Brooklyn
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In 1899, only one year after Brooklyn became a borough of New York City, the world's first children's museum opened in Crown Heights. Its founding curator, Anna Billings Gallup, was among the first to argue that children learn best through curiosity, not rote memorization, and designed the space around that belief. Visitors were encouraged to touch and handle exhibits, something highly unusual for cultural institutions at the time. This approach made the Brooklyn Children’s Museum one of the earliest spaces to put progressive education into practice, a movement then taking shape across Europe and the U.S. that would eventually include Montessori, Reggio Emilia, and the broader tradition of child-centered learning. More than a century later, it continues to serve families in the same place.
Most of the rest of Brooklyn has transformed since then. A military payroll office in the Brooklyn Navy Yard was later used to manufacture Jewish burial shrouds; it now houses Kings County Distillery, a craft whiskey producer offering tours and tastings just steps from where the Brooklyn Whiskey Wars played out in the 1860s. Empire Stores in DUMBO, once a warehouse for coffee, sugar, and molasses, sat empty for decades before reopening as Soho House (private members only) and ABC Kitchen, Jean-Georges Vongerichten's seasonally driven restaurant. Next door, a tobacco storage facility was converted into St. Ann’s Warehouse, one of New York’s most respected avant-garde theaters. Even Notorious B.I.G.’s childhood home in Clinton Hill—the “one-room shack” he referred to in Juicy—was renovated and sold for over a million dollars. The neighborhood is now one of Brooklyn’s most affluent, but visitors will find his face in murals and stickers across the blocks where he grew up.
But transformation is only one way to read a place. Brooklyn is New York City’s most populous borough; if it had remained its own city, it would be the fourth-largest in the U.S. today. More than a third of its residents are immigrants, and 44% speak a language other than English at home. (New York City, as a whole, is the most linguistically diverse city in the history of the world). This makes it a place of contiguous worlds. A walk down Atlantic Avenue and into the side streets of Boerum Hill and Brooklyn Heights passes century-old Arabic grocery stores, independent boutiques, and multi-million dollar brownstones. In Bed-Stuy, two-time James Beard nominee Eric See opened Ursula, a New Mexican café known as much for its advocacy for the queer community and indigenous artists and farmers as its breakfast burritos — steps from Caribbean roti shops and West African braiding salons. Farther south, Cyrillic bakeries, Uzbek teahouses, and Cantonese dim sum halls cluster within blocks of one another.
This makes Brooklyn an unusually rich destination for families. It is a great place to experience community: block parties and stoop sales, little free libraries and community fridges, playgrounds filled with multiple languages. Or creativity: world-class museums, artist studios and workshops, and street art in Williamsburg and Bushwick capturing this moment in time. Brooklyn is a city-within-a-city containing multitudes: coolness and authenticity, displacement and arrival, and what it means to make something from nothing in one of the most expensive places on earth.
PRACTICAL NOTES
Book hotels rather than short-term rentals. New York banned most Airbnb-style stays in 2023.
Walk whenever you can. Brooklyn is best experienced block by block. Subways connect longer distances but most stations lack elevators so check the MTA's accessibility map before planning a route. Buses and ferries are stroller-friendly alternatives; ferries connect Brooklyn’s waterfront to downtown Manhattan, Governors Island, and Astoria.
Brooklyn Heights, Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, and Prospect Heights are particularly navigable with young children. These neighborhoods have wide sidewalks, frequent playgrounds, and cafés that expect families.
Don’t try to cover too much. Spend a few hours in each area rather than moving between distant neighborhoods. The wander itineraries are designed for exactly this.
EDITOR’S PICKS
Morning: L'Appartement 4F (arrive before 9am or accept the line) + Brooklyn Promenade
Afternoon: Domino Park + Williamsburg Waterfront
Indoor play: Space Club (any location)
Design: Powerhouse Arts
To eat: Ziggy's Roman Café
Culture: Crown Heights Cultural Walk
Sweet spot: Malai
Books: The Word Is Change
To take home: Ayoon
Beyond the neighborhoods: Coney Island + Brighton Beach boardwalk
RECOMMENDATIONS
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Mini itineraries linking nearby highlights into walkable routes.
Brooklyn Heights Promenade & Brooklyn Bridge Park (Brooklyn Heights/DUMBO): Start with a pastry from L'Appartement 4F or Cloudy Donut, then walk the Promenade for views of the Manhattan skyline. Descend into DUMBO's cobblestone streets and follow the waterfront south through Brooklyn Bridge Park to Jane's Carousel at the park's northern end. On weekends, the Brooklyn Flea is nearby.
