There are many great things to do on Long Island, a short train ride from Manhattan but a world apart in the atmosphere, lifestyle, and restaurant offerings. Surrounded by the ocean and intersected by rivers, Long Island is home to an array of great restaurants. Some are unassuming, while others are luxurious. There is plenty of fresh seafood and fish as well as seasonal local produce and wines from local wineries.
The 20 Best Long Island Restaurants near me today according to local experts are:
- 1. Farm Country Kitchen
- 2. Bostwick’s Chowder House
- 3. Mill Pond
- 4. Long Island Restaurants: Navy Beach
- 5. Nantucket's
- 6. Toast Coffeehouse
- 7. Long Island Restaurants: Tullulah's
- 8. LT Burger Sag Harbor
- 9. DiMaggio’s Trattoria, Long Island
- 10. Tweeds Restaurant & Buffalo Bar
- 11. Shiro of Japan
- 12. Montauk Yacht Club Resort and Marina
- 13. Five Guys, Long Island
- 14. Vittorio's Restaurant and Wine Bar
- 15. Citarella, Long Island
- 16. Long Island Restaurants: Harbor Crab Co.
- 17. Lessings Inc.
- 18. Brasserie Persil, Long Island
- 19. Long Island Restaurants: Touch of Venice
- 20. H2O Seafood and Sushi, Long Island
More ideas:
The Trattoria
The Trattoria is a tiny unassuming Italian restaurant that seats twenty-eight. It is located in a small shopping center that is so popular, getting a table on a weekend is like winning the lottery. Chef and owner Steve Gallagher creates magical rustic homey Italian dishes in the open kitchen using seasonal fresh ingredients.
His appetizers are divine – try Meatballs Braised in Tomato over Polenta or Salt Cod Croquettes with Puttanesca Sauce. Pastas are all fantastic – in fact, everything on the menu is extremely satisfying and delicious. The Trattoria does not serve alcohol so bring your best wine. The food deserves no less.
532 N Country Rd, St James, NY 11780, USA, Phone: 631-584-3518
Best Things to Do on Long Island
Long Island is a popular escape for residents of the Big Apple and draws many tourists each year. The North and South Shore both offer beautiful scenery, albeit with some differences. The South Shore attracts beachgoers with its beautiful powdery sand. The North Shore on the other hand has stunning rocky bluffs that meet up with sandy beaches whose calm waters attract surfers, swimmers, and paddlers. Moving inland, you will find a wealth of well-known vineyards such as the Wolffer Estate Vineyard, Paumanok, and more. Long Island’s state parks, museums, and historical sites offer additional activities that make for an enjoyable vacation for visitors of any age and lifestyle.
American Airpower Museum
The American Airpower Museum is an aviation museum at Republic Airport in East Farmingdale. The museum sits on the former sight of Republic Aviation. The museum collection includes many artifacts from aviation history as well as a large collection of aircraft. The museum is one of the world’s only aviation museums that actually flies historical planes. The museum’s collection includes WWII aircraft such as the PBY “Catalina” and a Goodyear FG-1D “Corsair.” The museum also has an interesting civilian aircraft – the Waco UPF-7. Several jets also call the museum home, such as the F-111A “Aardvark.” In addition to the exhibits and displays, the American Airpower Museum also hosts special events and airshows from time to time.
Wolffer Estate Vineyard
The Wolffer Estate Vineyard is an incredibly beautiful winery in Sagaponack. The vineyard sits on property that was formerly a potato farm, with an old farmhouse at its center. Over time, the property has grown to include 55 acres of vineyards plus an additional 120 acres that encompass horse stables, nearly 40 indoor paddocks, an indoor jumping ring, and a Grand Prix field. The year-round tasting room is the activity center of the estate. The room features glass doors and an open stone terrace where guests can sample a variety of tasty wines while taking in the beautiful surroundings. The winery also offers private tours, which include the European-style barrel room and winery.
