Best Girls Night Out Restaurants in Williamsburg
27 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
Ume Williamsburg
Interactive, floor-seated sushi set with travel-inspired salts in a cottage-like space.
Notable Picks
8.9
Ume runs a prix-fixe sushi set in a cottage-like space where floor seating, hand-washing rituals, and an enclosed garden make dinner feel like a small trip to Kyoto. The set menu focuses on pristine nigiri, a savory soup, and rotating salts and condiments drawn from the chef’s travels, so the experience is as much about play as it is about technique.
Must-Try Dishes:
Sushi Set prix fixe platter, Toro and uni nigiri when available, Mushroom-chicken style soup starter
What Makes it Special: Interactive, floor-seated sushi set with travel-inspired salts in a cottage-like space.
#2
Le Crocodile
8.9
Le Crocodile is a French brasserie in the Wythe Hotel where roast chicken, steak frites, and precise bistro cooking are paired with soaring ceilings and candlelit banquettes. Locals treat it as a special-occasion classic for anniversaries and big nights out when they want serious food and polished service in a grand room.
Must-Try Dishes:
Half roast chicken with jus and fries, Steak frites with peppercorn sauce, Escargots with garlic-herb butter
What Makes it Special: A grand French brasserie where NYT-praised cooking meets hotel-lobby romance.
#3
Tonchin
8.7
The Brooklyn outpost of Tokyo’s Tonchin focuses on silky tonkotsu, firm wavy noodles, and a stronger drinks program than most ramen shops. It functions as a dimmer, date-leaning ramen bar where people linger over bowls, small plates, and natural-leaning wines.
Must-Try Dishes:
Tonkotsu ramen, Spicy tan-tan ramen, Fried chicken wings
What Makes it Special: Tokyo-rooted ramen with serious broth, small plates, and a real bar.
8.7
Dokebi Bar & Grill has been serving Korean BBQ, soju cocktails, and late-night plates on Grand Street since 2005, making it a longtime Williamsburg standby. Locals use it for grill-your-own dinners, wings, and Korean tacos in a loud, energetic room that feels as much bar as restaurant.
Must-Try Dishes:
Kalbi BBQ short ribs, Soy garlic Korean fried chicken wings, Bibimbap with multigrain rice
What Makes it Special: Long-running Korean BBQ bar blending grills, tacos, and cocktails.
8.7
Jajaja Mexicana’s Williamsburg outpost is a plant-based Mexican restaurant where vegan tacos, colorful plates, and mezcal cocktails stay relatively accessible for the neighborhood. Tacos like the Buffalo Flower and Chipotle Sweet Potato clock in around the mid-teens for a full plate, making it one of the better value options in the area for groups that want to linger over drinks and shareable food.
Must-Try Dishes:
Buffalo Flower Tacos, Chipotle Sweet Potato Tacos, Our Birria Tacos
What Makes it Special: Plant-based Mexican spot where inventive vegan tacos and mezcal cocktails feel fun rather than fussy.
#6
Xixa
8.6
Xixa is a chef-driven, wine-focused Mexican spot where happy hour overlaps with inventive small plates, serious cocktails, and a flexible tasting menu at the bar. Early evenings tilt more toward couples and friends splitting duck carnitas and elote over agave spirits before the room gets louder and more energetic later at night.
Must-Try Dishes:
1/2 Duck Carnitas, Foie Gras al Pastor, Buffalo-Style Elote
What Makes it Special: Tasting-menu caliber Mexican cooking and deep wine list wrapped in a moody, candlelit bar setting.
Reverie is a vegan dessert and cocktail bar where composed plates, artisan sweets, and a full bar turn donuts and pastries into part of a broader night-out experience. Café breakfasts and brunch sessions feature vegan donuts and baked goods, while evenings lean into elaborate plated desserts and cocktails in a low-lit room.
Must-Try Dishes:
The Rainbow red velvet tartlet, Candy Bar Mousse Cake, Seasonal vegan donuts from the café program
What Makes it Special: A modern vegan dessert-and-cocktail room where plated sweets, brunch pastries, and donuts are treated with the same care as the drinks.
8.5
A natural‑wine focused small‑plates spot with rotating New American tapas and surprisingly serious food in a cozy setting. Locals love it for its relaxed vibe and ever‑changing menu that rewards repeat visits.
Must-Try Dishes:
Charcuterie board, Mussels with aioli, Cured fish with yuzu kosho
What Makes it Special: Natural‑wine bar with rotating inventive small plates and underground credibility.
8.4
Sushi On Me’s Williamsburg outpost is a rowdy, sake-fueled omakase where loud music, neon, and chef banter turn dinner into a one-hour party. The fish quality is solid, but couples come as much for the bottomless pours and hand-fed bites as they do for the nigiri.
Must-Try Dishes:
15-course omakase with bottomless sake, toro nigiri with caviar, anago hand roll to finish
What Makes it Special: High-energy omakase with bottomless sake and playful chef interaction.
