Welcome to the Greenpoint Guide
At the request of our guests, we’ve created a guide to help you discover the most interesting places in Greenpoint. From historic landmarks and cultural gems to vibrant parks, art galleries, and local flavors, this neighborhood has a story waiting at every corner.
Our Greenpoint Guide is a living project — we’ll be updating it regularly to include new spots and fresh recommendations.
We’d love to hear from you! If you have suggestions for places worth adding, please share them with us at email. Together, let’s make this guide the most colorful portrait of Greenpoint.
The Greenpoint Guide is constantly evolving — we keep adding new places and photos. We invite you to visit often!
Greenpoint: The History and Evolution of a Neighborhood
Greenpoint, a charming neighborhood in North Brooklyn, has a fascinating history that reaches back to a time before the arrival of Europeans. Initially, these lands were inhabited by the Lenape tribe, for whom the area was an ideal place to live. According to a local legend, widely cited in contemporary descriptions of the neighborhood, the name “Green Point” came from the grassy meadows that were said to have emerged after a great fire had consumed the original forests. In the 17th century, with the arrival of the Dutch, Greenpoint’s story began to change. The first documented European settler was Dirck Volckertsen, a Norwegian immigrant who established a farm here in 1645. Up until the 19th century, Greenpoint remained primarily an agricultural area, known for its fields and pastures.
The Industrial Revolution in the 19th century forever changed the face of Greenpoint. The neighborhood became a powerful industrial center with numerous shipyards, oil refineries, and factories. It was here, at the Continental Iron Works shipyard, that the famous ironclad warship USS Monitor, crucial to the Civil War, was born. The industrial boom attracted waves of immigrants: first the Irish and Germans, and then, from the 1890s, Poles. Their large settlement gave Greenpoint the nickname “Little Poland” and created a strong center of Polish culture.
In the second half of the 20th century, following the decline of heavy industry, the neighborhood went through tough times, grappling with pollution problems, including the famous oil spill in Newtown Creek. However, since the beginning of the 21st century, thanks to revitalization efforts and an influx of artists and young professionals, Greenpoint has experienced a renaissance. Today, it is a dynamic blend of its industrial past and an artistic present, which preserves its Polish roots while being a fashionable and modern spot on the map of New York.
Public Spaces
WNYC Transmitter Park
East River between Greenpoint Ave. & Kent St.
A modest corner of Greenpoint, where Greenpoint Avenue meets the river, holds a story that stretches back over 150 years — a tale of ferries, radio towers, and the transformation into a modern-day park. Over time, this space has evolved into a peaceful oasis where the past still echoes quietly.
The first chapter of that story begins in the 1840s, when a primitive ferry — a simple rowboat with a sail — departed from this very spot, carrying residents across the East River to Manhattan. Later, in 1937, the WNYC radio transmission station was built here, with two towering steel antennas that broadcast the voice of New York for over half a century, earning the nickname “the Eiffel Towers of Greenpoint.” Though the towers are gone, their spirit still lingers in the air.
Today, Transmitter Park is a green waterfront retreat with a pier, open lawns, and the famous mural “Love Me, Love Me Not” by FAILE — a vibrant meditation on the fragile connection between humans and nature. It’s the perfect place to sit on the grass, gaze at the Manhattan skyline, and feel how history and art come together on the edge of the East River.
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McCarren Park
Between Bedford Ave and Bayard, Leonard, and North 12th Streets
McCarren Park is the largest green space at the intersection of Williamsburg and Greenpoint, covering over 35 acres. It’s a favorite spot for walks, picnics, and neighborhood gatherings. One of its highlights is the McCarren Pool — a restored historic city pool from the 1930s that draws big summer crowds.
The park features numerous sports fields — including basketball, baseball, and soccer — as well as paths perfect for jogging and cycling. Its wide lawns invite you to relax outdoors, and in the summer the park hosts a variety of cultural events, from concerts and yoga classes to markets and family picnics.
In the past, McCarren Park was an important gathering place for Greenpoint’s Polish-American community. Today, it remains the vibrant heart of North Brooklyn.
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McGolrick Park
Between Nassau and Driggs Avenues, and Russell and Monitor Streets
McGolrick Park is the green heart of Greenpoint and has been a beloved community gathering place for over a century. The park offers a peaceful atmosphere while also reflecting the neighborhood’s rich history and vibrant everyday life. Among its winding paths, you’ll find the Monitor Monument, commemorating the famous Civil War battle of the USS Monitor, and the Greenpoint War Memorial, dedicated to local heroes who fell during World War I.
