The Boat House, Lambertville

I just absolutely love this place. Any chance my husband and I get a date night, we have to go here first for drinks. The atmosphere is the perfect private, cozy, and edgy setting that makes you feel immediately relaxed. All the staff and owners treat you as if you’re the most special person in the room. And the cocktails are made by the most experienced baristas I’ve ever seen who make each drink a work of art. Trust me, you need to go! Cheers.

Let me start by saying I don't often write reviews, but when I come across a true gem, I can't help but share. This place isn’t just a hidden gem—it's more like a diamond. Nestled along the beautiful canal walk in Lambertville, NJ, the atmosphere is quiet, quaint, and incredibly inviting. The moment you step in, you feel at ease, and the ambiance sets the perfect tone for a relaxing evening. The service is exceptional—attentive, friendly, and efficient without being overbearing. Every staff member made us feel welcomed and well taken care of. One standout feature (besides EVERYTHING!!!)is their charming side HOUSE, which can be rented for private events. It even has its own bar, which adds a special touch and gives you a more intimate experience. A huge thank you to the team for letting me and my family host our event at your establishment. We truly had a wonderful time and will most definitely be returning. Highly recommend this spot to anyone looking for great service, a fantastic atmosphere, and an all-around unforgettable experience! 5 out of 5

You can sit outside, weather permitting, but a world of wonder awaits inside; especially upstairs. This is a cocktail bar no food. Best for small parties 2-4 ppl. Date spot for sure. One of the coolest cocktail bar atmospheres we’ve encountered and a complete surprise. Alittle hard to find but call them, they actually answer the phone which was refreshing!

Small cozy intimate bar - love the atmosphere and decor! So much to look at. Perfect for our anniversary - highly recommend for for a date night or small group. For those complaining about large parties not being sat, it just isn’t always not possible, but no need for a bad review. Audrey was our bartender and she was a pleasure to talk to while we enjoyed our drinks! Can’t wait to come back!! A hidden gem!

We have been to The Boathouse a few times and since the new ownership unfortunately this place is not what it used to be! This past weekend we went with friends and were excited for our friend to see the inside of the Boathouse and were told there was no room we then asked if he could just walk around to see the uniqueness since we spoke about it. So sad that the new ownership is not friendly and turning customers away

This place is an absolute gem, worth a stop all on its own if you are driving from Philly to New York like we were. We were last here in 2012 and, while it’s under new management, we found it to be exactly the same (just as we hoped). I had the best cocktail I’ve had in years (the Rower’s Reserve, which they might have invented because I’d never seen it before) but the true stars remain ambience and service. You feel like you’re at a house party, but not one of the ones where the host forces you to play charades; instead, it’s one of the ones where you can sneak away with someone to a corner with your drink, like you’re totally alone but still part of the scene. It’s magic.

Arrived at The Boathouse for a drink with my wife. We were seated outside on the patio. Waited approximately 20 minutes for a server to come out to serve us and nobody ever came out. There was probably 5-10 guests at the time in the entire restaurant. We got up and left. Went back again this weekend with a group of 11 adults (45-60 year olds) for a drink at about 9:30 PM. When we arrived she asked how many people in our party. We told her 11 people. She said that was too many people to seat. We let her know that we could split our group up 5-6 at two tables. She said, "absolutely not, too many people in your party." We left and went on with our evening. In this poor economy I am not sure how you can turn away 11 people that want to spend $8-15 each on a drink. If there is a manager or owner out there, please let us know if this is common practice. Really strange. Oh well.

Excellent cocktails and a wonderful staff. The setting is interesting and a fun place to grab a drink. I am very happy that we dropped by for a drink!

I've been up by this place so many times and I've never knew this was here further up the driveway . Quirky and cute. Met up with some friends before an event in another part of town. Everyone was Enjoying their rolling rock and some ordered wine. A wonderful time! The decor inside is very interesting! So many tchotchkes and paintings and all different kinds of nautical art. Even the bathroom was top to bottom nautical art! We sat outside . It really was a nice evening. Service was fantastic. I would come back .

