Maia's Guidebook
Coffee ☕️
Win Son
159 Graham AveGreat place for coffee, pastries, and lunch. Try the millet mochi donut!
Cool Japanese coffee spot. Also has bento box-type lunch but only a few tables to sit. My go-to for mornings (or Win Son bakery).
80 locals recommend
Brooklyn Ball Factory
95 Montrose AveCool Japanese coffee spot. Also has bento box-type lunch but only a few tables to sit. My go-to for mornings (or Win Son bakery).
Tiny coffee shop with pastries one block away. You can sit at the outdoor tables around the corner.
12 locals recommend
Apollonia
128 Meserole StTiny coffee shop with pastries one block away. You can sit at the outdoor tables around the corner.
Alita Cafe
797 Grand StreetSuper friendly owners and baristas. Great coffee and pastries 7 minute walk away.
Local NY chain coffee shop 10 minute walk away. Good pit stop if you’re walking up Graham Ave towards central Williamsburg.
460 locals recommend
Variety Coffee Roasters
368 Graham AveLocal NY chain coffee shop 10 minute walk away. Good pit stop if you’re walking up Graham Ave towards central Williamsburg.
Local food spots 🍽
My recommendations for brunch/lunch/dinner in Williamsburg and Bushwick.
My all-time favorite place for dinner and drinks. Try the burrata. One stop away on the train.
44 locals recommend
Otis
18 Harrison PlMy all-time favorite place for dinner and drinks. Try the burrata. One stop away on the train.
Amazing Brazilian food. Second favorite place for dinner. Smart choice for a date. Often has live music.
126 locals recommend
Beco
45 Richardson StAmazing Brazilian food. Second favorite place for dinner. Smart choice for a date. Often has live music.
Excellent Taiwanese-American food only a block away. Go for dinner or lunch!
182 locals recommend
Win Son
159 Graham AveExcellent Taiwanese-American food only a block away. Go for dinner or lunch!
My favorite delivery order (via their website or Seamless). Best Italian sandwiches, casual pasta, and soup around. I crave their Italian combo on the regular.
13 locals recommend
Carmenta’s
50 Starr StMy favorite delivery order (via their website or Seamless). Best Italian sandwiches, casual pasta, and soup around. I crave their Italian combo on the regular.
Another favorite of mine right next to McCarren Park. Italian and house-made pasta with excellent coffee and dessert. Good for solo dining, couples, or group dinner for special occasions. Usually requires a reservation!
190 locals recommend
Lilia
567 Union AveAnother favorite of mine right next to McCarren Park. Italian and house-made pasta with excellent coffee and dessert. Good for solo dining, couples, or group dinner for special occasions. Usually requires a reservation!
Tong
321 Starr StreetIncredible Thai food. Two stops away on the train. 10 min drive.
Michelin-starred Italian restaurant in industrial East Williamsburg/Bushwick two train stops away.
178 locals recommend
Faro
436 Jefferson StMichelin-starred Italian restaurant in industrial East Williamsburg/Bushwick two train stops away.
Open after 4pm. Casual place for drinks and/or dinner. Makes the cut because it’s close.
10 locals recommend
Nite Nite
128 Meserole StreetOpen after 4pm. Casual place for drinks and/or dinner. Makes the cut because it’s close.
Newtown
55 Waterbury StA casual local favorite serving Mediterranean (and vegetarian) food
Best Mexican food owned by my friend Felipe Head next door to la milagrosa for mezcal after dinner.
46 locals recommend
Cerveceria Havemeyer
149 Havemeyer StBest Mexican food owned by my friend Felipe Head next door to la milagrosa for mezcal after dinner.
Locals only 😎
For those of you with a longer stay
Beautiful, fun place to spend a weekend afternoon in Williamsburg. Grab a to-go margarita at the Turkey’s Nest. The rest will follow. There’s also a pretty sexy farmer’s market on the weekends.
798 locals recommend
McCarren Park
776 Lorimer StBeautiful, fun place to spend a weekend afternoon in Williamsburg. Grab a to-go margarita at the Turkey’s Nest. The rest will follow. There’s also a pretty sexy farmer’s market on the weekends.
Home Union
319 Graham AveMy favorite (and closest) vintage furniture/home decor store.
World-renowned art gallery. Good stop if you’re cruising the art scene.
12 locals recommend
C L E A R I N G
260 Johnson AveWorld-renowned art gallery. Good stop if you’re cruising the art scene.
If you love interior design and are in Greenpoint, go here. Gorgeous selection of high-end vintage pieces in a cool ass, family-owned shop that doubles as a fishing tackle and record store.
Dream Fishing Tackle
59 Manhattan AveIf you love interior design and are in Greenpoint, go here. Gorgeous selection of high-end vintage pieces in a cool ass, family-owned shop that doubles as a fishing tackle and record store.
My favorite place. Plants, vintage clothes, mirrors, rugs, candles. I love it all. In Greenpoint.
7 locals recommend
FENG SWAY
41 Norman AveMy favorite place. Plants, vintage clothes, mirrors, rugs, candles. I love it all. In Greenpoint.
Nightlife 🍸🕺🏻
Local bars, clubs, venues
The Anchored Inn
57 Waterbury StLocal bar with comfort food open til 4am only a few blocks away.
Honey's
93 Scott AveCasual chill place for drinks in Bushwick near all the music venues.
Cute place to start your night if you’re in North Williamsburg or Greenpoint. Japanese lounge serving whiskey, cocktails, and small plates hidden behind Wanpaku. Strangely I think they close at 11pm.
The Hidden Pearl
621 Manhattan AveCute place to start your night if you’re in North Williamsburg or Greenpoint. Japanese lounge serving whiskey, cocktails, and small plates hidden behind Wanpaku. Strangely I think they close at 11pm.
Look up who’s playing/event schedule before going as they usually require tickets.
61 locals recommend
The Brooklyn Mirage
140 Stewart AveLook up who’s playing/event schedule before going as they usually require tickets.
Huge live music venue in the neighborhood. Part of the Bowery Presents group. Look up who’s performing to get tickets.
84 locals recommend
Brooklyn Steel
319 Frost StHuge live music venue in the neighborhood. Part of the Bowery Presents group. Look up who’s performing to get tickets.
Grimm Artisanal Ales
990 Metropolitan AveLocal brewery with a huge space in industrial Williamsburg
Thief
595 Union AvenueSmall cocktail bar with a 90s vibe. I like it.
Bar with mezcal and music hidden behind a laundromat. Owned by my friend Felipe, who has the best taste in music, hands-down.
18 locals recommend
la milagrosa
149 Havemeyer StBar with mezcal and music hidden behind a laundromat. Owned by my friend Felipe, who has the best taste in music, hands-down.
Traveler advice
Getting around
The subway is your friend 🚉
The train is usually faster than taking a car, and the L train is only two blocks away! Use tap to pay with your phone, and you don’t need to get a metro card.
Customs and culture
Tips 💵
Tip your baristas, waiters, and delivery people 20%+
Customs and culture
New Yorkers are friendly 🙂
Don’t be afraid to ask for directions or recommendations from strangers. NYers are friendly and happy to help, despite what you’ve heard. 🙃
Getting around
Google Maps 📍
Google Maps is the best resource for directions and real-time train updates. Check Google Maps before leaving to the train to make sure they’re running on schedule, especially on weekends and holidays.