One of the park’s most striking features is the grand pavilion from 1910, whose elegant design was inspired by Versailles. Shaded by old-growth trees, the park regularly hosts neighborhood events, picnics, and open-air concerts that bring together residents of all ages.
For families with children, McGolrick Park is a true haven — with a large playground where kids can spend hours having fun, and open grassy areas that invite running, playing, and relaxing in the fresh air. It’s a place where everyday life meets local history, and where neighbors come together to enjoy the heart of Greenpoint.
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Entrance from Van Dam St. and Meeker Ave.
Under the K Bridge Park was, just a little over a decade ago, a forgotten industrial wasteland beneath the Kosciuszko Bridge in Greenpoint. Thanks to the vision of designers from PUBLIC WORK and the initiative of the North Brooklyn Parks Alliance, this nearly seven-acre space has been transformed into a park filled with greenery, walking paths, rain gardens, and scenic viewpoints. From the very beginning, it was clear that this location had the potential to be much more than just a place for recreation — its raw, industrial scenery began to draw the worlds of music and art.
During the day, you can take a stroll, practice yoga, relax on the grass, visit the Native Nursery — where native plants are cultivated and later planted in parks across Brooklyn — or enjoy the open skate spot designed for skateboarders, complete with ramps, rails, and ledges perfect for riding.
But Under the K truly reveals its other face after dark. The bridge’s massive concrete spans and steel structure turn into a monumental backdrop for concerts and shows. In recent years, the park has hosted performances by Björk, Four Tet, Flying Lotus, LCD Soundsystem, Jamie xx, Disclosure, The Chemical Brothers, and Anderson .Paak. Festivals like CBGB Fest and events organized by House of Yes have cemented its reputation as one of the most original venues in New York City.
The crowds are drawn not only by the music — but also by the atmosphere: lights reflecting off the bridge’s structure, the breeze from the East River, and the Manhattan skyline in the background. It’s a unique blend of nature, Greenpoint’s industrial history, and the energy of the big city.
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Calvary Cemetery
We know — it’s not Greenpoint, but Calvary Cemetery lies just next door, on the other side of Newtown Creek. A short walk across the Kosciuszko Bridge is all it takes to cross into Queens and stand at the gates of the largest cemetery in the United States, where over 3 million people have been laid to rest.
Established in 1848 by the parish of St. Patrick’s Cathedral in response to cholera epidemics and the lack of burial space in Manhattan, the cemetery became not only a resting place but also a witness to history. Among its countless headstones and monumental mausoleums — which are works of art in their own right — you’ll find the graves of people who helped shape the history of New York and the nation. The architecture of the memorials offers a journey through styles from the 19th to the 20th century, ranging from neo-Gothic to modernist.
The majestic yet peaceful setting of Calvary has made it a favorite backdrop for film directors. Its alleys and monuments have appeared in many iconic productions, adding a unique atmosphere to the scenes. It served as the filming location for movies such as The Godfather, Goodfellas, John Wick, and Midnight Cowboy.
Set on rolling hills, the cemetery offers expansive and unforgettable views of the Manhattan skyline. Towering skyscrapers weave into the background of headstones, mausoleums, and memorials, creating a dramatic and photogenic landscape that’s perfect for capturing extraordinary photos.
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Popieluszko Square and Memorial
Bedford & Nassau Ave, next to McCarren Park
This small yet profoundly symbolic square is named after Father Jerzy Popieluszko — a Catholic priest who became a powerful symbol of the Polish people’s struggle for freedom and dignity during the communist regime. While the square itself dates back to the early 20th century as part of a modern vision for public urban spaces, its current identity reflects events from just a few decades ago that shook Poland to its core.
In 1990, on the sixth anniversary of Father Popieluszko’s tragic death, a granite bust by sculptor Stanislaw Lutostanski was unveiled here, honoring the priest’s legacy. A few years later, in 2000, the space was further enriched by a second monument — the moving sculpture Bound Hands Rising Free, created by Tom Cleveland. Together, these works pay tribute to the courage, faith, and determination of a man who dared to speak the truth, even under threat of persecution.
Today, Popieluszko Square is not just a green corner near McCarren Park — it’s a quiet place of reflection, a reminder of Poland’s turbulent history, and a testament to the enduring power of standing up for human rights. Walking through the square, it’s easy to feel that the memory of heroes lives on, kept alive by the community that refused to let it be silenced.
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Nightlife
Entrance from Van Dam St. and Meeker Ave.
Under the K Bridge Park is now one of New York City’s most unique nightlife spots. While events don’t happen every night, each concert transforms the space beneath the Kosciuszko Bridge into a spectacular stage, where industrial architecture meets breathtaking views of the Manhattan skyline.
