people enjoying their food from Smorgasburg in Prospect Park Brooklyn
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Top Restaurants Near Prospect Park (Sit Down & Take Out)

Heading to the park and looking for the best restaurants near Prospect Park? We got you. Whether you’re looking for a sit-down restaurant or take-out food near Prospect Park, this guide is a curated list of the best spots to check out all around the park including which area of the park they are nearby.

There are several cool things to see in Prospect Park whether you’re just taking a scenic walk or looking for a great picnic spot. Spanning over 526 acres in the heart of Brooklyn, it is the perfect place to walk, bike, run, relax and have picnics with friends.

Not to mention popular Brooklyn attractions like the Brooklyn Museum, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and Grand Army Plaza are all nearby and great to visit whether you’re a local or visiting Brooklyn.

We also recommend checking out the neighborhoods surrounding Prospect Park too like the beautiful brownstone-filled Park Slope, the charming neighborhood of Windsor Terrace, the vibrant neighborhoods of Crown Heights or Prospect Lefferts Gardens, or the mansion-filled neighborhood of Victorian Flatbush.

Best Food Near Prospect Park

caffe-martini-on-Vanderbilt-in-Prospect-Heights

Before covering all the best restaurants near Prospect Park that are mostly sit-down options with a few take-out options to bring to the park. It’s worth mentioning if you’re planning on walking around one of the pretty Brooklyn neighborhoods surrounding the park in the mornings or you want great grab-and-go breakfast options to bring into the park that some of the best bagels in Brooklyn are near the park along with a few other great morning treats and stops.

Bagel Hole (400 7th Ave, Park Slope) serves up great hot, crispy, chewy bagels. This old-fashioned Brooklyn bagel spot is a classic with bagels fresh out of the oven. You can find bagel options including sandwiches, topped with cream cheese, or topped with thinly sliced fish like lox!

Bagel Pub (775 Franklin Ave, Crown Heights & 57 7th Avenue, Park Slope) has some of the best chewy, fresh bagels in the city. Their selection of cream cheese flavors is impressive whether you’re looking for something sweet or savory plus they have loaded bagel sandwiches.

Terrace Bagels (222 Prospect Park West, Windsor Terrace) serves up fresh hand-rolled bagels. They have a classic selection of cream cheese flavors, appetizing bagel toppings including an array of fish, and other breakfast items like egg wraps and other meals like breakfast platters.

R&D Foods (602 Vanderbilt Avenue, Prospect Heights) is an adorable grocer that has great breakfast sandwiches, baked goods, and even donuts!

Caffe De Martini (609 Vanderbilt Ave, Prospect Heights) this charming, picture-perfect Italian cafe in Prospect Heights is great for dining in, but you can also grab a coffee and one of their light-baked pastries to the park. They’ve got great breakfast sandwiches and a seasonal bowl for something with a little more substance. Without a doubt, some of the best food near Prospect Park in the mornings!

Dough Doughnuts (646 Vanderbilt Avenue, Prospect Heights) is one of the best donut shops in Brooklyn with large, yeast-baed artisanal donut flavors unlike any others you’ll find in the city like their passion fruit donut, chocolate cocoa nib, hibiscus, blueberry lemon, and more. Although it might be hard not to break into the bag before reaching Prospect Park.


Pasta Louise 

fresh-pasta-and-fresh-burrata-from-one-of-the-best-places-for-food-in-Park-Slope-at-Pasta-Louise

Address: 1114 8th Avenue & 803 8th Avenue, Park Slope

One of my favorite restaurants in all of Brooklyn also happens to be in very close proximity to Prospect Park. Pasta Louise came about during the pandemic after the owner started selling pasta from her stoop. Now, it has become one of the best restaurants in Park Slope with not one but two locations in the neighborhood and some of the best food near Prospect Park. 

Pasta Louise is open every day but Monday for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. All are amazing options but if you’re going to take it to go and enjoy it at Prospect Park, I definitely recommend just planning on dining here. This is a better spot for lunch or dinner and dining in.

