Things To Do In Bay Ridge

Bay Ridge sits at the southwest corner of Brooklyn, where the borough runs out of land and the harbor takes over. It is a neighborhood of prewar co-op buildings along the water, detached houses on the side streets, three shopping avenues, and a park at nearly every end of it.

This is a local's guide, not a visitor's list. We work here, our office is on 3rd Avenue, and everything below is a place we would actually send someone. It gets reviewed twice a year.

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What is there to do in Bay Ridge?

Most of what people do in Bay Ridge happens in one of four places: the parks, the waterfront, the three avenues, and the calendar of parades and street festivals that comes around the same way every year.

The short version. Owl's Head Park for the hills and the view. The Shore Road Promenade for the water, which runs all the way to Bensonhurst under the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge. 86th Street for chain shopping, 3rd and 5th Avenues for everything else. And a food scene that has quietly become one of the best in Brooklyn, built by families from a long list of countries cooking the dishes they grew up on, often within a few doors of each other.

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What are the best parks in Bay Ridge?

Owl's Head Park, 68th Street and Colonial Road

Twenty seven acres of sloping hills and old trees, and the closest thing Bay Ridge has to its own Prospect Park. Playgrounds, basketball and wall ball courts, a dog run, and a hill at the top with a view across the harbor. Good for a picnic, good for a barbecue, good for sledding on the two days a year it snows properly.

Dyker Beach Park and Golf Course, 86th Street and 7th Avenue

The golf course dates back more than a century and is one of the most played public courses in the country. The park around it holds six baseball and soccer fields, a playground, basketball courts and a second dog run. The loop measures about 2.1 miles, which makes it the neighborhood's default running route when the water is too windy.

Narrows Botanical Gardens, Shore Road between 68th and 72nd Streets

Volunteer run, free, and a genuine surprise the first time you find it. Native plantings, a lily pond, a small amphitheater that hosts summer performances.

Cannonball Park, 101st Street and 4th Avenue

Officially John Paul Jones Park, named for the father of the American navy. A granite memorial and a twenty inch Parrott cannon with a stack of cannonballs beside it. Small, but it is the piece of Bay Ridge history most people can point to.

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Where can you walk along the water in Bay Ridge?

The 69th Street Pier, 69th Street at Shore Road

Formally the American Veterans Memorial Pier. It runs out into the Narrows and it is where the neighborhood goes for sunsets, for fishing, and for the view of Lower Manhattan on a clear evening. Benches the whole way out.

Shore Road, roughly 67th Street to 101st Street

The curving street that follows the water, lined with prewar co-op buildings, attached houses, detached homes, newer condominiums, three high schools, and a string of playgrounds, ball fields and tennis courts on the park side.

The Shore Road Promenade, 69th Street Pier to Bensonhurst

A little over four miles each way, running beside the Belt Parkway from the pier to Bensonhurst Park at Caesar's Bay. Separate paths for walking and cycling, benches, fishing spots, and the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge overhead for most of it. This is the single best thing about living on this side of Brooklyn and it is free.

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Where do people shop in Bay Ridge?

86th Street, between Fort Hamilton Parkway and 3rd Avenue

The chain retail strip and the busiest commercial block in the neighborhood. Gap Factory, Banana Republic Factory, Sephora, Victoria's Secret, Foot Locker, Snipes, Bath & Body Works and P.C. Richard all sit within a few blocks of each other. The former Century 21 site is being rebuilt as Century Marketplace, a 95,000 square foot retail center with Burlington signed as the anchor and a specialty grocer alongside it. The block has a lot of change still ahead of it.

3rd Avenue, roughly 67th Street to 101st Street

The heart of it. Small businesses rather than chains, and the avenue where most of the restaurants, bars, bakeries and markets are. The Merchants of Third Avenue run the Summer Stroll and the 3rd Avenue Festival here.

5th Avenue, roughly 67th Street to 101st Street

Quieter than 3rd, more everyday. Markets, hardware, bakeries, service businesses, and a growing number of cafes. The Bay Ridge 5th Avenue BID runs the #FunOn5th Festival along it.

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Where do you shop for clothes in Bay Ridge?

Two different kinds of shopping a few blocks apart. 86th Street is where the national brands are. 3rd and 5th Avenues are where the independents are, and most of those are owned by people who live here.

