Spring in New York invites stillness, while Summer in NYC dares you to go all in.

This seasonal guide is part of our ongoing BKLS series—crafted with intention, refreshed each year, and rooted as much in how the City feels as in what it offers. Spring invited you to linger: under blooming magnolias, beside open bakery windows, with a journal in hand. But summer asks for something else.

It asks for presence. For movement and permission to be bold.

This is the season of rooftop rendezvous and ferry escapes. Of impromptu dinners, bare shoulders, and long walks that end somewhere unexpected. These are the kind of nights that start with “just one drink” and stretch into stories worth remembering.

Let this be your companion, not to plan every moment, but to inspire the ones that remind you why you live here, or why you came.

June also brings deeper moments of meaning. From rooftop drinks to cultural reflections, summer in New York City holds multitudes. How to Celebrate Juneteenth in NYC shares 11 powerful ways to honor Black freedom, creativity, and joy across all five boroughs—a reminder that celebration and reverence can coexist in the same season.

BKLS Featured NYC Event This Week

Brazil Nite at Please Tell Me

📅 Date: Tuesday, June 17, 2025 | 🕒 Time: 7:30 PM |📍 Location: 749 Metropolitan Avenue— Williamsburg, Brooklyn | 🎟️ Tickets: $39 per guest Reservations via Resy

Trade your New York rhythm for something a little more sultry this Tuesday, June 17th, at 7:30 PM. At Brazil Night Vol. 005, Williamsburg’s Please Tell Me transforms into a warm slice of Copacabana for one night only—complete with a four-course tasting menu, live Bossa Nova, and cocktails worth dressing up for.

Michelin-trained Chef David crafts a menu rooted in soulful flavor: salada, queijo, lamb pastel, and picanha frites, each bite dancing between comfort and finesse. While you dine, let the Bossa Brazil Duo provide a beautiful acoustic backdrop to your evening escape.

Drinks flow with laid-back flair—$7 drafts, $9 well drinks, $10 beer and shot combos, or a bold $11 martini that would feel right at home in a beachside cabana.

Walk-ins are welcome at the bar, but if you want the full experience, reservations are strongly encouraged. It is the kind of evening that feels like a secret shared—sultry, vibrant, and just fleeting enough to be unforgettable.

Summer Style & Weather in NYC

There is no way around it—summer in New York is hot. The kind of heat that clings to skin and blurs the line between effort and elegance. But New Yorkers? We do not retreat—we adapt.

We dress in defense and defiance: gauzy dresses that skim the body, linen trousers that breathe, black tank tops softened with silk, and the eternal armor of oversized sunglasses. Style here is not about trends—it is about timing, transit, and knowing how to move through a day that could take you from the East River to the Upper West Side and back again.

You will spot women misting their faces outside Bergdorf’s, men with rolled-up sleeves nursing iced Americanos in Tribeca, and teens in mesh and sneakers hanging out near Domino Park. A tote bag is never just a tote—it is a survival kit: SPF, blotting papers, a MetroCard, a paperback novel, and something chilled.

Expect humid highs in the 80s and 90s, punctuated by dramatic late-afternoon thunderstorms. And while the days may feel endless, a cool wind can sneak in after sundown—especially by the water.

BKLS Tip: Hydration and layers are non-negotiable. Subways are colder than expected. Rooftops get breezy. And there is always a chance you will end up dancing somewhere.

Seasonal Neighborhoods to Explore

Some neighborhoods are meant to be savored in summer. Not because they change completely, but because the way you move through them does. Here is where we are walking this season:

Fort Greene

Jazz, Brownstones & Summer Soul

Rooted in rhythm and elegance, Fort Greene carries a kind of quiet authority. Understated, tree-lined, and quietly magnetic, this neighborhood radiates creative ease. In the summer, its rhythm softens even more. Picnics spill out in Fort Greene Park, sidewalk cafés hum with conversation, and music drifts from open windows and the occasional brownstone stoop.

Start your day at Bittersweet, a no-fuss café with strong iced coffee and even stronger people-watching. Head to Fort Greene Park for a slow morning—lay out under towering oaks or walk the perimeter where local kids ride scooters and readers curl up on benches with a paperback.

The Lafayette Avenue strip offers daytime galleries, wine shops, and indie boutiques with cult followings. Come evening, Walter’s delivers a classic New York dinner with a breeze. Or head to Karasu, a speakeasy-style Japanese bar hidden behind a discreet door inside Walter’s, where the cocktails are impeccable and the lighting is made for secrets.