Carroll Gardens & Cobble Hill (Carroll Gardens/Cobble Hill): Start at Carroll Park's playground, then browse Court and Smith Streets for leafy brownstone blocks, Italian bakeries, and Middle Eastern grocers. Pick up something from Bien Cuit or Damascus Bread & Pastry Shop and end with ice cream from Malai.
Prospect Park & Long Meadow (Park Slope/Prospect Heights): Begin at Grand Army Plaza — on Saturdays, the Greenmarket runs along the plaza's edge. Enter Prospect Park and follow the path to Long Meadow for wide lawns and stroller-friendly trails. For the Brooklyn Museum, Botanic Garden (cherry blossoms in spring, ginkgo in autumn), or Brooklyn Central Library, exit east on Eastern Parkway. For lunch or dinner afterward, try Chavelas.
Williamsburg & Greenpoint Waterfront (Williamsburg/ Greenpoint): Start at Domino Park Playground, built on the former Domino Sugar refinery site with industrial artifacts preserved throughout. Walk north along the waterfront through East River State Park (host to Smorgasburg in summer), then cut inland to McCarren Park. Continue into Greenpoint to WORD Bookstore on Franklin Street, with Oxomoco a short walk away for dinner.
Red Hook Waterfront (Red Hook): Start at the Red Hook Recreation Area, continue to Valentino Pier for harbor views and the Statue of Liberty, then time your visit for Pioneer Works' free Second Sundays (live music, open studios, interactive programs). Summer weekends, the Red Hook Ball Fields serve some of the city's best Latin American street food. Best reached by rideshare or the bus - subway access is limited.
Crown Heights Cultural Walk (Crown Heights): Start at the Brooklyn Children's Museum, walk to Weeksville Heritage Center to explore one of America's earliest free Black communities, then Cafe Rue Dix for Senegalese food and African textiles and jewelry.
Industry City & Chinatown (Industry City/ Sunset Park): Start at Industry City (36th Street) for galleries, shops, and the Food Hall, then walk south along 8th Avenue through one of New York City’s largest Chinese immigrant communities — dim sum at Pacificana or Bamboo Garden, Hong Kong-style bakeries, and grocers all the way to 65th Street.
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Brooklyn Heights
Center for Brooklyn History: Museum and research center chronicling 400 years of Brooklyn history in an 1878 Carnegie library.
Bushwick
Bushwick Collective: Outdoor gallery of street art spanning Troutman, Grattan, and St. Nicholas Streets. Murals change regularly; best experienced as a casual walk.
Crown Heights
Barzakh: North African café, bar, and bookstore with live music most evenings in the Blue Room — qawwali, Malian guitar, poetry readings. Best experienced on a babysitter night.
Weeksville Heritage Center: Historic site and museum preserving one of America's first free Black communities. Family-friendly tours and seasonal cultural events.
Downtown Brooklyn
Brooklyn Tabernacle: Sunday gospel services feature one of the most acclaimed gospel choirs in the country (open to the public). Plan for 2+ hours; best for older children who can sit through a full service.
DUMBO
St. Ann's Warehouse: Cutting-edge performance space hosting theater, music, and Saturday matinees in a restored tobacco warehouse by the waterfront.
Fort Greene
MoCADA (Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts): Small but serious contemporary art museum dedicated to the African diaspora, with rotating exhibitions and community programming.
Gowanus
Powerhouse Arts: A restored 1904 power station turned striking arts and fabrication center. Check programming before visiting.
Prospect Heights
Brooklyn Museum: One of NYC's preeminent museums. Interactive stroller tours for babies 0–24 months; First Saturdays are free with live music and performances.
Brooklyn Central Library: he 1941 Art Moderne building is worth the visit on its ow, particularly the Art & Literature room, with its gilded lettering, sweeping bronze doors, and view down Eastern Parkway. Free storytime throughout the week; check programming.
Red Hook
Pioneer Works: Experimental art space in a converted factory. Their Second Sundays (free) feature live music, open studios, and interactive programs.
Sunset Park
Green-Wood Cemetery's Chapel & Catacombs: National Historic Landmark and working cemetery hosting concerts and performances in its Gothic Revival chapel and underground catacombs.
Multiple Locations
New York Narratives Walking Tours: Guided walks that weave together architecture, history, and lived memory. Highlights include The Epic of 1898: When Brooklyn and Manhattan Became One; Muslim Bed-Stuy: The Black Medina; and Immigrant Williamsburg: Capital, Creativity, Chaos.
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Indoor Play Spaces
Clinton Hill
House of Wonder: Scandinavian-style café with an indoor play space for babies and toddlers. Best for infants to 3 years.