Boutiques and independents

• Charmed by JLM, 8311 3rd Avenue. Fashion jewelry, handbags, scarves and accessories, including local designers
• Towne, 9002 3rd Avenue. Women's clothing, accessories and footwear. Women owned since 2012
• Mixx Boutique, 8722 3rd Avenue. Women's clothing, mostly one off pieces
• Lu Bella Boutique, 8807 3rd Avenue. Women's clothing at everyday prices
• Amanda Jean, 8907 3rd Avenue. Women's boutique
• Polly & Esther, 8710 3rd Avenue
• The Ridge Kids, 8122 3rd Avenue. Children's clothing, toys, books and gifts
• AMiree, 8320 5th Avenue. Men's and women's clothing
• Urban Modesty, 7712 5th Avenue. Modest fashion, abayas and gowns
• Legend's Sports Store, 8224 5th Avenue. Team apparel and memorabilia
• Grand Prix Dance, 7523 5th Avenue. Dancewear
• Sagar Fashion, 7912 5th Avenue. Sarees, lehengas, kurtas, abayas, scarves and costume jewelry
• Sarah Fashion, 6749 5th Avenue. Women's clothing
• Balqees Boutique, 7312 5th Avenue. Women's clothing and jewelry
• Asala Fashion, 6904 5th Avenue. Women's clothing
• Outlet Mania, 7623 5th Avenue. Discount clothing
• Closeout Heaven, 8306 5th Avenue. Closeout and discount clothing
• Brooklyn Mens Suit Outlet, 6732 5th Avenue. Suits, coats, dress shirts, shoes and ties
• Tsakiris Mallas, 8421 5th Avenue. Shoes, from the Greek footwear house
• Golden Art Fine Jewelers, 8422 5th Avenue. Jewelry and watch repair

86th Street, the national brands

Gap Factory (423), Banana Republic Factory (422), Victoria's Secret and PINK (447), Sephora (429), Bath & Body Works (444), Foot Locker and Kids Foot Locker (457), Snipes (478), The Children's Place (417), Pandora (407), Zales (433), The Vitamin Shoppe (480), P.C. Richard & Son (576), Starbucks (514) and Chipotle (463).

Books, gifts and home

• The BookMark Shoppe, 8415 3rd Avenue. Independent bookstore, new and used, with author events and writing workshops. The best argument on the avenue for shopping local
• HOM, 8810 3rd Avenue. Home decor and gifts, with a cafe on site
• The Lipstick Box, 8815 3rd Avenue. Beauty and cosmetics
• Heart to Heart, 9006 3rd Avenue. Gifts and toys
• Floral Fantasy, 9706 3rd Avenue. Family owned florist, more than thirty years
• Indoor-Outdoor Gardener, 8223 5th Avenue. Plants and garden supply, about fifty years on the avenue

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Where do you eat in Bay Ridge?

Bay Ridge's food scene changed more in the last several years than in the previous twenty. Walk a few blocks of 3rd Avenue and you pass Italian, Palestinian, Greek, Georgian, Syrian, Peruvian, Turkish, Lebanese, Korean and Mexican kitchens. Most are family run, and most cook one country's food properly rather than a little of everything. The Middle Eastern and Mediterranean row is the part that now draws people from across the city.

Middle Eastern and Mediterranean

• Ayat, 8504 3rd Avenue. Palestinian. The one that put the neighborhood on the national food map
• Ruzana, 486 85th Street. Palestinian. Mansaf, and hummus made fresh
• Laila, 8530 3rd Avenue. Syrian. A newer arrival that got good fast
• Karam, 8519 4th Avenue. Lebanese. Rotisserie chicken and shawarma sandwiches
• Le Sajj, 8221 5th Avenue. Lebanese, known for kibbeh
• Istanbul Bay, 8002 5th Avenue. Turkish mixed grills and balloon bread
• Tanoreen, 7523 3rd Avenue. The one that was here first and is still the benchmark. Order the eggplant
• Al-Aqsa Bakery & Restaurant, 6917 5th Avenue. Palestinian. Shawarma, falafel, fresh pita and savory pies
• Alsalam Restaurant & Meat Market, 7206 5th Avenue. Middle Eastern kitchen with a halal butcher attached

Italian

• Gino's, 7414 5th Avenue. More than fifty years in. Pizzeria in front, full restaurant in back
• Ponte Vecchio, 8810 4th Avenue. A Bay Ridge institution, and the room to book for an occasion
• Sofia's, 8406 3rd Avenue. Italian grill rather than heavy sauces. Outdoor seating front and back
• Brooklyn Roots Italian, 8620 3rd Avenue. Big portions, festive
• L'Angolo di Palermo, 7801 3rd Avenue. Family run Sicilian market and prepared foods
• Positano, 10018 4th Avenue. Italian, in the longtime Restaurant 101 space at the south end of the avenue

Pizza

• Nino's, 9110 3rd Avenue. The Grandma pie, the chicken rolls, oversized garlic knots
• Pizza Wagon, 8610 5th Avenue. What locals name first when you ask about a slice
• Campania, 9824 4th Avenue. Coal fired oven, specialty pies
• Peppino's, 7708 3rd Avenue. Brick oven, and known for the sandwiches too
• Mancini's Wood-Fired Pizza, 8504 5th Avenue. Wood fired, just off 85th Street
• Rocco's Pizzeria, 7818 5th Avenue. Family run, recently renovated
• Bay Ridge Pizza, 7704 5th Avenue. Slices at the same address for more than forty years
• Elegante Pizzeria, 6922 5th Avenue