You can order take out though if you’d like to picnic in the park. You can pick up to go food from the 8th Avenue and 8th Street location, which is just a short 5-minute walk to the 9th Street entrance to Prospect Park. Both locations offer both indoor and outdoor seating. 

For dining in before heading over to the park, make sure you make a dinner reservation at the 12th Street and 8th Avenue locations. They have an incredible bar and even pasta wallpaper.

As far as ordering goes, you have to try the pasta. Pasta Louise changes the pasta shape regularly but their options for sauce is the same, if you’re not sure where to start try the cacio e pepe and then you can customize your order by adding on extras like freshly made ricotta or a ball of burrata, crispy prosciutto, or even hot peppers.

The fact that you can customize your order to your flavor profile and the quality of the homemade noodles makes this one of the best restaurants near Prospect Park. 

Pasta Louise is located near the north end of the park. As mentioned above, the 12th Street location accepts reservations for both indoor and outdoor dining, and the pasta is best enjoyed at the restaurant before or after heading over to Prospect Park! 

Suzy’s Roti Parlour 

Address: 907 Church Avenue, Flatbush

Suzy’s Roti Parlour has the perfect Trinidadian home cooking and some of the best rotis and doubles around. They also have vegetarian options, which is a nice change from some of the other Trinidadian restaurants that don’t have as many options outside of meat. 

With its close proximity to Prospect Park on the opposite side of the Parade Ground near Prospect Park Lake, Suzy’s is the perfect nearby Prospect Park restaurant for take out. Less than a 10-minute walk from the park itself, you can take your rotis and doubles to Prospect Park Lake or over the to Peristyle to eat with a delightful scenic view.

Suzy’s is open every day for lunch and dinner except Sunday and Monday. They do have some seating, but since this is a great take-away food I recommend grabbing this one to go to take to the park.

Chavela’s 

Chavelas tacos in Crown Heights Brooklyn

Address: 736 Franklin Avenue, Crown Heights

Chavela’s is hands down one of the best places to eat in Crown Heights not only for their Mexican-fare but also their fun, colorful restaurant and ambiance.

Just under a 15 minute walk to Prospect Park, this is a great place whether you’re meeting for weekend brunch pre-park or looking for post park lunch or dinner. Not to mention, if you take Franklin all the way to Eastern Parkway you also pass the Brooklyn Museum and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden too. Or you can take Sterling Place all the way to Grand Army Plaza.

Their menu is full of great options, if you want a starter to share try the guacamole. Their cheese enchiladas with verde sauce, tacos, and chilaquiles are all top-notch too. The chili relleno also should not be missed. And if you’re looking for a drink, their margaritas are a must.

Chavela’s is walk-in only and gets especially busy around happy hour on nice days. They have both indoor and outdoor dining and the bar is the perfect place for solo dining. This is a better sit-down restaurant near Prospect Park as the food from here won’t travel well.

Franklin Park

766 Franklin Avenue, Crown Heights

Franklin Park is a spin on a classic childhood burger joint/diner only better. They have the classic diner tables with black and white checkered floors and some seriously delicious good food combined with their bar drinks.

The best items on the menu are the diner items including hamburgers, hot dogs, and shakes (that you can make boozy too). You can basically add anything your heart desires to the burgers including bacon, aiolis, mushrooms, and blue cheese. Add a side of parmesan fries or a side of the classics and you will be very happy. 

Franklin Park does not take reservations but the wait usually isn’t horribly long, if there is a wait at all and the perfect nearby Prospect Park restaurant. They offer indoor dining and also do take away. 

Dutch Boy is about a 10 minute walk to the Grand Army Plaza entrance of Prospect Park, I’d recommend dining in vs taking out as the whole ambiance here is a part of the experience. They are open at noon and stay open late night perfect for lunch pre or post park or dinner post Prospect Park.

Krupa Grocery 

brunch-toast-from-Krupa-Grocery-in-Windsor-Terrace-Brooklyn

Address: 231 Prospect Park West, Windsor Terrace

Krupa Grocery is on the main strip of Windsor Terrace, a little street that starts at Grand Army Plaza running all along Prospect Park to Windsor Terrace known as Prospect Park West.

