Your guide to a great day at Rockaway Beach: Where to go and what to eat

People who don’t live in New York City are often shocked to discover it has beaches. Heck, even some New Yorkers are, too. Amid the concrete and glass, it's easy to forget that the Big Apple is a beach town.

Rockaway Beach in Queens isn’t just a great spot for sand and surf – it’s also got a fun dining and bar scene. While you won’t need to worry about schlepping a big picnic basket, you should make sure to bring your towel, sunblock, hat and plenty of water.

Here’s my guide to a perfect day in Rockaway.

Start early

You have several options to get to Rockaway: ferry , subway , bus , car or bike . Whichever you choose, start early to snag a good spot on the beach, or a great parking space.

My favorite way to get to Rockaway is via ferry – because who doesn’t love to be on the water? The journey takes about an hour from Manhattan, and drops you off at Beach 108th Street. I like to arrive at 10 a.m.

Some of the ferries have bars on board and you’ll almost certainly see people pre-gaming with their own beverages, even on the morning rides.

Be sure to bring an extra layer of clothing if you go this route, as the breezes can be chilly.

Ferries stop at Pier 11 on Wall Street and the Brooklyn Army Terminal in Sunset Park. Starting July 20, they will also stop in Greenpoint and Long Island City.

You can reserve a spot up to two weeks in advance for $10 with Rockaway Reserve from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Just be sure to arrive at the terminal at least 10 minutes before departure and get in the Rockaway Reserve line.

Pick up snacks, lunch and any sunscreen you forgot at Pickles

If you’re a planner, you might have remembered to pack sunscreen and cut up some fruit before you left your neighborhood. But if you didn’t, Pickles and Pies Food Market and Deli is there for you — and it's even open 24 hours.

It’s about a 10-minute walk from the ferry terminal, and located right off the Beach 116th Street subway stop, where you can catch the A train and the Rockaway Park shuttle.

While Pickles has a variety of sandwiches, you can also customize your own. Snacks, drinks and coolers are also available for purchase, so you can stop in here and leave ready for the sun and sand.

Here's another tip: Text your order in advance so you can grab it quickly and still snag a good spot on the beach.

For caffeine and an amazing breakfast sandwich

Looking for another good reason to arrive early? You can caffeinate and eat breakfast at Rockaway Beach Bakery .

It's located on Rockaway Beach Boulevard between Beach 87th and 88th Streets — about a 30-minute walk from Pickles, but well worth the trek.

Just make sure to bring a backpack and tote bag so you can carry all of your supplies. There are also more surf shops by the bakery should you need to grab an umbrella or chair.

Park on the sand for the day

Once you’ve got your sandwich, snacks, and are fully caffeinated, it’s time to grab a spot in the sand.

From Rockaway Beach Bakery, it's a 10-minute walk to throw down your towel by Beach 86th Street, steps from the iconic burger spot Rippers (more on that soon).

While it is fun to watch the surfers, be aware that you shouldn’t swim near them. The surf beaches are located between Beach 66 and Beach 70th Street, Beach 87 and Beach 92nd Street, and Beach 110 and Beach 11th Street.

I actually like to bring a big old sheet to lay down under my towel. It’s lightweight and easier to transport than a big blanket.

Get a great frozen cocktail

When I visit the beach, I sometimes bring a cooler loaded with a few cold beers (never forget a koozie). Occasionally, though, I like to take a break from sun-soaking to grab a drink somewhere.

The beach juice at Rippers is iconic: It’s a frozen cocktail of rose, schnapps, passion fruit, pineapple, and orange. Rippers also has one of the best burgers at the beach: the hardbody, a double cheese grass-fed beef patty with special sauce, shredded lettuce, and pickles for $16.50. You'll also find hot dogs (make it a chili cheese dog!), fries, soft serve, and good vibes all around.

If I don’t feel like leaving the sun, there’s usually someone walking around selling nutcrackers, which I always buy if I have cash on hand. (I realize that buying opened booze from a stranger may not be everyone’s cup of tea.)

Nutcrackers are alcoholic drinks (usually made with vodka, sometimes Everclear, sometimes I have no idea) and mixed with fruit juice of some kind. I love the blue ones or the watermelon-flavored ones.

They’re often a little frozen, which is perfect because it means that you can sip it slow while it melts. You definitely don’t want to drink more than one of these guys, as they pack a punch.

One of my favorite spots to hit up after a long day at the beach is Connolly’s Bar , located just off the beach at Beach 95th Street. It’s about a 10-minute walk from Rippers.

Connolly’s has been around since 1962. Head inside to grab a frozen piña colada or frozen strawberry lemonade (and ask for a floater to make it a tad more potent). They’re refreshing and sweet, just try not to down it too fast to avoid brain freeze.

Catch the sunset and some tunes

I also love to hit up Bungalow Bar over at Beach 92nd Street. It’s about a 20-minute walk from Rippers or Connolly’s. They serve up live music with frozen cocktails, salads, raw oysters and clams, sandwiches and steaks.

Next door at Thai Rock , you’ll find chicken satay, curry puffs, mango salad, and crab fried rice and live local music nightly.

Bring back some beachside barbecue

After a long day at the beach in the sun (plus, perhaps a frozen drink or two), it’s time to head home. However, you might be peckish once you get back and not feel like whipping up a meal. That’s where grabbing some barbecue becomes key.

While Goody’s BBQ Chicken and Ribs is a 30-minute walk from Connolly's, I'd say the food is worth the extra steps. The eatery is located on Amstel Boulevard by Beach 70th Street and has been open since 1989. It's the spot for comfort food, with a range of dinner platters you can grab and take down to the sand or back home if you're winding down your day.

Ribs, jerk and fried chicken, curry goat and oxtail are just some of the proteins you can get with macaroni and cheese, collard greens, rice and roti. The fried chicken is crisp and the jerk chicken is smoky, tangy and slightly spicy. Be sure to ask for a drizzle of extra gravy over the rice.

From here you’re a few blocks from the A train to head home.

How to get there

By subway

Take the A train to Far Rockaway to Beach 67th Street or jump off at Broad Channel Station and wait for the S shuttle to either Beach 90th, 98th, 105th, or 116th Streets.

By ferry

Grab the ferry in the Financial District from Pier 11 on Wall Street. It takes about an hour and stops at the Brooklyn Army Terminal in Sunset Park before ending up at Beach 108th Street. You’ll be rewarded with beautiful views and ocean breezes, just be sure to book ahead on the weekends if you can and know that capacity is limited.

By car

Street parking is free, but can be hard to come by, so factor in some laps to find a spot. The best part about driving out there is being able to stop at some other spots on Cross Bay Boulevard on your way home, Brother’s or Uncle Louis G’s Italian Ice & Ice Cream . You can also curl up at a table at Lenny’s Clam Bar for baked clams, fried calamari, or linguine and clams. If I’m driving, my ideal day usually ends with grabbing a slice at New Park Pizza .

By bus

Book a ride with Ovrride bus company for around $40 round trip with pickups in the East Village, Lower East Side, Williamsburg and Bushwick to Beach 86th Street. The bus is air conditioned with bathrooms and refreshments, plus they’ll even help organize a surf board rental or lesson.