Fire Island is a thin Atlantic Ocean barrier island approximately 3.9 miles off the southern shore of Long Island, New York. Fire Island is separated from the south shore of Long Island by the Great South Bay. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, cross bay ferries from Sayville, Bay Shore, and Patchogue offer access to Fire Island. This 32-mile long, car-free island is known for pristine beaches and barefoot towns. Visitors travel by bike, foot, wagon and golf cart.
Fire Island consists of 17 unique resort communities. The westernmost town of Kismet can be reached by foot from Robert Moses Field 5. Watch Hill marks the town farthest east. Lifeguards are on duty July 4 through Labor Day, 11am-6pm.
Kismet, Saltaire, Fair Harbor, Atlantique, Dunewood, Ocean Beach, Seaview, Ocean Bay Park
Fire Island Pines, Cherry Grove, Sailors Haven/Sunken Forest
Davis Park & Watch Hill
Kismet
Kismet is the westernmost beach community on Fire Island. You can park in Field 5 of Robert Moses and walk over to Kismet. You have the option to walk past the lighthouse on wooden paths or walk past the nude beach past Robert Moses.
Food & Drink:
The town center overlooking the bay hosts two restaurants, a pizzeria and a small grocery store with ATM—all within feet of each other.
The Dive recently took over Surfs Out, bringing a So-Cal vibe to this modern beach bar.
The Kismet Inn is celebrating 97 years in service open from 10am-11pm.
Beach and Vine Wine is a small family owned and operated restaurant/bar serving coffee, cocktails, wine and small plates. Free deliveries are available.
Stay
Margarita Villas is located next to Beach and Wine Vines. Choose from the front rooms that have a view of the marina or a back room with access to the shared deck with picnic tables and outdoor shower. Rooms can be rented individually or in conjunction with one another.
Ocean Beach
Ocean Beach is a village in the southern part of the Town of Islip. The unofficial capital of Fire Island, Ocean Beach is a 600-home community with the greatest concentration of bars, restaurants, and stores on the entire island.
Food & Drink:
Ocean Beach has the largest variety of bars and restaurants.
Maguire’s Bayfront Restaurant has happy hour, lobster specials & sunset views at this bayside New American restaurant dating to 1936.
Albatross is an easygoing hangout with a full bar & patio offering fried seafood, raw oysters & other American grub.
Hideaway Restaurant is a seasonal hotel eatery offering eclectic seafood & waterside dining with celebrated sunset views.
Matthew’s Seafood House is a family-run fish house & market provides picturesque bay views, fresh catch & hopping weekend action.
The Landing is a waterfront premier restaurant with fresh fruit craft cocktails and sushi.
CJ’s Restaurant and Bar, around for 49 years, is known as “home of the rocket fuel (a signature Fire Island drink).
Stay:
The Palms Hotel consists of stylish rooms & suites, private beach access, a courtyard, BBQs & loaner bikes & beach gear. This plush boutique resort boasts two locations centered in the village of Ocean Beach. Popular for the luxurious accommodations, the rooms at the Palms are bright and meticulously tended to.
Clegg’s Hotel has modest accomodations styled after a European boarding house. Studios offer water or garden views and private baths, whereas single rooms overlook the garden and share baths. Located adjacent to the Ocean Beach ferry dock, Clegg’s Hotel is in the heart of Ocean Beach.
Blue Waters Hotel has newly renovated rooms with private baths and complimentary breakfast. Lounge on the roof top deck chairs or dine at the on-premise, full service restaurant/bar serving breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Ocean Bay Park
For a Fire Island town and community that really is not all that large (about 350 houses) Ocean Bay Park has an abundance of bar/ restaurants, pizza places, two decent hotels, a tennis court, bike shop and well-stocked grocery store. Flynn’s offers marina space for about 50 boats.
Food & Drink:
Flynn’s Fire Island is a waterfront eatery & nightclub offering seafood & American fare along with frequent live music.
Schooner Inn is a relaxed pub-grub pick near the ferry features weekend music & kid-friendly beach activities.