Less than a 5 minute walk from the park at the Bartel Pritchard Square entrance, it is the perfect place to stop any time of the day whether you want to take away or sit down.

The space is welcoming with a long bar at the front with indoor dining, a covered patio out front, and a pretty garden in the back with more outdoor dining seating.

Krupa Grocery is great anytime of the day with small bites for breakfast where you can take advantage of their grab and go pastries and coffee or brunch on the weekends plus a full lunch and dinner menu with seasonal favorites.

If you happen to be joining for weekend brunch, don’t skip out on the lemon ricotta pancakes. For dinner, their ricotta balls, pickled vegetable jar and the angus burger are a few of my personal favorites, but everything on the menu is typically a home run.

With both ample indoor and outdoor seating, Krupa Grocery is one of the best restaurants near Prospect Park that not only has a great sit down meal option but also has great coffee, great food, and they also offer one of my favorite things – a to go picnic basket which is meant to be enjoyed at Prospect Park.

The Prospect Park Picnic Basket includes a wide variety of highlights off their menu and while substitutions can’t be made, there isn’t a need because this includes all the best things on their menu and meant to be shared with friends.

Krupa Grocery is open every day but Tuesday for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They accept reservations for both indoor and outdoor dining and have a small grocery area or “Krupa’s Market” to pick up all craft pantry items.

Krupa Grocery is located near the 16th Street and Prospect Park West entrance of the park. 

Greenwood Park 

Address: 555 7th Avenue, South Slope

Greenwood Park is one of my favorite restaurants for large groups in Brooklyn and one of the best restaurants near Prospect Park. Not only is the food delicious but they also have a great outdoor/indoor space with lots of TVs, their dog friendly and almost always have space available, whether you are dining alone or with a large group.

It is also the perfect nearby Prospect Park restaurant to enjoy before or after your day at the park especially if you had the dog with you at Prospect Park.

As far as food goes, the menu is very aligned with “bar food” but in the best bar food type of way. All of their sandwiches and snacks are amazing but if you’re feeling something less traditional to the bar food scene, they also have delicious pizzas and a great greek salad. In the warmer months, definitely try of their frozen drinks. 

Greenwood Park is about a 10 minute walk to the 16th Street entrance of Prospect Park at Bartel Pritchard Square. They have both indoor and outdoor dining and accept reservations. They are open every day at 3 pm and open at noon for lunch on the weekends. 

The Norm at Brooklyn Museum 

The-Norm-Restaurant-and-Bar-inside-the-Brooklyn-Museum-in-NYC

Address: 200 Eastern Parkway, Crown Heights  

Another great option for food near Prospect Park is The Norm inside the Brooklyn Museum. It is also one of the coolest dining experiences as you can dine at this stylish, upscale restaurant before or after checking out the galleries in the third largest museum in NYC. Plus, the chef came from a former restaurant with a Michelin star so you know the food is going to be incredible. 

The menu is small at the Norm but it has a lot of really great options and they even offer a kids menu if you’re with children. The classics here are incredible from the burger to the tomato soup to the grilled cheese and as always, I recommend coming with friends and sharing as much as possible so you can try some of everything. 

The Norm is definitely one of the best restaurants near Prospect Park and a great restaurant near the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens too as the entrances are next to the Brooklyn Museum. It is the perfect place to enjoy an evening after a day of exploring just this small but wonderful area of Brooklyn.

The Norm is open every day but Monday and Tuesday for lunch and dinner and they accept reservations. Located just on the other side of the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens and a short walk from Grand Army Plaza at Prospect Park, the Norm is a 5 minute walk to Grand Army Plaza entrance to the park.

It is definitely recommended to dine on-site and reservations are recommended. Keep in mind this is more of an upscale dining establishment. (You don’t need to pay for museum admission to dine at the restaurant).

Barboncino Pizza

Barboncino pizza in Crown Heights Brooklyn

Address: 781 Franklin Avenue, Crown Heights

This wouldn’t be a complete guide if I didn’t include pizza, especially since pizza is a great meal to take to the park or you can enjoy here, not to mention Barboncino is not only an incredible restaurant near Prospect Park but one of our favorite places for pizza in Brooklyn.

