Staten Island is the southernmost and most suburban of New York City's five boroughs, offering a unique blend of historic charm and natural beauty. Known as the 'Borough of Parks,' it features over 170 parks and significant Victorian architecture, particularly on the North Shore. For hotel travelers, it serves as a quieter alternative to Manhattan, ideal for those seeking a relaxed atmosphere while remaining within NYC. The island is connected to Brooklyn via the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge and to New Jersey by toll crossings. While public transit is less extensive than in other boroughs, the area offers easy access to the Staten Island Ferry terminal, providing iconic views of the Statue of Liberty and Lower Manhattan. Its distinct character makes it a compelling base for visitors interested in history, nature, and a slower-paced urban experience.
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Focus your search on the North Shore, specifically neighborhoods like St. George and Tompkinsville. This area is the most urban part of the island, featuring designated historic districts with large Victorian houses. It offers the best connectivity to ferry terminals, dining, and services, making it the most convenient base for exploring the borough without needing a car for every trip.
Access to Staten Island is primarily via the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge from Brooklyn or crossings from New Jersey. Public transportation options are limited compared to other NYC boroughs. For guests planning to explore the East Shore's FDR Boardwalk or the suburban South Shore, renting a car or relying on ride-sharing services is highly recommended for flexibility and convenience.
Spring and autumn offer mild weather, ideal for walking through the island's vast parklands and the four-kilometer FDR Boardwalk on the East Shore. While summer brings more activity, the low population density ensures a consistently peaceful atmosphere year-round. The 'forgotten borough' label often implies fewer crowds, making it a serene retreat regardless of the season, provided you are prepared for variable coastal winds.
bridge in New York City
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island in the Upper New York Bay, United States
This warm Middle Eastern restaurant is tucked into an unassuming Bay Ridge corner and run by Chef/owner Rawia Bishara and her daughter. Meals graciously commence with pickled vegetables and za’atar-dusted flatbread and are followed by a tableful of unique plates brimming with flavors and colors. Turkish salad is actually a bright red tomato spread, shot with harissa and dressed with bits of diced cucumber and a drizzle of excellent olive oil. Appetizers are numerous (grape leaves are a lively sure thing), but don't miss the mansaf, a homey dish consisting of braised lamb doused in creamy yogur
🕐 Tu-Su 12:00-10:00
WebsiteLocated in Bay Ridge, a neighborhood known for its vibrant Middle Eastern community, Yemenat is a cozy, family-style spot. This local gem shares an appealing a la carte of Yemeni cuisine, featuring classic appetizers like hummus and shafoot and hearty entrees like lamb sughar and shakshoka Adeni. Main dishes like the standout lamb haneeth, or braised lamb shoulder over golden-tinted hadrami rice, are unapologetically generous in portion and perfect for sharing. Even the sides like sahaweq, or grated tomato with spices intended for drizzling over the rice or dipping into with a piece of rashoos
WebsitePrepare for a sensory overload the moment you set foot into Lakruwana—the Sri Lankan hot spot is covered from floor-to-ceiling in murals, sculptures, flags, and more. The kaleidoscope of textures and colors is a welcome sight, as is the energetic owner who drifts from table to table.Street food takes center stage here, where you a variety of traditional dishes hit the mark. Don't miss the kottu roti, a stir-fried dish with godamba roti, chicken, vegetables and chicken curry or the traditional hoppers, with its bowl-shaped crepe served with a yellow fish curry. The oversized platter is ideal fo
🕐 Mo off; Tu-We 12:00-15:00,17:00-21:00pm; Th-Fr 12:00-15:00,17:00-21:00; Sa 12:30-21:30; Su 12:30-21:30
WebsiteYou’ll almost always find a line stretching out the door of this Sichuan superstar, which has rocked Sunset Park with its sharp renderings of Chengdu classics. The two-story space is light on amenities, with rustic wooden tables and short, backless stools, but the earpiece-wearing staff is as adept and meticulous as the food itself—and happy to dispense menu guidance to novices.While many associate Sichuan fare with buckets of numbing chili oil, these chefs tend to go light on the spice, letting complex flavors shine in dishes like whole fish slathered with sweet peppers or slivered pork in a
🕐 Mo-Su 13:00-23:00
WebsiteFrom the breezes blowing off the water to the natural light flooding its contemporary-chic space, this Navy Pier dining retreat is a breath of fresh air.First things first—peruse the cocktail menu, where savory and spicy drinks are a welcome alternative to too-sweet swizzles. Order a house spritz or a Negroni, then settle in to review the sprawling menu. Start with one of their fantastic pizzas with beautiful crispy bottoms, such as the unusually delicious Morty pizza, finished with a layer of pistachio-based pesto with mozzarella, and garnished with burrata and slices of mortadella. And while
WebsiteEnoteca Maria is just blocks from St. George Terminal and brought to you by Joe Scaravella, whose cookbook, Nonna’s House, has been earning him (and this tiny gem) much applause. This is the kind of place where the phone is always ringing and it's perpetually packed with guests eager to sample the cooking, which changes nightly depending on which nonnas are cooking. There is a clear adoration for these stars of the show. Expect soul-soothing dishes like Nonna Zoraida from Paraguay's traditional vori vori, a dish of chicken soup with cheese and cornmeal dumplings, shredded chicken, and vegetabl
WebsiteGuests can barely get through this front door, where crowds pack in on weekends for dim sum. They wait patiently as an announcer shouts reservation numbers over a booming speaker—like a game of high-stakes bingo. Dim sum is a well-orchestrated affair, with steaming carts rolling by and waiters ferrying trays into the gold-accented dining room. Eyes can guide the ordering when it comes to the carts, stocked with authentic bites. Highlights include the siu mai, followed by rice noodles wrapped around shrimp and doused in a sweet soy sauce. Black bean spare ribs are flavorful, but don't skip the
WebsiteWhat sets this small yet stylish neighborhood spot in Bensonhurst apart from the others? It's all about their dry-aged fish and beef, showcased in the front entrance, as well as on their good value omakase. In terms of design, it feels contemporary and sparse, featuring a cobalt-blue accent wall, futon up front and that omnipresent counter crafted from warm matte wood. Behind, decorative squares with geometric patterns set the tone for a meal equally replete with flair and flavor.Impressive knife skills are apparent in their perfectly sized bites. Some high points include creamy Hokkaido scall
🕐 Mo-Tu off; We-Th,Su 16:30-21:30; Fr-Sa 16:30-22:45
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