If you are lucky, you will catch an outdoor jazz set or a pop-up market near BAM [Brooklyn Academy of Music]—a cultural anchor that reminds you Fort Greene is where art lives, not just where it is exhibited.

• Bittersweet – 180 Dekalb Avenue | bittersweetbk.com
• Fort Greene Park – Bordered by DeKalb, Myrtle, Cumberland, and Washington Park
• Walter’s – 166 DeKalb Avenue | waltersbrooklyn.com
• Karasu – 166 DeKalb Avenue [Inside Walter’s] | karasubk.com
• BAM – 30 Lafayette Avenue | bam.org

🚇 G to Fulton Street | C to Lafayette Avenue

Spotlight Sip

The Fort Greene Café We Can’t Stop Thinking About

☕ Kofee NYC

Nestled along Fulton Street, Kofee NYC offers more than just a caffeine fix. With its bright, thoughtfully designed space and a menu featuring standout items like the honey latte and strawberry matcha, it is a haven for those seeking quality and community. The café’s commitment to genuine hospitality and sustainability, led by Chef Josie’s zero-waste philosophy, sets it apart in Fort Greene’s vibrant coffee scene.

📍 711 Fulton Street, Brooklyn
🔗 Read our full feature on Kofee NYC →

A Taste of Nightfall

Where Fort Greene Drinks Feel Like Poetry

🍸 Baba Cool

There is something quietly magnetic about Baba Cool after dark. It is not just the glow from the pendant lights or the DJ curating just the right kind of Friday mood—it is the layered simplicity that makes you stay longer than planned.

Start with the Whipped Ricotta, a dish that reads like a midsummer poem: airy and lush, drizzled with honey, sprinkled with fennel seed and bee pollen, served with thick, golden toast that soaks it all up. It is a plate meant for sharing, but you might not want to.

Then comes the Baba Martini—a cocktail that turns heads without trying. Fat-washed gin, stonefruit, lavender, sage, and dry vermouth swirl into something floral, herbal, and almost spell-like. It is not too sweet, not too sharp. Just right.

This is not just another cocktail bar—it is where Fort Greene’s stylish ease meets substance. Come for the martini, stay for the energy. No reservations, no rush.

📍33 Lafayette Avenue, Brooklyn | babacool brooklyn

Governors Island

A Slow, Salted Escape Just Across the Water.

Just eight minutes from Manhattan or Brooklyn by ferry, Governors Island feels like a well-kept secret. One that opens up to those willing to wander without hurry. It is a place where hammocks sway in the breeze, bikes glide over car-free paths, and every skyline view feels earned by the stillness that came before it.

Start your day with a bike ride past grassy fields and sculpture-dotted lawns. Stop for oysters and a glass of rosé at Island Oyster, where sailboats drift lazily in the harbor and the Statue of Liberty glows in the afternoon light.

Cool off at QC NY Spa, a European-inspired sanctuary with outdoor thermal pools, steam rooms, and relaxation lounges overlooking the water. Or walk up Outlook Hill for panoramic views of Lower Manhattan, then slide down Slide Hill, home to the longest slide in NYC—a reminder that this island does not take itself too seriously.

And if you do nothing more than nap under the trees in Hammock Grove with a good book and nowhere to be, you will still leave feeling like you have gone somewhere far.

• Island Oyster – Governors Island | islandoyster.com
• QC NY Spa – Building 111, Governors Island | qcny.com
• The Hills + Hammock Grove – Governors Island | Free and open to the public year-round

📍 Ferry Info & Schedule
Departs from Battery Maritime Building [Manhattan] and Pier 6 [Brooklyn Bridge Park]

SoHo

Style, Galleries, and Sidewalk Aperitifs

In summer, SoHo becomes a stage. There is movement everywhere—sunlight bouncing off cobblestones, silk skirts brushing by on corners, and café tables filled with espresso cups and sketchbooks. It is where iced matcha is a fashion accessory and gallery hopping blends seamlessly with boutique shopping.

Start on Prince Street and wander without a plan. You will pass linen-clad shoppers drifting between racks at Sézane, minimalists trying on structured pieces at The Frankie Shop, and cool girls exiting Reformation with paper bags and good posture.