Stay:
Fire Island Beach House was built in the early 1900’s for the Coast Guard and then newly renovated in 2020 bringing the charm of the old combined with modern rooms, suites and cottages. Located next to the pool is the full service bar and grill open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Steps from the white sand beach.
Seashore Condo Hotel is on the bay side, a 6 minute walk to the ocean. All of the individual rooms are privately owned and centrally located.
Sunken Forest (Sailors Haven)
Fire Island’s Sunken Forest is a rare ecological community. This type of maritime holly forest is found behind well-established sand dunes ranked as “globally rare,” meaning there are few remaining occurrences of this assemblage of plants throughout the world. There are raised boardwalks and trails throughout the 1.5 miles of Sunken Forest. Relax at Sailors Haven Beach before or after your 45 minute trail walk. Changing rooms, restrooms and outdoor showers are available for use.
Food & Drink:
There is a visitors center, snack bar and gift shop on the bay side of Sailors Haven. You can walk to Cherry Grove to the east to find food and hotel stays.
Cherry Grove
Known as an LGBT favorite, Cherry Grove is located between Sailors Haven and Fire Island Pines. The beach is clothing optional and is frequently inhabited with nude visitors sunbathing, though it is not an official nude beach. The eastern dunes have even been nicknamed the “Meat Rack” by the locals.
Food & Drink:
Cherry’s on the Bay is a relaxed waterfront venue with a view for full-service dining, cocktails, Sunday brunch & drag shows.
Island Breeze is a classic American restaurant with great water views. Check out the Tiki Bar at the Island Breeze to watch the the best sunset views in Cherry Grove.
Sand Castle on the ocean is a gay owned and operated fine dining establishment. Sand Castle serves satisfying appetizers and lots of seafood temptations. Stay for frozen drinks on the beach!
Stay:
The Ice Palace Resort features a hotel, nightclub and pool lounge area. The largest dance floor on Fire Island that fills up most weekends and weekdays nights you’ll find a great mix of gay men and lesbians. The property is 21 and over.
Belvedere Guest House for Men is in the style of a Venetian Palace – with terraces, towers, domes, statuary, antiques and fountains – and a roof-top terrace and bay front deck that afford spectacular views of the Great South Bay, the ocean, and town.
Fire Island Pines
The Pines, which occupies a 1.5 mile-long stretch of dunes and lush gardens connected by boardwalks, has been a top gay destination.
Food & Drink:
Bistro & Martini Bar is a Continental restaurant, offering traditional favorite dishes, plus daily/seasonal specials. It is the only establishment in the Pines that offers all-season, sit-down dinner, with sophisticated cocktail lounge ambience.
Blue Whale offers Marina Bar + Grill dining, nightly Low Tea, weekend Piano Bar, & more to suit a wide range of tastes.
The Canteen is a great spot for meals, drinks, coffee & people watching. Sandwiches & salads, hot & cold beverages, plus a variety of options for Breakfast, Lunch, Snacks, Dinner, & more.
Pines Pizza is a local pizza & take-away place offering salads, Grab•n•Go meals, plus all-day coffee.
Stay:
The Hotel is a boutique hotel inside the historic 30-room Botel which combines the flexibility of booking a hotel with the fun of a Fire Island share house. The Hotel caters to gay New Yorkers who want to play in Fire Island but can’t fit a “summer share” into their modern lifestyles.
The Madison is a boutique guesthouse of the Pines that includes a pool, sun decks, beach towels and chairs.
Davis Park
Davis Park is comprised of one of the largest marinas on Fire Island, capable of holding up to 250 boats. Next to the marina is the Casino Café, one of the few restaurants on the island with an ocean-side view. Around the marina, you will find the Harbor store, a snack bar, bathroom facilities, and Casino Bar.
Food & Drink:
Casino Cafe is a seasonal beachside bar & eatery serving a menu of steak, seafood & pasta in an airy, relaxed space.
Harbor Store & Snackbar sells everything you might need during your stay, including produce, chips, household goods, pantry items, beach supplies, and of course drinks and candy. Right next door is a snack bar, serving the basics from breakfast sandwiches to burgers, fries and ice-cream.
