26 great places to eat and drink at Rockaway Beach

If you're thinking about a trip to Rockaway Beach, you're probably already seeking sun and sand. But there are so many great spots to eat, too. Here’s a guide to help you plan your day at the beach, meal by meal.

Breakfast

The biscuit, bacon, egg and cheese sandwich at Rockaway Beach Bakery is breakfast perfection and the pastries are all baked fresh daily. Their cold brew is a great way to kickstart your day before catching some waves. It’s a three-minute walk from the Beach 90th Street subway station.

Rockaway Roasters , located on Rockaway Beach Boulevard around Beach 92nd Street, has plenty of options for juicing and healthy breakfasts — think acai bowls and energy balls. If you just want to grab a bagel and head straight to the beach, hit up Board Walk Bagel at Beach 108th Street.

Burgers

Nothing beats a burger at the beach, and Rippers has been slinging the best since 2011. The burger joint located at Beach 86th Street right on the boardwalk is known for its hardbody: a double cheese grass-fed beef patty with special sauce, shredded lettuce and pickles. They're also known for their beach juice: a frozen cocktail of rosé, schnapps, passion fruit, pineapple and orange. They’ve also got hot dogs (make it a chili cheese dog), fries, soft serve and good vibes all around.

If you’re by Beach 116th Street, head over to the Meat Up Grill for one of its signature smash burgers. Can’t make it over to 116th? The Meat Up Grill is hosting pop-ups up at Connolly’s Bar at Beach 95th Street, Friday through Sunday nights all summer long. (More on Connolly's soon.)

Barbecue

Goody’s BBQ Chicken and Ribs on Amstel Boulevard by Beach 70th Street has been open since 1989 and serves all the favorites: ribs, jerk chicken, fried chicken, curry goat and oxtail. They've also got great macaroni and cheese, collard greens, rice and roti. You’d be hard-pressed to find better fried chicken, and the macaroni and cheese is perfectly cheesy and creamy.

Over on Rockaway Beach Boulevard and Beach 68th Street is Batesy’s BBQ and Bar , which is known for its wings. You can even grab a cocktail and beach box to go, which includes ¼ pound chicken, ¼ pound brisket, ¼ pound pulled pork, three ribs, a sausage and three sides.

Tacos

What's a better vibe than sitting in a backyard while surrounded by cool art and eating great food? Tacoway Beach has the best fish tacos in town. It's located at Rockaway Beach Surf Club, at Beach 87th Street, right by an A train stop.

The tacos are crispy, light and fresh and come topped with slaw, radish and guacamole. Be sure to grab some extra guacamole and chips, plus elote and a pineapple mint drink to replenish your fluids. Another option: Grab a burrito from Super Burrito at Beach 69th Street.

Arepas

Beloved Venezuelan spot Caracas , located at 106-01 Shore Front Parkway, has got your arepas needs covered.

Pizza

Although figuring out what to order from a menu loaded with homemade mozzarella sticks, rice balls, garlic knots and baked wings may be tough, you really can’t go wrong with a pie or a slice at Crustinos Pizza at 171 Beach 116th St., which opened in March.

It boasts some of the best slices that you can get by the beach — crisp and cheesy, with a variety of fun toppings like barbecue chicken, sausage, broccoli rabe and perfectly cupped pepperoni.

For wood-fired pizza and fresh seafood, head to Whit’s End at Beach 97th Street and Rockaway Beach Boulevard. Check out their Instagram page for their ever-changing menu.

If it’s coal brick-oven pizza and old-school vibes that you seek, head to Rocco’s of Roc Beach by Beach 115th Street, on Rockaway Beach Boulevard. In addition to pizza, Rocco's has calzones, baked clams, pastas, sandwiches and meatballs as well as veal, lamb and pork chops, steaks and chicken parm.

Greek

If Greek food is more your thing, stop by Kimo’s on Rockaway Beach Boulevard and Beach 92nd Street and build your own pita sandwich. Choose from a variety of proteins, toppings and dressings for your ultimate oceanside sandwich. Don’t forget a lemonade and a side of stuffed grape leaves.

Uzbek

It’s worth popping into family-owned Uma’s on Rockaway Beach Boulevard and Beach 92nd Street and checking out its traditional Uzbek menu. Grab some pelmeni (handmade boiled dumplings filled with beef and topped with herbs and yogurt) to take down to the beach, or sit back at a table and order some manti (handmade steamed dumplings), the Uma salad (fried eggplant, roasted bell peppers, herbs, and cheese), or a bowl of borscht (beet, beef, cabbage, potatoes and carrot soup).

For a refreshing beverage

For frozen cocktails, head over to Beach 95th Street to Connolly’s Bar , which has been open since 1962. Connolly’s has both frozen piña coladas and strawberry lemonades. If you’re feeling spicy, ask for an extra shot on top.

Another option: Head down Rockaway Beach Boulevard toward Beach 67th Street and grab some tiki-inspired cocktails (think mai tais, frozen margaritas, and more), plus poke bowls, dumplings and sliders at Rockaway Tiki Bar .

If beer is more your thing, swing by Tap That at Rockaway Beach Boulevard and Beach 111th Street and pour a beer at your own pace. Prefer wine? Try Sayra’s Wine Bar at Rockaway Beach Boulevard by Beach 91st Street for a wide selection of wine and frosé.

For the sunset

There’s no better way to end a day at Rockaway Beach than popping over to the other side of the peninsula for more drinks, snacks and sunset views. The Wharf , located at Beach 116th Street near the subway station, has got you covered for a BLT, fried seafood basket or a lobster or shrimp roll.

Bungalow Bar over at Beach 92nd Street is serving 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, crab fried rice and live local music nightly.

On the way there or back

If you’ve got a car, grab a sandwich at Brother’s on Cross Bay Boulevard. Uncle Louie G’s Italian Ices & Ice Cream is the spot to snag Italian ices after a hot day in the sun. Or curl up at a table at Lenny’s Clam Bar for baked clams, fried calamari, or linguine and clams. New Park Pizza has some of the best pizza in town — be sure to ask for it well done and bring cash.

For more information about how to get there, check out our guide to the perfect day at Rockaway Beach .

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All of the restaurants mentioned in this article are in this Google Map , which you can save to your phone.