Top Spots to Eat, Stay, and Explore in NYC’s South Street Seaport

Manhattan’s South Street Seaport has evolved significantly from its origins as a Native American trading hub; it once served as the foremost U.S. port for trade with Europe and China and was home to the iconic Fulton Fish Market, which sold a quarter of the nation's seafood during its peak in the 1920s. Following the devastation of Superstorm Sandy in 2012—flooding basements, disrupting power and phone services, and damaging stores and restaurants—real estate developer Howard Hughes Corporation revitalized the area, transforming Pier 17 into a vibrant center with stunning views of the Brooklyn Bridge and summer concerts along the water.

Today, the Seaport has become a go-to destination for locals seeking brunch at Sunday in Brooklyn, a casual meal at Mister Dips, an upscale seafood dinner with a waterfront view at the Fulton, and shopping and dining at Jean-Georges’ impressive 53,000-square-foot culinary hub, the Tin Building.

Here’s how to fully enjoy your visit to one of New York’s most charming neighborhoods, perfect for a leisurely stroll on a summer or fall day.

Top Activities in South Street Seaport

South Street Seaport Museum

Nestled within the historic Schermerhorn Row, a collection of 12 brick warehouses built in 1811, the South Street Seaport Museum offers insights into the captivating history of this neighborhood. Among the exhibits is the delightful, interactive display Seaport Discovery: Exploring Our Waters with Eric Carle, showcasing the children's book illustrator's use of color and pattern through immersive murals and engaging activities (available until spring 2024). Be sure to join tours of the museum’s 1908 lightship, Ambrose, and its tall ship, the Wavertree. If you're lucky, you might also take part in special painting parties, vinyasa yoga sessions, and sea chantey sing-alongs aboard the Wavertree.

25 Fulton Street

The exhibit The Birth of Punk, running through August 31 at a pop-up gallery at 25 Fulton Street, presents a captivating journey through the emergence of Punk and the city that nurtured it. The display features period black-and-white photographs of iconic figures like Patti Smith, Iggy Pop, Debbie Harry, and Lou Reed, along with album covers, videos, and an audio guide featuring a punk soundtrack.

Manhattan By Sail

It's no surprise that there are various sailing options available here. Among the most unique is Manhattan By Sail, a replica of a 19th-century lumber schooner. Options include daytime cruises past the Statue of Liberty, sunset sails with drinks from a full bar, a harbor lights cruise showcasing New York’s iconic skyline, as well as craft beer, wine, jazz, and burlesque cruises.

The Rooftop at Pier 17

Boasting stunning views of the Brooklyn Bridge and the Lower Manhattan skyline, The Rooftop at Pier 17 is a picturesque location for outdoor concerts through late October. Upcoming artists include Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit (September 1 and 2) and Zach Bryan (September 27), among others.

IPIC Fulton Market

The IPIC movie theater at the seaport features à la carte dining right in your seat, offering a variety of options from burgers and pizzas to fish and chips, along with a dedicated cocktail bar.

Hester Street Fair

Named after a Lower East Side street settled by Eastern European Jewish immigrants, the Hester Street Fair hosts weekend outdoor markets until early November. Vendors showcase an array of vintage thrift items, denim, smoking accessories, personalized jewelry, children’s eyewear and streetwear, as well as delicious baked goods and other treasures.

Dining and Drinking Options at South Street Seaport

Pier 17 offers a variety of dining and drinking choices, starting with its rooftop, where the restaurant The Greens features an all-day menu. You can reserve a 10-foot-by-10-foot mini-lawn for up to eight people, complete with a sun umbrella and lawn chairs, making it the perfect spot to enjoy a red velvet specialty cocktail, a slow-roasted brisket sandwich, and live music or a DJ.

On the ground floor of Pier 17, there’s a diverse array of restaurants and bars. Malibu Farm New York, the local branch of the California eatery, focuses on farm-to-table dishes. Don’t miss the cauliflower pizza, pan-seared chicken with aji verde sauce and chili oil, and the stunning Malibu vegan salad, featuring seasonal greens, tomatoes, squash, cucumber, haricots verts, and avocado, drizzled with red wine vinaigrette.

