Brooklyn’s food scene has coal-fired pizza joints with lines around the block and brunch spots where the pancakes come topped with hazelnut praline. Artisanal bakeries sit next to 70-year-old donut shops. Rooftop bars serve craft cocktails with Manhattan skyline views. If you want to experience what Brooklyn offers, self-guided food tours give you the freedom to eat, drink, and explore at your own pace.

This guide walks through a full day of eating through Williamsburg and DUMBO. You’ll hit the iconic spots, find the instagrammable food spots the area is known for, and learn how to plan a food crawl in NYC that your group will remember.

Why Williamsburg and DUMBO Make a Perfect Food Tour

Williamsburg has hipster-chic energy with indie coffee roasters, vintage clothing stores, and restaurants in converted warehouses. Walk down Bedford Avenue and you’ll pass a barber shop that serves craft cocktails next to a bakery that only takes cash. DUMBO has industrial-cool vibes with cobblestone streets, waterfront parks, and views of the Manhattan and Brooklyn bridges framing the skyline.

The two neighborhoods are less than two miles apart along the waterfront. This proximity makes them natural partners for a self-guided food tour itinerary. You get two different atmospheres without spending your whole day in transit.

First Stop: Williamsburg’s Brunch and Brewery Scene

Start with Brunch and Coffee

Sunday in Brooklyn serves some of the borough’s best brunch. Their hazelnut praline pancakes draw crowds, but the menu covers everything from creative egg dishes to grain bowls. The space has high ceilings and large windows, good for groups of six or more. Arrive before 10:30 AM on weekends to avoid hour-long waits.

After brunch, head to Devoción for coffee. They import beans directly from Colombian farms and roast them in a plant-filled warehouse space. The coffee lives up to the Instagram hype. Variety Coffee Roasters on Graham Avenue offers a quieter alternative with the same quality.

Midday Snacks and Savory Stops

Peter Pan Donut & Pastry Shop has operated since 1953 with the same recipes and similar prices. Grab a few donuts for the group to share. The vanilla-frosted and jelly-filled varieties outsell everything else for good reason.

For something savory, hit Fette Sau for Texas-style BBQ or Los Tacos No. 1 for Baja-style tacos. Both handle groups well and offer food you can eat while walking. Bakeri on Wythe Avenue sells French pastries worth the trip. The almond croissants and fruit tarts travel well if you want to save them for later.

End with Breweries and Rooftop Bars

Brooklyn Brewery opened in Williamsburg back in 1996 and helped launch the neighborhood’s transformation. Stop in for a tasting flight or grab cans to go. For something fancier, Westlight sits on the 22nd floor of the William Vale Hotel. The rooftop bar offers panoramic views of Manhattan and serves small plates alongside cocktails. Reservations help, but the bar accepts walk-ins.

Heading to DUMBO for Pizza, Ice Cream, and Bridge Views

Where to Get Pizza in DUMBO

Juliana’s and Grimaldi’s are located side-by-side under the Brooklyn Bridge, both serving coal-fired pizza, both drawing crowds. Patsy Grimaldi opened the original Grimaldi’s decades ago, sold it, then came back and opened Juliana’s next door. The family drama adds flavor, but both make good pizza.

Lines form by noon and stretch around the block by 1 PM on weekends. Pick whichever has fewer people waiting or flip a coin. You’re getting thin crust with charred edges, fresh mozzarella, and San Marzano tomatoes either way. Plan for 30-45 minutes from joining the line to getting your table.

Post-Pizza Ice Cream Stops

After pizza, walk to Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory near the waterfront. They serve eight rotating flavors from a converted fireboat house with views of the Manhattan skyline. Grab your cone and head into Brooklyn Bridge Park. Find a bench facing the water and watch the boats while you eat. This is one of the best places to eat locally for groups because everyone can spread out along the waterfront.

Ample Hills Creamery offers another option with creative flavors like Ooey Gooey Butter Cake and Salted Crack Caramel. Both shops get crowded between 2-4 PM in good weather.

DUMBO’s Iconic Instagram Shot

Washington Street between Front and Water Streets gives you the iconic DUMBO shot. The Manhattan Bridge frames the Empire State Building in the background. Every photo you’ve seen of DUMBO was probably taken from this exact spot. Get there early or late to avoid crowds blocking the view.

Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge afterward. The pedestrian path starts in Brooklyn Bridge Park and takes about 30 minutes to cross to Manhattan. Your group gets views of both rivers, all the bridges, and downtown Manhattan from the middle of the span. Circle back via subway or rideshare, or keep your vehicle waiting in DUMBO.

