As a two-time resident, here is my honest take on the Best Things To Do in Park Slope, Brooklyn!
Park Slope is my favorite neighborhood in NYC! If you’re looking to explore a cozy neighborhood with plenty to do year-round, this is it!
The rustic brownstones in Park Slope give off this quaint vibe that can’t be found elsewhere.
I love that you can easily walk into amazing restaurants without a booking, and have easy access to Prospect Park.
It’s definitely a super family-friendly neighborhood that’s easy to navigate and low-stress for first-time New Yorkers. I love that you can get culture without the hustle and bustle that’s common in the rest of New York City.
With all that, let’s dive into the Best Things To Do in Park Slope, Brooklyn!
Where to Walk Around in Park Slope
1. Check out the Historic Brownstones
I lived in two brownstones in Park Slope, both erected in 1899. The charm of the brownstones is what drew me into the neighborhood in the first place!
The most beautiful, original brownstones can be seen in Park Slope Historic District.
I think the best brownstones are along the tree-lined streets in the heart of Park Slope, along St John’s Place, Lincoln Place and Berkeley Place from 6th Avenue to 8th Avenue.
2. Marvel at the Grand Army Plaza Arch
Take the subway to the majestic arch at Grand Army Plaza, which forms the main entrance to Prospect Park!
Grand Army Plaza is a National Historic Landmark that has a long history. The plaza opened in 1867 and was originally designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux to separate the peaceful park from the noisy traffic of the city.
The Grand Army Plaza and the large Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Arch both commemorate the Union Army soldiers who fought during the American Civil War.
The plaza used to be called Prospect Park Plaza, but was renamed in 1926 to Grand Army Plaza to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Grand Army of the Republic, which was a fraternity for Union Army veterans.
The largest battle of the American Revolution, called the Battle of Long Island, actually partly took place at the site of the plaza in 1776.
3. Explore Prospect Park
Stroll around Manhattan’s Central Park! I love Prospect Park and have spent a lot of time there walking, reflecting, and enjoying the many free activities that happen during the summer.
The park’s main circular path is about 3-4 miles long and is the perfect place for long walks and for running.
If you go early in the morning, you’ll find swarms of cycling groups decked out in their gear, whizzing around the track! Although not nearly as intense, I’d recommend renting a CitiBike (especially the electric ones!) for a pleasant bike ride around the park.
You’ll eventually stumble onto Prospect Park Lake — and if you’re lucky, you might even spot the resident swans!
There’s plenty of greenery, and you’ll be able to find some privacy as there’s much people and tourists compared to Central Park. It’s also the perfect place to plop down for a picnic!
4. Skate and Rollerblade at the LeFrak Center
Check out LeFrak Center at Lakeside, which is a skating rink during the winter and a rollerblading rink in the warmer months. The facility is super new and the sound system is pretty great, as the center was renovated in 2013.
5. Eat Your Heart Out at the Smorgasburg
If you’re visiting during the summer, be sure to check out the food trucks at the Smorgasburg, which opens every Sunday from April to October in Prospect Park’s Breeze Hill.
6. Vibe out at the Free Outdoor Concerts at Prospect Park
During the warmer months, vibe out to the live music at the amazing Free Outdoor Concerts at Prospect Park!
Every summer, BRIC (Brooklyn Information & Culture) partners with Prospect Park Alliance to host New York’s longest running, free outdoor performing arts festival.
The live performances are hosted at the Lena Horne Bandshell, which is an entertainment venue and performance space named after the namesake black Brooklyn-born singer, actress and civil rights activist.
Past performances have included free Afro-futurist music by Soul Science Lab, rock from The Wallflowers, and paid ticket benefit concerts (that support BRIC’s free performances!) by artists like Anderson.Paak.
Address: 141 Prospect Park W, Brooklyn, NY 11215
7. Stroll around 7th Avenue for the Neighborhood Vibes
Wanna know what it’s like to live in Park Slope? 7th Avenue will give you a good taster for that!