They definitely have one of best Neapolitan brick-oven pizza places in New York and one of my favorite restaurants near Brooklyn Botanic Gardens. My favorite red sauce pizzas are the classic Margherita and the Soppressata Piccante, with Mike’s Hot Honey added. For white sauce pizza, the Arugula, Four Cheese with Pepperoni, and the Artichoke and Smoked Pancetta are the best. 

Barboncino does not take reservations but has both indoor and outdoor seating. The wait is generally pretty quick but there are plenty of bars around Franklin Avenue and even some shops if you need something to do if you have a wait.

It is about a 10-minute walk to the park if you enter by Grand Army Plaza or it is great to enjoy on a picnic blanket in the part of Prospect Park closer to the Brooklyn Museum and Eastern Parkway. 

Barboncino is open every day for lunch and dinner and offer both indoor and outdoor seating as well as take-away service. 

The Double Windsor 

The-burger-at-Double-Windsor-in-Windsor-Terrace-Brooklyn

Address: 210 Prospect Park West, Windsor Terrace

Another amazing restaurant near Prospect Park in Windsor Terrace is The Double Windsor, a local favorite famous for their burgers. The windows also open up at the front to give you that inside/outside feel, which might be one of my favorite ways to dine. Add in some of the best burgers in Brooklyn and some really great cheese curds and you’ve got an incredible place to grab food near Prospect Park. 

Aside from the perfect gastropub atmosphere, the Double Windsor has better than you expect food, and not just the burger mentioned above. They also have some delicious wings, cheese curds, mac and cheese, and if you’re a vegetarian – everything but the wings, crispy Japanese sweet potato, sriracha drizzle, buttermilk, sesame seeds, and scallions.

Add in the rotating cocktail menu and great on tap beer options and you’ve now found the perfect place to either dine in after a great day at the park or grab something to go for a picnic, but I’d say this is a better spot to enjoy in the restaurant.

The kitchen is open everyday for lunch and dinner and they offer both indoor and outdoor dining. Reservations are not accepted but you can always grab food to go if the wait is too long for dining. 

Dog Day Afternoon 

exterior-of-Dog-Day-Afternoon-in-Windsor-Terrace-Brooklyn

Address: 266 Prospect Park West, Windsor Terrace

Dog Day Afternoon is from the same people who are behind Buttermilk Channel, one of the best restaurants in Carroll Gardens, which is enough to make you want to check out this restaurant near Prospect Park.

It is also named after an Al Pacino bank-heist movie completely filmed on the same block across the street, another reason to make you want to check out some of the best food near Prospect Park. See our guide to the best Brooklyn filming locations to learn more.

Dog Day Afternoon is known for their Chicago-style hot dogs known as “red hots,” just like you’d get in Chicago. If you’ve never had a Chicago-style hot dog, they conveniently have a photo of all the ingredients that correspond to the hot dog so you know exactly what you’re getting.

They also have a vegan dog for plant-based diets as well as chili-cheese dog, french fries, and a delicious chocolate milkshake. 

Dog Day Afternoon has no indoor seating but they have some space out front and a foosball table and Ms. Pac-Man while you’re waiting. If you don’t want to stand and eat, you’re just a short walk over to the entrance of Prospect Park off Prospect Park West and 16th Street at Bartel Pritchard Square.

Daytime 

Address: 199 Windsor Place, Windsor Terrace

Daytime quickly not only became one of my favorite coffee shops but also one of my favorite places to grab pastries and one of the best hidden gems in the borough in terms of great sandwiches! Not to mention the best breakfast sandwiches here are some of the best I’ve ever tried. 

Tucked away in Windsor Terrace, almost hidden, Daytime is also less than a 10-minute walk to Prospect Park (entrance off 16th Street), which easily makes this one of the best places to grab food near Prospect Park. 

Everything from Daytime is locally sourced from their pastries to their coffee and similar to Krupa Grocery mentioned above, Daytime also offers picnic baskets to go. They also have a few great pantry items that you can grab including beer and wine.