Pause for a moment of quiet at The Drawing Center, a contemporary art space that always surprises. Or slip into the shaded garden at Ladurée, where time slows over a plate of rose-flavored macarons. And no matter the time of day, Balthazar is always right—for a late lunch, an early glass of wine, or simply watching the world turn from behind oversized sunglasses.

• Reformation / Sézane / The Frankie Shop – Prince, Spring, and Elizabeth Streets
• The Drawing Center – 35 Wooster Street | drawingcenter.org
• Ladurée Garden Patio – 398 West Broadway | laduree.us
• Balthazar – 80 Spring Street | balthazarny.com

🚇 R/W to Prince Street | B/D/F/M to Broadway-Lafayette

Rockaway Beach

Surf, Sand, and New York’s Wild Side

Rockaway owns exactly what it is—sun-kissed, soulful, and unapologetically free-spirited—and that is what makes it irresistible. It is a little rough around the edges, salty in the best way, and full of that off-the-clock energy New Yorkers crave once the heat kicks in.

You come here for the reset: the rhythm of the waves, the mix of locals and day-trippers, the boardwalk breezes, the sound of a speaker playing old-school R&B in the distance.

Grab tacos from Tacoway Beach, claim a spot on the sand, then rent a board or a cruiser and ride along the oceanfront. The Rockaway Hotel + Spa makes a stylish home base if you are staying overnight—or just want a rooftop cocktail with a sea view.

And over at Riis Park Beach Bazaar, you will find live music, food vendors, and a vintage boardwalk vibe that feels like a sun-warmed throwback.

• Tacoway Beach – 302 Beach 87th Street
• The Rockaway Hotel + Spa – 108-10 Rockaway Beach Drive | therockawayhotel.com
• Boardwalk Bike Rentals + Surf Lessons | breakwatersurfco.com
• Riis Park Beach Bazaar | riisparkbeachbazaar.com

⛴️ NYC Ferry: ferry.nyc/routes-and-schedules/route/rockaway

🌊 Related Read

The BKLS Edit: Beach Escapes Beyond Rockaway

Rockaway is just the beginning. If you are craving more sandy escapes—including Jacob Riis, Breezy Point, and the lesser-known gems—do not miss our complete guide to Queens’ most spectacular beaches.

📍 Read: Exploring the Spectacular Beaches in Queens, NY →

Cannot-Miss Summer Events

There is nothing quiet about a New York summer—it is bold, bright, and utterly unmissable. The city transforms into a stage: parks become theaters, streets pulse with parades, and music floats through the air long after sunset. These are the signature moments that define the season:

• Tribeca Festival [June 5–16]: More than just film, this festival now spans music, talks, immersive experiences, and cultural moments worth lingering in.
• SummerStage [All summer long]: From Central Park to outer-borough gems, this citywide concert series brings everything from indie icons to global legends—outdoors, under the trees.
• NYC Pride March [June 30]: Bold, joyful, unmissable. Celebrate love, identity, and resilience in one of the world’s most iconic Pride events.
• Jazz Age Lawn Party [June 8–9 & August 10–11]: Flappers, brass bands, picnic blankets, and vintage charm on Governors Island. A time-travel experience like no other. Purchase your tickets here.
• Shakespeare in the Park [Through Our Summer ]: Theater under the stars in Central Park’s Delacorte Theater—because nothing says NYC summer quite like a picnic and a monologue.

Coming Soon: View our BKLS Summer Events Calendar for what’s happening across the city this season—live June 12th.

Rooftop Bars & Alfresco Dining

There is something about drinking above it all that just feels right in summer. New York’s rooftops transform into sky-high lounges, sundrenched terraces, and velvet-hour hideaways. Whether you are sipping something botanical at sunset or ordering oysters with a skyline view, these are the spots where the City slows down just enough to savor.

• Harriet’s Rooftop – Sophisticated cocktails and unobstructed views of Lower Manhattan. Inside 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge | 60 Furman Street | 1hotels.com
• Le Bain – A rooftop dance floor, plunge pool, and views that feel cinematic. 444 West 13th Street | thestandardhotels.com
• Maison Premiere – Not a rooftop, but the garden is pure summer poetry—absinthe, oysters, and old-world charm. 298 Bedford Avenue | maisonpremiere.com
• Pilot – A restored schooner turned floating cocktail bar—anchored at Brooklyn Bridge Park, and glowing at golden hour. Pier 6, Brooklyn Bridge Park | pilotbrooklyn.com

🔗 The BKLS Edit: Rooftops Worth the Elevation

Want more views, vibes, and warm-weather menus? Explore our full guide to NYC rooftops—curated with style, skyline, and your next cocktail in mind.