Private Picassos: Drop-in art studio for ages 18 months+ with open-ended projects like palette painting, clay, and collage. Includes open play.
Crown Heights
Brooklyn Children's Museum: Hands-on exhibits, toddler play zones, and a rooftop playscape for ages 0–10.
Downtown Brooklyn
The Nature Company: Open play in an animal-themed space with live reptiles, mammals, and amphibians on site. Weekday afternoons only; check schedule before visiting.
DUMBO
Space Club (DUMBO, Greenpoint & Fort Greene): Multilevel sensory playground designed by Australian artist CJ Hendry. Ball pits, slides, climbing structures, and interactive walls.
Park Slope
Good Day Play Café (ages 0-6): Calm, wood-toned space with a Hinoki cube pit.
Williamsburg
The Canopy: Serene, design-focused play space for children under 4, with drop-in workshops and classes.
Parkish: Design-forward indoor play space and café. Members only, but non-members can visit daily from 9am–5pm for drinks, food, and a look around.
Outdoor Play & Parks
DUMBO
Ancient Playground: Egyptian-themed playground with pyramids, obelisks, and sphinx sculptures.
Jane's Carousel: Restored 1920s carousel in a glass pavilion on the waterfront. Fully enclosed, stroller-friendly, and weatherproof.
Empire Fulton Ferry State Park: Small waterfront park perfect for toddlers, with gentle slopes and open lawn.
Greenpoint
Transmitter Park: Waterfront park with excellent playground and Manhattan skyline views.
Prospect Heights
Brooklyn Children's Garden: Dedicated kids' area within the Brooklyn Botanic Garden offering hands-on gardening programs and nature-based activities. Best in spring and summer—see Wander for visiting the main garden.
Long Meadow: 90 acres of open lawn in the heart of Prospect Park — the largest in any urban park in the U.S. The park also has several playgrounds, a free wildlife center, a carousel, and a boathouse with pedal boats in summer.
Williamsburg
Domino Park Playground: Built in the former Domino Sugar refinery site, with fog bridge, water features, and climbing structures made from industrial materials.
McCarren Park Pool: Free outdoor public pool open July through Labor Day. Be prepared for crowds by mid-morning on weekends.
Performance & Music
Carroll Gardens
Puppetsburg: nteractive puppet shows for ages 4 months to 5 years. Weekly themes range from pop culture to social issues. Special events and performances held at various Brooklyn locations.
Fort Greene
BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music): Year-round family programming including BAMkids Film Festival (see Seasonal), family concerts, and theater productions based on children's literature.
Park Slope
Puppetworks: Intimate marionette theater staging classic fairy tales like Pinocchio, Aladdin, and The Tortoise and the Hare.
Red Hook
Jalopy Theatre: Folk music venue with family-friendly concerts and music classes for all ages. Intergenerational atmosphere with roots music from around the world.
Multiple Locations
Hopalong Andrew: Cowboy-themed outdoor music and movement for babies and toddlers, often in parks or playgrounds. The Fort Greene Saturday morning class pairs well with the Fort Greene Park Greenmarket — attend, then browse produce and baked goods.
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Chosen for their food first. Space and welcome for families is the bonus. Practical details — high chairs, changing tables, stroller access — are noted on our map.
Brooklyn Heights
Chama Mama: Georgian restaurant. Authentic khachapuri and a spacious dining room with some outdoor seating.
Inga’s Bar: Weekend brunch in a beautifully restored Brooklyn Heights tavern.
Noodle Pudding: Cash-only Italian with no sign on the door and no reservations. The menu changes daily based on what's fresh.
Al Badawi: Family-style Palestinian cooking in a spacious dining room.
Bed-Stuy
Ursula: New Mexican café from two-time James Beard nominee Eric See, known for its breakfast burritos and advocacy for the queer community and indigenous farmers.
Cobble Hill
Nabila's: Lebanese home cooking from chef Nabila Farah, whose cooking became legendary on the Washington dinner party circuit before her son brought it to Brooklyn.
Tera Mera: Intimate Indian restaurant from chef-owner Shalini Vaswani, with handwritten family recipes on the wall and a serene back garden.
Crown Heights
Cafe Rue Dix: Senegalese restaurant serving thieboudienne, mafe, and other West African dishes. The adjacent concept store sells African textiles, jewelry, and home goods.
DUMBO
ABC Kitchen: Jean-Georges Vongerichten's seasonally driven restaurant. Best for brunch or lunch with older children; book ahead.
Ziggy's Roman Café: Roman-style Italian with thin-crust pizza, fried gnocchi, and expertly crafted cocktails. Mezzanine level includes soft play mat and sensory toys.