There are two reasons I come to Daytime and that is the iced chai with oat milk and the scrambled egg and cheese sandwich. You can customize it however you want but there is nothing better than their pepper jam spread and arugula so do not forget to add that! They also have a selection of other sandwiches and bowls too, not just breakfast items.

The seating is limited with a few spots at the counter and a bench out front but with its close proximity to the park, it is the perfect spot to grab and go enjoy at a picnic in the park. 

King David Tacos 

Address: 611 Bergen Street, Prospect Heights

King David Tacos is so good there are two opportunities to grab this delicious food near Prospect Park. It is also one of the best restaurants near Brooklyn Botanic Garden and easily one of the best restaurants near Prospect Park for those looking to visit in the morning!

What started out as a taco cart in Prospect Park, has now expanded to be served in grocery stores, coffee shops (including Blank Street and Joe’s locations) and now has a brick and mortar that is only about a 10-minute walk to the Grand Army Plaza entrance near Prospect Park. 

The owners and chefs are from Austin, Texas and all of their flour tortillas are handmade. They also have true, tex-mex style queso, which keeps me coming back again and again. 

As far as tacos go, they are all amazing and you can’t make a wrong choice. The best though (in my opinion) are the potato, egg and cheese (PEC), the Queen Bean, and Mom’s Migas. They also have “lunch–ish” tacos including a delicious bean and cheese and pollo verde. 

As mentioned above, the truck is located at the entrance of Grand Army Plaza into Prospect Park and the brick and mortar is located off Vanderbilt Avenue. The brick-and-mortar has to-go options as well as outdoor dining but no reservations are accepted. Since these are the perfect little to-go tacos and they travel well, this is perfect for a morning picnic in the park!

Bonafini 

Address: 663 Flatbush Avenue, Prospect Lefferts Gardens

This guide wouldn’t be complete without some Italian options included and Bonafini is not only one of the best restaurants near Prospect Park but also one of my favorite Italian spots in Brooklyn. 

Bonafini is a quick 5 minute walk to the Ocean Avenue and Parkside Avenue entrance of Prospect Park located in the Prospect Lefferts Gardens area of Flatbush. It definitely has a casual neighborhood feel and could be taken to go but I do recommend this being a place where you sit down and enjoy a good meal before heading over to an evening walk through the park. 

The best things on the menu is the pasta but if pasta isn’t your jam, the chicken Milanese is another amazing option. All the appetizers are also great but definitely get the burrata and the mussels. 

Bonafini has both indoor and outdoor dining and they are open for brunch on the weekends and dinner every day but Monday. They do accept reservations and offer takeout. It is definitely one of the best nearby Prospect Park restaurants, but I’d recommend dining in on this one either before or after the park.

Fausto 

Address: 348 Flatbush Avenue, Park Slope

Continuing on the Italian tour is one of the absolute best Italian spots around (I know I said that above but there are so many) and truly has some of the best food near Prospect Park. It is also less than a 5-minute walk to Prospect Park right at Grand Army Plaza.

Of course, this wouldn’t be included if the food wasn’t some of the best around but I also have to highlight how amazing the interiors are. The front is lined with plants and the inside has the perfect minimalist aesthetic with tealight candles on the tables and bar. 

As with every Italian place I recommend, Fausto has some incredible pasta dishes. The menu changes often but you really can’t go wrong with anything you order, or at least in my experience. For appetizers, don’t skip out on the arancini and the little gem salad. 

Fausto is open every night for dinner except Monday and Tuesday. They accept reservations and offer both indoor and outdoor dining. This is one of the spots I’d recommend dining in at for dinner after the park, especially since you’re so close to Grand Army Plaza and just a short walk away from Brooklyn Botanic Gardens and Brooklyn Museum.

Winner

Winner fried chicken Sandwich in park slope brooklyn

Address: (Winner Bakery) 367 7th Avenue & (Winner in the Park) The Picnic House in Prospect Park

Winner is hands down one of our favorite bakeries and sandwich spots in the city. The first location, now the Winner Bakery in Park Slope always had a line for its fresh bread and sandwiches (especially on the weekends).

