The Best Date Stops in DUMBO in New York

Washington Street is one of DUMBO's most iconic spots, where historic brick buildings perfectly frame the Manhattan Bridge for a picture-worthy date. Stop for a photo together, then wander through the neighborhood toward the waterfront to keep exploring. Visit before 9 AM or after sunset for a quieter experience away from the crowds.

Turn your DUMBO date into a little adventure with a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, taking in sweeping views of the Manhattan skyline and East River along the way. Once you reach Brooklyn, explore the waterfront paths and piers of Brooklyn Bridge Park, or head to Washington Street for the iconic view of the Manhattan Bridge framed by historic brick buildings. The bridge can get crowded, so plan for a lively stroll rather than a quiet escape.

Pebble Beach is a rocky shoreline in Brooklyn Bridge Park on Main Street, under the Manhattan Bridge, with grass for sitting by the water. Views of Manhattan and the bridges make it a calm spot for an evening together, at sunset or after dark. Next door, the Main Street section gives you lawn and waterside spots for unwinding. The park is open 6am to 1am daily.

Time Out Market is set in a former harbor warehouse with food stalls on several floors and a rooftop terrace overlooking Manhattan and the Brooklyn Bridge. It is in Empire Stores on Water Street, with vendors like Jacob's Pickles and Fornino. The views take in the East River, the Brooklyn Bridge and the Manhattan skyline.

Pier 1 at Brooklyn Bridge Park is a beautiful spot for a laid-back waterfront date, with sweeping views of the Manhattan skyline and plenty of space to enjoy the scenery together. Time your visit for sunset, when the city lights begin to glow, or take a leisurely evening stroll along the river. The park is free to enter and open daily from 6 AM to 1 AM, making it an easy addition to a romantic walk through DUMBO.

Jane's Carousel brings a little nostalgia and playfulness to a DUMBO date, with 48 beautifully carved horses inside a glass pavilion overlooking the East River. Take a ride together on the restored 1922 carousel, then stroll over to Washington Street for the iconic Manhattan Bridge view. You can also wander through nearby Main Street Park for waterfront scenery and a lovely view back toward the carousel.

Empire Fulton Ferry is a green park with lawns and a boardwalk facing the harbor and Lower Manhattan, set beside both the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges. Walk the boardwalk together, then settle on a lawn if you want to stay awhile. After dark, the boardwalk has strong views of the Brooklyn Bridge and the Manhattan skyline. The park is open 6am to 1am daily.

Spread out on the grass at Main Street Park, right under the Manhattan Bridge, and you can see the Brooklyn Bridge, Jane's Carousel and the East River. Relax on the grass or down by the water. The bridges look different from here than from Washington Street, a few minutes' walk away, so the two pair well on one walk. The park is open 6am to 1am daily.

Dumbo Archway sits directly under the Manhattan Bridge and today works as the neighborhood's civic gathering place. The plaza is on Water Street between Adams Street and Anchorage Plaza. Trains crossing overhead are loud, so make it a short pause on the walk and save the long talk for a quieter stop.

Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory is an ice cream shop with a walk-up window on Old Fulton Street, at the Fulton Ferry Landing end of DUMBO. Pick up a cone before or after your waterfront walk. Empire Fulton Ferry has a boardwalk with strong views of the Brooklyn Bridge and the Manhattan skyline after dark. The window is open 11am to 9pm daily.