One Night in Greenpoint, Brooklyn
Published 07/16/2025
NYC Tourism Creative Director Jen Davis is a Brooklyn-based photographer with a passion for visual storytelling—and an equal love of house music.
I moved to Greenpoint in 2009. I remember coming off the G train when I was living in a different neighborhood, and right away, I knew [I needed to live there]. It just felt really familiar. What's great about [Greenpoint] is it has something for everyone: if you want to go to the party where all the young people are, or a fancier cocktail bar, or have a meal at an upscale restaurant, or get a slice, you can do all of that. I adapted quickly to the neighborhood and started enjoying everything it had to offer. And during the pandemic especially, you really felt the community around you. We were talking to neighbors, supporting small businesses, noticing the stories behind the storefronts. It was very special.
If you want to experience Greenpoint like a local, I’d say get off Manhattan Avenue and Franklin Street. Explore the streets that are a little off the beaten path. It might be the same crowd energy-wise, but it feels different.
This is my Saturday night in Greenpoint, Brooklyn:
1
9pm: Dinner at Kinoko
There’s this new restaurant I love—it’s called Kinoko. The chef-owner, Kelseay Dukae, moved here from New Orleans, and she’s also worked in sushi, so her food has this really cool influence from both worlds. She makes these incredible vegan Creole rolls, dumplings stuffed with crawfish and gulf shrimp, and of course, gumbo. It’s all so good.
Her spirit is what makes the place. She greets everyone with, “Hey, baby, how y’all doing?” She wants you to be having fun, enjoying your food. It feels collaborative, like you’re part of something. There’s music playing, the vibe is laid-back and she makes the space feel special. When the weather’s nice, I sit outside on the little patio. It’s on a quiet corner, perfect for people watching.
If I’m not outside, I’ll sit at the bar and chat with Kelsey, her friendly staff or her mom, Jer, when she’s in town. The second spot is about a 20-minute walk away, at the very north end of Greenpoint, and I like to have a few cocktails there before heading out dancing.
2
11pm: Drinks at Achilles Heel
Achilles Heel is a really cozy bar; you feel like you’re in an old longshoremen’s bar, very old school. They have a limited, rotating menu, but I usually just go there for the drinks—they have amazing cocktails. My drink is the Pyramid. You can get it with mezcal or gin; I’m team mezcal.
Before the waterfront was developed, there was not much over there—it was very industrial. The neighborhood has changed a lot with all the high rises and developments, but the bar has kept its charm despite the entire neighborhood changing around it.
I’ll stay for maybe an hour and a half or so, which is nice, because at that time, people are done eating and it’s not as crowded, which I appreciate. I have a couple of drinks with friends, and then head over to Good Room, which is about a 15-minute walk.
3
1am: Dancing at Good Room
I usually plan my whole night around what’s happening at Good Room, and frequent this spot because of the amazing DJs they book, the vibe of the people that attend these parties and friendly staff. I like to get there around 1am.
They play house and electronic music; Good Room has been a staple in the neighborhood since 2014. Tickets are affordable—sometimes as low as $11, $20 at the door—and there are two rooms: the Good Room and the more intimate Bad Room. There’s always a variety of DJs, so everyone can find their vibe for the night.
The people who work there care. The bartenders, the door staff—everyone is friendly and wants to ensure you’re having a good time. It’s just a good place, a good nightclub. You can show up alone and not feel out of place; I do that all the time. I’ve met people who have become true friends. I was seeking that community as not all my friends are into this type of lifestyle or music, and I found that in the people I’ve met through the Good Room, because we’re all there for the music, for the DJ and to dance! That’s the thing about New York City: you can walk into a club by yourself and no one cares. You’re just part of the crowd. And sometimes that makes it easier to talk to people, to meet someone new or just enjoy being out without feeling like you have to explain yourself.
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