Hotel Snapshot
Every New Yorker has their way of getting out of the city. Tons of people go upstate. Even more will go to the Hamptons. My way? Staying in the city itself, but heading to the beach—Rockaway Beach, in particular. To me, there’s nothing better than taking the ferry (or A train) fifty-some minutes on a hot summer day and being transported to the only designated surf break within New York City limits. This California boy needs his beach time, and although it’s not a dreamy escape to Hawaii or southern Europe, Rockaway Beach is more than enough for me.
And, while it’s the perfect summer day trip, Rockaway’s even better as a staycation. If you’re a public transit stan like me, you’d be delighted to know that The Rockaway Hotel sits a few blocks from the Beach 105th Street Station, if you’re taking the A train, and the Rockaway ferry stop is also a five-minute walk away. Opened in 2020 as the first upscale hotel the peninsula had seen in a century, it's since become the anchor of the neighborhood: part beach club, part gallery, part living room for locals who were skeptical at first and now take the fitness classes. This is not a hushed, candlelit retreat. It's busy, it's social, and the pool is heated year-round.
Design & Character
The marine-blue facade by Morris Adjmi Architects nods to the bungalows that still hug the shoreline, but it's the interiors—by Curious Yellow Design—that do the convincing. Teak, linen, wool, and rattan layer into something eclectic and retro without being too theme-y; the palette stays soothing with pops of yellow, blue, and red, like beach umbrellas seen from a distance. My bathroom shower was adorned with pink tile.
Then there's the art. There’s more than 150 pieces, personally curated by co-owner Michi Jigarjian, hung throughout the public spaces and rooms: custom lights by Sam Stewart, commissioned works from Zoe Buckman, Hannah Whitaker, and Kennedy Yanko, plus pieces from Derrick Adams and Herbie Fletcher.
The Rooms
There are 53 guest rooms and eight extended-stay residences, every one facing either the Atlantic or Jamaica Bay with the Manhattan skyline stacked behind it. Ocean-facing rooms come with terraces; bedding is crisp Hill House Home over Wright mattresses; bathrooms run bright and simple.
If you’re searching for space, the Rockaway Hotel probably isn’t the spot to book. I stayed solo in a Standard King Ocean View room, and the room itself was primarily taken up by the bed; it would be cramped with a partner or kid in tow. The hotel does offer larger bungalow-style accommodations if you need more room. But, you need to remember you still are in New York City, after all—and with the myriad of common areas the hotel offers (as well as the literal beach right outside), my inkling is that you will really only be spending time in your room to sleep, as I did.
Food & Drink
The hotel’s got four dining options. There’s Margie's, the 88-seat ground-floor anchor, serving up reinvented American classics with a great cocktail menu to boot. The Pool House keeps it lighter with appetizers and foods otherwise best eaten with your hands (and frozen cocktails) alongside the 25-by-40-foot heated pool. The Rooftop, spanning 6,000 square feet on the sixth floor, pairs small plates and craft cocktails with killer views of the Manhattan skyline wayyy in the distance—and hosts live music and DJ sets that keep it buzzing well past sunset. You can order in-room dining but in my opinion the rooms are a bit small to be eating in, unless you take the food outside on your terrace if you have one.
The newest dining arrival is the one locals are most excited about: Rockaway Beach Bakery, pastry chef Tracy Obolsky's beloved from-scratch institution, which moved into the hotel's street-level corner in April 2026. Hotel guests get free drip coffee or tea starting at 7 a.m. The pastries and breakfast sandwiches are worth an order, too.
I was able to eat something from all the dining options, and while I wasn't overly wowed by any of the food, everything did the job. In my opinion, you aren’t coming here for the food.
Spa & Wellness
The full-service spa leans restorative—CBD recovery massages, hot stone treatments, facials, body scrubs—and is honestly a reason to visit the property itself, even if you don’t spend the night. Those who book a spa service have access to a red light sauna for recovery and are offered a glass of champagne following their treatment.
