Carrie’s guidebook
Great Staten Island Restaurants
There’s so much amazing food featuring any cuisine you can think of. From Sri Lankan to pizza, there are too many to name here. This list is only the tip of the iceberg. Please let me know if you eat somewhere great that I must add to this list.
Upscale, New American restaurant, great for a date night. Inventive dishes, with local ingredients.
The Richmond
695 Bay StUpscale, New American restaurant, great for a date night. Inventive dishes, with local ingredients.
New American and comfort food. Brunch comes with a pastry basket, unlimited booze and live entertainment.
The LocaL
316 Manor RdNew American and comfort food. Brunch comes with a pastry basket, unlimited booze and live entertainment.
Sofia's Taqueria
977 Bay StHand-crafted tortillas, fresh guacamole and all things yummy.
Bayou
1072 Bay StCajun-Creole comfort food
Enoteca Maria
27 Hyatt StRotating staff of Italian grandmas, the menu is always changing
Blue
1115 Richmond TerraceFresh seafood, upscale, great for a date night. Sunday afternoon clambake.
Beso
70 Schuyler StSpanish bistro with tapas and large dishes
Vinum
704 Bay StRestaurant and wine bar. Charcuterie, cheeses, small bites and entrees.
Staten Island’s most famous pizzeria. It totally lives up to the hype!!!
12 locals recommend
Denino's Pizzeria
524 Port Richmond AveStaten Island’s most famous pizzeria. It totally lives up to the hype!!!
Pier 76
76 Bay StThin crust pizza heaven
Lakruwana
668 Bay StSri Lankan cuisine
Jade Island
2845 Richmond AveA Staten Island staple, tiki bar style Asian bistro. Get the pupu platter!!!
Nürnberger Bierhaus
817 Castleton AveSeppe Pizza Bar
3 Navy Pier CtSally's Southern
427 Forest AvenueO'Henry's Publick House
10 Minthorne StreetPastavino
44 Navy Pier CourtFlour and Oak
12 Minthorne StreetShaw-nae’s House
379 Van Duzer StreetSushi Wen
856 Castleton AvenueBars, Breweries, Wine Bars
Where to get your drink on....and a little nosh.
Kills Boro Brewing Company
62 Van Duzer StLocal Staten Island brewery with a rotating selection of beers.
Flagship Brewing Company
40 Minthorne StRotating beer list, communal tables, brewery tours
Staten Island Beer Company
20 Kinsey PlAdobe Blues
63 Lafayette AveCraft beers, margaritas, cocktails and great tex-mex food
The Kettle Black
8622 3rd AveFull bar, dinner, brunch, voted “best wings.”
200 varieties of beer, cocktails, wine, menu with local ingredients, arcade games and skee ball.
15 locals recommend
The Hop Shoppe
372 Van Duzer St200 varieties of beer, cocktails, wine, menu with local ingredients, arcade games and skee ball.
Violette's Cellar
2271 Hylan BlvdSignature cocktails, wine, beer, and a variety of menus.
Vinum
704 Bay StItalian wine and food.
Staten Island Has Great Touring Too!!!!
Staten Island is home to some of the oldest buildings in NYC, including one of the city’s only living historic villages! From Sandy Ground – the continuously oldest black settlement in the United States – to Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden – one of the first established retirement homes for sailors in the 19th century, it’s hard to walk a few feet without stumbling upon some interesting history.
a stunning and poignant memorial to the 275 Staten Islanders lost on September 11, 2001. The memorial features two fiberglass structures resembling postcards, perhaps being sent to lost loved ones.
10 locals recommend
The Staten Island September 11th Memorial
Bank Streeta stunning and poignant memorial to the 275 Staten Islanders lost on September 11, 2001. The memorial features two fiberglass structures resembling postcards, perhaps being sent to lost loved ones.
built in 1690 as a one-room Dutch farmhouse. It is listed as a historic landmark and was restored in the mid-1980s and in 2017. It is designated a National LGBTQ Landmark. “The Alice Austen House fosters creative expression, explores personal identity, and educates and inspires the public through the interpretation of the photographs, life and historic home of pioneering American photographer, Alice Austen
28 locals recommend
Alice Austen House
2 Hylan Blvdbuilt in 1690 as a one-room Dutch farmhouse. It is listed as a historic landmark and was restored in the mid-1980s and in 2017. It is designated a National LGBTQ Landmark. “The Alice Austen House fosters creative expression, explores personal identity, and educates and inspires the public through the interpretation of the photographs, life and historic home of pioneering American photographer, Alice Austen
Built along the high ground of the Narrows. During the War of 1812, Fort Wadsworth was crucial in protecting New York Harbor from the British. Tours year round.
33 locals recommend
Fort Wadsworth
Built along the high ground of the Narrows. During the War of 1812, Fort Wadsworth was crucial in protecting New York Harbor from the British. Tours year round.
NYC’s only historic village with 28 landmarked buildings. You can stroll through this open-air museum to experience life in the 17th century.
