The West 79th Street Boat Basin Café

Restaurants, Cafés Upper West Side
4 out of 5 stars
(5user reviews)
Runner-up<br/>2018

Runner-up
2018
Runner-up<br/>2018

Runner-up
2018
1/2
Photograph: The Drunken Photographer79th Street Boat Basin Café
79th Street Boat Basin
2/2
Photograph: Courtesy Yelp / Helen M.

Yes, it gets crowded. And yes, it gets crowded with annoyingly preppy UWSers. But the view, the terrace and the breeze make it hard to write off the Boat Basin. Summer in the city almost requires a visit or two to this social hub, and if you don’t mind waiting, you will be rewarded with a cynicism-busting sunset over the Hudson while you down burgers and beers with your best friends.

Posted:

Venue name: The West 79th Street Boat Basin Café
Contact:
Visit Website Call Venue 212-496-5542
Address: Hudson River at West 79th St
New York
10024
Opening hours: Daily noon-11pm
Transport: Subway: 1 to 79th St
Price: Average main course: $17
Do you own this business?
Static map showing venue location

Average User Rating

3.8 / 5

Rating Breakdown

  • 5 star:0
  • 4 star:4
  • 3 star:1
  • 2 star:0
  • 1 star:0
LiveReviews|5
1 person listening
tastemaker

The Boat Basin is an awesome place to drink and hang out. There are beautiful views of the Hudson River. Go here on a beautiful day to day drink. I am a huge fan of the frozen drinks. I also enjoyed the turkey burger, but it was on the pricier side. Be sure to walk through Riverside park afterwards!


Great stopping point along bike path that travels up the west side of Manhattan to George Washington Bridge.  This open air restaurant is very pet friendly and is good for a quick drink or sit down meal.  It easier to access from bike path, but coming from the street side, just keep walking west., under West Side Highway and you'll reach it.  Great to watch sunsets or just people gaze.  

tastemaker

The Boat Basin is mostly cool because it is unique - a large, outdoor area right alongside the river on 79th Street - but the food and drinks are lacking. It is definitely a fun spot to hang out with a group of friends in the summer - very casual and VERY crowded on a nice summer day. New York doesn't offer many places to chill out by the water, so this is an option, but not the nicest or best place.


The boat basin is a great spot on the upper west side if you are looking for a fun time, good food, and good views.It can get a little packed on Fridays and Saturdays, but compared to some of the other bars near the water it is not nearly as packed.You usually can get a table within a few minutes no matter what.Food is your typical bar food, beer menu is solid, and the view out into the water is unbelievable.Wait staff is usually pretty good, and the atmosphere is fun especially when a good game is on.



Boat Basin is such an unexpectedly delightful outdoor watering hole inside Riverside Park. Visitor’s have to hunt a little to find the place - walk as far west on 79th street as possible, cross Riverside Drive, and walk below the highway underpass (don’t worry - there’s a sidewalk, it’s safe). There are staircases that lead you down to the Cafe which opens up gloriously free of traffic noise from the traffic circle above and with beautiful views of the Hudson. The food is nothing to write home about and the beer selection is pretty generic, but it’s a great spot to while away a warm summer evening with friends.

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