The Rockaway Hotel + Spa

Style

Block-rockin’ beach in reach

Setting

Prized peninsula

The Rockaway Hotel is part of a tight-knit community: breezy staff are Queens locals, and owners Terence and Dan even named its restaurant after their mom. This Scandi-style block puts its outdoor space to good use, with its rooftop with dual-aspect views and ocean-facing yoga deck, plus every room has a water view and features photography by NYC-based creatives. The Rockaways are kind-natured and neighbourly, and like the Ramones who would hitch a ride here from the city, this hideout celebrates its home turf.

Facilities

Rooms

53 rooms and eight longer-stay bungalows.

Checkout

11am, but flexible, subject to availability. Earliest check-in, 3pm, but you’ll be able to check in earlier if your room is ready.

More Details

A grab and go breakfast can be purchased at the Greenhouse café, or make a leisurely morning of it with a sit-down meal at Margie’s.

Also

The hotel has a number of ADA compliant rooms. These accessible rooms have a roll-in shower, visual fire alarm, visual telephone signaler and TTY outlets.

Free Internet Access

Pool

On-Site Restaurant

Room Service

Spa

At the Hotel

Outdoor heated pool, spa with infrared sauna, yoga classes, priority rooftop access and exclusive use of loungers, bikes to borrow, restaurant, coffee shop, bar, use of beach chairs, towels and umbrellas. In rooms: WiFi, TV with Chromecast, free morning coffee, robes, Goldie’s bath products

Our Favourite Rooms

All rooms are thoughtfully designed with sustainable furnishings and Rockaway quirks, but if you like to start your day with a blast of fresh air then opt for a deluxe ocean view room with rattan-chair adorned terrace. Those looking to stay a while (and why wouldn’t you) might like to book a bungalow. These residence-style hideaways have spacious, light-bathed living areas and modern kitchenettes, plus a bath tub for post-surf soaks.

Poolside

The heated outdoor pool is open from sunrise to sunset, and Rockaway Hotel guests benefit from exclusive use of the loungers (upholstered in Sunbrella fabric, no less).

Spa

There’s an infrared barrel sauna (known benefits include better sleep and clearer skin; sign us up), plus daily wellness classes including hatha yoga, vinyasa flows and ‘sculpting’ cardio sessions. You can book in for a treatment, too – expect all the traditional options plus seaweed and green clay body wraps, CBD and aloe facials and ‘grounding’ massages using sea extracts and white tea.

Packing Tips

Surfers would do well to leave some room in their bags or boots – Rockaway has plenty of unique boutiques to browse. Head to Boarders, Off Season and Breezy Point, plus the Swellife (surf-inspired casual wear) and Zingara Vintage (thrifted beach towels, bags and dresses).

Also

It’s fair to say that the Rockaway Hotel + Spa is a de facto gallery of sorts: there are over 150 pieces of art from local and nationally renowned artists. Each piece was curated by the hotel’s so-called Chief Social Impact Officer, Michi Jigarjian.

Children

Connecting rooms can be organised for families, and there are activities to keep kids busy (crafts, painting classes, water safety sessions) but there’s no formal kids club or crèche.

Gallery

Food & Drink

Top Table

We love the cerulean blue booths at Margie’s (best for lively conversation and communal eating). Choose a bar seat on the rooftop to see the bartenders in action.

Dress Code

Simple: 1960s retro beach chic.

Hotel Restaurant

The ground-floor restaurant – Margie’s – is lovingly named after Margie Murphy, a Rockaway local and grandmother to owners Terence and Dan Tubridy. Dishes include American classics (lobster mac and cheese, New England clam chowder and steak cuts) and reinvented twists on seaside favourites. We love the seared tuna burger with salsa bruja, the pear and goat cheese salad, the charred cauliflower steak and the cavatelli with slow cooked lamb shoulder. On the weekend, give the brunch a whirl – there are plenty of sweet and savoury dishes to choose from including truffled croque madames, chicken and waffles, açaí bowls and the full elvis (malted waffle, peanut butter, whipped cream and bananas). There’s also the street-side Greenhouse café: a coffee house with your usual orders plus on-tap cold brew, drip coffee and frozen hot chocolates. Pick up a sandwich, salad or sourdough waffle (generously topped with butter and maple) too.

Hotel Bar

The sixth floor rooftop bar is a fine example of indoor-outdoor living – its marble-topped bar is positioned behind a wall of glass to protect punters from the elements on windy nights. That doesn’t detract from the views, though: look south towards the Atlantic, or north to Jamaica Bay, Brooklyn and the Manhattan skyline. Try the Shark Bite (ghost pepper tequila, cucumber, watermelon, lime and tajin), the Harvest Mule (applejack, pama pomegranate, cinnamon, lime, cranberry and ginger), or the Bisco Sour (faretti biscotti, old grandad, allspice dram, lemon and honey.

Last Orders

Breakfast is served from 8am and extended to a 3pm brunch on the weekend. Lunch is 11.30am–3pm Monday–Friday; dinner service starts at 5pm every day.

Room Service

Room service is available whenever the restaurants are open – typically from 8am–10pm.

Planes

JFK is a 20-minute drive from the Rockaways. Contact the hotel directly to arrange your transfer.

Trains

Rockaway is easily accessible from the city centre: take the A-Train or S-Train to Beach 105 street station.

Automobiles

There’s a private carpark two blocks from the hotel. Self parking is free from November to April, valet parking is available during peak season (May–October) for $50 per night.

Worth Getting Out of Bed For

Start off at the beach just one block from the hotel. It’s the only surfing beach in NYC (book in with Locals Surf School; the waves here are relatively forgiving for rookies) but also has plenty of space to just towel-down for the day. Head to the sand by 67th street for good surf; between 90th and 98th street for eateries; or between 105th and 116th for peace and quiet. Explore much of the peninsula on foot thanks to the five-mile long boardwalk. Hike east to Fort Tilden – following the trails through lush bushes to abandoned concrete batteries dating back to the Second World War. Climb up Battery Harris East for a rather surreal vista of deep blue ocean, wild greenery and the NYC skyline. The Gateway National Recreation Area is worthy of a stop-off too: the barracks have been converted into galleries by the Rockaway Artists Alliance. Head to sTudio 7 Gallery for exhibitions in a cavernous auto-repair plant. Jamaica Bay is one of the country’s largest nature preserves within city limits, and you can explore the maze of waterways and islands at sunset with Rockaway Jet Ski.

Earn or Redeem Points with World of Hyatt

This Mr & Mrs Smith hotel participates in the World of Hyatt loyalty program. As a member, you can earn and redeem points and enjoy exclusive benefits for qualifying nights. .