25 locals recommend
Historic Richmond Town
441 Clarke AveNYC’s only historic village with 28 landmarked buildings. You can stroll through this open-air museum to experience life in the 17th century.
numerous exhibits preserve and share the history of American lighthouses through education programs, films, festivals and living history
15 locals recommend
National Lighthouse Museum
200 The Promenade at Lighthouse Pointnumerous exhibits preserve and share the history of American lighthouses through education programs, films, festivals and living history
was first home to retired sailors and is now a renowned arts and cultural center. It contains 28 historic structures, 14 botanical gardens, a two-acre urban farm and 10 acres of wetlands
95 locals recommend
Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden
1000 Richmond Terracewas first home to retired sailors and is now a renowned arts and cultural center. It contains 28 historic structures, 14 botanical gardens, a two-acre urban farm and 10 acres of wetlands
in the St. George area of Staten Island, this 1900 seat theatre plays host to a wide variety of headline and community events. Built in 1929, it is decorated with Spanish/Italian baroque style paintings, chandeliers, stained glass windows and grand staircases. Tours by appointment.
30 locals recommend
St. George Theatre
35 Hyatt Stin the St. George area of Staten Island, this 1900 seat theatre plays host to a wide variety of headline and community events. Built in 1929, it is decorated with Spanish/Italian baroque style paintings, chandeliers, stained glass windows and grand staircases. Tours by appointment.
– located in Snug Harbor. Fossils, paintings, curiosities in jars and special exhibitions, a collection that will please all. Check out the exhibit on the Lenape, the first Staten Islanders, with artifacts dating back 12,000 years!!!!!
26 locals recommend
Staten Island Museum at Snug Harbor
1000 Richmond Terrace– located in Snug Harbor. Fossils, paintings, curiosities in jars and special exhibitions, a collection that will please all. Check out the exhibit on the Lenape, the first Staten Islanders, with artifacts dating back 12,000 years!!!!!
Located in Southern Staten Island, Bloomingdale park has pathways, jogging trails, ballfields, a soccer field and basketball court. There is also a wonderful, handicapped-accessible playground.
Bloomingdale Park
Lenevar AvenueLocated in Southern Staten Island, Bloomingdale park has pathways, jogging trails, ballfields, a soccer field and basketball court. There is also a wonderful, handicapped-accessible playground.
The Greenbelt is more than 3 times the size of Central Park!!!! Picturesque, with forests, meadows, wetlands, ponds and parks, there’s so much to enjoy. The hiking trails range in difficulty for hikers and bikers. Great for birdwatchers, many birds call the Greenbelt home. Go to their website, sigreenbelt.org for trail maps and information on seasonal programs.
12 locals recommend
Greenbelt Nature Center
700 Rockland AveThe Greenbelt is more than 3 times the size of Central Park!!!! Picturesque, with forests, meadows, wetlands, ponds and parks, there’s so much to enjoy. The hiking trails range in difficulty for hikers and bikers. Great for birdwatchers, many birds call the Greenbelt home. Go to their website, sigreenbelt.org for trail maps and information on seasonal programs.
Favorite Tourism Spots
Here are some of our places in NYC. Some are popular tourist spots. Some are our little secret.
Brooklyn Bridge
Brooklyn Bridge PromenadeBethesda Fountain
Bryant Park
The High Line Park
Salmagundi Museum of American Art
Brooklyn Museum
200 Eastern PkwyJane's Carousel
Dock StreetA hidden gem. Art exhibitions, places to play, relax, eat. Bike rentals
249 locals recommend
Governors Island
A hidden gem. Art exhibitions, places to play, relax, eat. Bike rentals
City Island Diner
304 City Island Ave
Flushing
Battery Park
TKTS Lincoln Center
61 W 62nd StShorter lines than the one in Times Square
Little Island
West 13th Street
The Met Cloisters
99 Margaret Corbin DrFriday nights in the summer there are fireworks. Luna Park, The
Cyclone, Nathan’s Hot Dogs, The Aquarium
663 locals recommend
Coney Island
Friday nights in the summer there are fireworks. Luna Park, The
Cyclone, Nathan’s Hot Dogs, The Aquarium
The Intrepid New Yorker
220 East 57th StreetTrapeze School New York - Pier 40
353 West StI’ve never tried it but you should.
Botanical Garden station
The Morgan Library & Museum
225 Madison AveMuseum of the Moving Image
36-01 35th Ave
Union Square Green Market
East 17th StreetEl Museo del Barrio
1230 5th AveBronx Zoo
2300 Southern BlvdDay Trips
Here are some great day trips if you want to explore outside NYC. Some you can get a bus or train to, others might need a car.
Bear Mountain State Park
3006 Seven Lakes DriveBeacon
Philadelphia
New Hope
Woodbury Common Premium Outlets
498 Red Apple CtAtlantic City
Buy a day pass ahead of time for the beach during summer months. This is, by far, our favorite beach.
21 locals recommend
Ocean Grove Beach
N Ocean AveBuy a day pass ahead of time for the beach during summer months. This is, by far, our favorite beach.
Wölffer Estate Vineyard
139 Sagg RdHudson Highlands State Park
3260 NY-9DSix Flags Great Adventure
1 Six Flags BlvdHershey Park Service Center station
100 Hersheypark DrDorney Park Road
Dorney Park RoadLEGOLAND® New York Resort
1 Legoland BlvdStorm King Art Center
For Kids
Open weekends
Staten Island Children's Museum
Tysen Street
Brooklyn Children's Museum
145 Brooklyn AveChildren's Museum of Manhattan
212 W 83rd StLiberty Science Center
222 Jersey City BlvdIntrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
West 46th StreetProspect Park Zoo
450 Flatbush AveDomino Park
15 Kent AveAmerican Dream
1 American Dream WyLeFrak Center at Lakeside Prospect Park Brooklyn
171 East DrJane's Carousel
Dock StreetAmerican Girl Place
75 Rockefeller Plaza