7 Beach Bars in Queens for Your Summer Bucket List
Long summer days seem made for lounging at the beach. When sweltering temperatures turn the city into a sauna, New Yorkers head to the best local waterfronts, two of which are right here in Queens—including hip, surfer-friendly Rockaway Beach and the more secluded Jacob Riis Park.
And what better way to soak up some sun than with a ice-cold drink in your hand? During the warm-weather season, the city’s best beach bars help locals and vacationers alike beat the heat with frozen cocktails, local craft beers and beach-ready grub. With summer nearly halfway over, run, don’t walk, to a beach nearby. From no-frills dives to a trendy homegrown brewery, here are the seven best beach bars and places to drink near the beach in Queens.
JACOB RIIS PARK
Riis Park Beach Bazaar
While Rockaway might be the most obvious place for beachside boozing, the west-side Jacob Riis Park offers equally great views and a bit more privacy. At the beloved Riis Park Beach Bazaar, find 20-some different food and drink vendors lined up in different hubs housed in refurbished Art Deco buildings that stretch from one end of the beach to the other. Here, find cold beers, colder drinks (think a frozen rosemary margarita and a boozy lemonade) alongside a multitude of food offerings—from clams at Rockaway Clam Bar and Peruvian ceviche at La Cevicheria to the excellent Detroit-style Coney dogs at Ed & Bev’s. With your food and drink in hand, don’t forget to check out some of the regular event programming ranging from DJ sets at the Bathhouse Pavilion to weekly volleyball games on the beach.
ROCKAWAY BEACH
Connolly’s
Irish pub hospitality meets beachfront views at this local mainstay offering beer and frozen drinks like piña coladas. Though a nearby section of Rockaway Beach was closed earlier this season over concerns of erosion, the show is still going strong at Connolly’s, where locals and borough-hopping beachgoers alike take refuge from the scorching sun. The crown jewel? The frozen drinks here come with paper-cup floaters of shots—just for an extra kick.
Low Tide Bar
Find four-buck beers, house sangria slushies and on-tap organic wine at this DJ-soundtracked community hangout located near the 98th Street beach. On the food front, there are rotating vendors hawking a selection of grub ranging from chicken sandwiches to quesadillas. A reliable favorite for Rockaway beachgoers, the bar hosts various DJ sets and parties throughout the summer.
Rippers
It’s always a packed house at Rippers, a neighborhood standby originally opened in 2011 by veterans of Roberta’s and The Meat Hook. Serving beers, smoothies and one of the best damn burgers in Queens, Rippers is definitely worth a stop next time you’re at the beach.
Rockaway Beach Club
Tacos and margaritas are never a bad idea, but they’re especially perfect for a sunny day at the beach. Sitting on Rockaway’s restaurant-lined stretch of boardwalk, the Rockaway Beach Club offers tacos with fillings like battered fish and potatoes and chorizo from its taco shop Tacoway Beach, along with a menu of cocktails that includes a house margarita and bourbon Bloody Mary. During the warm-weather season, the space also hosts events like the Festival of Color toga party and various art exhibits.
Rockaway Brewing Company
Local beer lovers congregate at this homegrown brewery that also has an outpost in Long Island City. At the Rockaway location at Beach 72nd Street, find beloved suds like the aptly named Da Beach IPA and the Let’s Rock Grisette, along with grade-A burgers from the folks at Rippers.
ASTORIA
The Highwater
No, there’s no waterfront in the middle of Astoria. But you can still get your fill of tropical vibes and warm-weather cocktails—created by the dynamic duo, Andrea Grujic and Erin Cusick—at this 50-seat tiki-inspired newcomer. Grab a seat on one of the banana-leaf-printed bar stools for standout cocktails like the Lightest Hour, riffing on a white negroni with equal parts of mezcal, Cocchi Americano and white vermouth; and beach-perfect snacks like orchid-garnished fried rice served in pineapple and tacos ranging from shrimp and fish to sweet potato and pork belly.
Riis Park Beach Bazaar | @riisbazaar
Rockaway Clam Bar | @rockawayclambar
La Cevicheria | @lacevicheriany
Ed & Bev’s
Connolly’s | @connollysrbny
Low Tide Bar | @low_tide_bar
Rippers | @rippers86
Roberta’s | @robertaspizza
The Meat Hook | @themeathook
Rockaway Beach Club | @rockawaybeachclub
Tacoway Beach | @tacowaybeach
Rockaway Brewing Company | @rockawaybrewingcompany
The Highwater | @thehighwaternyc
Andrea Grujic | @by_dre
Erin Cusick | @erintendsbar
