Fun things to do near NYC's Cobble Hill

Key Takeaways:

• Cobble Hill is a small, historic Brooklyn neighborhood between Brooklyn Heights, Boerum Hill and Carroll Gardens.
• Most of it sits inside the Cobble Hill Historic District, known for its nineteenth-century houses.
• Court Street, Smith Street and Atlantic Avenue are the main streets for food and shopping, and Brooklyn Bridge Park is close by.

Cobble Hill is a small Brooklyn neighborhood of nineteenth-century streets. It is walkable and easy to reach by subway, bus or ferry. You come for the architecture, the restaurants on Smith and Court Streets and a slower day near the waterfront.

Overview of Cobble Hill

Cobble Hill borders Brooklyn Heights to the north, Boerum Hill to the east, Carroll Gardens to the south and the Columbia Street Waterfront District to the west. It is bounded by Atlantic Avenue, Court Street, Degraw Street and the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway.

The name comes from a cone-shaped hill called "Cobleshill" that once stood where Atlantic Avenue, Pacific Street and Court Street meet. Dutch farmers settled the area in the 1640s. For years it was counted as part of South Brooklyn, Red Hook or Brooklyn Heights, and the name Cobble Hill was adopted in 1959.

Top 10 Things to Do in Cobble Hill

1. Walk the Cobble Hill Historic District. The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission designated it in 1969 and extended it in 1988. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.
2. Look for Greek Revival and Italianate rowhouses. These are the most common styles in the district, alongside Romanesque Revival and Gothic Revival examples.
3. Find Warren Place. This one-block mews between Warren and Baltic Streets has the "Workingman's Cottages," two rows of single-family houses only 11 feet wide, built around a private courtyard.
4. Sit in Cobble Hill Park. On Clinton Street between Verandah Place and Congress Street, the park was created in 1965.
5. Walk Verandah Place. The writer Thomas Wolfe lived here in the 1930s.
6. See Christ Church and Holy Family. The Episcopal church was designed by Richard Upjohn in 1841-42.
7. Eat on Smith Street. The northern part of Smith Street is known as Brooklyn's "Restaurant Row."
8. Shop on Court Street. Family-run stores, such as Italian meat markets and barber shops, sit next to newer shops and cafes.
9. Browse Atlantic Avenue. The neighborhood's northern border has one of New York City's largest collections of Middle Eastern shops, some open for decades.
10. Head to Brooklyn Bridge Park. An 85-acre waterfront park with free entry, open daily from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m.

Cobble Hill Restaurants

Smith Street and Court Street are where you eat. Smith Street became an upscale weekend nightlife destination, and Atlantic Avenue adds its long-running Middle Eastern shops. Restaurants change often, so check recent listings for specific places before you go.

Cobble Hill history underground

Under Atlantic Avenue runs the Atlantic Avenue Tunnel, built in 1844 so trains carrying goods to and from the waterfront would not have to climb a steep hill. The tunnel is now abandoned.

How to Get to Cobble Hill

• Subway. The F and G trains stop at Bergen Street on the IND Culver Line.
• Bus. The B61 and B63 run on Atlantic Avenue, and the B57 runs on Court Street.
• Ferry. NYC Ferry's South Brooklyn route stops at Atlantic Ave/BBP Pier 6, with service to Pier 11/Wall Street in Manhattan.
• On foot. Brooklyn Heights, Boerum Hill and Carroll Gardens are all next door.

Cobble Hill to the airport with BLADE

For JFK or Newark, you can take the South Brooklyn ferry from Pier 6 to Pier 11/Wall Street, or the subway into Manhattan, and fly with BLADE. BLADE offers seats on scheduled helicopter flights between Manhattan and JFK or Newark, about 5 minutes from $195 per seat. BLADE Downtown is at the Wall St. Heliport, and BLADE's Midtown lounges are BLADE Lounge West at the West 30th Street Heliport and BLADE Lounge East at the East 34th Street Heliport.

Tips for Exploring Cobble Hill

1. Go on foot. The historic district covers about twenty-two city blocks, so you can see most of it in an afternoon.
2. Start at Atlantic Avenue. Shop the Middle Eastern stores, then walk south down Court Street or Smith Street.
3. Save time for the waterfront. Pier 6 at Brooklyn Bridge Park is where the South Brooklyn ferry stops.
4. Pair it with a neighbor. See our guides to Red Hook, Gowanus and DUMBO.

FAQs about Fun Things To Do Near Nyc'S Cobble Hill

What are some fun things to do near NYC's Cobble Hill?

Walk the Cobble Hill Historic District, find Warren Place, sit in Cobble Hill Park, eat on Smith Street, shop on Court Street and Atlantic Avenue, and spend time at Brooklyn Bridge Park.

How can I find information about Brooklyn restaurants?

Check recent restaurant listings and reviews for Smith Street, Court Street and Atlantic Avenue, since openings and closings change often.

Which subway goes to Cobble Hill?

The F and G trains stop at Bergen Street. The B61, B63 and B57 buses also serve the area.

Is Cobble Hill a historic district?

Yes. The Cobble Hill Historic District was designated by the city in 1969 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.