📍 Read: The BKLS Rooftop Bar Guide →

Beaches, Ferries & Quick Escapes

When the City begins to sizzle, New Yorkers move toward water, breeze, and the illusion of elsewhere. Sometimes that means hopping on the ferry, sometimes it is just a train ride away. Either way, these escapes deliver summer’s best energy with none of the airport chaos.

• Coney Island – Nostalgia meets neon on Brooklyn’s iconic boardwalk. Ride the Cyclone, eat something fried, and watch the crowds blur into color at sunset. You did not really do NYC summer without at least one Coney night.
• Red Hook – Ferry in, eat lobster rolls, stay for the industrial charm. This waterfront pocket of Brooklyn has an old soul and strong cocktails—especially at Red Hook Lobster Pound or Brooklyn Crab.
• Orchard Beach – The Bronx’s own slice of coastline. Expect crowds, families, music, and a certain kind of joy that only New York can pull off at the beach. Bonus: the nearby Pelham Bay Park offers shaded trails and picnic spots if you want a breather from the boardwalk.
• Long Beach, LI – Hop on the LIRR for this easy, sandy day trip. Less chaotic than Coney, more polished than Rockaway, Long Beach offers soft sand, a breezy boardwalk, and spots like Riptides for a post-swim drink.
• Hudson Valley – For a true weekend recharge, head north. Cold Spring’s antique shops, Beacon’s art scene, or Storm King’s sculpture fields—all within a couple of hours and all impossibly serene.

BKLS Tip: The NYC Ferry is just $4 and often faster—and far more scenic—than the subway. Especially in summer, it is not just transportation. It is part of the experience. ferry.nyc

The BKLS Edit: Everything You Need to Know About Visiting Coney Island.

Fourth of July in NYC

Macy’s Fireworks in New York are never just fireworks. They are rooftop toasts. They are the skyline blinking in color. And there are collective gasps, and the moment just before the noise. Whether you are watching from a waterfront park or dancing your way into the evening on a rooftop, the Fourth here is bold, cinematic, and anything but subtle.

This is not the holiday to “play it by ear”—rooftops fill fast, ferries book early, and the best views go to those who planned ahead. But with a little strategy, it can be magic.

Where to Watch:

• Brooklyn Bridge Park – Arrive early and claim a spot with a clear view of the East River.
• Domino Park – Fewer crowds, same skyline drama—plus a great lineup of food vendors.
• Gantry Plaza State Park [Queens] – Direct views of the Manhattan fireworks, plus more breathing room than the other side of the river.

Private Rooftops & Hotel Events:

• The William Vale [Westlight, Williamsburg]
  The GOSPËL Tribe returns for a two-day rooftop takeover on July 3–4. Expect a stacked DJ lineup [Carlita, Amémé, DeRoos, Milo, and more], panoramic skyline views, and a dance-until-the-fireworks vibe across the hotel’s top two floors.
• The Rockaway Hotel + Spa [Rockaway Beach]
  Their annual Fourth of July celebration is picnic-themed and family-friendly, with panoramic views of Jamaica Bay, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Manhattan skyline. Tickets include food, beer, and wine for two hours. Admission is $55 for adults and $25 for kids.
• PUBLIC Hotel [Lower East Side]
  The Roof at PUBLIC offers a vibrant atmosphere with specialty cocktails, a curated summer menu, and great music. With 360-degree panoramic views of the city, it is a beautiful place to meet for sunset cocktails and small bites while enjoying the fireworks. Table reservations are recommended.

BKLS Tip:
Leave heels at home, bring a portable fan, and expect to wait. But when the sky lights up and the City holds its breath, it is worth every moment.

📩 Our Fourth of July NYC Guide is live—start planning your Independence Day in NYC now.

Subscribe to The Local Edit to receive our future guides.

Free [or Almost Free] Things to Do

New York may be expensive, but summer reminds us that some of its best moments are free. A blanket in the park. Music is echoing across the river. A spontaneous paddle on the Hudson. These are not budget tips—they are seasonal rituals.