The Studio, the hotel's fitness space, hosts yoga and sculpt classes led by local instructors, ramping up during the property's quarterly Wellness Week. There isn’t a fitness center with free weights or machines, but guests also gain access to the Orangetheory fitness studio across the street if you’re looking for a way to train beyond walking along the beach and surfing.
The sleeper hit is winter: come the cold months, the pool deck transforms into the Winter Pool House, with cedar barrel saunas, buttery robes, and that heated pool steaming against the January air.
Amenities
This is where the hotel earns its keep as a true beach base. Guests have access to free beach cruiser bikes for the boardwalk (one block away, and very helpful given there’s no Citibikes in this part of town), a surf school partnership with Locals Surf School, towels, and pool access. Guests get access to all amenities until 12 p.m. the day they’re supposed to check out.
The Supply Shop, the lobby-adjacent boutique, is also very well-curated—apparel, fragrance, books, beach essentials, limited-edition art collaborations—and custom-wrapped vending machines on two floors cover the 2 a.m. necessities (of note: face masks and sweets from Bon Bon). But the crown jewel is the pool. These boys are few are far between in New York City, and there’s nothing better than lounging poolside with a frozen cocktail, even if you’re clacking on your laptop trying to hit a deadline for work. There’s a barrel sauna beside the pool, too, if that’s your vibe.
Fair warning from someone who's stayed: this hotel is popular and it knows it. If you're after silence, look elsewhere. There will be lots of kids. Another note: if you’re visiting during the summer, the hotel seems to be a very popular seasonal job for local high school and college students. The service is great but don’t expect stuffy service from concierges who went to hospitality school.
Location & Neighborhood Recs
Rockaway Beach is a real neighborhood—everyone-knows-each-other energy, surf-shop scruff, and a boardwalk that stretches for miles on end. The hotel sits between the peninsula's two busiest stretches, which means you get proximity without the crush of the crowds, for the most part.
My recs: walk (or bike, using the hotel’s complimentary cruisers) the boardwalk to Rippers and order some of the best burgers in the city (I’ll say it with my chest) and peruse the merch section. For something closer, Brother’s is right on the boardwalk and does some great healthy options like smoothies and breakfast sandwiches (get the one on an English muffin with pesto). Then, spend the day at the beach. It’s crowded on the weekend, but if you’re blessed to sneak away here during the week, you’ll have large stretches of the beach to yourself. There’s also Tacoway Beach for some chips and guac, and Mara’s Ice Cream Parlor for a scoop of ice cream if the Mister Softee trucks don’t appeal to you.
The ferry stop is directly behind the hotel whenever you’re ready to go back home, or you could hop on the A train if you’d rather take the subway. Seriously, don’t Uber—the slow route is much better, anyway.
Fast Facts
Location: Rockaway Beach, Queens, New York
Address: 108-10 Rockaway Beach Drive, Rockaway Park, NY 11694
Vibe: Chic and coastal with a community spirit — surf culture meets boutique polish, with bold art and a lively, locals-welcome energy
Rooms: 53 guest rooms plus 8 extended-stay residences
Pricing: From $276 per night
Dining & Cocktails: Margie's (reinvented American classics), The Pool House (light bites and frozen cocktails), The Rooftop (small plates, craft cocktails, panoramic views), and Rockaway Beach Bakery (Tracy Obolsky's from-scratch pastries and coffee)
Amenities & Services: Year-round heated pool, full-service spa, cedar saunas, fitness studio with classes, surf school, guest bikes, The Supply Shop, live music and cultural programming, garage and valet parking
Gathering Spaces: Over 25,000 square feet of event space, including the 5,000-square-foot Harbor Room, the Sun Deck, the McGuire Room, the Ocean Terrace, and The Rooftop
Nearest Airport: John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), a 15-minute drive; LaGuardia (LGA) is 30 minutes
Queens, New York, United States
