Prospect Heights Guide for Parents

A neighborhood resource for families.

Prospect Heights is a fantastic neighborhood that sits at the intersection of everything Brooklyn offers.   In a tiny community, we have the Barclay’s Center, the Brooklyn Museum, the Brooklyn Botanical Garden, the Brooklyn Public Library, and various restaurants and bars.  While eating out with children can be an adventure, I need it. 

Exploring all of these is different with children and strollers.  This guide is an honest parents’ approach to where to eat with kids in Prospect Heights and a few tips on where to drink, too.

Best Coffee Shops with Kids

Not for them to drink coffee but for you to have a place to spend time outside the apartment.

Blue Marble Ice Cream | 168 Underhill Avenue

While technically, this is an ice cream shop, they open early and serve coffee.  They have a great backyard that is fully landscaped and also host kids’ activities with Music Mike on most Fridays!  There is indoor space on colder days and pastries for the kids, too. 

Sit & Wonder | 688 Washington Avenue

Sit & Wonder is another contender because they have a fantastic backyard and seating out front that is a bit easier if you’ve got a stroller.  I love the fresh cinnamon rolls here on the weekend. The seating is a bit more limited inside in colder weather, though.

Best Breakfast with Kids

Old Brooklyn Bagel Shoppe | 645 Vanderbilt Avenue

Old Brooklyn Bagel shoppe is a classic bagel shop.  They’ve got shelves full of sides, a fantastic tuna salad, and bottles of Hal’s seltzer.  The only thing that could improve this shop is if they always made rainbow bagels.  You can usually find them on weekends, but it’s not guaranteed on weekdays.  It also gets quite crowded on weekends- my husband is not allowed to order egg sandwiches on Saturdays anymore 🙂. 

King David Taco | 611 Bergen Street

Breakfast tacos are an easy win for the whole family.  King David Tacos HQ outpost has the same amazing tacos they’ve built a brand for with the carts and a few more expanded menu items.  I love the queso!  This space has a great outdoor patio that gets lots of sun, too.   

Best Bars with Kids

This is an essential category for me as a city parent.  Social life is vital to living in Brooklyn, and bars are often the best places to do it. Understanding the kid-friendly bars in your neighborhood is essential to parenting satisfaction. 

Beer Street South | 550 Vanderbilt Avenue

Beer Street South is an ample space with lots of outdoor seating.  During Vanderbilt Avenue Open Streets season, there is even more space to play in front of the bar.  My favorite part of Beer Street South is that they allow outside food.  My husband and I will enjoy our beverages and appetizers from the bar and order pizza or a happy meal for the kids! 

Gold Star Beer Counter | 176 Underhill Avenue

Gold Star Beer Counter has sidewalk seating in a cafe style, allowing kids to explore safely.  Your kids will also be happy that an ice cream shop (Blue Marble) is right next door.  The space inside is tight, so don’t plan on this with strollers on a colder day. 

Best Lunch Options with Kids

Maya Taqueria | 637 Vanderbilt Avenue

Any menu with a quesadilla is a great fit for my children.  Maya’s is delicious, and I am delighted when there are some leftovers that I get to enjoy.  Maya has a lovely garden patio and ample seating on Vanderbilt Open Streets if it's the warmer season.  If you’re looking for take-out, order directly on their site for a discount! 

Patsy’s Pizzeria | 450 Dean Street

While Patsy’s is technically in Park Slope, I had to include it because it’s the best place to eat near the Barclays Center.  Whether you're going to the Brooklyn Nets, Disney on Ice, or a birthday party at Chuck E Cheese, the whole family loves a meal at Patsy’s.  It has a large backyard covered space and room for strollers, too. 

Best Brunch Options with Kids

Little Egg | 657 Washington Avenue

Little Egg is the newest outpost of the well-known brunch restaurant Egg in Williamsburg, which closed during Covid.  It is technically in Crown Heights but just on the border.  Little Egg is excellent because it opens early- 7:30 a.m.!  The space is kid-friendly but minimal.  I recommend Little Egg on those early morning options when you need a place. 

Tom’s Restaurant | 782 Washington Avenue

Tom’s is an institution in the neighborhood and has been operating since 1937.  My parents love to go to this place because it is also open early and has flavored butter for the pancakes.  My children love the strawberry version.  The atmosphere is a great throwback, and the food is classic dinner style. 

Best Dinner Options with Kids

Patti Ann’s | 570 Vanderbilt Avenue

Patti Ann’s is the family-friendly outpost from the Olmsted team. The menu is full of updated takes on classics from childhood, like pigs in a blanket and bloomin’ onion.  Games are in the restaurant's corner when you first walk in, and my kids always love playing Jenga.   I highly recommend the tavern-style pizza and the root beer float.

Amorina Cucina Rustica | 624 Vanderbilt Avenue

Amorina has a menu with two of the most straightforward items for my children- butter pasta and cheese pizza.  The atmosphere is casual and a perfect place not to feel too self-conscious when out with your kids.  It’s another spot with tons of outdoor seating during Vanderbilt Avenue Open Streets. 

Best Ice Cream Shop

This is frankly an impossible category in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn.  All of the best ice cream shops in the city are nearby. 

Ample Hills + The Social | 623 Vanderbilt Avenue & 816 Washington Avenue

If you have yet to read the full story about the owners from Ample Hills, it's pretty amazing.  The brand and family have persevered so much for excellent ice cream.  I love their unique and busy flavor combinations.  The menu is the same at both locations now.  I prefer The Social’s location because there is a bit more space. 

Blue Marble | 186 Underhill Avenue

I prefer Blue Marble ice cream when I want something more straightforward.  Ample Hills will have coffee with 3-4 add-ons.  Blue Marble will have a great coffee ice cream.   As mentioned above, the backyard is also a great community space. 

Transportation

If you’re traveling with a stroller, the best Subway Stop is Eastern Parkway- Brooklyn Museum on the 2,3 train.  This stop has a great elevator with easy access to platforms.   

If you live on the northwest side of the neighborhood, Atlantic Ave- Barclays Center also has elevators. I find navigating the elevators and the various tracks at this station very challenging, though.  Because it is a behemoth, many small step areas and many entrances exist throughout a bustling intersection at Flatbush Avenue and Atlantic Avenue.