Giving 3 stars out of nostalgia. Been coming to the Boat House for 20+ years and always loved its cozy, intimate, off-the-beaten-path vibe. Last fall it underwent new ownership, and although the place looks the same, the vibe has changed - much more corporate and much less welcoming. It's still tiny, but somehow it feels like a less intimate experience and has more of a "pay for your drinks, then move on" attitude. Sad. I might need to find a new favorite hang.

This is a really cool tiny bar. Hard to find but definitely worth the hunt. A must see. Tasted some great cocktails and different bottled beer. Be sure to check out both floors. Will most definitely be back next time I'm in the area.

The decor is awesome and I love the ambiance. Long story short, I think the staff need a snack and a good nap. As others have said, they were bizarrely rude. We had been there for about 40 mins when the hostess came over and told my friend and I to wrap it up. She told us they were closing early because they are just "over it". It was honestly so weird. She then put on quite a show of stomping around and sighing loudly until we left. Thanks for the bizarre yet entertaining evening!

We used to LOVE this place. It was a special little "nugget". We were so excited to return to this place. The space is still special, the mixed drinks were awful. So sad. Definitely missing the old owners. I guess you're safe with beer and wine!

***4 1/2 stars*** This is my new favorite place in Lambertville. My top tier chums and I had about half an hour to kill before our dinner reservations, so we stopped here first to kill some time and have a nip. After a few minutes, we called up the restaurant and pushed our reservations back - if that's not a ringing endorsement of this establishment, I don't know what is. We came here last Saturday around 5:30pm. One of my chums had done a bit of research on potential spots beforehand (we didn't do a lot of that, but it paid off here), and thought I'd like it because of the kitsch and the hidden gem appeal. It has both of those in droves. I grew up about 20 minutes north of Lambertville, and it was...odd to have trouble locating a business. After a few minutes of furrowing our brows at Google Maps, we figured it out and found it behind another business - but be aware that there are NO signs for this place. You have to earn your navigation badge into this establishment for sure. My first impression upon sitting down in their outdoor section was that it reminded me of some of the fun beachy dive bars in Folly Beach, SC (think Chico Feo, if you're familiar with that area) - it definitely has a South, mellow vibe going for it. We were waited on by I assume one of the proprietors (a striking resemblance to Mia Farrow), who was attentive and easy to hail down when needed. We all selected items from the cocktail menu, which was probably half classics (think Old Fashioneds and Margaritas) and then half edgier stuff. I of course went for the edgy, and selected (I THINK) the Cottager. I noticed a fellow patron several feet away sipping one and decided that I too needed to sip on something purple. It was pretty good; honestly though, it tasted a LITTLE too much like Snuggle detergent, so I just can't commit to a full-throated endorsement here. And no, I really don't have a clue what specific ingredient would have created that taste, but also keep in mind we're not 100% positive that's the drink I had either. Before we left, one of my chums went to use the bathroom. When she came back she told me I HAD to go inside and get a look around. Boy. There's a lot to take in. It certainly does feel like a boathouse, and without the proprietor pointing me in the right direction, I don't have a clue how long it would have taken to find the bathroom (which sort of feels like a speakeasy within a speakeasy situation). The bathroom was up in the attic/loft area, and like everything else in the building is absolutely covered with nautical-themed shizzle. I enjoyed gazing upon a picture of Tom Cruise and Paul Newman out on a little boat, which presumably was taken while they were filming The Color of Money (1986). I'm absolutely coming back, but I might set my sights on a cocktail that doesn't remind me of the laundromat.

We had a great time grabbing cocktails at this hidden gem. My brother suggested this bar, and it did not disappoint. We arrived early, not knowing when it would get crowded on a Friday. Server and bartender were super friendly and knowledgeable. Cocktails were strong and on point! Look for the porkyard and Hamilton's grill...

Amazing low key, speakeasy-ish cocktail bar. Ambience is like a boat bar, cigar bar, and speak easy with antique furniture for seating. Well rounded cocktail, beer, wine list. Service was prompt and friendly.

Tis a real bar. I like it. Not a lot of space downstairs but they were perfectly happy to give me a table earlyish on a Saturday and serve me a proper Manhattan.

