Evening in Brooklyn often begins with a walk toward the water: across the Brooklyn Bridge, along the Brooklyn Heights Promenade, or down into DUMBO, where the Manhattan skyline stands across the East River. From there the night can go in very different directions, depending on which neighborhood you have chosen.
Brooklyn is a borough of distinct neighborhoods rather than one nightlife district, and its scene reflects that. Some areas are known for bars and small music venues, others for concerts, sports, or a quieter evening. It suits visitors who are happy to pick one area and stay in it, rather than move constantly between far-apart neighborhoods.
Where to go out in Brooklyn
1. Williamsburg
Williamsburg is described as the capital of New York City's hipster scene, with plenty of bars along Bedford Avenue. Many of New York's small music venues are found here.
It suits a night built around bar-hopping and live music. As a practical point, the bars cluster along Bedford Avenue, so you can plan an evening on foot once you arrive.
2. Bay Ridge
Bay Ridge has one of the highest concentrations of bars in the city. The neighborhood has been generally Irish and Italian, and it does not have the hipster or yuppie scene common elsewhere in New York.
It suits a straightforward, local night out rather than a trend-driven one. Because the bars are so concentrated, you can move between them without long trips.
3. Park Slope
Park Slope is described as the yuppie capital of New York, and you are more likely to find a tea house serving soy milk than a bar. Young couples pushing strollers are a common sight.
There is some low-key nightlife, though it has been on the decline, and a number of lesbian bars are in the area. It suits an early, quiet evening rather than a late one.
4. Downtown Brooklyn
Downtown is where you find the Brooklyn Academy of Music and Bargemusic, both described as excellent options for concerts. The Barclays Center is also here, home to the Brooklyn Nets and the New York Liberty.
It suits a night planned around a specific performance or game. Check listings and schedules ahead, since the evening revolves around a fixed start time.
5. Prospect Park
During the summer season, Prospect Park hosts the Celebrate Brooklyn concert campaign every weekend in the Bandshell area of the park.
It suits a warm-weather evening of music outdoors. Because it runs on weekends in summer, time your visit to the season if this is the focus of your night.
6. Coney Island
Coney Island is home to the Brooklyn Cyclones, the Mets' single-A minor league baseball team, who play at MCU Park. The park is also home to Rugby United New York.
It suits an evening or afternoon tied to a game, with the amusement area nearby. Check the team schedules, since the area's nightlife centers on match days.
7. Churches, synagogues and colleges
Concerts also take place at churches and synagogues, for example in Brooklyn Heights and Park Slope, as well as at colleges such as Brooklyn College and New York Technical College.
This suits a quieter, seated evening of music. Listings in newspapers such as the New York Press and Village Voice, which also have websites, are the way to find what is on.
How a night out unfolds
The sources do not describe a fixed schedule for eating and going out in Brooklyn. What they do show is that timing depends on what you are going out for: concerts and games have set start times, Celebrate Brooklyn runs on summer weekends, and bar districts such as Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg and the bar-heavy streets of Bay Ridge are there for the later part of the evening. Plan around the event you are attending rather than assuming a single borough-wide rhythm.
Festivals and events worth timing a trip around
- Celebrate Brooklyn concert campaign — summer season, every weekend in the Bandshell area of Prospect Park.
Frequently asked questions
Which Brooklyn neighborhood is best for bars?
Bay Ridge has one of the highest concentrations of bars in the city, and Williamsburg has plenty of bars along Bedford Avenue. The two have very different characters: Bay Ridge is generally Irish and Italian without the hipster or yuppie scene, while Williamsburg is described as the capital of the city's hipster scene.
Where can I hear live music in Brooklyn?
Williamsburg holds many of New York's small music venues. Downtown has the Brooklyn Academy of Music and Bargemusic, and concerts also take place at churches and synagogues in areas such as Brooklyn Heights and Park Slope, and at colleges including Brooklyn College and New York Technical College.
Is there anything to do in Brooklyn on a summer weekend?
Yes. During the summer season, Prospect Park hosts the Celebrate Brooklyn concert campaign every weekend in the Bandshell area.
Where can I see a game in Brooklyn?
The Barclays Center in Downtown is home to the Brooklyn Nets and the New York Liberty. In Coney Island, the Brooklyn Cyclones play at MCU Park, which is also home to Rugby United New York.
Decide which part of Brooklyn suits the evening you want, check what is on, and plan your night around it.