7 Best Things to Do in Port Jefferson, New York

By VacationIdea Staff on May 19, 2022 - Updated

Port Jefferson, NY

The town of Port Jefferson, New York is thought of by many as a hidden gem of Long Island. Situated about fifty miles from bustling New York City, it combines history and natural beauty with maritime heritage and picturesque views of the water. A historic area along the island’s North Shore is now a popular spot for tourists in Suffolk County, along with a hub for transportation with the Bridgeport and Port Jefferson Steamboat Company. Port Jefferson is also home to theater, delicious food and wine, the interactive Maritime Explorium, festivals, and much more.

We recommend that you call the attractions and restaurants ahead of your visit to confirm current opening times.

1.Bridgeport and Port Jefferson Steamboat Company

Established back in the year 1883, the Bridgeport and Port Jefferson Steamboat Company is one of the country’s oldest operating ferry businesses. Also known on Long Island as the Bridgeport and Port Jefferson Ferry, the company runs a ferry service between Port Jefferson in New York and Bridgeport in Connecticut across the Long Island Sound. The ferry takes around one hour and fifteen minutes, leaving every hour during the summer and on weekends, and every ninety minutes on off-season weekdays. Each ferry features a spacious passenger cabin, a cocktail lounge, outdoor seating, a small deck, a snack bar, and restrooms.

102 W Broadway, Port Jefferson, NY 11777, Phone: 888-443-3779

2.Theater Three, Port Jefferson, New York

Theater Three in the scenic waterfront town of Port Jefferson is a not-for-profit professional theatre company located within the historic Athena Hall, which dates back more than 150 years. The theater is one of Long Island’s premiere producers of entertainment and live theatre. Theatre Three aims to bring culture and arts to the local community, as well as provide professional entertainment for everyone at a reasonable price. The array of programming at the theater includes Broadway-caliber Mainstage productions, a summer concert series, the Annual Festival of One Act Plays, Children’s Theatre productions, A Christmas Carol, and more.

412 Main St, Port Jefferson, NY 11777, Phone: 631-928-9100

3.Maritime Explorium, Port Jefferson, New York

The Maritime Explorium is an interactive, hands-on museum designed for families to discover and explore the Port Jefferson area’s rich maritime heritage through a variety of exhibits and activities focused on math, engineering, technology, and science. Situated in the Harborfront Park along the water within the town’s historic Chandlery Building, the Maritime Explorium is driven by the idea of learning being “its own fun,” and aims to enable kids to learn in a way that’s their own pace and suits their own style. Programs are centered around purposeful and playful experimentation and there are seasonal changing exhibits.

101 E Broadway, Port Jefferson, NY 11777, Phone: 631-331-3277

4.Pindar Vineyards Port Jefferson Store, Port Jefferson, NY

The Pindar Vineyards Port Jefferson Store is the wine shop in Port Jefferson, New York of the Pindar Vineyards, producers of several award-winning wines. The dream of Dr. Herodotus “Dan” Damianos, the founder of Pindar, helped create Long Island’s winemaking industry during the early 1980’s. This dream over the past more than thirty years has turned the Pindar Vineyards into one of the best-known wine producers on Long Island. Along with providing bottles of wine for purchase, the Pindar Vineyards Port Jefferson Store offers daily wine tastings consisting of up to five of the currently available wines.

117 Main St, Port Jefferson, NY 11777, Phone: 631-331-7070

5.Ruvo Restaurant East, Port Jefferson, New York

The Ruvo Restaurant in the village of Port Jefferson on Long Island offers a relaxing and unique dining experience. Wandering just off of Main Street and down Wynn Lane, visitors and locals alike can find a restaurant serving classic southern Italian dishes, excellent wines, and local seafood. The creative chefs and seasoned staff at Ruvo strive to always provide guests with an exceptional experience and the restaurant has been called “a standout” by The New York Times. Ruvo is open for lunch and dinner Sunday to Saturday, serving fresh country Italian fare and dishes made with traditional family recipes.

105 Wynn Ln, Port Jefferson, NY 11777, Phone: 631-476-3800

6.Nantuckets Port Jefferson, Port Jefferson, New York

Nantuckets Port Jefferson is a local restaurant specializing in fresh seafood and American fare. The tasty food combined with a warm and professional staff, a dedicated owner, and an imaginative chef provide a memorable dining experience for guests at the Port Jefferson eatery. The Nantuckets restaurant features fresh-muddled cocktails, creative menus, and a cozy and relaxed atmosphere, along with both outdoor dining on one of the decks or indoors in the dining room. Lunch and dinner is served seven days a week, along with brunch on the weekends, which includes a great brunch menu and bottomless mimosas.

9 Traders Cove, Port Jefferson, NY 11777, Phone: 631-509-4848

7.Pasta Pasta, Port Jefferson, New York

Pasta Pasta is a local restaurant in the historic waterfront Port Jefferson, New York. Since 1991, the restaurant has been one of the North Shore’s premier restaurants. While the name obviously suggests a menu full of pasta, there is much more to the food options at Pasta Pasta, including innovative pizzas, fresh fish, steak, and chicken. Featuring a comfortable and casual style reminiscent of a villa in Tuscany, the restaurant’s dining rooms have light wood accents, candle-lit tables, framed art prints, and other tasteful details.

234 E Main St, Port Jefferson, NY 11777, Phone: 631-331-5335