Best Fine Dining Restaurants in Brooklyn Heights & Downtown Brooklyn (11201)
5 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: January 2026
Our Top Pick
The River Café
Iconic waterfront fine dining with skyline views and formal romance.
Essential Picks
9.0
The River Cafe is a landmark fine-dining destination cantilevered over the East River with floor-to-ceiling views of the Manhattan skyline and Brooklyn Bridge. A jacket-required room, live piano, and a polished tasting-style menu make it one of the city’s classic special-occasion restaurants. Couples come here for once-a-year celebrations where the setting, service, and composed plates all feel deliberately theatrical.
Must-Try Dishes:
Seared Foie Gras, Rack of Lamb, Chocolate Brooklyn Bridge Dessert
What makes it special: Iconic waterfront fine dining with skyline views and formal romance.
9.0
Gage & Tollner is a restored landmark oyster and chop house in Downtown Brooklyn, known for impeccably cooked steaks, seafood and a Victorian-era dining room lit by gas lamps. Locals and destination diners use it for special-occasion dinners where classic preparations and polished service matter as much as the room.
Must-Try Dishes:
New York strip steak, Dry-aged ribeye, Baked Alaska
What makes it special: Historic Michelin-recognized chop house marrying landmark atmosphere with serious steaks.
Notable Picks
#3
Al Badawi
8.8
Al Badawi brings Palestinian home cooking to Atlantic Avenue, turning a narrow Brooklyn Heights dining room into a busy hub for mezze and family-style platters. Since opening in 2021, it has earned Michelin Guide attention for wood-fired breads, slow-cooked meats, and generous hospitality that make it a destination well beyond the neighborhood.
Must-Try Dishes:
Msakhan with sumac-roasted chicken and onions, Lamb chops over rice with roasted peppers, Warm house flatbread with hummus and mezze
What makes it special: Palestinian feasts built around wood-fired breads, slow-cooked meats, and shareable mezze in a Michelin-recognized setting.
#4
Henry's End
8.6
Henry's End is a long-running Brooklyn Heights bistro known for wild game, pepper steaks and hearty, sauce-driven plates in a cozy brick-walled space. Neighborhood regulars treat it as a reliable spot for carnivorous date nights and old-school comfort that predates the current restaurant boom.
Must-Try Dishes:
Steak au poivre, Duckling in honey-soy, Walnut-crusted chicken breast
What makes it special: Decades-old Brooklyn Heights institution for game-focused plates and peppery steaks.
#5
Celestine
8.5
Celestine is a Mediterranean-leaning restaurant at the base of the Manhattan Bridge with wraparound windows framing the skyline and river. Its mezze, lamb, and seafood skew slightly upscale without feeling formal, making it a favorite for date nights that hinge on both flavor and views. The terrace and soft, candlelit interior tilt romantic whether you’re sharing a bottle of wine or a family-style spread.
Must-Try Dishes:
Seasonal Mezze Platter, Harissa Roasted Chicken, Whole Branzino
What makes it special: Riverfront Mediterranean plates with dramatic bridge views and soft lighting.