• Bryant Park Picnic Performances
  Enjoy a diverse lineup of free concerts, dance, and theater performances on the lawn. Bring a blanket or borrow one on-site, and savor bites from local vendors. More info
• Shape Up NYC
  Participate in over 100 free fitness classes across the five boroughs, including yoga, Zumba, and Pilates, offered by NYC Parks. No registration required. More info
• Naumburg Orchestral Concerts
  Experience the world’s oldest continuous free outdoor classical music series at Central Park’s Naumburg Bandshell, featuring high-quality performances in a beautiful setting. More info
• Free Kayaking
  Paddle along the Hudson River with free kayaking sessions offered by organizations like the Downtown Boathouse and Brooklyn Bridge Park Boathouse. More info
• Queens Night Market
  Explore a vibrant night market in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, featuring affordable international cuisine, art, and live performances every Saturday night. More info

More Things to Do

• River to River Festival
  Attend a series of free arts events, including dance, music, and visual arts, held in public spaces throughout Lower Manhattan. More info
• Staten Island Ferry
  Take a free ride on the Staten Island Ferry for stunning views of the Statue of Liberty and the Manhattan skyline. More info
• Museum Free Days
  Visit renowned museums like the Museum of Modern Art and the American Museum of Natural History on their designated free admission days. More info
• Outdoor Movie Nights
  Watch classic and contemporary films under the stars in parks like Bryant Park and Brooklyn Bridge Park. More info
• Astoria Pool – The grand dame of public pools.
• Galleries with Free Days – First Fridays at The Morgan Library or Bronx Museum of Art

Explore the city on foot with our upcoming BKLS Summer Walks Series—designed for slow discovery and meaningful details.

How to Survive NYC Heat

In New York City, summer is a sensory rollercoaster—sweltering at street level, shivering beneath the city in over-air-conditioned subway cars, and everywhere else, clinging to concrete like a second skin. Even the shortest strolls feel like slow-motion sprints. But there is a rhythm to surviving it. A quiet mastery in knowing when to pause, where to retreat, and how to dress as if the next breeze might be your only one.

• Hydrate before you are thirsty. Always carry water—it is a city essential, not just a wellness tip.
• Walk on the shady side. True locals know the best routes are not always about speed—they are about shadows.
• Take the ferry. A $4 ride with skyline views and natural AC? Yes, please.
• Dress light. Think linens, loose silhouettes, and breathable fabrics that move with you.
• Slow down. This is your permission slip. Let the city move around you.

BKLS Summer Picks

Consider this your seasonal starter pack—our handpicked favorites for making the most of summer in the city.

• ☕ Best Iced Coffee with a View
  Café Gitane at The Jane Hotel – Iced Moroccan mint tea or a frothy latte, best enjoyed on the stoop or with a view of the Hudson.
  113 Jane Street | cafegitane.com
• 🛍️ New Boutique to Know
  Still Here – Denim, done differently. This Nolita shop blends heritage Americana with downtown cool.
  271 Elizabeth Street | stillhere.nyc
• 🍳 Brunch of the Month
  Sunday in Brooklyn – Cloud-like pancakes, herbal cocktails, and a sun-drenched space that feels like a reset.
  348 Wythe Avenue | sundayinbrooklyn.com
• 💧 Summer Skincare Favorite
  Aesop Parsley Seed Serum + Supergoop! Glowscreen – One hydrates, one protects, both give you that dewy, just-stepped-off-the-ferry glow.
• 📚 Reading Pick
  Happy Hour by Marlowe Granados – A fizzy, flirty novel about girls navigating NYC summer like a fever dream. Smart, stylish, and slightly subversive.
• 🌳 Quiet Escape
  Midweek in Prospect Park – No agenda. Just a paperback, a shady bench, and the feeling that you’ve reclaimed a moment for yourself.

📝 P.S. For more curated selects, do not miss the BKLS Bookmarks: June Edition—our full editorial guide to what’s worth your time this month.

📅 Plan Your Summer with BKLS

New York in summer is a little unhinged, a little poetic—and entirely unforgettable. There is no pressure to “do it all.” Let this be the season where you say yes when it feels right, no when it does not, and let time stretch when the city hands you something soft and rare.

Your BKLS Summer Guide will be here all season long—updated, expanded, and rooted in the experiences that make the City feel like yours.

📢 Stay in the Loop

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