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Brooklyn Winery
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61 Guernsey St.
At this boutique urban winery set in Brooklyn's vibrant Williamsburg neighborhood, winemaker Conor McCormack works to craft premium small batch wines that combine tradition with innovation. Tour the winery to learn about how the wines are produced, then settle into the wine bar and savor the artisanal wines—some of which are exclusively available on tap—while indulging in the seasonal menu. For those planning a special occasion, Brooklyn Winery also functions as a private event venue, hosting full-service weddings and other occasions. With the beautiful winery as a backdrop, guests will enjoy exquisite cuisine and wine made on-site.
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Maison Premiere
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298 Bedford Ave.
Were Toulouse-Lautrec alive today and living in New York City, he'd likely spend hours at this Williamsburg oyster house, consuming its spirited atmosphere, bivalves and—of course—absinthe in copious quantities. Though you wouldn't know it from the humble façade, the interior of Maison Premiere is nothing short of lovely; a modern homage to Parisian and New Orleans oyster bars of yesteryear. The emphasis here is on old-world elegance, from the grand marble horseshoe bar at the heart of the space to the carefully considered details throughout. There is much else worth noting—namely the menu, which boasts 30 different oyster varieties, top-notch cocktails and the "largest premium absinthe collection in New York City." Happy hour, from 4–7pm on weekdays and 11am–1pm on weekends, is particularly busy (you can hear the crowd even as you approach), thanks to oysters priced at just $1 each.
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Brooklyn Bowl
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61 Wythe Ave.
As a multi-dimensional 23,000-square-foot venue boasting a premier performance space, the world’s first LEED-certified bowling alley, top-shelf bar offerings and renowned food by Blue Ribbon, Brooklyn Bowl has redefined the destination event and entertainment experience. In addition to the day-to-day live entertainment schedule, Brooklyn Bowl offers special events on the bowling lanes during a show, as well as private venue rentals for meetings, conferences, receptions, corporate events, branded events, holiday parties, fundraising galas, bar/bat mitzvahs, weddings, and more.
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Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream
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632 Manhattan Ave.
Artisan ice cream is just part of the story at this sweet, low-key shop. Its genesis was a fleet of ice cream trucks plying the City, also selling baked goods and Intelligentsia coffee drinks. The Van Leeuwen brothers, Ben and Pete, opened their first brick-and-mortar shop in an artsy part of Greenpoint, inside a groovy piano bar and restaurant, the Manhattan Inn. The ice cream is made from local dairy products and each ingredient is hand-selected by the brothers—they use organic, aged vanilla beans, Michel Cluizel French chocolate, Bronte pistachios from Sicily and biodynamic Ceylon cinnamon from Costa Rica. Store-baked treats include sticky buns, butterscotch cookies, cheddar chive scones and lemon ricotta pound cake.