In recent years, the venue has hosted performances by Björk, Four Tet, LCD Soundsystem, The Chemical Brothers, Jamie xx, and Anderson .Paak. It has also been home to special events such as the CBGB Fest and immersive shows by House of Yes.
Check the latest event schedule here: underthekbridge.org/calendar
See on YouTube what has happened here before.
Under the K Bridge Concert photo by NBK Parks
Sunshine Laundromat & Pinball Bar
860 Manhattan Avenue
At first glance, it looks like an ordinary laundromat on Manhattan Avenue. But if you walk past the row of washing machines and open the door hidden in a fake dryer tower, you’ll discover a secret pinball kingdom and bar known only to those in the know.
Inside, over 20 classic pinball machines await you — from the iconic Addams Family to rare models, all lovingly maintained by the owner and enthusiast, Peter Rose. You can test your reflexes here while sipping on a craft beer on tap or a glass of wine, surrounded by quirky and amusing details. Even the bathroom will surprise you — the toilet flush works like a pinball flipper!
The bar is open Monday through Friday from 5 PM to 2 AM, and on weekends from 12 PM to 2 AM.
It’s a place with soul — blending the everyday rhythm of Greenpoint with a touch of mystery and a heavy dose of nostalgia. If you’re looking for something off the beaten path, step inside, play a few rounds, and let yourself get swept away by the atmosphere of Sunshine.
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Warsaw Concerts
261 Driggs Ave
Warsaw Concerts is a unique venue that has been drawing live music lovers from all over New York City for years. Located in a former Polish banquet hall, the space has preserved its cozy, old-world charm while offering modern sound and a stage that has hosted some of the biggest names in alternative, rock, and electronic music.
Warsaw is famous not only for great shows, but also for serving up Polish pierogi and cold beer—making each night here feel like a truly special occasion. It’s a place where tradition meets the present: the Polish roots of the neighborhood blend seamlessly with the energy of Brooklyn’s modern music scene.
From intimate indie gigs to performances by international acts, Warsaw Concerts always delivers an unforgettable experience. If you want to see how Greenpoint’s rich history connects with the culture of a new generation, be sure to check out who’s playing this week.
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Film Noir Cinema
122 MeseroleAvenue, Greenpoint
This intimate, 54‑seat microcinema and DVD rental spot is a true haven for cinephiles. Originally launched on Bedford Avenue in 2005 as a video store, it evolved into the current microcinema founded by Will Malitek and opened in April 2017.
Nestled discreetly on the corner of Meserole Avenue and Leonard Street, it specializes in screening arthouse, independent, classic, noir, and underground films, curated with passion and a personal touch.
Tickets are available at the door or online via Eventbrite.
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Historic Landmarks
Greenpoint Historic District
Between Java, Franklin, Kent, Milton, and Noble Streets
Designated in 1982, this expansive area captures the spirit of 19th-century Greenpoint, when the neighborhood was one of New York’s major shipbuilding centers. It was here that the legendary USS Monitor was built, and thanks to the vision of industrialist Neziah Bliss, Greenpoint began its rapid development as early as 1832.
As you stroll along Java, Franklin, Kent, Milton, or Noble Street, you’ll be immersed in architecture that transports you through time. Rows of Italianate and Neo-Grec townhouses entice with rich details, while the whimsical Queen Anne homes draw attention with their ornate façades and turrets. Majestic Romanesque and Gothic-style churches stand as reminders of the strong bonds within immigrant communities.
This district is a remarkable blend of former industrial glory and everyday neighborhood life. Today, despite the modern cafés and boutiques, you can still feel the spirit of an era that shaped the very identity of Greenpoint.
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The Astral
184 Franklin Street
The Astral Apartments were built between 1885 and 1886 at the initiative of Charles Pratt, intended as housing for workers of his Astral Oil Works refinery. Designed in the Queen Anne style by Lamb & Rich, the building stood out for its then-modern amenities: private kitchens, running water, and access to natural light.
The ground floor housed a Pratt Institute Free Library branch and a kindergarten, making the building a hub of social life. Its architecture, inspired by George Peabody’s model housing in London, features a monumental three-story arch and rich brick and terracotta detailing. Rental income helped support Pratt Institute, and in 1983 the building was designated a New York City Landmark.
Today, the Astral remains one of Greenpoint’s most iconic buildings.
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The Greenpoint Guide is constantly evolving — we keep adding new places and photos. We invite you to visit often!
Hours & Contact
Monday – Thursday
12:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Friday – Saturday
12:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Sunday – CLOSED
68A Newel Street
Brooklyn, New York 11222
Phone 718.389.1665
Location
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