Fort Greene
Baba Cool: Day-to-night café with a leafy back garden.
Evelina: Mediterranean bistro with handmade pasta and ample outdoor seating.
Habana Outpost (summer): Mexican-Cuban fare in a bright, outdoor courtyard.
Greenpoint
Oxomoco: Michelin-starred Mexican with wood-fired tlayudas and an open kitchen. Better for dinner than lunch.
Park Slope / Prospect Heights / South Slope
Emmy Squared: Detroit-style pizza with thick, crispy-edged squares and a reliable kids' menu.
Chavelas: Fun, boisterous neighborhood Mexican with generous portions and family-friendly facilities.
Prospect Heights
Nin Hao: Fujianese restaurant from the co-founder of MáLà Project. Family-friendly atmosphere, including an occasional weekend dumpling class.
The Nuaa Table: Modern Thai from chef Pitipong Bowornneeranart. On summer Fridays after 5pm and throughout the weekend, Vanderbilt Avenue closes to cars as part of the family-friendly Open Streets program.
Simo Pizza: Fast-casual Neapolitan pizzas that cook in 90 seconds in a wood-fired oven. Communal marble tables, tip-free.
Red Hook
Third Time's the Charm: Sourdough pizza and childhood-inspired bar food with a large heated backyard.
Sunset Park
Industry City Food Hall: Sprawling food hall with vendors from around the world. Home to Japan Village, with frequent special events including the annual Japan Fes (summer).
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Brooklyn Heights
Cloudy Donut: Vegan donuts in 40+ rotating flavors.
Ferrane: Swedish bakery from two Stockholm-born founders with Eritrean and Moroccan roots.
L'Appartement 4F: French bakery; arrive early to beat the lines for their iconic croissants.
Nako: Japanese-inspired pastries and drinks in a warm, minimalist space.
Poppy’s: Woman-owned all-day café with rotating seasonal food and freshly baked goods.
Carroll Gardens
Bien Cuit: Acclaimed bakery known for exceptional sourdough, croissants, and a rotating pastry case.
L'Albero dei Gelati: Traditional Italian gelato with seasonal flavors and house-made cones.
Clinton Hill
Fan Fan Doughnuts: Small-batch doughnuts that take flavor seriously—guava cheesecake, ube cream, black sesame. No seating; grab a box to go.
Smør: Scandinavian café with open-faced sandwiches and seasonal ingredients.
Cobble Hill
Bolo Bolo: Indian-inspired bakery with ras malai lattes, black sesame rose lattes, pistachio baklava, and chai olive oil cakes.
Malai: Small-batch ice cream with South Asian-inspired flavors—rose, masala chai, cardamom.
Saturn Road: Women-owned day-to-night café with a spacious backyard and excellent coffee. Transitions to a wine and cocktail bar in the evenings with live music, film screenings, and community events.
DUMBO / Williamsburg
Bakeri: Nordic-style bakery with cardamom buns and mismatched vintage china.
Fontainhas: Goan all-day café serving royal chai with sea salt cream, khichdi wraps, and paneer sandwiches. The attached shop, Dukaan, sells Indian pantry staples and snacks. Free Thursday storytime at 4:30pm.
Park Slope
Miolin Bakery: Corner bakery known for its twice-baked almond croissants, strawberry-rhubarb pastries, and Wednesday kouign amanns.
Prospect Heights
Bontree Cafe: Yemeni café with rich, cardamom-forward coffee and fragrant chai.
The Social: Ice cream with whimsical flavors.
Red Hook
Raaka Chocolate: Bean-to-bar chocolate maker with a tasting room.
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Bed-Stuy
The Word Is Change: New and used books with an emphasis on underrepresented voices, radical history, and community organizing.
Carroll Gardens
Books Are Magic: Beloved bookstore founded by novelist Emma Straub, with an excellent children's section and regular author events.
Liz's Book Bar: Black- and woman-owned bookstore, coffee shop, and wine bar founded by author Maura Cheeks.
Cobble Hill
Books Are Magic: Founded by novelist Emma Straub in 2017. Excellent children's section, staff recommendation cards throughout, and a strong author events program.
Fort Greene
Greenlight Bookstore: Neighborhood institution known for its deep community roots, partnership with BAM, and community-oriented programming.
Greenpoint
WORD Bookstore: Community-focused indie with strong children's selection and author visits.
Prospect Heights
Love & Legends Books: NYC's first fantasy and romance bookstore, with strong children's and young adult sections.
Red Hook
Record Shop: Vinyl and books, with a strong selection of Arab and Middle Eastern titles and occasional live music.
