Fort Greene in Brooklyn offers a delightful mix of cultural experiences and family-friendly activities, making it a great spot for visitors. I’ve been exploring what this neighborhood has to offer, and there’s a real sense of community here, with tree-lined streets and a variety of local spots.
Exploring Fort Greene Park
Fort Greene Park is a cornerstone of the neighborhood and a fantastic place for families. As Brooklyn’s oldest park, it hosts many programs throughout the year. For instance, the Young Naturalists program is perfect for kids aged 5 to 13, offering them a chance to connect with nature. During warmer months, Storytime in the Park provides a lovely experience for younger children.
Beyond organized events, the park itself has a lot to offer. You’ll find playgrounds, basketball courts, and tennis courts. In winter, the gentle slopes are ideal for sledding, providing fun for everyone.
Arts and Culture Hubs
The Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) is a historical cultural center that has been around for over 150 years. It’s a place where families can enjoy theater, dance, music, opera, and film. For younger audiences, BAM offers special events like the annual MLK Day celebration, the BAMkids Film Festival, and BAMkids SpringFest, along with various workshops and family concerts.
Another wonderful place for young aspiring artists is the Mark Morris Dance Center. They provide a wide range of dance classes for children and teens, covering styles like Jazz, Hip-Hop, Ballet, Modern, and Tap. They also offer music and singing lessons. Even the littlest ones, from newborns to age 6, have classes designed for them.
The L10 Arts and Cultural Center is a newer addition, acting as a hub for several important institutions. It includes a branch of the Brooklyn Academy of Music, the Brooklyn Public Library’s newest branch dedicated to Arts & Culture, the Museum of Contemporary African Diaspora Arts (MoCADA), and 651 Arts. This center offers a variety of arts programs, workshops, and performances for both children and adults, creating a rich environment for creative exploration.
Entertainment and Activities for All Ages
For lively entertainment, the Barclays Center hosts a variety of family-friendly events, from popular shows like Disney on Ice to exciting sports events. It’s also home to the WNBA champions, the New York Liberty, making it a destination for sports fans.
If music is more your family’s style, the Brooklyn Music School offers classes, private lessons, and workshops for children interested in learning an instrument or diving into musical theatre. They cater to children of all ages, providing a pathway into the world of music.
History buffs can explore the Brooklyn Navy Yard, which offers tours and programs that delve into the area’s maritime history. They also host special events and exhibitions throughout the year, providing an educational and engaging experience.
Bookstores and Creative Spaces
Book lovers will find Greenlight Bookstore a welcoming spot. This independent bookstore often hosts book clubs for tweens and teens, story times, and book signing events, fostering a love for reading within the community. The Center for Fiction is another literary hub that offers story times, readings, and workshops specifically for children.
For those interested in unique crafts, UrbanGlass provides a center for glassblowing. They offer classes, camps, and family workshops, allowing visitors to experience this fascinating art form firsthand.
BRIC is a dynamic cultural space that supports contemporary visual and performing arts, media, and civic action programs, contributing to the community’s cultural landscape.
Indoor Fun and Playgrounds
When you’re looking for indoor fun, Atlantic Terminal Mall houses Dave and Buster’s arcade, a classic choice for arcade games. The mall also features Chuck E Cheese, which is a popular option for hosting birthday parties and enjoying a casual family meal.
For outdoor play, Edmonds Playground, often called Camel Park by locals, is conveniently located and offers great basketball courts. Albert J. Parham Playground, next to PS 20, has a small pool that is open during the summer months, perfect for cooling off.
Cuyler Gore Park is a small, triangular park ideal for very young children, featuring swings, slides, and a sandbox. Irondale offers a fantastic and affordable youth theater program, providing opportunities for young performers.
Space Club is an indoor sensory play space suitable for ages 0 and up. It boasts four levels, including a rooftop and an outdoor deck, filled with jungle gyms, large ball pits, an arts and crafts studio, a LEGO pit, a bead pit, a giant floor piano, and even a glow-in-the-dark room, offering a multi-sensory experience.
A new indoor basketball facility, Hoops Klub, is set to open near the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Run by Hoops Academy, it will offer programs for children aged 4 to 14, including lessons, leagues, afterschool programs, and camps.
