The Boat Basin Cafe is a truly unusual place. Leased out from the New York Park Services, its a historic venue with vaulted stone ceiling and a giant veranda overlooking the boat docks, the Hudson and the New Jersey skyline. It's half restaurant and half bar but there is so much space that both halves are enormous. The food is unspectacular picnic fair, its way to crowded, and the drinks are best ordered by the dozen, but the atmosphere is so intoxicating that you'll find yourself coming back again and again.
Overview
Why You Should Go
- The Boat Basin is far and away the best after work scene on the Upper West Side. Crowds of hundreds show up to soak in the atmosphere.
- As you walk down the tree lined stone stairs that lead into the cafe you can't help but feel like you've stumbled onto some hidden treasure - well you and the 500 other people.
- On a Thursday night the Boat Basin can be an unrepentant meet market.
What You Should Know
- The bar is located in a pit in the center of a traffic circle Once while we were there an SUV carreened out of control flipped over, and falling into the center of the bar. So you may want to keep your head up.
- It can be tricky finding the place. Take the 1 or 2 train to 79th St and walk west past Riverside Drive. Walk underneat the green highway overpass and take the staircase on either side.
- The Boat Basin is owned by Michael O'Neil proprietor of the Lincoln Center's O'Neil's.
- Make sure you check their website, the place closes often for private parties.
Outside Reviews
User Reviews
Nice View, Poor Service
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
It is a shame that the company that got this concession from the city is doing such a poor job. Slow service, outrageous prices. The one thing (the only thing) the Boat Basin Cafe has going for is the location. There isn't any other cafe/grill/bar located in Riverside Park. So the lines are long, because there is not other choice. We waited AN HOUR to get our food, which was crappy warmed up hamburgers. We would have left, if there had been another place to go. The staff was no help. Stay away.
Kevin Fitzpatrick(4/22/2007 10:57:16 PM)
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Avoid if you value your life
I joined friends for a July 4th 2008 boat outing and had the misfortune of being seated for lunch at the sheltered terrace. The cheap plastic chair leg snagged in a pitted terrazo floor and broke off, pitching me headfirst to the floor. I did not get to go out on the boat for the fireworks. I spent the next afternoon in the NYC Presbyterian ER with Post-Concussion-Syndrome. I am a nurse. I had to call out and lost my patient. I was out of work for six months. The manager claims it never happened.
Linda J(2/9/2011 5:30:06 PM)
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