Top 10 Things To Do And See In Clinton Hill Brooklyn

Historically a neighborhood attracting wealthy residents, Clinton Hill of Brooklyn has evolved over the years to draw the crowds of millennials and young families. Because of this shifting history, the architecture of the neighborhood is diverse, an adventure in itself, from historic mansions to newer apartment buildings. Here is a list of some of the must-dos and must-sees in this little Brooklyn neighborhood.

Body By Brooklyn

With ten different treatment rooms plus a martini lounge and gourmet spa cuisine, a visit to Body By Brooklyn is an all-day relaxation retreat. You might indulge in any one of the massage or body treatments, relax near the fireplace while watching TV, or grab a cocktail and salad between treatments. In addition to the Euro-style wet lounge, the only one in the downtown Brooklyn area, the experience is complete with a Russian sauna, Swedish sauna, Turkish aroma steam room, Jacuzzis and soaking pools.

Price: Pricey ($45 for the day)

Watch out for: Euro-style wet lounge

Address: 275 Park Ave, Brooklyn, NY, USA, + 1 718 923 9400

1. Brooklyn Pop-Up Market

Market

Making its first debut in April of 2015, the Brooklyn Pop-Up Market is an outdoor market that hosts a variety of vendors, from jewelry makers and vintage sellers to bakers and artisan food purveyors. Each weekend hosts a different theme, including those for Easter with an Easter egg hunt for kids, a garlic festival with everything garlic like garlic ice cream, as well as a weekend celebration for National Pretzel Day, featuring pretzel vendors. Started by Misty McCauley and Andy Belle, the market was created as an affordable way for small start-ups to get their products out there.

Price: Budget

Opening hours: Seasonal weekends (April-December), Sat & Sun 12pm-7pm

Watch out for: Themed weekends

Pratt Institute

Many who attend the Pratt Institute also call the area home. Open since 1887, the institute is now known for its art and design programs and its architecture school. While the green lawns and rose gardens are a public attraction for the summer months, the campus also houses year-round allures like elegant turn-of-the-century buildings and a rotating, campus-wide display of some 60 sculptures by leading artists. Pratt’s library also has a rich history as the first free library in New York City, though it has since been made private in 1941. Beyond the grounds, architecture, and history, Pratt also brings in a variety of lectures and programs open to the public.

Price: Budget

Opening hours: N/A

Watch out for: Architectural gems

Address: North Hall, 200 Willoughby Ave, Brooklyn, NY, USA, +1 718 636 3600

2. Brooklyn Tap House

Bar, Pub Grub

With more than 40 beers on tap, over 15 TVs surrounding the bar, plus indoor and outdoor seating and activities, Brooklyn Tap House is one of the top spots for hanging out. While the indoor area features all you could want in a sports bar, the outdoor area has picnic tables, corn hole, dart boards, a cozy fire pit, and large projector screen to accommodate the sports crowds. Voted Best Sports Beer Garden in 2014 by the Village Voice, Brooklyn Tap House is a favorite amongst New Yorkers to kick back with a beer and enjoy a game in an environment filled with that unified spirit and passion that makes following sports so enjoyable.

Price: Mid-range

Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 4pm-1am, Friday 3pm-4am, Sat 12pm-4am, Sun 12pm-1am

Watch out for: Hot spot for watching sports games

3. Corkscrew Wines

Shop, Store

Founded by Karin Torres, a wine expert who keeps her products to high standards, Corkscrew Wines is a boutique wine shop that highlights the farm-to-table method of production. The store itself is completely green, crafted out of recycled materials and repurposed wood, and the products sold are all focused on female and family-produced varieties. The down-to-earth vibe of Corkscrew Wines is described by the owner Karin as ‘real wines by real people,’ and she and her husband enjoy sharing their passion with the neighborhood crowd, as well as out-of-towners looking for something new.

Price: Mid-range

Opening hours: Sun 12pm-9pm, Mon 3pm-9pm, Tues-Thurs 12pm-9pm, Fri 12pm-10pm, Sat 11:30am-10pm

Watch out for: Female and family-produced wines

4. Green in BKLYN

Market, Grocery Store, American

Another shopping point of interest in Clinton Hill, Green in BKLYN sells products that are environmentally sound, including biodegradable, energy efficient, fair trade, hypo-allergenic, natural, organic, recycled, and solar-powered items. Whether you are in the market for eco-friendly kitchen and cleaning supplies or want to give a sustainable gift of natural beauty products, crafts and books, towels, blankets, coffee, teas, or chocolates, Green in BKLYN has it all and is committed to encouraging the knowledge and use of green products.

Price: Mid-range

Opening hours: Mon-Fri 11am-7pm, Sat 10am-7pm, Sun 11am-6pm

Watch out for: Green lifestyle products

5. Urban Vintage

Cafe, American

Urban Vintage is a unique boutique café that combines fine fare with rare goods. In addition to a menu of comforting food drawn from family recipes, Urban Vintage is a treasure trove for the little things — anything from new and vintage jewelry and accessories to stationary and items for the home. If the allure of a curry chicken wrap with sliced almonds and golden raisins doesn’t draw you or the idea of a savory croissant sandwich with oven roasted turkey, brie, and honey mustard isn’t enough to make you stop for a bite, the aromas of good food will tempt you as you shop through the gems and baubles of the boutique.

Price: Mid-range

Opening hours: Mon-Fri 8am-7:30pm, Saturday closed (private events), Sun 9am-7:30pm

Watch out for: Boutique and café in one

The Mayflower

Tucked inside the Italian restaurant Aita, The Mayflower is a little bar with an intimate atmosphere perfect for a date or a night with a few friends. Serving up a selection of unique cocktails and seasonal wines and beers, The Mayflower is a perfect place to enjoy a drink before a night on the town or casually sip the night away. It is wise to arrive early, as the cozy space is small and fills up fast. The décor is quirky as expected from this kind of Brooklyn bar, and the drinks are all flavorful and strong for a reasonable penny.

Price: Mid-range

Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 7pm-2am, Fri-Sat 7pm-3am, Sun 6pm-1am

Watch out for: Cozy date night space

Address: 132 Greene Ave, Brooklyn, NY, USA, +1 718 576 3584

One Last Shag

For the young and wild looking to dance the night away, One Last Shag has exactly what you want. This bar is host to plenty of happening parties, with local neighborhood DJs providing the musical entertainment on a rotating schedule. Even on the off nights, One Last Shag is jamming with whatever the bartenders have on their iPods. The menu features a long list of cocktails and booze, with the option of trying a margarita made ten different ways. The backyard patio with its picnic benches and hanging lights makes it a great hangout for the summer season as well.

Price: Budget

Opening hours: Mon-Sat 6pm-4am, Sun 6pm-2am

Watch out for: Wild party environment

Address: 348 Franklin Ave, Brooklyn, NY, USA, +1 718 398 2472

Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM)

For an experience in the performing arts, the Brooklyn Academy of Music has three different locations in the Clinton Hill area, hosting entertainment of all varieties. The Peter Jay Sharp building is place of history, with its grand opera house and concert hall now subdivided into several movie theaters. The building also houses the BAM Café, which was once an ornate upstairs ballroom. While the building has been renovated for modern entertainment, much of the original details have been preserved. The BAM Harvey Theater is the second location with another rich history.

Price: Varies depending on venue

Opening hours: Varies depending on venue, see here for hours

Watch out for: Live performing arts entertainment

Address: Three locations, +1 718 636 4100

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