Queens County Farm Museum
Queens County Farm Museum is an educational working farm that features a historic farmhouse from colonial times as well as 47 acres of land that are used for sustainable agriculture. The farm often hosts educational programs and tours. The land that the Farm Museum sits on is the longest continually farmed tract of land in the state of New York. The site includes historical buildings, livestock, farm machinery, a greenhouse, and acres of planting fields, orchards, and gardens. At the farm’s Welcome Center visitors can purchase feed for the goats. Other special events include seasonal hayrides and weekend tours of the farmhouse.
Paumanok
Paumanok Vineyards is a family-owned vineyard that produces estate-grown wines. The vineyards are open to visitors throughout the year. Attractions include the tasting room, which is open for tasting and sales every day except for a few holidays. The tasting room features a selection of wine flights and the cost can be credited towards the purchase of four or more bottles of wine. Visitors can take a self-guided tour of the grounds or schedule a guided tour for a fee. There are several options for guided tours, including some very in-depth ones. Outside food is not permitted at the vineyards, but there is a small selection of food available for purchase, which can be enjoyed either indoors or on the outdoor deck.
89 North Music Venue
89 North is a popular music venue on Long Island. It is conveniently located near Main Street in Patchogue and is just a short walk away from the LIRR stop. The one-of-a-kind venue caters to local musicians and music lovers and features a state-of-the-art sound system and lights. The venue features a comfortable and classy green room above the stage to make bands feel pampered as well as two fully stocked bars serving 12 beers on tab, including many local brews. Additionally, the bars serve local wine from Long Island vineyards on tap as well as a small selection of snacks. In addition to the impressive indoor space, 89 North also has a beautiful outdoor patio.
The Leiber Collection
The Leiber Collection is a gallery that started as the desire of Gerson and Judith Leiber to display their own works of art and document their careers. The collection is housed in a Renaissance-style building and is surrounded by a sculpture garden and six other gardens that were all designed by Gerson Leiber. Some examples of special museum exhibits include an exhibit dedicated to the handbags of American First Ladies and other celebrities that were designed by Judith Leiber. The paintings, lithographs, and etchings of Gerson Leiber appear in the museum as well. The museum is open seasonally. Please check the website for further information.
SoFo
The South Fork Natural History Museum and Nature Center, or SoFo for short, is the only natural history museum on the South Fork of Long Island. The family-friendly museum offers fun for all ages. Visitors are accompanied through the exhibits by museum educators, who aide in the full experience of scientifically accurate galleries, live and recreated habitats, colorful floor-to-ceiling murals, and much more. The museum features a marine touch tank, which gives visitors the opportunity to touch and hold sea stars, crabs, whelks, and urchins. Other local species are held in tanks and aquariums for visitors to take an up-close look. In addition to the museum exhibits, SoFo provides many educational programs, both at the museum and off-site.
Lieb Cellars
Lieb Cellars is a winery on the North Fork of Long Island that produces white, red, and sparkling wines. The winery features tasting rooms in both Cutchogue and Matituck. The Cutchogue tasting room is hidden on a rural road and sits on 85 acres of vineyards. It features a rustically styled indoor tasting bar as well as a furnished outdoor deck that overlooks the scenic farm. There is also a private library room onsite. Guests can partake in Lieb’s award-winning wines as well as a selection of local cheeses. There are four wine flights to choose from. In addition, the tasting room often hosts live music and is a beautiful place to watch the sunset.
North Fork Tasting Room
The North Fork Tasting Room offers a stunning food and beverage experience centered around wine. The tasting room offers a large selection of wines from many East End wineries and gives guests the choice to order a glass of wine or a tasting flight. In addition to wine, the tasting room features several microbrews from local craft brewers. The food menu at North Fork is more extensive than most tasting rooms. Guests can partake in lobster rolls, sandwiches, salads, pizza, cheese boards, and other light fare while enjoying their beverage of choice. The room is situated in a 100-year-old restored barn, offering a delightful experience all around.