#10
Lighthouse BK
8.4
Lighthouse BK is a farm-to-table Mediterranean restaurant and bar that leans into seasonal vegetables, sustainable seafood, and a serious natural wine list. The space feels casual but grown-up, with a lively bar, communal energy, and plates built for sharing rather than rigid coursing. It’s the kind of place locals use interchangeably for dates, small celebrations, and a glass of wine plus a couple of bright, produce-forward dishes.
Must-Try Dishes:
Whole grilled fish with lemon and herbs, Roasted seasonal vegetables with labneh, Lamb ribs with spiced yogurt
What Makes it Special: Sustainably minded Mediterranean cooking with strong cocktails and natural wines.
8.3
Nozomi runs a 12-course chef’s tasting in a small, modern counter tucked just off Grand Street, blending Japanese technique with richer, French-leaning touches like dry-aged meats. It feels more intimate and playful than many omakase rooms, with music, cocktails, and a menu that balances raw courses with cooked plates.
Must-Try Dishes:
12-course omakase chef’s tasting, Dry-aged lamb or meat course when offered, House sashimi and nigiri selection
What Makes it Special: Compact chef’s counter where a 12-course tasting mixes sushi with bistro-style plates.
#12
D.O.C. Wine Bar
8.3
D.O.C. Wine Bar is a Sardinian-leaning Italian wine bar with candlelit brick walls, pane carasau off the grill, and a tight menu of pastas and antipasti. It functions as a neighborhood hideaway for long wine sessions where food is treated as seriously as the bottle list.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pane carasau with olive oil and sea salt, Eggplant Parmigiana, Ravioli with butter and sage
What Makes it Special: A Sardinian-focused wine bar where pane carasau, pastas, and an Italian-heavy list make it feel like a neighborhood living room.
#13
Mesiba
8.3
Mesiba, inside the Moxy Williamsburg, serves modern Levantine dishes and cocktails in a dim, high-energy dining room that leans more toward party than quiet date. The menu riffs on Middle Eastern flavors with shareable plates and breads that pair naturally with the bar’s drinks. It’s as much about the scene and soundtrack as the food, making it a go-to for pre-going-out dinners and celebratory nights.
Must-Try Dishes:
Wood-fired pita with spreads, Charred eggplant with tahini and herbs, Slow-braised lamb with spices
What Makes it Special: High-energy Levantine restaurant in the Moxy with cocktails and share plates.
8.2
Latin-Puerto Rican spot in North Williamsburg where mofongo, paella, and big platters share space with nightlife energy. Diners come for hearty plates, loud music, and late hours that make it feel more like a Latin party than a quiet dinner.
Must-Try Dishes:
Paella Guarapo (seafood, chicken, chorizo), Mofongo de pernil, Trifongo with pernil
What Makes it Special: Latin-Puerto Rican plates, paella, and full-on clubby energy in one room.
#15
KRU
8.2
KRU is a modern Thai dining room from chefs Ohm Suansilphong and Kiki Supap that revives historic royal and aristocratic recipes with contemporary plating. Dishes like braised beef shank and tripe in rich broth, refined relishes, and complex curries lean more contemplative than street-food casual, while the room stays polished but approachable. It has quickly become a reference point for serious Thai cooking in North Brooklyn and brought Michelin recognition along with James Beard attention.
Must-Try Dishes:
Braised beef shank and tripe noodle soup with pork cracklings, Nam prik almond relish with vegetables and herbs, Crab curry or seasonal curry special
What Makes it Special: A Michelin-listed Thai restaurant where chefs Ohm Suansilphong and Kiki Supap revive historic recipes with modern technique.
#16
Gus and Marty's
8.2
Gus and Marty's is a smoky, high-energy Greek spot off McCarren Park known for hand-stretched pita, dialed-in dips, and a natural-leaning Greek wine list. It feels built for pre-going-out dinners and loud group nights, with share plates and grilled fish that keep the table busy long after the first round of mezze.
Must-Try Dishes:
Hand-Stretched Pita with Taramasalata and Whipped Feta, Moussaka a la Eggplant Parm, Slow-Cooked Lamb Shoulder
What Makes it Special: A pita-obsessed Greek taverna with big flavors and a serious Greek wine program.
#17
BABA
8.2
BABA on Withers is a natural wine bar with a tight menu of share plates and a dedicated happy hour menu built around discounted wines and snacks. The backyard and candlelit interior make it as strong for first glasses and fries as it is for lingering over bottles later in the night.
Must-Try Dishes:
BABA Fries with Manchego and Cayenne Mayo, Mushroom Toast, Panisse with Remoulade
What Makes it Special: Natural wine–driven happy hour with serious snack game and a backyard.
#18
Cantina 138
8.2
Cantina 138 is a newer Williamsburg cantina built around happy hour margaritas, brunch, and DJ-fueled nights where the bar feels as central as the kitchen. Shrimp tacos, fajitas, and burrito bowls come out alongside colorful cocktails, with sports on TV and a crowd that trends social and celebratory rather than strictly dinner-focused.
