This post may contain affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Learn more.
byAlly Gibson | Last Updated:
Thanks to my many friends living in Park Slope, this was one of the first neighborhoods in Brooklyn that I really spent a lot of time in.
I have so many fond memories in this neighborhood, like vintage shopping with friends, hitting up concerts at Barclay Center, and bar hopping at night.
Park Slope is perfect for a low-key afternoon or a night out with none of the chaos of Manhattan.
It’s a neighborhood that I’ve watched grow over the last decade from an underrated spot into one of the most popular neighborhoods around.
Need more of a reason to trek out to Brooklyn?
Check out my list below of the best things to do in Park Slope for all the exciting activities this neighborhood offers!
Where is Park Slope, Brooklyn?
Okay, so until I started spending time in Brooklyn, I didn’t know what neighborhood was where.
In order to help you out, let me define where Park Slope sits in Brooklyn.
Basically, the area starts on the West side of Prospect Park and runs to 4th Ave, within the area between Flatbush Ave. and Prospect Expressway.
Best Things to Do in Park Slope
1. Explore Prospect Park
I love a pleasant park, especially during the warmer months, and Prospect Park doesn’t disappoint.
It’s less crowded with tourists, making it an ideal spot to have a relaxing picnic.
There’s also wonderful running paths, nature trails, baseball fields, tennis, and even horseback riding.
I went horseback riding years ago with Kensington Stables, who runs the trail rides. It was such a fun way to explore the park.
Though, as an avid rider, I remember wishing we could trot or even canter the horses instead of walking the entire time.
2. Go Vintage Shopping
My friends and I used to have a standing date to brunch and vintage shop once a month together.
Because most of those friends lived in Park Slope, we’d end up spending a lot of those girls’ days in the neighborhood.
These are the places we always found the best vintage at:
Further Reading
3. Head to The Brooklyn Museum
To me, there’s nothing better than a museum day when the weather isn’t ideal for outdoor adventures.
The Brooklyn Museum offers interesting exhibitions, Indigenous, modern and contemporary art, plus an extensive Egyptian collection that rivals the MET.
It’s the perfect way to spend an afternoon and must-visit for anyone who loves an excellent museum.
Fun Fact: At 560,000 square feet, the museum is the third-largest in the city in terms of physical size. It holds roughly 1.5 million works of art.
Book your tickets early to guarantee entry to The Brooklyn Museum!
4. Catch a Film at Nitehawk Cinema
This is one of my favorite movie theaters in all of NYC.
Nitehawk Cinema is one of those places where you get to have dinner and a movie at the same time.
They have a delicious menu with lots of locally sourced products, plus a well-rounded co*cktail selection.
The staff is friendly, and there’s plenty of legroom in the theaters.
I always have the best time here, and will almost always opt to travel further to experience movies at Nitehawk.
5. Stroll Around the Neighborhood
7th Avenue and 5th Avenue in Park Slope are some of the most lively streets to venture down.
I love walking these streets when I’m hanging out in the area. They’ve got lots of little cafes, bars, shops, and some of the best architecture in the neighborhood.
Anytime friends from out of town ask for advice on a quick way to check out the neighborhood during the day, I tell them walking down these streets sums up the neighborhood experience.
Further Reading
6. Grab Brunch
My friends and I used to brunch in the neighborhood at least once a month.
Park Slope has tons of delicious options, these are a few of my favorites:
7. Visit the Interference Archive
Are you wondering what an interference archive is?
I was wondering the same thing the first time I visited the Interference Archive.
Turns out it’s a volunteer-run library that archives historical materials about social and political movements and activism.
They even have a gallery that presents exhibitions on different historical movements.
This place is one of the most unique places that you’ll visit while in New York.
Oh, and the best part is that it’s free to visit!
Further Reading
8. Catch a Show at Prospect Park Bandshell
During the summer, Prospect Park hosts some pretty epic concerts at their Bandshell.
The only thing you need to do is plan ahead for tickets, since a lot of the bands sell-out.
Although, if you miss out on tickets, it’s easy to arrive early and enjoy the music from a picnic blanket outside the bandshell.
My friends and I did that a few years ago for Belle and Sebastian and had a blast!
9. Hit Up Brooklyn Superhero Supply
This place is a must for anyone who’s superhero obsessed.
They sell x-ray glasses, galactic light blasters, mind-reading kits, and capes.
I love that they even have a wind tunnel in the store so that you can really feel like a superhero while trying capes on!
The coolest part is that Brooklyn Superhero Supply promotes being your own hero.
They even run a non-profit to help students with their writing skills in the back of the store behind a hidden door.
10. Visit The Old Stone House
The Old Stone House is a reconstruction of the 1699 Vechte-Cortelyou House, marking the place where the original Dutch farmstead stood.
Inside the house, you’ll find tons of information on the history of the land.
It’s where the Battle of Brooklyn took place in 1776, and also where the original Brooklyn Dodgers played back in the day.
They host tons of exhibitions, events in their park, and occasionally even plays or musical events.
11. Grab a Bite to Eat
Park Slope has tons of delicious restaurants, making it an ideal area to grab dinner after a day of exploring or before a night out in Brooklyn.
These are some of my favorite Park Slope restaurants:
12. Check Out All the Murals
Walking around Park Slope, you’ll notice the area has a lot of cool murals.
They make the best backgrounds for Instagram photos.
My friends and I used to dedicate entire days to dressing up and taking cool photos in front of them.
Even if you aren’t planning a photoshoot, it’s worth it to grab a coffee and wander around appreciating all the street art in the neighborhood.
One of the neighborhood’s most famous ones is the “Water is the Life of NYC” mural.
It’s a four-story illustration that shows the story of New York City’s drinking water.