Kid-Friendly Dining Options
When it comes to dining with children, Fort Greene has several accommodating spots. Graziella’s Italian Restaurant is known for its delicious pizza and wide ice cream selection, making it a good choice for larger families or those with strollers. Olea offers Mediterranean cuisine with a welcoming atmosphere, though seating is first-come, first-served.
Sushi D is a reliable choice for fresh sushi, while Black Iris provides Mediterranean dishes in a BYOB setting. Deniz serves Turkish cuisine, and Tacombi offers flavorful Mexican food with a great ambiance.
For those seeking South Indian flavors, Doza Royale is a wonderful option, also catering to vegetarian and vegan preferences. Il Porto pizzeria is famous for its “grandma slice” and is located on the border of Fort Greene and the Brooklyn Navy Yard.
Evelina is an upscale bistro serving Italian and Mediterranean food, open for all meals and offering high chairs and indoor/outdoor seating. Mekong is a great choice for fresh Vietnamese food, located on the Fort Greene/Clinton Hill border.
Emack & Bolios is famous for its unique and indulgent ice cream flavors. Habana Outpost, a casual outdoor spot, serves Mexican-Cuban fare and has decided to stay open year-round. During warmer months, they also host an outdoor movie program on Sunday nights.
Castro’s is a neighborhood Mexican restaurant offering authentic dishes in a family-friendly environment, along with fresh juices for kids and cocktails for adults. Fan Fan Doughnuts is a female and Latina-owned shop known for its inventive, small-batch doughnuts with unique flavors. Thea, on the same street as its sister restaurant Theodora, opens early and serves coffee and pastries like Harissa Caramelized Onion Babka and Cinnamon Coffee Conchas.
Walter’s, located near Fort Greene Park, serves American classics including burgers, with popular outdoor seating available in warmer months. DSK Brooklyn is a German beer garden that welcomes children and offers pretzels and sausages, with both indoor and outdoor seating. Gotham Market at The Ashland is a food hall featuring various vendors, providing open seating that is convenient for families with children and strollers. Putnam’s Pub, conveniently located near Space Club, also offers stroller parking and indoor/outdoor seating with elevated pub fare.
Restaurants for a Date Night
If you’re planning a date night, Fort Greene offers some wonderful options. LaRina Pastificio & Vino is a modern Italian restaurant with handmade pasta, noted for its creative dishes and cozy atmosphere, sometimes featuring live jazz. Black Iris, a Mediterranean restaurant with over 30 years of history in the neighborhood, offers a variety of dishes and has indoor and sidewalk patio seating.
Café Paulette is a charming French-inspired bistro near Fort Greene Park, known for its natural wines and classic French dishes, with cozy booths and a heated patio. Evelina, the upscale bistro, provides a stylish and dimly lit setting for enjoying Italian and Mediterranean small plates and wood-fired mains. Ms. Ada showcases modern Mediterranean cuisine with fresh ingredients from its own backyard garden, which is open year-round.
Mango Bay offers Afro-Caribbean cuisine in a brownstone setting, with outdoor seating options and unique dishes like ackee and saltfish egg rolls. Third Falcon is a new fine-dining establishment serving French cuisine inspired by Brittany and Normandy, using local ingredients. Theodora specializes in open-fire cooking, offering Mediterranean dishes prepared over flames, and is the sister restaurant to Miss Ada.
Roman’s serves seasonal Italian and American cuisine with a changing menu, highlighting their excellent bread from She Wolf Bakery. Sailor, led by Chef April Bloomfield, is an intimate bistro focusing on seafood, and has been recognized by The NY Times.
Can’t-Miss Experiences
A visit to the Fort Greene Farmers Market on Saturdays is a must. It’s a community gathering spot where you can find everything from fresh produce to seafood. The Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) is also highly recommended for its diverse range of performances for all ages.
For art enthusiasts, the Pratt Sculpture Park, located on the border of Fort Greene and Clinton Hill within Pratt College, is a captivating outdoor exhibition space featuring various sculptures.
Schools and Affordability
Fort Greene is home to several schools, and for those considering a longer stay or relocation, researching school options is important. In terms of affordability, the median rent for a two-bedroom apartment in Fort Greene was around $5,000 per month in 2024, with the median sale price for a two-bedroom home at $1.3 million in the same year.
Overall, Fort Greene presents a well-rounded destination with plenty to explore for families and couples alike. I’m always looking for places that offer a good mix of culture, food, and activities, and this neighborhood seems to have a lot to offer when planning a trip.
