Growing up in the Bronx, there was that special moment where the leaves would start to grow back on bare trees, you’d hear the faint sound of a Mister Softee ice cream truck in the distance and you would get a text or a call that would let you know summer was quickly approaching.
“Want to go to City Island?”
The first sign of any warmth—our very own groundhog shadow—generated a mass exodus to one of the Bronx’s most underrated treasures, City Island. A New England–esque town just a short bridge away from the bustle of the mainland, City Island holds a 1.5-mile strip full of restaurants where you can get amazing fresh seafood and locally popular drinks (if you’ve ever heard of a Henny Colada—a pina colada with Hennessy cognac in place of rum—know it got popular because of City Island). However, the quaint neighborhood is much more than seafood and drinks. Families reside off that main strip of restaurants. There’s a small-town charm that survived the massive destruction brought by Hurricane Sandy a decade ago and dates back generations.
View of the waterfront
Vibe on the Island
Once you drive over City Island Bridge (the only way on and off the island unless you have your own boat) you hit the main strip of City Island Avenue, lined with restaurants serving various cuisines but known largely for its seafood. If you are looking for popular chains like Starbucks and McDonald’s, you won’t find them. Locals, or “clamdiggers” as they like to call themselves, have fought ferociously against such development. The only franchise allowed on the island in more recent years is Dunkin’ Donuts—one assumes to make coffee more easily available to the large population of police officers, firemen and workers from nearby hospitals. There are relatively few apartments or condos—most everything (the new
The Lobster House.
Great Eats
Once you arrive on City Island, most of the restaurants are to your right, but there is a hidden gem just to the left:
For the best king crab legs (and trust me I've done my research), go to
Portofino.
If seafood is not your thing, don’t fret because this boat town caters to all food lovers. Two of my favorites are
Seafood City
Believe it or not, my go-to City Island spot isn’t one of the finer dining restaurants. The place that holds my heart, that was my first stop when I moved back to NYC after a stint in California (despite it being a bit chilly in October and not peak time on the island), is halfway down City Island Avenue, with cafeteria-style seating and a view of the sun setting on the water.
Nautical Museum
Pelham Cemetery
More Than Food
The best way to enjoy City Island is to find a parking spot and spend a few hours walking along—and around—the 1.5-mile strip. One unexpected find that I stumbled on during a summer date was
On the other side of the main road and bordering the water are the
239 Play
Back on City Island Avenue, you’ll find
Jill's Cottage.
Thanks to the pandemic, I have become a bit of a plant mom. So I like to frequent
Though City Island may not be what you picture when you think of the Bronx, you can't forget to mention it as a Bronx staple. It’s a major part of summer memories for natives of the borough and beyond, and these local spots are part of the City Island experience. A few hours on a calm day at a preserved part of NYC history is a great addition to a NYC summer itinerary.
Sioban Massiah is a multimedia content creator, strategist and producer, writer, speaker and host. A native Bronxite, she has endless New York City stories to share.