Other kitchens worth the trip

• Fushimi, 9316 4th Avenue. Japanese with a French accent, sushi and cocktails
• Ubani, 8309 3rd Avenue. Georgian. Khachapuri and khinkali, with a backyard
• Kampos Taverna, 8413 3rd Avenue. Greek, from Chios
• Wanka 11, 6803 3rd Avenue. Peruvian
• Iguazu Bar & Bistro, 9226 4th Avenue. Brazilian and Argentinian
• Ho'Brah, 8618 3rd Avenue. Tacos, drinks, and a good Mexican brunch
• Omonia Cafe, 7612 3rd Avenue. Greek diner and bakery, open late, big menu
• Kimchi Kooks, 115 Bay Ridge Avenue. Korean banchan and kimchi to take home
• China Pagoda, 6918 5th Avenue. Halal Chinese
• Hing Wong, 7922 5th Avenue. Chinese takeout, a long running corner of the avenue

Bakeries, coffee and dessert

• Paneantico, 9124 3rd Avenue. Bread, pastry and some of the best sandwiches in the neighborhood
• Little Cupcake Bakeshop, 9102 3rd Avenue. Cakes, desserts, proper coffee
• Jean Danet, 7526 5th Avenue. French leaning bakery
• City League Coffee Roasters, 6808 4th Avenue. Roasting on site, and room to sit and work
• Milk & Honey Cafe, 9402 3rd Avenue. The pink building on the corner
• Cup of Joe, 7407 5th Avenue, with a second shop at 89th and 3rd
• Cappuccino Cafe, 7721 3rd Avenue, and Caffe Cafe, 8401 3rd Avenue. Two long running neighborhood coffee rooms
• Latte Da, 280 86th Street at 3rd Avenue. Specialty coffee, Devocion beans, matcha
• Caffe Negroni, 308 86th Street. Dessert and a drink, later in the evening
• Nablus Sweets, 6812 5th Avenue. Palestinian sweets. Knafeh, baklava and date filled cookies
• Bay Ridge Bakery, 7805 5th Avenue
• Paradise Sweets, 6739 5th Avenue
• Mike's Donuts, 6822 5th Avenue
• Bagel Villa, 7221 5th Avenue. Bagels and a sandwich counter

Eating lighter

• Nature's Grill, 7417 3rd Avenue. Juice bar, salad bar, smoothies. The post Promenade stop
• Fuel, 7004 3rd Avenue. Grill and juice bar
• Beets and Carrots, 9905 3rd Avenue. Vegetable forward
• Bay Ridge Greenmarket, 3rd Avenue at 95th Street. Run by GrowNYC. Usually Saturdays, May through December

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What is the Bay Ridge bar scene like?

Busy, and unusually varied for a neighborhood this size. There is a version of a night out here for most people.

• Cebu, 8801 3rd Avenue. The dressier one. Three rooms, outdoor seating, good for brunch and for a date
• Salty Dog, 7509 3rd Avenue. A firefighters' bar with a replica firetruck inside. Families in the daytime, a dance floor in the back at night, and a good place to watch a game
• Kettle Black, 8622 3rd Avenue. Live music, a big bar, and the best wings in Bay Ridge
• Delia's Lounge, 9224 3rd Avenue. Martinis, couches and private booths. Call ahead, it books up for parties
• The Wicked Monk, 9510 3rd Avenue. Bands on Friday and Saturday, and screens for the games
• The Brooklyn Firefly, 7003 3rd Avenue. Outdoor seating and a deep beer list
• Skinflints, 7902 5th Avenue. Longtime American bar and restaurant, known for the burgers
• PC's Bar and Grill, 7215 5th Avenue. Neighborhood bar and grill, on the avenue since the nineties

And for a night out that is not a bar: Alpine Cinemas, 6817 5th Avenue. An independently owned seven screen theater inside a restored century old movie palace, showing first run films with 3D and open caption screenings. It is one of the last independent theaters in Brooklyn and most people outside the neighborhood have no idea it is there.

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What parades and festivals does Bay Ridge have?

Bay Ridge runs on an annual calendar, and it is one of the things people who grew up here miss most when they leave. Dates shift year to year, so check with the organizers, but the rhythm holds.

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Is Bay Ridge dog friendly?

Two dog runs, at Owl's Head Park (67th Street and Shore Road) and Dyker Beach Park (7th Avenue at 86th Street). For care, One Love Animal Hospital at 8209 3rd Avenue and the Animal Clinic of Bay Ridge at 689 86th Street.

