Part of what makes Carroll Gardens such a smart home base for a Brooklyn trip is what sits just outside it. Red Hook and Gowanus, two neighborhoods with completely different personalities, are both within easy reach, and each is worth a full afternoon on its own. Here's how to spend a day in each.
Red Hook: Waterfront, Warehouses, and a Slower Pace
Named for its red clay soil and hook-shaped point of land ("hoek" is Dutch for point or corner), Red Hook is a former shipping hub turned laid-back waterfront neighborhood. It's a little more isolated from the subway than Carroll Gardens, which is exactly why it still feels like a hidden gem.
Getting There
The easiest route from Carroll Gardens is on foot, roughly a mile's walk through the neighborhood and down toward the water, or a short bus or rideshare ride if you'd rather save your legs. For a scenic option, the free IKEA Ferry departs from Manhattan's Pier 11 and Pier 79 on weekends and drops you right at the Red Hook waterfront.
1. What to Do
Start at Erie Basin Park, the 6.5-acre green space next to IKEA with walking paths, bike trails, and open lawns overlooking the harbor. From there, wander toward Louis Valentine Jr. Park and Pier, a quiet spot to picnic with a view of the Statue of Liberty in the distance.
Red Hook's industrial past has left behind a neighborhood full of art galleries and distilleries tucked into massive old warehouses. Pioneer Works, a nonprofit arts and science center, hosts a free public event called Second Sundays each month and is worth checking the calendar for.
2. Where to Eat and Drink
Defonte's is a cash-only sandwich shop dating back to 1922, famous for generously stuffed Italian heroes and a cult-favorite potato and egg sandwich.
Food Bazaar deserves a mention beyond its grocery aisles. Its indoor-outdoor waterfront patio is a genuinely lovely spot to eat lunch while watching boats pass by.
Hometown Bar-B-Que draws lines well before it opens for its authentic Southern-style smoked barbecue, with shaded picnic tables for outdoor seating.
Steve's Authentic Key Lime Pie is a must for dessert, a Red Hook institution in its own right.
The Practical Draw: IKEA and Fairway
If your trip calls for a home goods run or a grocery haul, Red Hook is also home to a full-size IKEA and Fairway Market, both easily reached via the free weekend ferry.
Gowanus: Industrial Grit Meets Creative Energy
If Red Hook is Brooklyn's quiet waterfront cousin, Gowanus is its scrappy, creative one. Once a heavily industrial stretch along the Gowanus Canal, the neighborhood has become a haven for artists, brewers, and small manufacturers, all operating out of converted warehouses.
Getting There
Gowanus sits directly adjacent to Carroll Gardens and Park Slope, an easy 10 to 15 minute walk from most Carroll Gardens rentals, or a quick ride on the R train to the Union Street station.
3. What to Do
Start with a walk along the Gowanus Canal itself. It's an unlikely spot for a scenic stroll given its industrial history, but the redevelopment of the waterfront has turned parts of it into a genuinely reflective walking path.
Art lovers should make time for Powerhouse Arts, a 117-year-old former power plant transformed into a creative fabrication hub with rotating exhibitions, and the neighborhood's annual Gowanus Open Studios event each October, when local artists open their studios to the public.
4. Where to Drink and Eat
Gowanus has quietly become one of Brooklyn's best brewery neighborhoods. Threes Brewing is a top pick, known for its lagers and a spacious backyard patio that gets lively in warm weather. Strong Rope Brewery, a New York State Farm Brewery, offers both classic and seasonal ales in a cozy taproom setting.
For something more low-key, Lavender Lake pairs a strong cocktail menu with a large outdoor patio, and Four & Twenty Blackbirds is a beloved bakery specializing in seasonal, homemade pies.
If you're in the mood for nightlife, Royal Palms Shuffleboard Club offers exactly what it sounds like, and Public Records combines a daytime café, a record and magazine shop, and a state-of-the-art sound room for evening shows.
A Little History for Both Neighborhoods
Red Hook and Gowanus share a common thread: both were once heavily industrial parts of Brooklyn's waterfront economy, and both have spent the last few decades reinventing themselves without fully erasing their working-class roots. Red Hook was historically a busy shipping port; a preserved railroad barge on the waterfront still stands as a reminder of that era, now home to a small waterfront museum. Gowanus took its name from the mile-plus-long canal that runs through it, once heavily polluted by decades of industrial use and now the subject of an ongoing environmental cleanup and redevelopment effort that's slowly transforming the waterfront into public green space.
Neither neighborhood has been fully smoothed over into a typical tourist district, which is exactly what makes them worth visiting. You're seeing Brooklyn's industrial past in the middle of becoming something new, rather than a finished, polished version of it.
5. What to Skip If You're Short on Time
If you only have a half-day rather than a full one, prioritize based on your interests. Foodies and shoppers should lean toward Red Hook for Food Bazaar, Defonte's, and the waterfront parks. Art and nightlife fans should stick closer to Gowanus, where breweries, galleries, and Powerhouse Arts are all within a compact, walkable stretch. Trying to do both neighborhoods thoroughly in just a few hours tends to feel rushed. It's better to fully enjoy one and save the other for a return trip.
Making It a Full Day
Because Red Hook and Gowanus both border Carroll Gardens, it's easy to combine a morning in one with an afternoon in the other, especially if you start early and pace yourself. A Red Hook waterfront walk followed by a Gowanus brewery stop makes for a genuinely great, low-key Brooklyn day that most Manhattan-based visitors never discover.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Red Hook from Carroll Gardens?
About a mile, roughly a 20-minute walk, or a much shorter bus or rideshare trip. There's no direct subway line into Red Hook, which is part of why it's stayed a bit more under-the-radar.
Is the IKEA Ferry really free?
Yes, on weekends. It runs between Manhattan's Pier 11 and Pier 79 and the Red Hook waterfront at no cost, though weekday trips carry a small fare.
What's the easiest way to get to Gowanus from Carroll Gardens?
It's an easy 10 to 15 minute walk, or a short ride on the R train to the Union Street station, making it one of the most convenient day-trip neighborhoods from a Carroll Gardens rental.
Your Home Base for Exploring Both
The best part about staying in Carroll Gardens is that neither of these neighborhoods requires a long commute. Red Hook is an easy walk or short ride away, and Gowanus is close enough to reach on foot, meaning you can explore both without ever needing a car or a long subway ride.
Our Carroll Gardens rental puts you right in the middle of it all: close enough to wander into Gowanus for an afternoon brewery visit, and just a short trip from Red Hook's waterfront parks and warehouses-turned-galleries.
Ready to explore the neighborhoods locals actually love? Book your Carroll Gardens stay today and use it as your launchpad for a full day in Red Hook and Gowanus.
Leave a Reply