Since it’s explosion in popularity, Winner has expanded into now having a Winner in the Park at The Picnic House in Prospect Park serving up coffee, breakfast, and lunch items as well as a butcher shop, additional restaurant, and another location in Crown Heights all in addition to their original spot on 7th Avenue in Park Slope.

Winner Bakery still has a larger range of sandwich selections and is just a short walk to Prospect Park or if you find yourself already in the park and unsure what to do, you can head to their Prospect Park outpost in the park and grab one of their sandwiches and snacks available here.

Pecking House

chili-fried-chicken-from-Pecking-House-in-Brooklyn

Address: 244 Flatbush Avenue, edge of Park Slope & Prospect Heights

Pecking House started out as a delivery service that had a wait to try the chicken for weeks at a time. It has since become a brick and mortar and while there is still at times a line, it is still worth the wait. 

If you like spicy, make sure you order the chili chicken that comes in 2 or 3 piece chicken options. It comes as a meal as either white or dark meat and one side. All the sides are worth trying so if you’re extra hungry, order a couple additional ones to share. Sandwiches are also available. 

Pecking House is open every day for lunch and dinner. Indoor dining is available but reservations are not accepted. The indoor space is small making this the perfect place to grab some chicken to go and head to the park to enjoy some of the best food from one of the best restaurants near Prospect Park! 

Smorgasburg Prospect Park

mozzarella sticks from Big Moz at Prospect Park Smorgasburg

One of the best places to eat is actually inside Prospect Park at Breeze Hill! Every Sunday from early April through the end of October, Prospect Park hosts Smorgasburg, which has several locations around the city.

We might be biased, but the best Smorgasburg is here in Prospect Park, considered the “Woodstock of Eating” and has been going on for years, and somehow each year seems to get better and better.

There are dozens of vendors featuring some of the most famous foods and restaurants in the city where you will want to bring friends so you can try multiple things! You can find anything and everything from snacks, drinks, main courses, and even desserts – all of which are shareable (except for the drink maybe) featuring all types of cuisines from all over the world!

Located at Prospect Park’s Breeze Hill, located near the Lincoln Road entrance, you can easily find it from the Concert Grove Pavilion. Smorgasburg runs from 11 am – 6 pm. It is a great place to meet up with friends, especially because you’re going to want to try some of everything. The vendor list changes regularly but do yourself a favor try a few things!

There are no reservations accepted and Smorgasburg is definitely grab and go but there are a few tables around but most people just plop down in the grass and eat. Bring a blanket if you want something to sit on or walk your food over to a bench. If you want somewhere picturesque to eat walk over to the Prospect Park Boathouse.

Lark by the Park

Lark by The Park in Prospect Park Parade Grounds in Brooklyn

Address: Coney Island Ave/Church Av, Parkside Ave

Another popular place to grab a quick bite to eat by Prospect Park can be found in the Prospect Park Parade Ground. Lark by the Park is brought to us by Lark Cafe, a beloved Flatbush establishment.

This grab-and-go spot serves an enticing range of dishes—pizza, smash burgers, breakfast fare, smoothies, milkshakes, and hot dogs. The cafe welcomes guests during the summer and fall seasons from 8 AM to 8 PM.


Best Places to Eat Near Prospect Park (Post Summary):

  • Pasta Louise
  • Suzy’s Roti Parlour
  • Chavela’s
  • Franklin Park
  • Krupa Grocery
  • Greenwood Park
  • The Norm at Brooklyn Museum
  • Barboncino Pizza
  • The Double Windsor
  • Dog Day Afternoon
  • Daytime
  • King David Tacos
  • Bonafini
  • Fausto
  • Winner
  • Pecking House
  • Smorgasbord Prospect Park
  • Lark by the Park

About Our Guest Author 

Molly Royce – Originally from Oklahoma, I moved to NYC for grad school and have had a hard time wanting to leave ever since. There really is no better borough than Brooklyn where I live with my boyfriend and our black lab, Frankie. There’s no greater city in the world and I can’t wait to share my love of the city, eating, and drinking with all of you. 


Did we miss your favorite restaurant near Prospect Park? Let us know in the comments below!

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