Just how well the present place succeeds as you will see is rather contested ( OH YES, we have reviews from all over the place, very good, very bad, and in the middle..so I am running a bunch of them).
The West 79th Street Boat Basin Café
W 79th St at Riverside Dr
New York, NY 10025
Neighborhood: Upper West Side
(212) 496-5542
New York, NY 10025
Neighborhood: Upper West Side
(212) 496-5542
- Nearest Transit Station:
- 79 St. (1, 2)86 St. (1, 2)72 St. (1, 2, 3)
- Delivery:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Price Range:
- $$
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Music:
- Background
- Best Nights:
- Thu, Fri, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
367 reviews for The West 79th Street Boat Basin Café
Review Highlights What's this?
- "very casual environment and you'll be right next to the hudson." In 85 reviews
- "I highly recommend this place for happy hour." In 32 reviews
- "1) The great view you get with the outdoor seating." In 21 reviews
Rating Distribution | Trend
366 reviews in English
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Review from Ina L.
Disclaimer: The food is just aite. Do not go for the food.
They have a variety of items on their menu- everything from scrambled eggs, pancakes, burgers, chips and dip, and fish tacos, that they simply toss into an oven or grill to heat up. They have a limited wine and beer menu, and have a few frozen drinks such as pina colada and strawberry/lemon margaritas.
I am giving Boat Basin Cafe 4 out of 5 stars because of their location and view!!!!
Their location is perfect for weekend brunches, post-gym snacks, and happy hour. During the weekdays, you will find a lot of people in work clothes, winding down with a beer. During the weekends, you will find girls in nice sun dresses, older folks in tennis shoes and visors, and plenty of dogs.
It is a huge location so don't be intimidated when the hostess tells you that the wait will be 20-25 minutes. It always ends up being way less than their overestimate.
I also highly recommend going for a nice walk along the Hudson River if you have the time to do so since the weather is spectacular these days! -
Review from Lauren S.
I am trying to figure out what view everyone is drawn to. Sorry but Jersey is not a view. If you want a view go to beekman or a park in Brooklyn.
The service is awful. Our waiter only showed up at our table when he wanted the bill. I explained to our host how awful the service was and he said this man was the best waiter they had. That's really sad he the best.
It's also really gross they allow dogs. I LOVE animals and own many! But having dogs in this place is unsanitary. I don't want your dog hair on my already crap food. Leave dogs outside like every other resturant in New York.
Not worth the trip. Too far from anything worth going to after. -
Review from Nina L.
Do you love walking tremendously out of the way of a majority of the MTA's transportation?
Do you love basking in the New York City summer sun?
Do you love watching green water and some boats plopping up and down?
Do you love seeing the sunset?
Do you love waiting 4 hours and not getting a table?
Do you love overpriced buckets of beer while you wait?
Do you love large crowds of bros, hoes, and maybe some cute dogs?
Do you love mediocre food you smell, but won't ever get to eat?
BOAT BASIN. Is the place. For you. -
Review from Howie R.
Manhattan, NYI don't usually write a review based upon a private event but what happened tonight was completely unacceptable. While waiting on a long line for a drink suddenly three girls waltz up to the bar thinking they're the crap and decide to cut the line. Myself and a few others protest and the answer from the bartender who was wearing a "manager" polo was either shut up or I'll throw you out. I expect this kind of discriminatory crap in Meatpacking but not at the Boat Basin. -
Review from Mea H.
If this bar/restaurant were anywhere else in the city, it would probably get 2-2.5 stars. BUT it is not anywhere in the city, it is RIGHT on the Hudson.
It's about 3 blocks off the 1 train stop at 79th street, easy walk under the West Side Highway, and into this old-looking-but-probably-not-actually-old circular amphitheatre with lots and lots of seating/standing room and THE VIEW.
Past the bar, past the tables, down the stairs crowded with tipsy dressed-up twentysomethings, brave the steady stream of high-speed bicyclists, and walk right up to the railing overlooking the docks. Look to your right and see the towering George Washington Bridge. Straight ahead, take in the humble but picturesque skyline of New Jersey. I don't remember what's to the left, but it's probably also pretty. Feel the breeze, take some photos, Instagram them. Feel relaxed for the first time in hours.
The wait for the actual tables overlooking the water can be over an hour at times, so spare yourself and sit indoors, and just take a mosey over to the waterfront to take in all that majesty. The drinks are whatever, the food is fine, they will not split checks. But the view, guys. The view. -
Review from Sam H.
New York, NY4 stars just for the atmosphere, vibe, and beers. 2 stars for the food. I would come through again on a nice day like today. -
Review from Kevin M.
Astoria, NYA great option to enjoy a nice day or night along the water. It gets MUCH more crowded during the day, so plan accordingly.
There's not much to really say about this place. They have good beers on tap, their frozen mixed drinks are tasty, and the view is spectacular. Plus, they allow dogs! My only complaint is the chairs and tables are pretty old and plastic. Some nicer places to sit would be ideal. Other than that, go out here and enjoy the sun! -
Review from Julissa A.
