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No stay in New York City is complete without a stunt at the iconic Loeb Boathouse in Central Park. It’s on every visitor’s to-do list (or should be) and has been a NYC staple for over 150 years. The Boathouse is a true oasis in the city, with its prime lakeside setting in the middle of Central Park. There is no other place like it in Manhattan.
The New York tradition is to explore the lake in a rented rowboat or an authentic Venetian gondolo, before or after having a meal at the Loeb Boathouse Lakeside restaurant or a drink at their outdoor bar and café. And who hasn’t been to the Boathouse without reenacting the classic Manhattan love stories we’ve seen on the big screen? (You know, like in When Harry Met Sally, when we find out that Sally has broken up with Joe, or in Sex and the City when Carrie and Big both fall into the pond after Big leans in to kiss her… 😆 )
To get there, enter Central Park via the 72nd street on 5th Avenue
Lakeside restaurant – thecentralparkboathouse.com
Dining at the Loeb Boathouse Lakeside Restaurant is all about the location and setting. The view is what you come to the Boathouse for – that AND the Jumbo Lump Crab Cake. The food is decent, but overpriced and nothing to write home about – but trust me when I say the Boathouse has the best crab cake in the city! It’s not like all the fatty fried crab cakes you get at most places, but real fresh crab lumps with a delicious caper remoulade sauce 😛 . You can get it as an appetizers ($20) or ask to super size it as a main dish. Accompany it with the Greek Salad or Burrata for a complete light fare – I wouldn’t spend the big bucks for a large meal here.
Two words: crab cake!
Jumbo Lump Crab Cake – thecentralparkboathouse.com
Greek Salad – thecentralparkboathouse.com
The best time to enjoy Loeb Boathouse Lakeside Restaurant is for lunch or brunch (they give a yummy complimentary pastry basket) on a beautiful sunny day. The major con is they do not take reservations for brunch – they’ll put your name on a waiting list and give you a buzzer that will notify you when your table is ready. You can stroll around the venue on a nice day in the meantime, but if you want to avoid a very long wait for brunch, come early.
Dinner served only April-November
The Boathouse outside bar – thecentralparkboathouse.com
The Boathouse is an upscale venue in which a lot of guests are dressed in their Sunday best (especially for dinner), without it being overly formal. It’s a unique classy joint, great for professional outings, a special family meal, or a romantic occasion. It’s also an exceptional private event space, and a very popular (and pricey!) New York wedding venue (holds up to 230 seated guests with a dance floor).
Restaurant open :
Monday – Friday
Lunch: 12pm-4pm
Dinner: April – November, 5:30pm-9:30pm
Weekends
Brunch: 9:30am-4pm
Dinner: April – November, 6 pm – 9:30 pm
Outdoor Bar and Grill
April – November, 11am-11pm weather permitting
Café
Daily 8am–8pm (Winter 8am-4:30pm)
Row Boat Rentals
April – November, weather permitting.
Daily 10am till dusk.
$20 cash deposit, $12 for the first hour, $2.50 each additional 15 mins; up to 4 people.
Gondola
$30 per half hour weather permitting. Up to 6 people.