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Where do you work out in Bay Ridge?

Besides the Promenade and the Dyker loop, which are free and are what most people actually use.

Gyms

• Harbor Fitness, 9215 4th Avenue, with a second club at 8701 4th Avenue. The big one, with classes and parking
• Planet Fitness, 439 86th Street
• Orangetheory Fitness, 7821 3rd Avenue

Pilates, yoga and barre

• Boutique Pilates, 7908 3rd Avenue. Reformer pilates, privates and teen classes
• Club Pilates, 540 86th Street. Reformer, Cardio Sculpt, Suspend and Restore
• Alana Life & Fitness, 530 86th Street. Yoga, classical and functional reformer pilates, Zumba, kickboxing and TRX
• Owl's Head Yoga, 278 73rd Street. Vinyasa and flow, plus prenatal and Baby and Me
• Prana Yoga Pilates Studio, 8717 3rd Avenue
• Body & Brain Yoga & Tai Chi, 8206 3rd Avenue. Yoga, tai chi, qigong and meditation

Boxing, martial arts and boot camp

• CKO Kickboxing, 9106 4th Avenue
• Bad Ass Academy, 238 Bay Ridge Avenue. Boot camp and spin, run by people from the neighborhood
• Tiger Schulmann's, 530 86th Street. Karate, kids jiu jitsu, adult kickboxing and jiu jitsu
• Glory Martial Arts Center, 9312 4th Avenue. Brazilian jiu jitsu, Muay Thai, MMA, and a women's only class

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Where do you go to relax in Bay Ridge?

More of this here than people expect, and nearly all of it independent rather than chain.

Spas and bodywork

• Body Mind Salt, 6925 3rd Avenue. Salt cave and halotherapy, float therapy, infrared sauna, cold plunge, red light and reiki. The most unusual room in the neighborhood
• Green Spa & Wellness Center, 8804 3rd Avenue. Three floors, family owned since 1998. Massage including prenatal and oncology, facials, and acupuncture
• Tang Spa, 7720 5th Avenue, and Tang Spa 3, 7405 3rd Avenue. Massage, body scrubs and sauna
• Forme Spa, 7405 5th Avenue. Massage and day spa

Med spas

• Lime Aesthetics, 7601 5th Avenue. Injectables, HydraFacial, microneedling, lasers
• SERA Wellness Med Spa, 9921 4th Avenue. Injectables, IV therapy, body contouring

Acupuncture

• Acupuncture Studio, 304 83rd Street. Acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, cupping and gua sha
• Also offered at Green Spa, 8804 3rd Avenue

Hair

• salon 718, 8214 5th Avenue. Cuts, color, balayage, keratin and extensions, plus kids cuts

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What classes can you take in Bay Ridge?

A quieter argument for the neighborhood: you can learn most things here without leaving it.

Music

• School of Rock, 6901 3rd Avenue. Guitar, bass, drums, keys and vocals, from beginner programs up to performing house bands
• Bay Ridge School of Music, 7207 Fort Hamilton Parkway. Piano, guitar, drums, bass, violin, voice and ukulele, kids and adults
• The Music Box School, 9402 Fort Hamilton Parkway. Music and art under one roof, including drawing, painting and ceramics

Art and pottery

• Ovington Pottery, 264 Ovington Avenue. Wheel throwing and hand building, with separate adult and kids classes, family lessons and private workshops
• Green Beret Brushes, 7402 4th Avenue. Kids art studio, ages 4 to 14. Watercolor, drawing, clay and mixed media

Sewing and fashion

• Sew N Fashion, 278 87th Street. Learn to sew, for kids and adults, plus crochet, knitting, fashion illustration and school holiday camps

Dance

• Beyond Dance, 8009 3rd Avenue. Ballet, jazz, hip hop, tap, modern and acro, from age two and a half through professional
• The Brooklyn Dance Centers, 8717 3rd Avenue. Ballet through musical theater, ages two to adult
• Dimensions in Dance, 7603 3rd Avenue. Teaching since 1980, and it runs an adaptive class for kids and teens who need additional support

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What is there to do in Bay Ridge with kids?

• Fairytale Island, 7110 3rd Avenue. Indoor playground and cafe for children under eight. Ball pit, slides, climbing wall, pretend play, and coffee for whoever brought them
• Peekaboo, 8912 3rd Avenue. Bounce and bubble cafe for ages two to six
• Owl's Head Park and Dyker Beach Park for playgrounds and ball fields
• The Ridge Kids, 8122 3rd Avenue, and The BookMark Shoppe, 8415 3rd Avenue, which runs children's readings
• Bay Ridge Library, 7223 Ridge Boulevard. Story time and a large children's collection
• The Ragamuffin Parade in September is the neighborhood's children's parade

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Frequently asked

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