7th Avenue has tons of low-key shops and eateries, frequented by the young families and residents of Park Slope.
8. Winner
All the baked goods I’ve tried are amazing here, from sourdough to sweet treats! Try this local favorite that’s sure to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Address: 367 7th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11215
9. Cousin John’s Cafe & Bakery
Ugh. The sweet baked goods are like no other here, and the prices are so reasonable.
This is where I used to buy small pies, cake slices and tarts here before heading to dinner parties! They were a party favorite.
Cousin John’s new location (located on the same block) is much bigger, and they’ve now got plenty of seating. I can attest their baked goods are still just as good!
Address: 60 7th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11217
10. Cafe Regular
This corner coffee shop, which was on my block when I lived in Park Slope, made me smile every time I walked past it.
With amazing coffee, a cozy antique-themed interior and outdoor seating, this charming cafe is a local favorite.
Fore more coffee reccs, check out the Top 6 Best Park Slope Cafes.
Address: 158 Berkeley Place, Brooklyn, NY 11217
11. Bagel Pub
Grab a bagel sandwich at this local favorite. The decor is beautifully classic, its woody interior and nostalgic designs blending in with the historic brownstones.
Address: 57 7th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11217
12. Banhmigos
Ahh. Their banh mi (Vietnamese baguette sandwich) never disappoints. It’s a ton of food for a reasonable price.
Each part of the banh mi is so good, from the texture of the chewy, warm baguette, to the flavor of the cold cuts and pate, to the pickled and fresh veggies, and it all comes together to form a mouth-watering banh mi.
I used to pick up the banh mi and take the short walk to the Prospect Park to eat it there.
Address: 178 Lincoln Place, Brooklyn, NY 11217
13. Shop and Eat on 5th Avenue
5th Avenue is Park Slope’s main shopping street and it’s always a bumpin’, lively commercial area! There’s tons of fun and casual restaurants to visit, as well as unique small businesses to shop from.
Here are some of my favorite spots on Fifth Avenue!
14. Simple Loaf Bakehouse
Everything I’ve tried here has been amazing! They are famous for their sourdough, which tastes great even after freezing and defrosting.
Their sweet baked goods and sandwiches are also fantastic.
Address: 310 5th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11215
15. Midoriya Japanese Grocery
The shop is small but somehow has everything you need, from Japanese fresh ingredients, frozen foods, condiments, to even chopsticks, pots, makeup and trinkets, all at an affordable price.
Address: 60 5th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11217
16. Something Else on Fifth
From outdoorsy clothing to a collection of fun, eclectic gifts, you’ll find it all here at this classically Brooklyn-esque clothing and gift shop.
Address: 206 5th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11217
Best Activities in Park Slope
17. Shop at the Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket
Nom on delicious baked goods and check out small business knick-knacks at the Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket!
The market is open year-round and takes place every Saturday from 8am to 3pm.
Sink your teeth into Bread Alone’s baked goods (from upstate New York), grab some fresh herbs from Furnace Creek Farm (from Pennsylvania), and decorate your apartment with the beautiful flowers from Moonshot Farm (from New Jersey).
The greenmarket is located across from the Grand Army Plaza arch (it’s a historic landmark!) at the main entrance to Prospect Park. You can get there by taking the red 2 and 3 express trains, or the green 4 express train to Grand Army Plaza station.
Address: Prospect Park West & Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn
18. Watch an NBA Game at the Barclays Center
Barclays Center is the home of the Brooklyn Nets and quite a sight with its modern wooden exterior that’s shaped like an oval.
Address: 620 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11217
19. Revel in the beauty of Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Bordering Prospect Park is Brooklyn Botanic Garden. If you’re in for more greenery, trust me, you won’t regret this one.
At $18, the ticket price is pretty high, but the experience was totally worth it in my opinion.
There was such a diversity of exhibitions, from a Japanese-Hill-and-Pond Garden to Trees of Little Caribbean.
