The Frying Pan – New York’s Best Open-Top Bar
Let me set the scene for you; it’s at the beginning of July in New York City, it’s coming up to nine o’clock and the sun is at that point in the sky where it casts an orange glow over the city, the temperature is nice and balmy and the gentle Hudson breeze is keeping you cool while you sip from your third corona.
Sounds like heaven doesn’t it? Well that heaven is on earth, and it is in a small place called The Frying Pan.
Officially The Frying Pan is the lightship docked alongside Pier 66 Maritime, and the latter is the bar and restaurant that we will focus on today. Both are owned and operated by the same management and are free to enter.
What separates Pier 66 from the rest of the crowd is its setting. Floating on the water, you could be forgiven for thinking that you are drunker than you actually are when you feel the barge sway from side to side.
Pier 66 Maritime used to be a rail barge and is complete with its very own decorated caboose, as well as a tasty kitchen and well-stocked bar.
In a metropolitan city like New York there are thousands of bars that offer much of the same but sometimes vastly different experiences. What Pier 66 has in its favour is the views that you can enjoy.
On the ground floor, or main deck if you will, there is seating for hundreds and plenty of standing space, a stage for an even better elevated dining and drinking experience with 10 foot glass panelled metal doors that swing open for you to enjoy stunning views of the Hudson river and New Jersey.
The sun deck as it’s known is an elevated seated deck with unobstructed panoramic views with the city of New York to one side and New Jersey to the other. It is where the photograph above was taken. The place is a relaxing
haven in an otherwise chaotic city. Sunsets here rival the most beautiful places on earth and often on Sundays you can catch the Norwegian cruise ships departing New York.
Whether you’re out with your buddies for the day to enjoy a couple buckets of Corona, out with the work crew for some cocktails and food or trying to impress your date, Pier 66 Maritime is the place to go.
As it is only opened seasonally, regulars anticipate its return during the Summer months, particularly when New York can reach an ungodly level of humidity. Pier 66 can fill up fast so expect to wait for anywhere up to a half an hour on particularly busy days.
The food is gorgeous and it is all self-service. As it is docked on the river you’d be right in assuming they do seafood, and they do – their calamari is still to this day the best I’ve ever tasted. The price is reasonable for the experience you are getting and their alcohol prices are standard for New York.
If the thought of self-service doesn’t quite fit in with your plans for the day and you’d rather be wined and dined, The Frying Pan lighthouse comes into play! With the same menu and drink options available as on Pier 66, but with far fewer seats, waited tables, and a much quieter experience The Frying Pan offers that extra bit of exclusivity while still providing the amazing scenery and quality service.
Altogether Pier 66 Maritime and The Frying Pan combine to create a wonderful bar and restaurant experience. As scenic bars go this is a true treasure in a city otherwise full of bars that offer much of the same with little imagination.
For more other unique bar and restaurant experiences, check out what’s stirring in the East Village