Renowned Korean American chef David Chang relocated his East Village restaurant Momofuku Ssäm Bar to Pier 17 last year. This lively venue includes private karaoke rooms, a patio, and indoor dining with tabletop grills for an interactive Korean barbecue experience. We highly recommend the hamachi appetizer, runner bean salad with buttermilk, horseradish, and duck yolk, as well as the sizzling bavette steak.

Also located on the ground floor is The Fulton, the first seafood restaurant from Jean-Georges Vongerichten, the French-born chef who has established a culinary empire across 12 countries worldwide.

Adjacent to The Fulton is Dante Seaport, the waterside location of West Village bar Dante, named the best bar in the world in 2019 by The World’s 50 Best Bars. Be sure to visit the Negroni bar, offering 10 unique variations of this classic aperitif.

Chef Andrew Carmellini operates two restaurants at Pier 17: Carne Mare, an Italian chophouse, and Mister Dips, which offers griddle burgers, waffle fries, and seasonal dairy dips.

Sunday in Brooklyn, a popular eatery from Williamsburg, has two locations at 19 Fulton Street. One serves classic American dishes like pancakes with hazelnut maple praline, steak and eggs, and a hot chicken sandwich; the other, the outdoor Makitiki, features Japanese hand rolls and tropical cocktails through the fall.

Shopping at South Street Seaport

The biggest retail and dining highlight at the seaport this summer is the launch of the Tin Building. This 53,000-square-foot culinary marketplace by Jean-Georges is housed in a reconstructed version of the 1907 Fulton Fish Market, which relocated to the Bronx in 2005 after operating on Fulton Street since 1822. The marketplace features over 20 restaurants, bars, and fast-casual dining options, alongside an Asian retail market, a specialty grocery, and vendors of fresh seafood and sweets. Nearly 40 percent of the retail products are sourced locally. The Tin Building is open from Wednesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Funny Face Bakery

This whimsical bakery located at 6 Fulton Street specializes in delightful meme-inspired cookies and custom portrait cookies, as well as a “City Slicker Starter Pack” featuring cookies shaped like the Statue of Liberty and other iconic New York symbols.

McNally Jackson

This location of the independent bookstore boasts over 65,000 titles spread across two floors in Schermerhorn Row, complete with a bar and café.

Bowne and Co.

Founded in 1775, Bowne is New York’s longest-running business under the same name—a gift shop and letterpress print shop managed by the South Street Seaport Museum, located in an 1839 cast-iron stove warehouse at 211 Water Street. In 1975, it collaborated with the museum to establish its shop, offering paper products, books, museum merchandise, and custom-designed notecards and broadside posters. The shop also features on-site letterpress printing using seven historic presses from the museum's collection.

Accommodations at South Street Seaport

Mr. C Seaport

Mr C. Seaport is the 33 Peck Slip location of the Mr. C Hotels brand, established by the fourth-generation Cipriani family, renowned for their Venetian hospitality. This luxurious hotel features 66 guest rooms and suites, a Bellini Restaurant named after Cipriani’s signature cocktail, a lobby lounge and bar, and a fitness center. An unexpected delight for guests in select suites is the view of the Brooklyn Bridge from the bathtub.

AC Hotel New York Downtown

Situated at 151 Maiden Lane, this contemporary hotel showcases a flowing facade inspired by the seaport’s waters, complemented by sleek, white decor in its 274 guest rooms. The AC—a Marriott brand that originated in Madrid in 1999—provides a European-style breakfast, a lounge offering tapas and Spanish wines, and a 24-hour fitness center.

Visitors to the seaport for dining, shopping, and sightseeing should verify opening hours before visiting. For instance, the South Street Seaport Museum is open Wednesdays through Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., while Momofuku Ssäm Bar serves lunch from Friday to Sunday between 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. and dinner from Tuesday to Sunday from 5 to 10 p.m.