If you get a little peckish, stop by at the Yellow Magnolia Cafe, which is located inside the garden.
Best Art & Culture in Park Slope
20. Explore Historical Art at the Brooklyn Museum
The Brooklyn Museum is an art museum that has hosted some really cool special exhibitions in recent years!
Plus, tickets are pay-as-you-wish, making it a great low-cost, educational experience if you’re on a budget!
The special exhibitions, though, are usually ticketed and priced around $25, like the Spike Lee and Alicia Keys/Swizz Beatz exhibitions.
The Brooklyn Museum’s permanent collection is pretty diverse, from Egyptian archeological finds to mid-century furniture.
Plus, the museum has a ton of free weekend events for kids if you’re visiting with family, like clay figure-making!
Address: 200 Eastern Pkwy, Brooklyn, NY 11238
21. Visit a Cool Exhibition at Central Library
Visit the main library of the Brooklyn Public Library! The Central Library is right across Grand Army Plaza and has some really cool exhibitions that make it a great place to cool off after a walk at Prospect Park.
If you haven’t gotten your library card yet, get a cool physical card from the Central Library! They’ve got some Brooklyn-inspired designs, like ones with graffiti art and on occasion, limited edition designs like the ones by Jay-Z.
Fun Fact: the Central Library is actually part of the National Register of Historic Places!
Address: 10 Grand Army Plz, Brooklyn, NY 11238
Best Shopping in Park Slope
22. Life Boutique Thrift
I snagged an almost-new cream beige Calvin Klein dress with the tag on for $25 at this small thrift shop with amazing prices and good finds, from clothing to bags, shoes and even furniture.
Address: 515 5th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11215
23. Atlantic Terminal Mall
Atlantic Terminal Mall has everything you need, from big box retailers like Target and Best Buy, to brands like UNIQLO and Pandora. If you miss the suburban charm of malls, this is your spot!
Address: 139 Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11217
Popular Restaurants in Park Slope
24. al di la Trattoria
al di la is a delicious northern Italian restaurant with some of the best pastas I’ve tried in New York City! It’s been recognized by the Michelin Guide and was reviewed by Frank Bruni of The New York Times.
al di la Trattoria is the perfect way to experience the unassuming but amazingly good food in Park Slope.
The pasta is freshly homemade and always delivers – the tagliatelle al ragu ($24) is my absolute favorite!
The main dining room has a warm atmosphere with the wooden tables, warm lighting and Art Deco patterned ceilings.
It’s fancy enough to make for a popular spot for dates, but casual enough that you could totally have a comfortable family dinner. No wonder al di la is such a popular spot among Park slope residents!
Address: 248 5th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11215
What To Do Near Park Slope
25. Pay your respects at Green-Wood Cemetery
Did you know that in the 1860s, this cemetery was the second-most popular American tourist destination (only second to Niagara Falls)?
Notable figures buried at this cemetery include artists like Jean-Michel Basquiat, politicians like William “Boss” Tweed of Tammany Hall, and many Civil War generals.
Green-Wood Cemetery is a huge, 478 acre National Historic Landmark that serves as the resting place for 570,000 people. This beautifully landscaped cemetery opened in 1838.
Walk along the winding paths of Green-Wood Cemetery and soak in the peacefulness of the glacial ponds and the historic sculptures.
Address: 500 25th St, Brooklyn, NY 11232
Best Things To Do in Park Slope, Brooklyn (Conclusion)
I’m so thrilled to share my honest take on the Best Things To Do in Park Slope, Brooklyn!
I truly loved living in Park Slope because of the charming brownstones, the easy access to Prospect Park and the low-key but delicious restaurants. Here are some of my top tips:
- Where to Walk Around in Park Slope
- Best Activities in Park Slope
- Best Art & Culture in Park Slope
- Best Shopping in Park Slope
- Popular Restaurants in Park Slope
- What To Do Near Park Slope
Thanks for checking out my guide to the Best Things To Do in Park Slope, Brooklyn!
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