The mural shows the entire process, starting with the natural source up to when it comes out of the tap.
Just head to 209 4th Avenue to check it out.
13. Visit the Montauk Club
The Montauk Club is absolutely gorgeous and worth checking out if you get the chance.
It’s housed in a brownstone that has major 1920s vibes, stained glass windows, and elegant wood-paneled rooms.
Unfortunately, they rarely have events that are open to the public, but they do host weddings and private events for non-members.
They have a reciprocal program with 66 other clubs around the world, so if you belong to one of them, you’re in luck!
Otherwise, keep an eye out for their annual open houses.
If you’re really into architecture and want to check out the building, schedule an appointment and tell them you’re looking for an event venue.
14. Go Bar Hopping
I’ve spent countless nights drinking in Park Slope with friends.
In fact, I was lucky enough to have two of my best friends bartending in the area back in the day, which meant lots of free drinks and wild and late nights out.
These are some bars my friends and I always head to on a night out:
15. Catch a Concert at Barclays Center
Barclays Center is one of my favorite venues in NYC for concerts.
It’s a lot smaller than Madison Square Garden and draws just as impressive acts.
It also helps that for years I had friends who worked at the venue that would occasionally “upgrade” our tickets to VIP box seats that didn’t sell.
Plus, Park Slope has way better bars and restaurants compared to where MSG is in midtown.
The venue also hosts sports games, if you’re into that sort of thing. I hear they have a basketball team called the Brooklyn Nets.
Stubhub
Check out scoring deals on last-minute tickets for shows and events, including tickets to sold out shows!
Check Best Price
If you click this link and make a purchase, I earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
16. Hang Out in the Botanical Garden
On the edge of Prospect Park, you’ll find the 52-acres of stunning gardens and conservatories.
The Brooklyn Botanical Garden is a favorite amongst locals, and just for anyone visiting.
The garden is beautiful year-round and features a stunning Japanese garden, Koi pond, and tons of trees and flowers.
I especially love relaxing here with a good book during the summer.
It’s one of my favorite ways to unwind from all the chaos of the city.
17. Visit the Prospect Park Zoo
I’m not a massive fan of zoos, but the Prospect Park Zoo really impressed me.
The animals were well taken care of; the staff was friendly, and you could even feed some animals.
I especially love that the zoo is big enough to spend a few hours, but not so large that it becomes overwhelming trying to see everything.
18. Listen to Some Live Music
Who doesn’t love a night out with some live music?
Catching a live performance is one of my favorite ways to spend a night out with friends, and Park Slope has plenty of solid venues.
These are some of my favorites:
19. Go to the Farmer’s Market
Grand Army Plaza is a Park Slope sight that everyone should see, so why not go on a day that you can check it out while you eat?
Every Saturday from 8 am until 3 pm booths with produce straight from the farm, baked goods, and artisanal products fill the Greenmarket.
I love gathering a few groceries for the week, plus a few items to enjoy over a picnic in Prospect Park after my shopping is complete.
20. Visit Green-Wood Cemetery
Okay, I get that some of you are probably thinking, why would I want to visit a cemetery?
Well, for starters, Green-Wood Cemetery is home to some pretty notable figures and was a Revolutionary War battlefield.
You’ll spot gravestones of famous figures like Jean-Michel Basquiat, Leonard Bernstein, and William “Boss” Tweed.
It’s also free to visit, which is perfect for anyone on a budget looking for something interesting to do.
Further Reading
21. Catch a Show at BAM
BAM is one of my favorite places in Brooklyn to catch theater.
They import some of the best productions for all over the world, plus premier a bunch of experiential theater.
Every show I’ve seen here has blown me away, including an almost 5-hour play completely in Dutch with English subtitles.
22. Indulge in a Sweet Treat
I love finding something sweet to indulge in everywhere I explore.
Park Slope has plenty of treats for when you just need an afternoon pick-me-up.
These are some delicious places I will go out of the way to treat myself to:
23. Enjoy the LeFrack Center
The LeFrack Center inside Prospect Park offers year-round activities for locals and tourists.
During the summer they have roller skating, biking, boating, and other water activities.
In the winter, they offer ice skating, curling, figure skating, and hockey.
My friends and I used to love going roller skating in the summer.
It was always a ton of fun, and a good workout!
24. Check Out PuppetWorks
Okay, so I know catching a puppet show won’t be at the top of everyone’s list, but this is totally a lost art form and perfect for if you’ve got a kid.
PuppetWorks has been around since the 1980s and is one of the few remaining puppet theaters around today.
I got talked into going by a friend who was babysitting, and I’ve got to admit the entire experience was fun.
I had never been to a puppet show before and wasn’t expecting to enjoy it as much as I did.
It was fascinating to watch the show from a technical standpoint, and I especially liked all the classical music that was selected to go along with the play.
It made it feel like more of an adult-friendly show, despite it being geared toward families.
Fun Fact: They used to work with Macy’s doing a holiday puppet show at the flagship store.
25. Catch a Show at Union Hall
Union Hall has major cozy library vibes, a great bar scene, and a couple of fireplaces.
This is a solid spot to bring a date or hang out with a group of friends.
The bar is always busy, the service is on point, and they have some great comedy acts and bands performing weekly.
They also have plenty of games on hand, and even some books if you feel like reading next to one of their fireplaces.
Final Thoughts
The next time you visit NYC, make venturing out to Park Slope a priority.
As you now know, this neighborhood has plenty to do and see any time of day.
It’s an area of Brooklyn that I’ll always have such fond memories of after all the years of hanging out there.
I can’t wait until I’m back in the city and enjoying brunch and shopping with my friends again.
Let me know in the comments below what you’re most looking forward to checking out when you visit Park Slope!
