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Top Things to Do in Dumbo, Brooklyn

Ten things to try in Dumbo, Brooklyn's oft-ignored waterfront neighborhood.
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Many travelers head to Dumbo (an acronym that stands for "Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass"), Brooklyn to begin their walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. But the waterfront neighborhood deserves a visit in its own right: It's home to some of the city's best restaurants and parks, and has Instagrammable views of the Manhattan skyline. Consider arriving early or starting in Manhattan so that you can explore the restaurants, shops, and greenery. Here are the top things to do in Dumbo.

Brooklyn Bridge Park

This 85-acre stretch along the East River began as the pickup spot for a ferry between Brooklyn and Manhattan. And while ferries still dock there, there's also much more going on thanks to the city's revitalization efforts, including film screenings, a "Shakespeare at Sunset" series, a summertime pop-up swimming pool, and Smorgasburg, a weekly outdoor food market. Perhaps the best thing to do there, though, is simply set up a picnic and enjoy the view.

Jacques Torres Chocolate

This chocolate emporium has a bit of a Willy Wonka feel to it—the windows are always filled with seasonal sweets, from mini-Christmas trees in the winter to chocolate and toffee-coated matzoh during Passover. The standout, however, is the Mexican-style hot chocolate made with cinnamon and ground chili peppers. If you're walking the bridge on a cold day, bring a cup with you for the journey.

PowerHouse Books

New Yorkers are so used to tiny spaces that this huge, bright independent bookstore feels like a neighborhood into itself. Stock up on art books and adorable kids' toys or come for one of the many author events. The only thing you can't do is "showrooming" (aka, taking smartphone pictures of book covers, then buying them on Amazon later).

Juliana's Pizza

Courtesy of Juliana's

Juliana's Pizza

Even non-New Yorkers know that Grimaldi's Pizza, which pumps Sinatra and refuses to sell by the slice, was one of the city's top pizza joints. But its original proprietor, Patsy Grimaldi, sold the business in the late '90s and eventually founded Juliana's (named for his mother), a few steps away. Now, the two pizza places battle for supremacy, and the winners are the people who get to eat their delicious, old-school pies.

Dabney Lee

Online, Dabney Lee's bold printed stationery and calendars were a big enough hit that Target asked them to collaborate on a product range. But visitors to Dumbo can stock up on their favorite goodies—zebra-print mousepads, "confetti bomb" balloons, and neon monogrammed placemats—in the brand's only brick and mortar shop.

Superfine

Many of the buildings in Dumbo are reclaimed industrial warehouses, and Superfine, one of the first upscale restaurants that came to the neighborhood, is located in one near the waterfront. Come at lunch to mingle with tech scenesters, many of whom work in the neighborhood, swing by after work for cocktails and a game of pool on an orange-felted table.

Jane's Carousel

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Jane's Carousel

Originally, this carousel was built in the 1920s for an amusement park in Ohio. When the park shut down in the 1980s, the carousel was brought to Brooklyn, renovated, and encased in a glass structure designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Jean Nouvel. Now, for just two dollars, you can take a whirl on a wooden horse while looking out over the East River.

Stewart/Stand Design Store

Dumbo's abundant warehouses brought many artists to the neighborhood, where they could get studio space. Stewart/Stand design store sells many pieces from Brooklyn-based designers and artists: Among the offerings are resin rose-shaped earrings and rings from AK, Boundless Brooklyn mini water tower building kits, and "Utitensil," a multipurpose utensil made by the store's co-owner, Theo Stewart-Stand.

The River Café

For a glimpse of old-school New York City, head to this restaurant in the shadow of the Brooklyn Bridge. The dress code (gentlemen must wear jackets to dinner) and the dishes (strip steak, poached lobster, foie gras) are old-fashioned and elegant, and the views of downtown Manhattan, especially at night, are unparalleled. Luckily, there is a little bit of modernity, though: You can reserve tables online.

Mighty Tanaka

Although it's easy to walk past this tiny storefront without noticing, people who manage to get into Mighty Tanaka are in for a treat. This gallery focuses on street art and emerging artists, some of whom have never had their work conventionally displayed before. If you wander in off the street on a quiet day, a gallery staff member will often offer an impromptu, personalized guided tour.