Best Local Restaurants for Larger Groups

Groups need restaurants with space and menus that work for different appetites. Here are spots that handle parties of six or more.

Sunday in Brooklyn

This Williamsburg brunch spot serves creative takes on breakfast classics in a bright, airy space. The menu balances comfort food with unexpected twists, and the cocktails are strong. Groups of six or more should call ahead for reservations, especially on weekends when the place fills up fast.

Peter Luger Steak House

Operating since 1887, this is one of New York’s most famous steakhouses. The porterhouse for two (or four) is what you come for, served with their signature steak sauce. They only take cash or their own Peter Luger credit card, and reservations book weeks ahead for weekends. The no-frills approach and old-school waiters are part of the experience.

Juliette

This French bistro in Williamsburg offers a varied menu that works well for groups with different tastes. The garden seating in back creates a relaxed atmosphere, and the space can accommodate larger parties without feeling cramped. The food hits that sweet spot between casual and special occasions.

Time Out Market

DUMBO’s food hall solves the problem of groups who can’t agree on cuisine. Multiple vendors under one roof mean someone can get tacos while another grabs ramen. The communal seating works well for larger groups, and the waterfront location puts you close to Brooklyn Bridge Park.

Smorgasburg

This outdoor food market runs on weekends from April through October at different locations. Saturdays in Williamsburg near the water, Sundays in Prospect Park. Over 100 vendors sell everything from ramen burgers to Thai rolled ice cream. Groups can split up, try different stalls, and meet back up to share. It’s the move when your group wants variety and doesn’t mind standing while they eat.

How to Move Between Williamsburg and DUMBO

Walking from Williamsburg to DUMBO takes about 40 minutes. Doable, but not ideal when you’ve eaten three meals and want to hit another spot.

The subway requires a transfer and doesn’t drop you near the best restaurants in either neighborhood.

Rideshares work but mean waiting around, coordinating multiple cars, and dealing with surge pricing during busy times.

This is one of the trickier parts of planning a food crawl in Brooklyn. The neighborhoods look close on a map but getting between them takes more time than you’d think.

If You’re Flying In

Groups arriving at JFK or LaGuardia have a few options. You can take a taxi or rideshare straight to your first stop, but then you’re back to figuring out how to move between neighborhoods.

Some groups book a vehicle for the full day so they can store bags and move from spot to spot without the coordination headache. Others stick to one neighborhood and save the second area for another visit.

For Groups That Want to Drink

If everyone plans to drink at multiple stops, the logistics get trickier. You need either a designated driver rotating through the group or a way to get everyone home safely at the end. Some groups solve this by having a driver for the day. Others pace themselves and use rideshares for the final leg home.

Coming from Newark

Newark is farther out than the NYC airports. The distance makes it harder to rely on multiple rideshares throughout the day. Groups often find it easier to arrange transportation from the start, especially if they’re carrying luggage or shopping bags they’d rather not haul around.

The approach depends on your group’s priorities and budget. There’s no perfect answer, just tradeoffs based on what matters most.

A Full-Day Brooklyn Food Tour Timeline

• 10:00 AM – Brunch at Sunday in Brooklyn
• 11:30 AM – Coffee at Devoción, donuts at Peter Pan
• 12:30 PM – Transit to DUMBO (10 minutes by car, 40 on foot)
• 1:00 PM – Pizza at Juliana’s or Grimaldi’s
• 2:30 PM – Ice cream and waterfront walk in Brooklyn Bridge Park
• 3:00 PM – Photos at Washington Street
• 3:30 PM – Walk across Brooklyn Bridge (optional)
• 4:30 PM – Back to Williamsburg for brewery stops
• 6:00 PM – Dinner at Peter Luger or Juliette (if still hungry)

Adjust based on your group’s pace and appetite. Some groups want to hit every stop, others prefer lingering longer at fewer places.

Making Your Brooklyn Food Tour Happen

A food tour through Williamsburg and DUMBO gives your group a full day of eating through two of Brooklyn’s best neighborhoods. From hazelnut praline pancakes to coal-fired pizza to rooftop cocktails with Manhattan views, you get the range of what makes the local food scene stand out.

Pick your anchor restaurants, build in time for walking and photos, and figure out transportation early. With the right setup, your group can eat your way through the borough’s best spots without spending half the day figuring out how to get around.