The Most Useful Guide to Living in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Since the 2000s, Williamsburg has been considered the hipster capital of NYC. Nowadays, it’s a bit more polished than it might have been in the early 2000s, but it’s still a great place to live if you want a good arts scene, nightlife, and restaurant choices. If you’re considering moving to Williamsburg, Brooklyn then check out the comprehensive guide below on what it’s like living in this neighborhood.

Williamsburg History

Before Williamsburg became the trendy spot it is today it was an incredibly important industrial district up until the mid-20th century. In fact, it was so important and achieved such incredible economic growth in the late-19th century that it attracted large companies such as: Astral Oil Works, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, Corning Glass Works, Domino Sugar, and more.

As more jobs were outsourced in the 1970s, the area experienced a long period of decline, which did not improve until the late 1980s and early 1990s. This is due in part to activist groups addressing housing and infrastructure issues along and, in the 21st century, NYC began to provide zoning changes and tax abatements to developers to further push the economic revival. 

It worked a little too well as people began to flock back to the area, ultimately increasing rents and pushing many of the original community out towards Bushwick. Still, Williamsburg maintains its hipster charm as it continues to be a center for indie rock and electro musicians. And it hasn’t completely forgotten its roots as it has several landmarked buildings including the Kings County Savings Bank, The Williamsburg Houses, the Domino Sugar Refinery buildings, and the New England Congregational Church and Rectory.

Cost of Living in Williamsburg

While not as expensive as DUMBO or Brooklyn Heights, living in Williamsburg isn’t cheap. The biggest expense you’ll need to worry about is the rent. Luckily, there are more budget-friendly options available though you can expect to pay around $2,800 for a one-bedroom apartment. Of course, there are more expensive apartments, but these tend to be in newer high rise apartments and offer a variety of amenities. 

Speaking of costs, you’ll also be spending higher than the national average on utilities and groceries. Luckily, you can save some money on transportation costs if you take public transportation. And you can find more affordable grocery options if you are okay with going to multiple stores for the best deals. Still, it’s not cheap and you should expect to live with roommates at least for a little while. 

Getting Around Williamsburg

Speaking of public transportation, Williamsburg offers a few options. The most popular option is the subway. Williamsburg is served by the G, J, M, Z and L lines, with the latter providing stops at Bedford Avenue, the restaurant and retail hub of the neighborhood. It will take you around 5-10 minutes to get to the Lower East Side via the J, M, Z, and around 10 minutes to get to Union Square via the L. The G train is the only subway that does not go into Manhattan, instead it is a crosstown train that connects Brooklyn and Queens. There’s also plans to create a light rail system to connect Red Hook through Williamsburg to Astoria, with a projected start date of 2029.

If you’re not up for a train ride, Williamsburg has two ferry stops along the East River and these can take you to Pier 11 and East 34th street with five stops in Brooklyn and Queens. And if you want to pay the extra money to have a car, you can easily get into Manhattan via the Williamsburg Bridge or go to Queens via the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway.

Find a Job in Williamsburg

While Williamsburg may no longer be the industrial capital of NYC, there are still a lot of jobs available for a variety of different industries, which means you don’t even have to travel into Manhattan for work! And while it might not have as much variety as Manhattan, there are still some large companies in the area including Vice Media, Brooklyn Brewery, and goTenna. There are dozens of smaller tech companies sprinkled around the neighborhood, but if that’s not your thing you can easily find retail and hospitality jobs.

Of course, you don’t have to go too far to find other jobs. You can take the L train to Union Square or the J, M, Z to go to the Lower East Side. Better yet, you can take a quick walk to Greenpoint and work at Kickstarter or take the G train down to Classon Ave and work at Pratt Institute. There are plenty of options available! And if you work from home, there are plenty of coworking spaces you can rent out if you want! So even if you move to Williamsburg, you don’t necessarily have to commute into Manhattan for a job.

Things to Do in Williamsburg

The residents who moved in the early 2000’s might have grown up, but the neighborhood still has a young and vibrant atmosphere, especially if you hang out on Bedford Avenue. There are dozens of restaurants and bars to choose from. You can probably visit one every day for a month and still find new ones to explore! When it comes to food, some of the most popular eats include pizza at Di Fara, sandwiches at Emily’s Pork Store, Sichuan at Birds of a Feather and much more! Of course, the most famous spot in Williamsburg remains Peter Luger Steak House. 

Are you more interested in beer? Go to the Brooklyn Brewery and go on a tour. Afterwards, you get a free sample of one of their beers. There are plenty of other breweries including Evil Twin Brewing, Braven Brewing Company, and New York Distilling Company to name a few.

After you grab a meal, take a quick stroll and maybe stop in somewhere to catch a show or live mic session. Williamsburg became the center for indie musicians and while many have moved to Bushwick, Williamsburg still boasts some amazing venues including the Music Hall of Williamsburg, National Sawdust, and Williamsburg Music Center. If you really want to get into the indie scene, check out the calendar of events at the various local bars for open mic night. Most of the time there is no cover although you should expect to at least buy a few drinks and put a little money into the collection jar for each band.

If you want to do more outdoors activities, Williamsburg has plenty to offer. You can check out Domino Park, a five-acre park along the waterfront. The well maintained park offers a playground for kids and excellent views of the Williamsburg Bridge and the Lower East Side. If you want a bit more space, head over to McCarren Park, a 35-acre outdoor space that offers playing fields, a pool, and some live concerts. You can also just walk along North 6th street between Kent and Bedford or Wythe Avenue and Moore Street to enjoy some murals and street art.

And if you get hungry on your walk, stop by Smorgasburg, the largest weekly open-air food market in the United States. Unsurprisingly, it is incredibly crowded, but it’s a great place to try some local eats!

Ready to Move to Williamsburg?

You don’t have to be hipster to enjoy everything Williamsburg has to offer. While costs have increased over the years, the neighborhood still remains a hub for indie artists and musicians and some really awesome food! If you plan on moving to Williamsburg, make sure to hire professional Brooklyn movers, like us!

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