Try Some of the Best Staten Island Restaurants with a View

Brunch is always a good idea

Maybe you overdid happy hour on Saturday night. Maybe you’re looking to grab your crew for a little Sunday Funday action, or maybe you’re just battling the Sunday Scaries with booze and carbs. South Fin Grill offers a variety of brunch cocktails, including an entire menu dedicated to hangover drinks to get you through the day. While you are feeding your belly with the Nutella Waffles or Lobster Grilled Cheese, let your eyes feast on the water views reflecting the Verrazano Bridge and the Freedom Tower. If you are lucky enough to time it right, you might even catch a wedding taking place at their sister property The Vanderbilt. With the right partner, this lends itself to a great people watching spot to either swoon at the bridesmaids dresses, or secretly find the Uncle who had a few too many drinks.

Pursuit of Happy Hour

Everyone is happy during happy hour, right? Coles Dockside, located right on the marina in Great Kills is a great spot to meet with friends and commiserate about work during their happy hour (3-6 PM, Monday to Friday.) Picture yourself sipping a cocktail and gazing out at the yachts swaying with the tides of the harbor. It’s easy to relax as you enjoy the raw bar and soak up the alcohol with their reasonably priced menu items. (Fear not you seafood averse friends who may want to join—there’s a sizeable array of options that didn’t start under the sea.)

Good food, good drinks, good views and good times

During the spring and summer months, you can visit the Marina Cafe and their famous Tiki bar which draws crowds from all over the island and surrounding areas. Chill out on their deck overlooking the marina for lunch or dinner and enjoy the delectable array of food and drink options. Casual enough for a summer gathering with friends, or perfect for the summer lunch meetings with clients. Nothing says lazy days of summer like sipping on a frozen margarita while staring at the calming waters. Try their BBQ Surf and Turf appetizer or the perfectly crisp pizza with a Hendricks Cucumber Lemonade—you’ll never want to leave.

For when you don’t want summer to end

One of the best things about summer is the joy of eating outdoors. Bonus points for when you don’t have to cook it and can enjoy a view more palatable than your next door neighbor watering the lawn in his boxers. Blue Restaurant serves up incredible lunch and dinner options as well as incredible views in their outdoor dining area. You can sit back and watch the tugboats pass the waterfront mere feet from your table. Blue is a perfect lunch spot for staycation days, and the Meze platter followed by the Garden Wrap is just a vacation in itself for your mouth. If outdoor dining isn’t your thing, fear not, as the view is still incredible while you sit inside the beautifully decorated dining room.

For when date night is more than Netflix and chill

If you’re one to ditch the yoga pants, put on some makeup and actually go out on a date—Surf has this intimate low key vibe to make any date a success. It’s reminiscent of lounges on the other side of the bridge (and tunnel.) From its exposed brick walls for its wood fired stove, to its wall of glass with perfect views of the NYC Skyline—the atmosphere can’t be beat. The dinner and desserts are to die for – try their Pulled Pork Sandwich and the Grilled Jersey Peach. There’s also something to be said about just hanging out on the patio, drinking a PineAperol Spritz and listening to live music with a cool breeze that makes your soul completely happy.