasta with pecorino Romano and crushed black pepper) or the carbonara. The extensive wine selection (all Italian) ranges in palate and price from an approachable $35 Dolcetto d'Alba to the absurdly extravagant $900 Masseto. Antica Pesa draws the A-list—Madonna, Julianne Moore, and Giorgio Armani have all dined here.
115 Berry St., Brooklyn, New York, 11211, USA
Known For
- Roman cuisine
- Sleek modern design
- A-list clientele
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch
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An owner of the Hotel Delmano bar across the street operates this charming corner bistro with an enclosed garden that's open year-round. Inside, the weathered wood, a zinc bar, leather banquettes, and candlelit tables lend the place a romantic, old-world feel and provide a backdrop to fresh, simple New American food influenced by the cuisines of Italy, France, Spain, and Central America. Standout dishes include the crispy-chicken sandwich (served at lunch) and the handmade pastas, among them wild nettle and ricotta ravioli. Craft cocktails are poured, and the wine list focuses on small producers known for sustainable agricultural practices. Reservations are recommended on weekends.
79 Berry St., Brooklyn, New York, 11211, USA
Known For
- Old-world atmosphere
- Bistro fare
- Charming garden
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There's simply nowhere else in Williamsburg like this rustic enoteca: You'd have to sail to Sardinia to savor a comparable meal. Pastas highlight the island's specialties, among them fregola (similar to couscous) with pistachio pesto and mascarpone, and the all-Italian wine list has plenty of accessible choices to pair with the artisanal cheeses. These come with pane carasau, a thin, crispy Sardinian flatbread best simply drizzled with extra virgin olive oil. It's all so authentic, you can practically smell the sea air and the sheep.
83 N. 7th St., Brooklyn, New York, 11249, USA
Known For
- Excellent wine list
- Sardinian cuisine
- Rustic design
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch
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The focus at this Argentine steak house is on grass-fed beef, served on wooden platters and paired with an Argentine Malbec from the extensive wine list. The restaurant has a warm bistro feel, with lace curtains and a pressed-tin ceiling. In summer, the best seats are out in the garden, which is tucked away behind the restaurant and strung with lights.
557 Driggs Ave., Brooklyn, New York, 11211, USA
Known For
- Argentine steaks
- Great wine list
- Romantic atmosphere
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch weekdays
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A typical French bistro in the heart of Williamsburg, Fada serves Provençal specialties, including classic moules marinière, steak au poivre, and ratatouille. The owner hails from Marseille, so both the menu and decor are in keeping with the traditions of the French Riviera. A gypsy jazz band plays on weekends (there's flamenco on Tuesday), and a fetching enclosed garden awaits you out back.
530 Driggs Ave., Brooklyn, New York, 11211, USA
Known For
- French bistro fare
- Charming garden
- Live gypsy jazz
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No lunch Tues.--Sat.
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$$ | Williamsburg |
There are enough transplants from Texas and the South bringing their pitmaster experiences to Brooklyn that "Brooklyn style BBQ" has become formidable fare. One of the first purveyors of Brooklyn barbecue is this joint inside a former auto-body repair shop, where a huge wood-and-gas smoker delivers rotating meats, including brisket, pork belly, sausages, ribs, and smoked wings—all sold by the pound. Sides include potato salad, broccoli salad, and baked beans, but other pairings come in the form of one of over 100 American whiskeys and 10 microbrews. Come early, especially on warm afternoons, when carnivores line up to order meat and then vie for a table inside or out on the former repair shop's driveway.
354 Metropolitan Ave., Brooklyn, New York, 11211, USA
Known For
- Texas-style dry rub barbecue
- Excellent whiskey list
- No reservations
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Of the few old-school Italian pastry shops remaining in Williamsburg, this family-run café and bakery is by far the best. The three Fortunato brothers emigrated from Naples in 1971 and opened this Italian bakery in 1976; the fact that they may not have updated the decor since then only makes the place feel more authentic. Glass cases are lined with trays of cannoli, tiramisù, rum baba, sfogliatella, cream puffs, and cookies, all made in-house. The gelato is homemade, too.
289 Manhattan Ave., Brooklyn, New York, 11211, USA
Known For
- Old-school Italian-American pastries
- Delicious gelato
- Vintage decor