Southampton Historical Museum
The Southampton Historical Museum is a museum dedicated to the history of Southampton. The museum features historical artifacts, documents, and objects from the area’s early days. The property includes more than 10 historical structures which include a one-room school, a barn dating back to 1825, a turn of the century paint store, and quite a few others. Several of the buildings are available for tours and some of them offer demonstrations in historical craft making. The year-round museum features changing exhibits as well that are dedicated to a variety of historic topics. Additionally, Southampton Historical Museum often hosts special events and educational programming for children and adults.
Caleb Smith State Park Preserve
Caleb Smith State Park Preserve is a state park in Suffolk County. The park is located near the beautiful north shore of Long Island and is one of only two state nature preserves on the island. The park features 543 acres of natural landscapes and habitats, which offer beautiful scenery and views. The property features a newly renovated museum with natural history and wildlife exhibits. There are several rare plants that grow in the preserve as well. Popular park activities include hiking, fly fishing, birdwatching cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing. The park offers nature programs for children from ages 3 and up as well as several family and adult programs. Programs are available by reservation only.
Cold Spring Harbor Whaling Museum
The Cold Spring Harbor Whaling Museum and Education Center is a maritime museum that explores the local history and the impact of the whaling industry. Additionally, the museum features exhibits related to the sea-faring history of Long Island and the relationship between its people and the ocean. The museum features about 6,000 artifacts and historical documents that come from several Long Island whaling towns, including Cold Spring Harbor. Throughout the year, the museum hosts a wide variety of special educational events, talks, and exhibitions that may include lectures, film showings, performances, and other special events.
Luna Park in Coney Island
Luna Park in Coney Island is a unique historical amusement park. The park has been a favorite among New Yorkers for a very long time. In fact, the ride called the Coney Island Cyclone debuted in 1927. This particular ride is the most iconic Coney Island ride and features 2,640 feet of track including 12 drops. There are many other rides as well as a beachfront boardwalk with retail shops and vendors selling popular, drool-worthy amusement park food such as cotton candy, nachos, hotdogs, and more. The park is a fun place for kids to visit and a place for adults to become kids again.
Heckscher Museum of Art
The Heckscher Museum is a small, local gallery that features a selection of changing exhibits dedicated to American art. The museum’s collection includes European and American art from the 19th to the 21st centuries with a special emphasis on American landscape painting, especially those by Long Island artists. The museum also has a quite robust collection of American and European modernist works as well as a few paintings by European masters. The museum is located in scenic Heckscher Park and is within walking distance of downtown restaurants and shops. Additionally, the museum hosts programs for students and other visitors of all ages throughout the year.
Horton Point Lighthouse
Horton Point Lighthouse is a lighthouse on the north side of Eastern Long Island. The lighthouse was built in 1857 and sits 60 feet above the Long Island Sound on a bluff. The lighthouse is white with a black lantern and copper dome. Horton Point Lighthouse is one of seven historical lighthouses that are located in Southold Township. The lighthouse is open daily for public tours and features several displays of lighthouse artifacts as well as keeper biographies. The gift shop sells a variety of historical books, souvenirs, and other items related to the area and the Horton Point Lighthouse itself.
Long Island Museum
The Long Island Museum of American Art, History, and Carriages is popularly known by the shortened name – the Long Island Museum. The museum exhibits are displayed across several buildings that sit on nine acres in historic Stony Brook. The Visitor Center and History Museum features the ticket booth, a gift corner as well as exhibits on American history and art. Other museum spaces on the grounds include the Mrs. Frank Melville Gardens and the Dorothy and Ward Melville Carriage House, which now holds the Carriage Museum, displaying more than 100 horse-drawn carriages in 10 galleries. The grounds are home to many historical buildings showing what life was like in the second half of the 19th century.
Parrish Art Museum
The Parrish Art Museum is an art museum in Water Mill that is dedicated to American art. The museum’s exhibits have a special emphasize on the East End of Long Island. The museum is known as a cultural center in the area and features many permanent and traveling art exhibits in a variety of mediums. The museum has a small cafe selling snacks and beverages including alcohol with dining areas both indoors and on the outdoor terrace. The Parrish Art Museum store is located just inside the main lobby and offers a selection of creative art-inspired pieces, books, and apparel.
