It’s Not Far, Not Hard to Reach: Welcome to My Favorite Spots in Rockaway Beach
About a decade ago, on a hot summer Saturday, sitting in endless traffic on the Belt Parkway on our way to Jones Beach, I noticed an exit labeled ROCKAWAYS, heard a subliminal “1-2-3-4!,” and took the ramp. The rest, as they say, is history. Discovering that it’s indeed “not hard, not far to reach” (about 45 minutes by car from our home in Brooklyn) we’re at “Rock-Rock-Rockaway Beach” pretty much every weekend, May through September.
I’m often asked for recommendations, so I’ve put together this guide to a few of my favorite spots, and I’ve even put them in walking-tour order (scroll down for a map):
Rockaway Beach Surf Club and Tacoway Beach
302 Beach 87th Street (between Rockaway Freeway and Beach Channel Drive)
Noon to 11 PM daily (in the Summer)
RBSC is an indoor/outdoor bar, gallery/performance space, and if you’re a surfer that doesn’t want to lug your board to the beach every weekend, you can rent a storage locker there. The bartenders are all super friendly and the margaritas and beer are ice cold (the watermelon margarita is the bomb and is made with fresh juice). The evening scene is fun and the music’s always good. Check the website to see if they’re screening a movie or if there’s live music or a DJ, but be prepared for a crowd.
Tacoway Beach is basically the new incarnation of Rockaway Taco (for those of you familiar from way back) and it’s operated out of a repurposed shipping container in RBSC’s outdoor space. If you want to eat and get to the beach, arrive as close to opening as possible (the lines and crowds get crazy as the day goes on). Our Tacoway Beach order: tofu tacos (topped with their homemade hot sauce and pickled jalapeños), cukes (cucumber, jicama, and mango with salt, lime juice, and chili), plantain chips and guac, a freshly chopped coconut (drink the water, then bring it back up to get halved and scoop out the flesh), and fresh pineapple-mint juice.
Off-Season
92-12 Rockaway Beach Boulevard (between Beach 92nd and 94th Streets)
Noon to 6 Monday through Thursday, 11 to 7 Friday through Sunday
Off-Season is one of those super cute shops you go in and want literally every. Single. Thing. From the beachy loungewear to natural skin products, bright accessories to vintage sunglasses, Rockaway Beach booby mugs to pastel surfboards, it’s a must-visit.
La Newyorkina
Beach 96th Street (by Rockaway Beach Boulevard)
Cucumber lime, mango chili, and pineapple jalapeño are my favorite paletas at this adorable popsicle stand.
Connolly’s
155 Cross Bay Parkway (between Shore Front Parkway and Rockaway Beach Boulevard)
Noon to 2AM daily (in the summer)
Connolly’s is a heavily air conditioned old school Irish dive bar in the dark basement of a Victorian mansion. There are lacquered photos of previous generations of lifeguards having toga parties and no doubt the best summers of their lives covering every inch of wall space. And they just happen to serve the best piña colada I’ve ever had. Out in the Rockaways frozen drinks are called “frozens” and they’re served out of giant dispensers, so there’s no ice added—just pineapple juice, cream of coconut, and rum, frozen to perfection. Be sure to ask for a dark rum “floater” on top. Best part of all: If you bring your own container, they’ll fill it for you so you can enjoy your frozen on the beach, as God intended (just don’t tell the fuzz).
Low Tide Bar and the concessions at Beach 97th Street
The boardwalk (at 97th Street)
10AM through 11PM daily (in the summer)
Anchored by Low Tide Bar, which serves beer, wine, and sangria, at the 97th street concession stand there’s juice, coffee, and a wide variety of food options from different vendors, as well as a shop where you can rent chairs, stand-up paddleboards, surfboards, or bikes for the day. There are a ton of picnic tables for sharing, photo-ops with those vintage-style painted scenes where you stick you head through the hole, and everything (except the booze) can travel with you to the beach. We’ve seen some really great local bands play here in the evenings.
The Beach!
Believe it or not, the beach itself at Rockaway Beach is actually pretty clean, as is the water. There are plenty of areas for swimming and certain sections designated for surfing. The comfort stations are relatively modern and tend to be well-staffed and stocked and there are lots of showers, water fountains, and pathways for easy access to the beach. The water isn’t far from the boardwalk, so no matter where you set up, you’re sure to be a reasonable distance from the water and the facilities. Like all beaches, on a hot day it’ll be crowded, but there’s always space. The cross-section of New Yorkers on display at Rockaway Beach is a constant reminder of how great this diverse city truly is. Just don’t forget the sunscreen!
Here’s everything on a map:
NOTE ONE: I’ve heard Rockaway Brewery Co. is awesome, but I haven’t been yet. Rumor has it it’ll soon have food options from the genius behind Tacoway Beach—exciting! Once I get a chance to visit, and I’m sure I love it, I’ll add it to the list!
NOTE TWO: Riis Park and Fort Tilden are close by and feel a bit more beachy and more removed from the city if that’s your thang, but there are fewer options for food/drink/activities.