Cheap Date Night Ideas in Brooklyn, NY

Eleven hard courts at the Parade Ground managed by the Prospect Park Alliance. During the outdoor season (May through October), eight courts are available to NYC Parks tennis permit holders. During the indoor season (late October through early May), all 11 courts are covered by a bubble and available for hourly rental. Single-play passes are available for those without a seasonal permit.

50 Parkside Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11226 · Daily 7am-11pm (seasonal hours vary)

Five full courts on Pier 2 overlooking the East River and Manhattan skyline. Two covered courts for light rain. Free, first-come first-served. Constant pickup games on weekends and summer evenings.

150 Furman St, Brooklyn, NY 11201 · Daily 6am-11pm

Three regulation-sized sand volleyball courts at Pier 6 with views of the Statue of Liberty and New York Harbor. Free and open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis when leagues are not scheduled. Bring your own ball and net -- posts are installed. Popular for pickup games on summer weekends.

Atlantic Ave & Furman St, Brooklyn, NY 11201 · Daily 6am-11pm

Free Olympic-sized outdoor pool on the Greenpoint-Williamsburg border. Open daily in summer, closed 3-4pm for cleaning. Busy days may limit swim time or use return bracelets. Just show up.

776 Lorimer St, Brooklyn, NY 11222 · Daily 11am-3pm, 4pm-7pm (summer only, closed 3-4pm for cleaning)

NYC Parks rec center with indoor pool, fitness equipment, basketball gym. Seasonal programming includes boxing, dance, youth sports. $25/year membership (reduced for seniors and youth).

155 Bay St, Brooklyn, NY 11231 · Mon-Fri 6am-8:30pm, Sat 8am-10pm

Climbing gym in Gowanus with bouldering walls, fitness area, yoga, sauna. Day pass covers everything. No membership required. $15 Fridays. Shoe rental available. Short walk from Union St (R) and Carroll St (F/G).

575 Degraw St, Brooklyn, NY 11217 · Mon-Fri 6am-10pm, Sat-Sun 8am-8pm

3.35-mile car-free paved loop around Prospect Park. Rolling hills, Long Meadow and Prospect Lake views. Home course for the Brooklyn Half Marathon. Free, just show up.

Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn, NY 11238 · Daily, open 24 hours

Soccer fields at the Parade Ground next to Prospect Park, grass and synthetic turf. Free for pickup under 20 people; groups of 20+ need an NYC Parks permit. Also baseball diamonds and cricket pitches.

Coney Island Ave & Parkside Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11226 · Daily dawn to dusk

Synthetic turf field on the Williamsburg waterfront. Soccer, football, lacrosse, rugby, ultimate frisbee. Free for casual play; organized games need an NYC Parks permit. Lighted until 10:15pm.

86 Kent Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11249 · Daily 9am-10:15pm

Six public hard courts in Fort Greene Park, available to NYC Parks tennis permit holders. The seasonal permit is $100 for adults, $20 for seniors, and $10 for youth. Single-play passes are $15. Courts are first-come, first-served and popular for casual play on weekday mornings. A short walk from the G train at Fulton St.

136 DeKalb Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217 · Daily 7am-8pm (seasonal)

Drop-in yoga studio in Carroll Gardens, open seven days, no membership required. Vinyasa, yin, restorative, meditation. Student/teacher/military discount. All levels.

185 Sackett St, Brooklyn, NY 11231 · Daily 7am-8:30pm

Six outdoor handball courts at Pier 2, free, first-come first-served. East River and Manhattan skyline behind you. Next to the basketball courts, roller rink, and bocce courts.

150 Furman St, Brooklyn, NY 11201 · Daily 6am-11pm

A 400-meter running track at the Red Hook Recreation Center, free and open to the public during open hours. The track shares the facility with soccer and football fields. Less crowded than Prospect Park for runners who want a consistent surface and measured distance. Adjacent to the rec center pool and gym.

155 Bay St, Brooklyn, NY 11231 · Daily 6am-dusk

Two bocce courts at Pier 2, free and open to the public. Bring your own bocce set or borrow one from the Pier 2 sports equipment shed (available on a first-come, first-served basis). A surprisingly social activity on the waterfront -- regulars show up on summer evenings and weekend afternoons.

150 Furman St, Brooklyn, NY 11201 · Daily 6am-11pm

Outdoor roller skating rink on Pier 2 with Manhattan skyline views. May through October. $10 with rental, $6 with your own skates. Some free days in summer. DJ nights on weekends.

150 Furman St, Brooklyn, NY 11201 · Seasonal (May-Oct), hours vary

Six public hard courts in Midwood, available to NYC Parks tennis permit holders. A quieter alternative to the Fort Greene and Prospect Park courts. Seasonal permit $100 for adults, $20 for seniors, $10 for youth. Single-play passes $15. First-come, first-served.

700 E 17th St, Brooklyn, NY 11230 · Daily 7am-8pm (seasonal)

Dedicated pickleball courts at the Parade Ground in Prospect Park, part of the Parks Department's expansion of the sport across the city. Free for permit holders ($15 single-play). The courts are newer and the lines are clear. Pickup games on weekday mornings draw a regular crowd of all ages.

Parade Ground, Coney Island Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11226 · Daily dawn to dusk (seasonal)

$22 drop-in. Year-round indoor rink at Floyd Bennett Field. One of the few rinks in NYC that never closes for the season.

3159 Flatbush Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11234 · Daily 9am-8pm (public skate times vary -- call ahead)

Bowling + live music + Blue Ribbon fried chicken. Family Bowl on weekends is free entry.

61 Wythe Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11249 · Daily, hours vary by event

Brooklyn's Bowery Ballroom. 650 capacity. Good sound, two bars, balcony.