Must-Try Dishes:
Shrimp Tacos, Fajitas, Burrito Bowl
What Makes it Special: Energy-forward cantina with daily happy hour, strong margaritas, and a social, music-driven room.
#19
Púsù
8.1
Púsù is a design-forward Chinese restaurant on Bedford where a mostly plant-focused menu has evolved into modern Chinese plates with cocktails in a softly lit room. Diners treat it as a dressier Williamsburg option for pumpkin mapo tofu, wide Canton-style noodles, and plated dishes that lean more toward dinner-party energy than takeout.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pumpkin mapo tofu, Canton fried noodles, Truffled winter melon soup
What Makes it Special: Modern Chinese cooking with a strong vegetarian thread served in a striking, lounge-like room.
#20
The Cactus Shop
8.1
Hidden behind a storefront on Kent, The Cactus Shop runs like a Mexican-leaning speakeasy with cocktails first and tacos, flautas, and snacks to back them up. It’s where Williamsburg leans for date-y drinks, brunch plates, and late-night rounds in a lush, plant-filled room.
Must-Try Dishes:
Tinga quesadilla, Esquites chilangos, Flautas de birria
What Makes it Special: Speakeasy-style Mexican bar where cocktails share equal billing with tacos and snacks.
8.1
Two-story Asian fusion izakaya where Korean flavors show up in dishes like Korean fried cauliflower alongside dumplings and brunch plates. Locals use it for brunch, cocktails, and casual dates in a space with a rooftop-style patio and photogenic plating.
Must-Try Dishes:
Korean Fried Cauliflower, Black Sesame French Toast, Chicken Dumplings
What Makes it Special: Asian fusion izakaya with standout Korean-influenced brunch and bar snacks.
#22
Nora Thai
8
Nora Thai is a design-forward Northside restaurant focusing on Southern-leaning Thai dishes, cocktails, and a wide mix of vegan and classic options. It’s a sit-down choice when you want more atmosphere than a takeout counter but still want approachable, recognizable Thai flavors.
Must-Try Dishes:
Zucchini pad thai, Mango soft-shell crab, Green curried salmon
What Makes it Special: Southern-style Thai cooking in a stylish room with cocktails.
Worthy Picks
#23
New Apolo
7.9
Vibes:
Birthday & Celebration Central
Group Dining Gatherings
Girls Night Out Approved
Late Night Legends
New Apolo is a long-running Grand Street institution blending Chinese dishes with Latin and Puerto Rican plates in a lively, drink-heavy dining room. People come as much for giant frozen cocktails and late-night energy as for sesame chicken, fried rice, and Cuban-Chinese plates that nod to an older New York tradition.
Must-Try Dishes:
BBQ spare ribs, Shrimp fried rice, General Tso’s chicken with plantains
What Makes it Special: Loud, longtime Chinese-Latin institution known for huge drinks and plates.
#24
We Got Company
7.9
We Got Company is a small, design-minded cocktail bar where daily happy hour, thoughtful drinks, and a short snack menu skew more mellow than party. It’s a strong choice when you want serious cocktails without blasting music, especially before moving on to busier Williamsburg spots.
Must-Try Dishes:
BBQ Mixed Nuts, Antipasto Plate, Tequila Chocolate Balls
What Makes it Special: Cocktail-focused happy hour with low-key music and snacky plates.
#25
Disco Tacos
7.9
Vibes:
Trendy Table Hotspots
Girls Night Out Approved
Quick Bites Champions
Instagram Worthy Wonders
Disco Tacos sits just off North 6th with a small, disco-influenced dining room, mezcal-heavy bar program, and tacos that are priced reasonably for the area. It’s less bare-bones than a classic taqueria but still keeps taco plates and nachos within a casual budget, especially if you treat it as a pre-show stop rather than a long, cocktail-heavy dinner.
Must-Try Dishes:
Fish Tacos, Disco Nachos with Steak, Churro Doughnuts
What Makes it Special: Retro-leaning taco bar near the waterfront where tacos, mezcal, and a playful soundtrack come as a package.
7.9
Vibes:
Late Night Legends
Birthday & Celebration Central
Girls Night Out Approved
Trendy Table Hotspots
Elite Williamsburg is a Latin-leaning restaurant-lounge where DJs, frozen cocktails, and a late-kitchen keep the room going until 2am on most nights. People use it for birthdays and nightlife-heavy dinners where tacos, empanadas, and shared plates are part of a larger party playbook.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicken Tacos, Shrimp Tacos, Chicken Empanadas
What Makes it Special: A Latin-inspired supper club where DJs, cocktails, and a late-running kitchen blur dinner into nightlife.
7.6
Williamsburg branch of the downtown cafe blending American comfort with Mediterranean and Israeli touches in a bright, tightly packed room. It’s used primarily for brunch and casual dinners built around shakshuka, grilled chicken, and salads rather than long, drawn-out meals.
Must-Try Dishes:
Green shakshuka, Peri-peri chicken, Rosewater waffles
What Makes it Special: Lively Mediterranean-inflected cafe where brunch classics get Israeli flourishes and the room stays bright and social.