Island Oyster
Permanently Closed
Outdoor seafood restaurant with oysters, lobster rolls & cocktails
Outdoor seafood restaurant with oysters, lobster rolls & cocktails
"Island Oyster has the best mix of atmosphere and food on the island, and you should plan on getting at least a half dozen bivalves here. This place is from the Grand Banks team, and the long bar on the waterfront makes you feel like you’re at a beach resort, but one with panoramic views of downtown Manhattan. Get a spritz, fresh oysters, and an above-average lobster roll while you weigh the pros and cons of cooling off by way of a dunk in the East River (please don’t actually jump in)." - will hartman, kenny yang
"Unless you have a kayak or a thick wetsuit—and the knowledge of how to safely swim in heavily polluted waters—you’ll also need to take a boat to get to Island Oyster. This entirely outdoor spot on Governors Island is essentially just one big, long bar, and it comes from the team behind Pilot and Grand Banks. Grab a couple dozen oysters and a few colorful cocktails, and then take a seat and stare across the water at downtown Manhattan." - willa moore, bryan kim, neha talreja, matt tervooren, molly fitzpatrick
"Let’s face it - after a couple of drinks and a few hours in the sun, any plans you had to be productive later aren’t going to happen. So you may as well make a day of it. Take the ferry to Governors Island, and hang out on the water at Island Oyster. Get oysters and wine at a table overlooking downtown, and then walk around the giant, all-outdoor space, and play some cornhole or ping-pong with strangers." - bryan kim, matt tervooren
"It’s great to be on the water in the summer. It puts everyone in a better mood, and removes all traces of hot trash smell from the air. Go to Island Oyster, and you’ll get an extra dose of that fresh air on the ferry to Governor’s Island. Because it takes a bit more work to get to, this usually isn’t as much of a zoo as most places on the water in Manhattan. You might still have to wait a little for a table, but you’ll be rewarded with a lobster roll, oysters, and an amazing view of downtown." - matt tervooren
"When a lease opened on Governor's Island in 2017, they moved quickly to establish Island Oyster there, bringing their oyster-and-waterfront concept to the island." - Paul Greenberg
