Rocco
New York City is a concrete jungle of towering skyscrapers, gritty city streets, and vibrant neon billboards. While you might consider NYC the epitome of urbanity and the antithesis of nature, I’ll remind you that New York is an island surrounded by oceans, rivers, and inlets with parks and beaches galore.
To honor its many beaches, the big apple has plenty of festive beach bars. Read on to discover my list of the best beach bars in NYC.
The Beach Club at Gurney’s Montauk
290 Old Montauk Hwy, Montauk, NY 11954
Phone: (631) 668-2345
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The Beach Club at Gurney’s is a swanky luxury resort in the East Hamptons area of Montauk, overlooking the North Atlantic Ocean.
The Beach Club is directly on the beach with daybeds for rent, a DJ set or live bands always playing, and a full bar and food menu.
I went for a summery frozen cocktail and their signature lobster rolls.
The Montauket
88 Firestone Rd, Montauk, NY 11954
Phone: (631) 668-5992
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Another Montauk beach favorite, The Montauket is another hotel beach bar overlooking Port Pond Bay. It’s a historic hotel that opened in the 20s and has been a family-owned establishment since 1959.
The Montauket serves the freshest seafood, local brews, and craft cocktails in a laid-back outdoor setting with spectacular sunset views.
Monarch Beverages
505 Long Beach Blvd, Long Beach, NY 11561
Phone: (516) 432-6767
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Monarch Beverages is a liquor store and taproom with a divey yet hipster vibe in the center of Long Beach. They have an impressive list of local, independent, domestic, and international beers plus a record player and an amazing vinyl collection to serenade your sipping.
You can enjoy a pint of obscure beer or fill a growler for a lively happy hour with friends.
Low Tide Beach Bar at Sound View Greenport
58775 County Rd 48, Greenport, NY 11944
Phone: (631) 477-0666
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Overlooking Long Island Sound in Long Island’s eastern town of Greenport, Low Tide Beach Bar is a seasonal beach bar within the Halyard Hotel at Soundview.
The beach bar has a wonderful cocktail menu along with small bites using locally sourced and foraged produce, seafood, and meat.
The laid-back beachside seating consists of low-to-the-ground wooden lawn chairs, many of which surround personal fire pits.
Otto’s Shrunken Head
538 E 14th St, New York, NY 10009
Phone: (212) 228-2240
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Otto’s Shrunken Head is a stunningly vibrant tiki bar in the East Village, a quick walk from Murphy Park and the East River.
The interior has bright blue walls covered in multi-colored tapestries and countless Samoan statues. They serve over-the-top rum-based cocktails.
There’s always some sort of event going on at Otto’s, whether it’s live music or a DJ-fueled dance party. I loved their classic, creamy Pina Colada.
SALT Waterfront Bar & Grill
63 S Menantic Rd, Shelter Island, NY 11964
Phone: (631) 749-5535
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Overlooking a charming marina on Shelter Island, SALT Waterfront Bar & Grill is a fun restaurant and bar with a vast menu of cocktails and New American cuisine.
They have a family-friendly atmosphere with a kitschy, “shipwreck bar.” They offer a tap list of only local NYC brews plus an extensive wine list and great summer cocktails. I loved their jalapeno margarita.
Surf Bar
139 N 6th St, Brooklyn, NY 11249
Phone: (718) 302-4441
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Surf Bar is a seafood restaurant and hip yet laid-back tiki bar in Williamsburg, Brooklyn a quick walk from Marsha P Jonson State Park on the shores of the east river.
It has a colorful back porch that will transport you to a lazy beach shack, where you can enjoy fresh oysters, fish tacos, and colorful tropical rum cocktails with little paper umbrellas and fruit garnishes.
The Buoy Bar
72 Bayside Dr, Point Lookout, NY 11569
Phone: (516) 432-3975
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Located at the Northeastern tip of Long Island in a neighborhood called Point Lookout, The Buoy Bar is a family-friendly beachside bar with outside deck seating.
They serve a full fresh seafood menu and cocktails during the summer months. I loved their authentic beer-battered fish and chips with cod, tartar sauce, and crispy French fries.
Swingbellys Beachside BBQ
909 W Beech St, Long Beach, NY 11561
Phone: (516) 431-3464
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Swingbellys Beachside BBQ is a family-friendly barbecue restaurant and sports bar with outdoor seating in Long Beach’s East Atlantic Beach neighborhood.
They offer great types of beer and craft cocktails to accompany a decadent menu of Southern-style bar snacks like fried pickles and authentic barbecue.
I loved their slow-cooked pork ribs smothered in sauce and served with sweet cornbread, coleslaw, and fries.
John Scott’s Surf Shack
540 Dune Rd, Westhampton Beach, NY 11978
Phone: (631) 288-5810
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John Scott’s is a charming all-American beach bar and grill inside an old beach house overlooking the West Hampton Dunes to the south and Moriches Bay to the north.
John Scott’s Surf Shack is a summer-only restaurant offering fresh seafood and yummy frozen cocktails at affordable prices.
Jetty Bar & Grill
832 W Beech St, Long Beach, NY 11561
Phone: (516) 442-1338
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Jetty Bar and Grill is a Tapas bar with a lively atmosphere that’s great for group meals. Located on Long Beach, a block from Long Beach Beach, Jetty Bar and Grill offers American-style tapas and bites ranging from battered fish to wings, to fresh oysters.
I enjoyed a glass of classic sangria and one of their oversized fried chicken wraps.
Island Mermaid
780 Bay Walk, Ocean Beach, NY 11770
Phone: (631) 583-8088
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Overlooking a charming marina and long wooden pier over The Great South Bay, on the lovely Ocean Beach Island, Island Mermaid is an upscale New American eatery with a casual and welcoming atmosphere.
The restaurant has a great cocktail bar and a dance floor for late-night dancing. They serve a fusion of flavors, serving lunch and dinner. I loved their Pan roasted Sea Scallops.
The Baylander
Hudson River Greenway, New York, NY 10027
Phone: (646) 207-0440
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The Baylander is a unique restaurant inside an old Navy aircraft vessel by the same name that’s docked on the Hudson River at West Harlem Piers.
It’s a family-friendly bar and restaurant that history buffs and patriots alike will enjoy. You can learn about the ship’s history while dining and drinking atop the brightly lit upper deck.
Final Thoughts
If you want to escape the hustle and bustle of the Big Apple, my list of beach bars in NYC provides a vast array of beachside and waterfront oases.
I’d love to hear what you thought of the bars, restaurants, and beach shacks I’ve listed in the comments below.
Best Beach Bars in NYC
- The Beach Club at Gurney’s Montauk
- The Montauket
- Monarch Beverages
- Low Tide Beach Bar at Sound View Greenport
- Otto’s Shrunken Head
- SALT Waterfront Bar & Grill
- Surf Bar
- The Buoy Bar
- Swingbellys Beachside BBQ
- John Scott’s Surf Shack
- Jetty Bar & Grill
- Cedar Grove Beach
- Island Mermaid
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