Food DUMBO & Brooklyn Heights
The River Café
A place to eat in DUMBO & Brooklyn Heights, a splurge ($$$$) and worth about 2.5 hours. Best time to go: Dec 31 dinner.
Why go
Barge restaurant under the Brooklyn Bridge, open since 1977, with a five-course New Year's Eve dinner and live band.
It is one of 7 curated places we feature in DUMBO & Brooklyn Heights, alongside 3 activities, 2 places to eat and 1 outdoor spot. 6 more of our picks sit within about half a mile in a straight line, so it pairs easily with Juliana's and Juliana's.
- Type
- Food
- Neighborhood
- DUMBO
- Price
- $$$$
- Time needed
- 2.5 hr
- Best time
- Dec 31 dinner
Nearby
Our closest curated picks, including 3 beyond DUMBO & Brooklyn Heights. Distances are straight-line, not walking or driving.
- 1Juliana's
Coal-oven pizzeria from Patsy Grimaldi steps from the bridge.
Food · Brooklyn · 0.1 mi straight-line - 2Juliana's
Coal-oven pizzeria run by Patsy Grimaldi in his original Old Fulton Street building, a block from the bridge.
Food · 0.1 mi straight-line - 3Brooklyn Bridge Park
Waterfront park on old piers with lawns, Jane's Carousel and skyline views.
Outdoors · Brooklyn · 0.1 mi straight-line - 4Jane's Carousel
Restored 1922 carousel in a glass pavilion by Jean Nouvel, on the water between the two bridges.
Activity · 0.1 mi straight-line - 5Brooklyn Bridge
The 1883 bridge's raised wooden walkway is open to pedestrians around the clock; the walk takes about 30 minutes.
Activity · 0.2 mi straight-line - 6Brooklyn Bridge
1883 bridge with a pedestrian promenade over the East River.
Sight · New York City · 0.2 mi straight-line
On these curated routes
The River Café is a stop on our New York New Year's Eve route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.
More places to eat in DUMBO & Brooklyn Heights
Another curated place to eat in DUMBO & Brooklyn Heights. See the full DUMBO & Brooklyn Heights guide.
When to go: weather by month, based on New York City
Our climate figures for DUMBO & Brooklyn Heights come from nearby New York City. Average daily highs in New York City run from 38°F in January to 79°F in July; December is usually the wettest month. For The River Café itself, we suggest: Dec 31 dinner.
Modelled monthly averages for New York City from NASA POWER, not a forecast. New York City weather by month (covers DUMBO & Brooklyn Heights).
Getting there
Map links open a live search for The River Café, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.
- Coordinates
- 40.70369, -73.99485
- Destination
- DUMBO & Brooklyn Heights, New York
- Website
- rivercafe.com
The River Café: quick answers
How much time do you need at The River Café?
Plan on about 2.5 hours at The River Café. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.
When is the best time to visit The River Café?
Our pick: Dec 31 dinner. Insider tip: Jackets are required for men at dinner.
Which TripsCircle routes include The River Café?
The River Café appears on New York New Year's Eve, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.
Add The River Café to your crew's plan
Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to DUMBO & Brooklyn Heights.
Plan DUMBO & Brooklyn Heights
- DUMBO & Brooklyn Heights travel guide 7 places
- New York City weather (covers DUMBO & Brooklyn Heights) weather by month
- Midtown Manhattan to DUMBO & Brooklyn Heights 3.8 mi straight-line
Lists & regions
Also in DUMBO & Brooklyn Heights
- Coney Island Polar Bear Plunge Activity
- Brooklyn Heights Promenade Outdoors
Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.