Bedford Avenue to the Waterfront
North Williamsburg's shopping runs along Bedford Avenue from the L train stop toward the waterfront and Wythe Avenue. It is a mix of jewelry shops, vintage stores and weekend markets, with a handful of brand stores. Plan it for a Saturday or Sunday: the biggest indoor market, Artists & Fleas, is open only on weekends, and Smorgasburg's food market runs on Saturdays.
Posted hours run about 11am to 7pm daily, with the brand stores open later. Many of the independent shops do not post hours, so call ahead if one matters to you.
Morning: Coffee and Bedford Avenue
Come up from the Bedford Av station and get coffee first. Catbird's own neighborhood list points to Qahwah House (162 Bedford Ave), on Bedford between N 8th and N 9th, and Bakeri (150 Wythe Ave), between N 7th and N 8th.
Then walk along Bedford, following the street numbers up. Pema (187 Bedford Ave) is Pema Kongpo's women's boutique, mixing Tibetan influences with modern dressing: affordable clothing, footwear and accessories, including an in-house line. Further down, the Mini Mall (218 Bedford Ave) is an indoor arcade of small local shops around a seating area, with a bookstore, lingerie and denim shops, a candy shop and a coffee house. The bookstore is Spoonbill & Sugartown Books (218 Bedford Ave), with new and used art, architecture and design titles. It buys used books for cash or trade, so bring a few to swap.
Norbu (232 Bedford Ave) is a long-running jewelry shop with pieces from more than 100 designers, including Chan Luu and Mute Object. Apple Williamsburg (247 Bedford Ave) is the brand store on the strip, open until 9pm on weekdays.
Midday: Denim and Vintage on the Side Streets
Turn off Bedford onto the numbered streets. Levi's Williamsburg (120 N 4th St) is a denim store of about 3,000 square feet with an on-site tailor shop for hemming and custom embroidery. Awoke Vintage (132 N 5th St) sells '70s and '80s pieces: denim, casual dresses, button-down shirts, sweatshirts and jewelry for men and women.
For a bigger vintage dig, 10ft Single by Stella Dallas (285 N 6th St) is a large shop with outerwear, Dr. Martens and deadstock clothing. It is a little further out on N 6th, so treat it as a detour.
Afternoon: Catbird and Artists & Fleas
Catbird (108 N 7th St) has been the jeweler's home store since 2004, behind a green door. It sells jewelry, candles, beauty and home items, and does walk-in permanent jewelry, ear piercing and charm building, plus complimentary styling. The Wedding Annex upstairs handles engagement and wedding rings; appointments are suggested, but walk-ins are welcome. It is open daily 11am to 7pm.
Closer to the water, Artists & Fleas (70 N 7th St) is an indoor weekend market with more than 100 rotating sellers: art, local designers, jewelry, vintage clothing, records, books and bath products. It runs Saturday and Sunday, 11am to 7pm.
Finish at Aesop Williamsburg (85 N 3rd St), a block off Wythe in an old industrial building with original timber columns and floors; the interior was designed to evoke the East River.
Saturday Add-On: Smorgasburg
On Saturdays, Smorgasburg Williamsburg sets up at Marsha P. Johnson State Park (90 Kent Ave) from 11am to 6pm. It is an outdoor food market, and pets are not allowed. Smorgasburg says its 2026 season is open but does not list a closing date on its New York page, so check before you go this late in the year.
Where to Eat and Drink
Catbird publishes a list of its neighborhood favorites, and it is the best eating guide for this walk. For lunch on Bedford itself, Vanessa's Dumpling House (310 Bedford Ave) is between S 1st and S 2nd. Best Pizza (33 Havemeyer St), between N 7th and N 8th, is the list's pizza pick. For dinner, Lilia (567 Union Ave) is on the list, and Hotel Delmano (82 Berry St), between N 8th and N 9th, is there for drinks. If you want a bottle to take home, the list's wine shops include UVA (237 Bedford Ave), between N 3rd and N 4th.
The L to Bedford Av
Take the L train to the Bedford Av stop. It is one stop from Manhattan and lands you in the middle of the shopping stretch, so everything on this route is a short walk. No garages were confirmed in our sources, so the train is the easy way in.