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For Children
Boerum Hill
Misha and Puff: Beloved children’s knitwear brand — crochet sweaters, pom-pom hats, and delicate cotton pieces for babies through children. Weekly summer storytime every Wednesday at 11:30am.
Brooklyn Heights
Darling: Design-forward children's boutique with handmade pieces, global designers, and curated vintage.
Greenpoint
Parachute: Thoughtfully curated secondhand children's clothing, organized by size and season.
Park Slope
Brooklyn Superhero Supply Co.: An actual retail store selling capes, superpowers, and imagination supplies — and a front for 826NYC, a nonprofit youth writing center serving students ages 6–18. All purchases support free writing programs.
Little Green: Black-owned children's gift shop carrying a carefully chosen edit of toys, books, games, and crafts.
Owl Tree Kids: Curated children's consignment boutique.
Design & Home
Bed-Stuy
Sincerely, Tommy: Home goods and gift shop with ceramics, textiles, candles, and Brooklyn-made objects.
Cobble Hill
Ayoon: Arab-owned concept store selling jewelry, home goods, rugs, and clothing from independent makers.
DUMBO
Areaware: Brooklyn-based design company's flagship store selling toys, puzzles, home objects, and gifts.
Food & Specialty
Brooklyn Heights
Sahadi's: Middle Eastern specialty foods, bulk spices, nuts, olive oil, and halva. A Brooklyn institution since 1948.
Damascus Bread & Pastry Shop: Syrian bakery with flaky baklava, ma'amoul cookies, and fresh flatbread.
Park Slope
BKLYN Larder: Specialty cheese counter and grocer with sandwiches and pantry goods.
Vintage & Eclectic
Fort Greene & Clinton Hill
Su'juk: Eclectic boutique blending vintage clothing, home goods, and a curated children’s selection.
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If your timing lines up, things worth adding to your plans.
Brighton Beach
Boardwalk (summer): Russian bakeries, smoked fish from oceanfront shops. Pairs well with Coney Island for a full beach day.
Clinton Hill
St. James Joy Block Parties (summer): Summer block parties on St. James Place with live DJs, dancing in the street, and half the neighborhood.
Coney Island
Boardwalk & Luna Park (summer): Classic amusement rides, Nathan's hot dogs, and ocean views.
Crown Heights
West Indian Day Parade (Labor Day): One of Brooklyn's biggest cultural events—steel drums, elaborate costumes, and jerk chicken along Eastern Parkway celebrating Caribbean culture.
Downtown Brooklyn
Brooklyn Book Festival (September): Annual literary festival with author panels, children's programming, and hundreds of vendors.
Fort Greene
BAMkids: Annual showcase of international children's cinema.
Fort Greene Park Jazz Nights (summer): Free Thursday evening jazz concerts in the park's amphitheater. Bring a blanket and snacks.
Park Slope/ Windsor Terrace
Celebrate Brooklyn (summer, Prospect Park Bandshell): Free outdoor concert series running since 1979. Eclectic lineup from indie rock to African jazz. Bring a blanket and snacks.
Prospect Heights
Brooklyn Children's Book Fair (November, Brooklyn Museum): Annual event featuring Brooklyn authors and illustrators, author readings, book signings, and art activities for kids from preschool through middle school. Free with museum admission.
Sunset Park
Lunar New Year (February): 8th Avenue comes alive with lion dances, firecrackers, and street food.
STORIES FOR THE ROAD
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For children
The Neighborhood Mother Goose by Nina Crews (ages 0-5): Nursery rhymes photographed on Brooklyn stoops and playgrounds.
All the Way to Americaby Dan Yaccarino (ages 4-8): A multigenerational family story.
Harbor Me by Jacqueline Woodson (ages 8-12): Set in Crown Heights, middle-schoolers create a safe space to share their stories.
For parents
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith: The 1943 classic of tenement life in Williamsburg.
Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson: Brooklyn Heights family wealth and class dynamics.
The Coin by Yasmin Zaher: A Palestinian woman navigating displacement and desire in Brooklyn.
Do the Right Thing directed by Spike Lee: Bed-Stuy on the hottest day of summer.
Explore more of our reading lists on Bookshop.
RESOURCES
Brooklyn Bridge Parents: Weekly roundups of family events and weekend activities across Brooklyn neighborhoods.
Brooklyn Magazine (BKMAG): News, food, arts, and neighborhood coverage, and a regular weekend guide.
Let’s Go Baby: Searchable map of baby-friendly restaurants across NYC, filterable by high chairs, stroller storage, and changing tables.
Street Art NYC: Long-running blog documenting murals, graffiti, and public art across all NYC.
These resources are updated periodically.
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