Water Taxi Beach is run by New York Water Taxi.

We are a ferry terminal amenity for Water Taxi passengers and we are open to the NYC public and strongly value our relationship with the LIC community. We value a beach that is suitable for multi-generational enjoyment by Water Taxi Passengers, NYC and LIC residents and tourists.

Parties:

We are generally open to parties such as weddings, anniversaries, office parties, corporate meetings, etc.

2008 Details and Pricing
Option 1: You can reserve up to 7 tables + some sand area for a starting price of $4,000 (inclusive of service and tax). The final cost depends on what you order. This option is open to groups of any size but is ideal for groups of 25 to 50 adults. What does starting price mean? Click here

Option 2: You can also reserve our tent for a private or semi private event (Semi Private events include a private section) for a starting price of $9,000 (inclusive of service and tax). Our tent has a wooden floor suitable for dancing, is 2,400 sq ft in size and can hold up to 400 people depending on event. Sit down dinners up to 240 people. The tent has its own kitchen area and can be restricted to private use while the main beach is open to the public.

  • Semi Private parties on the Main Beach include picnic tables.
  • Private Sections located on the North Beach require table, chair and tablecloth rental

    Option 3: On dates we are closed, Monday, Tuesdays and some other dates through the season, we are open to private or semi private events as described above.

    We have the following areas:

  • Main Beach near Bar
  • Main Beach near Tent
  • Tent (private only)
  • North Beach (private section)
  • Back Beach (private section)

    Chits for Any Group

    If your looking for a great location in NYC to bring 1 to 50 of your of friends, family or neighbors you have found the right place! You are welcome to visit the main beach any time we are open. We welcome groups of any size. Reservations are never required.

    The best option for most groups is to "just show up" and enjoy. We offer pre-paid food and drink "chits" for hosts who wish to pay for their guests' food and beverages while controlling who is ordering and the cost. We do not run bar tabs.. Each food/drink order must be paid when ordered.

    Chits are good for the entire 2008 season and generally must be ordered 24 hours or more in advance.

  • Min. chit order is $150
  • Tip is not included, hosts may wish to directly tip staff
  • Dollar denominated chits are good for anything we sell.


    • We have chits in the following denominations:
  • $3 - - Good for soda, fries, hot dogs
  • $6.50 - - Good for Beer, Wine, Well drinks
  • $10 - - Good for mid shelf drinks
  • $16.00 - - Good for burger, dog, fries and a beer

    For events...

    • Tent Parties don't include table/chair rentals, plate or serving dish rentals, silver, silverware, linen, decorations, etc.
    • All parties with food include utilitarian serving implements: foil trays, sheet trays/pans, plastic utensils
    • All parties with food/drink include paper plates, napkins, plastic cups for drinks
    • Glass containers are not allowed on Beach property at any time
    • We reserve the right to stop any event that becomes disruptive or a public health hazard.


    Meal/Drink Packages.

    Our typical FOOD price per person ranges from $25 to $75 (inclusive). 3 hour open bar charges range from $25 to $34 (plus tax and service). Compete food and beverage packages typically run from $45 to $125 per person.

    For full details of our 2008 menu options, please see our Menu page
    for catering. Click here.

    What is a starting price (or minimum charge)?

    Many bars have a minimum drink charge. For example, "a two drink minimum." That means you have to buy at least two drinks, there are no drinks included, and you are welcome to buy more than two. Our starting price works the same way. For example, a $4000 starting price means that you must spend at least $4,000 inclusive of tax (8.375%) and service (18%). If $4,000 is more than your looking to spend on your party, then, for example option one is not for you; the alternative is to either buy chits or "just show up."

    The next question we usually get is "what do I get for that?"
    There is no simple answer. You receive what ever you order, and you pay whatever it normally costs; it's just never going to be less than the starrting price/minimum charge.

    You can do any of the following:

  • Run a tab and cut it off if it exceeds the minimum charge
  • Purchase a meal plan or bar plan
  • Purchase chits (see above)
  • Use some combination of chits, plans and tabs

    • Can you give me some idea what a complete food and drink package might cost?
    That's easy, you should figure on $70 to $125 per person. All of our package plans are based on a 3 hour event. An additional hour will cost an extra 1/3 of the base price, but since that includes usually food and drink, you may wish only to extend the drink portion. Another option is to use the food and drink plan for 3-4 hours and then if you wish to stay longer simply run a tab or use chits.

    If I’m having a table party, how long do I get to spend at the reserved tables?
    You can spend up to 4 hours. For parties longer than that, there is an additional minimal charge of $600 (+service and tax) per hour. For a party of 8 to 10 hours, the minimal charge is $5,400 (inclusive of tax and service).

    If I am having a tent party, how long do I get to spend in the tent?
    That is negotiable at the time of the reservation; there is no fixed time period.

    Besides the reservation, what else does my minimum payment entitle me to?

    We have the flexibility to offer you many types of upgrades and additional add-ons:

  • Private Chef
  • Private waiters
  • Private bartenders
  • Outside catering for desserts
  • Increased influence on the music that is played
  • Schnack’s Whole Roast Pig by Chef Alan Harding
  • Other catering from Schnack
  • And more, just ask!

    • Why do you have a Minimum charge?
    There are a many reasons:

  • There isn't a minimum number of people required; some places require 50 to 200 person minimum.
  • We don't have a per person minimum; some places have $100 to $200 minium charge per person.
  • We don't have a venue rental charge
  • We have 100's of guests each day each of whom we want to make sure are well taken care of; we want to make sure their are plenty of non-reserved seats available on a first come first serve basis.

    Why Don't You Run Tabs?

    One of the most asked questions is why we don't run tabs, followed by the comments that "everyone else does" and "you'll sell more drinks if you do." The direct answer is we try to keep things as simple as possible to insure guest satisfaction.

    Here is our detailed response...

    1. We are only open about 20 weeks a year.
    2. On ten of those weeks we are incredibly busy.
    3. The typical time it takes to train a entire front of the house team (3 or more months) is greater than the time we are open.
    4. Most of our staff is new each year and we have staff turn-over like every other place.
    5. Automated computer systems that can work in the rain and sand are unfortunately not yet affordable especially when 30 or 40 terminals would be required.
    6. Our staff alters their intra-daily roles as service requirements dictate meaning you don't always have the same server or bartender from the start to the end of your visit.
    7. While at times we can be very slow, in a matter of 30-40 minutes, hundreds of people can arrive and/or leave.

    Thus
    1. Given the changing staff, the influx of customers, the lack of automation and other factors, we feel that we cannot properly monitor each customer’s tab to insure that the correct charges are placed on that tab.
    2. This even more critical when multiple guest are ordering on the same tab with several different staff members.
    We presented our "logic" behind our tab policy so that it is not some "big mystery" and so people can see that the policy isn't arbitrary. However, we are not looking to debate our policy.

    * Motz Burger named in honor of George Motz, and his documentary Hamburger America (http://www.hamburgeramerica.com)

    Parties we don't do:

    1. We do not rent or lease the beach for ticketed events or other events requiring a door pass, arm band or door charge, or fees of any kind nor for any event that would require the entire beach to be closed during posted hours or for events that would be disruptive to the LIC or NYC Community.

    2. Unless you are using Option 1, 2 or 3, we do not run a "tab" for any group of any size, nor are we able to help you police a gathering to insure that only your guests are ordering on your behalf.