66 N 6th St, Brooklyn, NY 11249 · Show nights, doors typically 7-8pm

Oldest performing arts center in America. Student rush $25. Next Wave Festival is the big draw.

30 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217 · Box office Mon-Sat 12pm-6pm, show times vary

Free under 19. First Saturdays: free admission 5-11pm with DJs and gallery talks.

200 Eastern Pkwy, Brooklyn, NY 11238 · Wed-Sun 11am-6pm, closed Mon-Tue

The original dine-in cinema. Cocktails and food at your seat. Williamsburg location.

136 Metropolitan Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11249 · Daily, showtimes vary

Strict no-talking, no-texting. They actually enforce it. House of Wax bar downstairs.

445 Albee Square West, Brooklyn, NY 11201 · Daily, showtimes vary

1920s warehouse. Comedy, podcast tapings, live music, themed dance parties. $10-30.

149 7th St, Brooklyn, NY 11215 · Show nights, doors typically 7-8pm

Free concerts, free gallery, free film screenings. Also runs Celebrate Brooklyn! in Prospect Park.

647 Fulton St, Brooklyn, NY 11217 · Gallery Tue-Sat 11am-6pm, building 8am-10pm daily

Brunch screenings on weekends. Midnight movies. Bigger than the Williamsburg location.

188 Prospect Park West, Brooklyn, NY 11215 · Daily, showtimes vary

100+ vendors on the Williamsburg waterfront. Free entry. Manhattan skyline as backdrop.

90 Kent Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11249 · Saturdays 11am-6pm, Apr-Oct

Open a fake washing machine door. Pinball bar behind it. Only licensed laundromat bar in NYC.

860 Manhattan Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222 · Daily 7am-10pm (laundromat), bar hours vary

Free museum night with DJs, gallery talks, and a cash bar. Arrive early -- big crowds.

200 Eastern Pkwy, Brooklyn, NY 11238 · First Saturday of select months, 5pm-11pm

Free museum in a Civil War-era building. Bus tours of the active Navy Yard also available.

63 Flushing Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11205 · Tue-Sun 12pm-6pm, closed Mon

1,800 capacity. No bad sightline. The Bowery Presents books it. Williamsburg.

319 Frost St, Brooklyn, NY 11222 · Show nights, doors typically 7-8pm

No drink minimum. Table service. Touring headliners and local favorites. Brooklyn's busiest comedy room.

487 Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217 · Show nights, check schedule

Improv classes and shows in Williamsburg. The comedy school Brooklyn was missing.

338 Maujer St, Brooklyn, NY 11206 · Show nights, check schedule

Folk, bluegrass, old-time, sea shanties. 70 seats. Also teaches banjo.

315 Columbia St, Brooklyn, NY 11231 · Show nights, check schedule

Free outdoor concerts all summer. Major acts. Prospect Park Bandshell.

Prospect Park Bandshell, 9th St & Prospect Park W, Brooklyn, NY 11215 · Summer evenings, typically 7:30pm, Jun-Aug

Record store with a 250-capacity venue in the back. Free in-store performances.

64 N 9th St, Brooklyn, NY 11249 · Mon-Sat 11am-9pm, Sun 11am-8pm, show times vary

80,000 sq ft. Indoor and outdoor stages. Brooklyn's biggest electronic music complex.

140 Stewart Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11237 · Event nights, check schedule

DIY comedy in Williamsburg. $5-10. The kind of room where future headliners get reps.

246 Grand St, Brooklyn, NY 11211 · Show nights, check schedule

Free art exhibitions, concerts, science talks in a 25,000 sq ft iron works building.

159 Pioneer St, Brooklyn, NY 11231 · Wed-Sun 12-6pm, Second Sundays 12-6pm

170-seat new music venue. Classical, electronic, experimental. Acoustically perfect.

80 N 6th St, Brooklyn, NY 11249 · Show nights, check schedule

Williamsburg's honky tonk. Live country and roots music 7 nights a week. No cover most nights.

152 Metropolitan Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11211 · Daily 12pm-4am

Free nightly live music since 1999. Norah Jones and Vampire Weekend played early sets here.

709 Lorimer St, Brooklyn, NY 11211 · Daily, show times vary

Candlelit jazz supper club with a speakeasy cellar and garden. Oysters, cocktails, nightly live music.

345 Grand St, Brooklyn, NY 11211 · Open 7 days, evening hours

Live music 7 nights a week. World music, jazz, Balkan brass. Free most nights. Park Slope institution.

376 9th St, Brooklyn, NY 11215 · Mon-Fri 5pm-2am, Sat-Sun 2pm-3am

Bocce courts upstairs, live music and comedy in the basement. Andrew Bird and Fleet Foxes played secret shows here.

702 Union St, Brooklyn, NY 11215 · Daily, show times vary

Community jazz club with nightly live sets and a fully vegan menu. Named after the Charlie Parker album.

6 Suydam St, Brooklyn, NY 11221 · Daily 6pm-2am

Musician-owned restaurant with nightly live jazz starting at 9pm. Where musicians go on their night off.

486 Halsey St, Brooklyn, NY 11233 · Daily 5pm-1am, live music from 9pm

Tiki bar above the historic Gage & Tollner. Walk-in only. Rum cocktails in a nautical speakeasy.

372 Fulton St, 2nd Fl, Brooklyn, NY 11201 · Sun-Thu 5pm-11pm, Fri-Sat 5pm-12am

11th-floor rooftop with a heated greenhouse lounge open year-round. Skyline views. Mexican food and cocktails.

288 N 8th St, Brooklyn, NY 11211 · Daily, check hours

Artisan chocolate factory with a cafe. Hot chocolate thick enough to stand a spoon in. Watch them make it through the glass.

70 Scott Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11237 · Check hours, typically daily