Murray Hill, Manhattan, NYI went here with a few friends on a Sunday late afternoon, and it was the perfect way to end the weekend!! The views of the Hudson are amazing, the sunset is stunning, and the people watching is a plus.
There was about an hour wait for 4 people, but you can get drinks at the bar and sit around the steps by the river while you wait. The cocktails are normal prices, and nothing special, so stick with beer. The food is not what you come here for, so don't expect a gourmet meal. But the sandwiches and chili dogs were good enough for a casual afternoon.
Overall, I will highly recommend it for a nice summer day. -
Review from Ameya B.
New York, NYI give 2 stars for the location. Sitting by the Hudson river and having beers with friends has a lot of fun associated to it. That experience deserves 2 stars. Outside seating is the preferred one because it is much quiet outside. The inside seating is just too damn loud.
If you get outside/inside seating, make sure you understand that you'll have to order food on both tables. Yeps! Silly isn't it? Needless to say and reading all reviews, you'd now know that the drinks are understandably overpriced and the pitchers don't have pricing on them. We paid $28 for our pitchers. Serves just about 4, 250 ml glasses of beer. -
Review from Henry F.
Manhattan, NYFood is inconsistent depending on the chef and whether they're busy. They offer standard sandwiches and I usually order their chicken one with the aoili. The Hudson view is nice and on good weather, it's nice to sit outside, especially during happy hour.
Normally, this would rate 3 stars, but if not for certain people there who just uses way too much perfume or body spray or whatever to cover their BO. Kills my appetite and grosses me out. Took my partner there, because maybe it was just me. Unfortunately not. We are both in agreement. My dog loves her though.
So sorry, place is generally nice, so long as you hold your breath when a certain someone goes by. Harsh, I'm sorry but seriously, is this hygienic for a place that serves food? -
Review from Rob B.
Grand Rapids, MINice views if you can get a seat right by the water, otherwise everything else about this place is terrible. -
Review from Courtney K.
Manhattan, NYBoat Basin is an outdoor oasis in the big city.
I'm from a tiny town in Florida that is full of retirees and really only has fishing and the beach to offer. The Boat Basin reminds me of home.
I love the atmosphere, no one is pretentious and thinks they are too cool. The crowd that goes here, for the most part, is just there to kick back, relax and enjoy a cold one on the water.
Bar service varies, sometimes it's quick, sometimes it's a struggle to get their attention- just depends on how busy it is. One thing that is for certain is that the staff are hustling! They will get to you, promise.
I've only gone for drinks so I cannot vouch for food but I highly recommend you check it out if you need to get away... -
Review from Liz J.
Manhattan, NYI'm not sure how I even write a review about a place I adore so much. I love the Boat Basin--I think about it when I'm at other bars, I miss it when it's not around. If it was a man, I would marry it.
This bar has everything a good bar must have: views of the water, cheap drinks, busy but not overwhelming atmosphere, dog-friendly (!), and multiple different locations within the bar.
First-timers here have to trust the directions: keep walking down 79, walk beneath an overpass, and majestic stone stairs will appear, leading you to the time of your life. Trust.
One of the best parts about this bar is that there are multiple different micro-climates for you to hang out, depending on the mood and the weather. My favorite casual area is to just pull plastic chairs out onto the area of Boat Basin that spills into Riverside Park. The views of the water are the best here and it's easy to grab as many chairs as you need. If it's windy outside, the plastic white tables on the main level shielded by the walls are a nice group option. The tables on the main level are open for anyone, but the high rise tables in the middle are for dinner service only. Because this is such a large bar, you can change up scenes by moving areas within it and have a totally new experience.
They have a decent if average beer selection here, with the real highlight being $33 buckets of 6 beers each (Corona and Coors Light). For those not wanting to drink beer, their huckleberry lemonade is delicious (although a little pricey, $9) and they will do other basic mixed drinks. They will also mix pitchers of mixed drinks for your group if you'd prefer. I'm not a premixed margarita or pina colada fan, but these are available on-demand here as well. On packed nights/days, they will sometimes run out of beers and drinks, but what can you do.
Personally, I think the food here is alright. I wouldn't come here to eat dinner exactly, but if I wanted to come here, I wouldn't mind eating dinner here if that makes any sense. The chicken burger is the definite highlight, though the burgers are OK as well. All of their meals come with potato chips on the side (though you have the option to order fries as well). Every time I am here I marvel at the Iceburg Wedge Salad, but I can't bring myself to order it. At $13, it's one of the most expensive items on the menu--for a wedge salad! One day, one day...
The best times to come to the Boat Basin are Weekend afternoons or Weekday evenings. Sometimes weekdays get too crowded because companies will hold large events here. One of the strangest things about this bar is that on weekends it kind of dies out around 11-12 when people seem to head to other bars in the area. FYI they do have TV here so you can watch a game here.
Seriously though, I love love love it here.
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