If your summer bucket list involves sipping tropical cocktails on the water, New York City’s waterfront dining scene just dropped the ultimate game changer.
Floating right at Brooklyn Bridge Park Pier 6, a retired 1960s FDNY fireboat that once operated during the JFK era has officially been reborn as a stunning floating bar: Fireboat. But there are no active firefighting duties aboard today–instead, you’ll find bartenders serving drinks and fire hoses dispensing them.
Here’s everything you need to know about NYC’s hottest new summer destination.
🔥 Drinks dispensed straight from old fire hoses
The vibe aboard Fireboat is pure “escape-the-city-without-really-escaping-the-city.” The beverage program leans heavily into tropical, waterfront-inspired flavors designed for hot summer days. Think:
- Island Cocktails: Like the Smoke on the Water (Mezcal, banana, lime, and Hellfire bitters)
- Refreshing Spritzes & Crisp Bubbles
- Summery Wines & Frosty Beers on Ice
In an exciting twist, the boat leans fully into its maritime history, dispensing draft drinks from actual fire hose-turned-taps.
🦐 Caribbean-Inspired Bites & Golden Hour Views
To pair with the drinks, Fireboat is serving up a laid-back menu of Caribbean-inspired bar bites perfect for sharing. Expect a menu featuring:
- Ceviche
- Cod hushpuppies
- BBQ prawn skewers
- Jerk chicken sandwiches
- Piña colada ice cream
Aside from the menu, the real draw is the unobstructed, panoramic views of New York Harbor and Lower Manhattan. It easily offers some of the best golden hour vistas in Brooklyn, making it the prime spot to catch those legendary, late-night NYC summer sunsets.
(Note: Fireboat is temporarily replacing Pilot, the beloved schooner currently undergoing restoration.)
⚓ The Crew Legacy: Experts In Waterfront Dining
If this concept feels incredibly polished, that’s because it comes from Crew, the legendary hospitality team behind some of NYC’s most iconic waterfront experiences.
For over twenty years, Crew has specialized in bringing forgotten waterfronts back to life by restoring historic vessels. You likely already know them from their massive hits, including:
- Grand Banks: Pier 25’s iconic floating oyster bar, named “The Absolute Best Waterfront Restaurant in New York” by New York Magazine
- Yacht Club: The Chelsea waterfront hangout that took the city by storm last year
- Island Oyster (replaced this year by Six Coasts) & Holywater: Award-winning concepts celebrated by Vogue, The New York Times, and the James Beard Foundation
With Fireboat, they’ve spent years painstakingly restoring a piece of NYC history (having reportedly acquired the vessel in a 2016 auction) to create the ultimate maritime hangout.
⛴️ Know before you go
- What: Fireboat
- Where: Brooklyn Bridge Park Pier 6 (Northwest end near Columbia Street)
- When: Monday–Friday: 4 pm – 12 am | Saturday–Sunday: 12 pm – 12 am (now through October)
- Good to Know: The bar is entirely outdoors and weather-dependent, so it will not open during inclement weather
While you’re in the area be sure to also check out Concrete Shoals, a brand new floating cottage bar at Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Pier 5!
