Smorgasburg is the epitome of a weekend afternoon in Brooklyn, New York. It’s name is a combination of smorgasbord (originates from the Swedish term for buffet, or variety of food) and Williamsburg (the location, of course) in Brooklyn. The best way to describe it is a plethora of vendors, both selling goods and food. Not quite a farmer’s market, but it gives off those same vibes. The pop-up shops carry all sorts of things from vintage patches to fine jewelry. The food variety is quite impressive too, ranging from truffle mac n cheese to Chinese crepes. It’s a perfect place to spend a weekend afternoon.
Getting There
In the winter season, Smorgasburg is held indoors at 25 Kent Ave. alongside Brooklyn Flea and in the summer, it is held at Marsha P. Johnson State Park. My friend and I were looking for indoor things to do one weekend in February, so this was the perfect spot.
Plan for a morning arrival as this place becomes a zoo come 12:30pm. We arrived around 11:00am on a Saturday in February (so indoor location) and the place was fairly quiet. We had time to leisurely browse the shops and get some food, finding ourselves some chairs and a table without a problem. The place is lovely—industrial structure accompanied by plants and soft furniture—it’s just the vibe I expected from Brooklyn. There was a young gentleman playing the piano that really elevated the experience. I was thrilled to contribute to the tip jar for once.
Food Experience
We enjoyed some crepes from a Chinese street food vendor called Jianbing Company. I opted for a vegetarian version with tofu while my friend enjoyed a pork one. They are made to order, so the freshness of the crepes really enhanced the flavor. About six napkins later, I finished every bite of mine. The combination of the fresh ingredients with the egg-coated crepe made for the perfect lunch. A little spicy, but so unique. We sipped down a couple of mimosas while listening to the pianist before heading out.
This place was a mad house by 2:00pm. People were circling our chairs like vultures by the time we were finishing up our drinks. Needless to say, plan to finish up before 2:00pm to avoid the afternoon, weekend crowd. I will definitely plan to come back to enjoy the variety of food and shops as I am sure they are always changing.
Before You Go
Make sure to check details of hours and location before heading to Smorgasburg here.