Planting Fields Arboretum
Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park is a New York state park and arboretum that comprises more than 400 acres. The park includes the Coe Hall Historic House Museum, which is a 65-room Tudor revival mansion that is open for tours during the warmer months. The grounds of the arboretum are carefully manicured and are beautiful all year round. Planting Fields offers a variety of educational programs for visitors of all ages. The site features an interactive sensory garden where guests can touch, smell, listen, taste, and see their way through a variety of multi-sensory plant installations. The arboretum is a popular wedding location and can be rented for private events.
Prospect Park Zoo
The Prospect Park Zoo is a 12-acre zoological park in Brooklyn. The zoo has been in operation since 1935 with another zoo, the Menagerie, operating in the same spot beforehand. The zoo is home to approximately 630 animals from more than 100 species. The animals are presented in three different exhibitions including the World of Animals, Animal Lifestyles, which is an indoor exhibit, and Animals in our Lives, which is a set of exhibits related to the relationships between humans and animals. Additionally, the zoo offers educational programming for children as well as a wildlife theater. The zoo is home to the Discovery Center, which is a building with classrooms and labs that are designed to introduce children to the science of zoology.
Robert Moses State Park
Robert Moses State Park is a state park that encompasses 875 acres in the southern part of Suffolk county. The park is located on the beachfront on the most western end of Fire Island. The park is easily accessible both by car and by public transportation. The beach is swimmer friendly and has four lifeguard-staffed stands. Popular activities include swimming, boogie-boarding, surfing, and surf fishing. Each of the lifeguard stands is near a concession area, with first aid services, showers, and beach shops. Several of the areas have picnic tables and grills. The park also features a pitch and putt golf course, volleyball court, playground, and a ¾-mile nature walk.
Sag Harbor Whaling Museum
The Sag Harbor Whaling Museum is dedicated to the town’s history as a busy whaling port. The museum is home to the state’s largest collection of whaling equipment. Equipment that is on display in the museum includes guns, flensing knives, try pots, bubble spades, and more from whaling ships. Additionally, there is a collection of scrimshaw carvings, which were carved onto whale ivory. A variety of shipbuilding tools, whale vertebrae, and harpoons are also found in the museum’s exhibits. The walls feature pieces of art, such as paintings based on 19th century whale hunts and other whale-related subjects.
Sagamore Hill
Sagamore Hill is the former home of the 26th President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt. The president lived at Sagamore Hill from 1885 until he died in 1919. During his presidential term, the home was known as his “Summer White House.” People come to the park not only for its historical significance but also for its stunning beauty. The park has more than 80 acres of forests, salt marsh, meadows, and beaches. The park is home to several small species of wildlife such as turtles, birds, frogs, and small mammals. The pet-friendly nature trails provide a relaxing way to enjoy the outdoors. Other popular activities include birdwatching and picnicking at the park’s public picnic area.
Smith Point County Park
Smith Point County Park is a park on the Atlantic beachfront on the east end of Fire Island. The park is the largest public park in Suffolk County and is a popular destination for beach lovers and surfers. Accommodation options include a campground that has sites with electricity and water hook-ups as well as first-come first-served beach camping. The park is home to the TWA Flight 800 International Memorial, which memorializes the TWA flight that crashed at sea in 1996, just 14 miles away from the park. The memorial includes 14 flags from the victims’ countries as well as a black granite stone memorial with the names carved on one side.
Sunken Meadow State Park
Sunken Meadow State Park is a 1,287-acre state park in Suffolk County on Long Island’s north shore. The park is a haven for people who love the outdoors and offers seemingly endless recreational opportunities. The park features one of the most popular picnic areas on Long Island. The 3 miles of beachfront offer family-friendly swimming in the calm waters of the Sound and other water activities such as canoeing, kayaking, paddleboarding and windsurfing. Visitors can hike the park’s nature trails, which join up with the Long Island Greenbelt trail. For a less strenuous walk, many visitors enjoy strolling the ¾-mile boardwalk. In the winter, the park is a popular cross-country skiing destination.