A date plan
Date · Williamsburg · Chill · $$$$
A slow, indulgent late-night crawl through Williamsburg's best kept secrets — from a heated backyard disco ball to a candlelit French bistro to an ivy-draped Italian garden with 150 bottles of wine.
Williamsburg · $$ · Wine bar · Bar
Start the night at BABA on Withers, a female-owned natural wine bar that somehow makes a heated backyard with a disco ball feel effortlessly romantic. Order from the Marseille-inspired small plates — the little neck clams are non-negotiable — and let the $9 happy hour ease you into the evening. On weekends, the lights drop and the music creeps up, which is exactly the kind of thing that makes a night feel like it's going somewhere.
~5 min walk (0.3 mi). Walking from BABA on Withers to Maison Provence, you'll cut through the quieter residential blocks of Williamsburg — keep an eye out for the murals that pop up on the sides of buildings; this stretch is surprisingly good for street art.
Williamsburg · $$ · French restaurant · Brunch restaurant
Maison Provence is the rare bistro that earns its candlelight — murals floor to ceiling, rustic furnishings, and a Nice-born chef ("Chef Lolo") who takes Provençal cooking seriously. Get the duck breast fettuccine if it's on, or the Provençal onion soup to start — and if you see the socca (chickpea flatbread), don't skip it. The room is small and conversation-friendly in the best possible way.
~11 min walk (0.5 mi). Maison Provence to Aurora Brooklyn is a short hop south toward Grand Street. Note that Aurora sits right near the Williamsburg/East Williamsburg border — it's still very much in the spirit of the neighborhood, just slightly further from the Bedford Ave core.
Williamsburg · $$$ · Italian restaurant · Bar
Cap the night at Aurora Brooklyn, a Williamsburg institution that's been pulling the right crowd since 2003 without ever getting smug about it. The exposed brick dining room is warm and unhurried, but if the weather cooperates, the ivy-covered back garden is the move — request it when you book. Work through the 150-bottle wine list and split the oxtail pappardelle if you're still hungry; no judgment here.