This hole in the wall is worth the search if you love funky bars. It's across from Brian's (formerly Hamilton's Grill), which is down a little alley near the canal. Sit upstairs and you may feel like you're revisiting your fav college bar. Amazing service and all the classic cocktails: lemon drop, sidecar, manhattan, margarita....

Amazing cocktails! This spot is off the main road and tucked away, so a little hard to find. There are only a handful of table inside, but it's worth it for the ambience and drinks!

No parking. Off the beaten path.. the hostess jumps you before you get in and tell you they are full and you can't hang out outside, open tables. We come back 30 minutes later, 9:30, told they are closed. Who closes at 9:30 on a Friday night. Bullshit bar had people sitting and drinking just wanted a drink.. rude asshats..

This was such a unique bar experience. The drinks are fabulous and the service was wonderful. You feel right at home, so comfortable and intimate. I would recommend!

Great place to hang out and grab a few drinks. The scenery was great and despite the hot temperatures if felt nice sitting in the shade. Only problem was my drink although looked good was not made well. Would try again but hopefully with a different bartender.

I'm glad I stumbled upon this very unique and cozy, intimate bar.It's a hidden gem located on Coryell St. just down the road from Finkle's Hardware Store and the Porkyard. They do not accept reservations. I really feel this is a word of mouth establishment and for a good reason. If your looking for a place to have a couple of well made old fashioned style drinks like a Manhattan, a Sidecar,Martini,wine or beer then the Boathouse is the place. It's a nice spot to come with a date, or meet a couple of friends to catch up, or family. (This is not a place for children or large groups because it's very small.) I had to walk down a long path to get to this ecentric and unique bar in Lambertsville. The first building has a small bar with nautical themed replicas like miniature boats, compasses, navigational equipment and everything that pertains to ships or a nautical theme.There is an upstairs with limited capacity for sitting inside, and the rooms are small but very cozy so I couldn't sit in the first building, it was full. I didn't mind because the second building was right next door, and it was available and open for sitting and getting drinks. I came early around 4p when they open. Outside there are plenty of tables and chairs and a covered tent for outdoor seating. Upon entering the 2nd building, there is also a small bar that is fully stocked and there's a few tables up in front, and then you go through another door to the back room and there's a few more tables with a long window that looks out into the yard. The room itself is very dark.It's a very comfortable, and relaxing atmosphere.You feel like you're in your grandma's home drinking growup classic cocktails. Hidden behind a door that looks like a closet, is a nice size single bathroom. The Boat House doesn't serve food.It's best to come here for drinks and then make a reservation at a nearby restaurant, or come after dinner for a nightcap. The staff was so very nice and accommodating. There is one server for every couple of tables. My server made some good recommendations when I asked her about wine. She recommended a French Pinot noir that was absolutely delicious, and my friend ordered a Manhattan. This is definitely my new favorite place to come and have a couple of drinks.

It a cute, cozy, small and quiet place to grab a drink before dinner. I really liked the decor and the drinks were good.

The Boat House is like a bar out of a trashy book. This secluded spot is festooned in so much nautical-themed bric-à-brac you'll feel seasick (witness: a massive whaling harpoon hung on the ceiling above stairs inlaid with the names of past admirals). The drinks are Navy Strength. And the clientele seems to be exclusively older divorcées. It's a whole vibe.

What a perfect spot to meet friends for a drink before heading off to your dinner destination. Tucked back off the main drag, with parking hard to find (no shit, Sherlock), is this cozy, warm and fuzzy, antique-y, yester-year bar, with outdoor seating, pleasant service and great cocktails. This will become a regular stop for you, before or after dinner, when you are in the area.

Tiny bar kind if hard to find. Its a small building to the right when you enter the alley. Google maps show it to the left. They have a small drink menu. The meters out front only give you 15 minutes per quarter. There is an upstairs thats where the bathroom is.

Most adorable cocktail bar in the area! There are an assortment of very delicious cocktails to choose from, and a quaint inside seating area inside upstairs or downstairs, or in the backyard. This place is a must-go when you're walking around town! The decor inside the Boat House is so nautical and unique! I love to look at all of the cool stuff on the walls when I'm there. Great spot!

The ambiance and drinks were 5 out of 5. All the drinks we tried were amazing and definitely something we would come back for. If you want to grab a cocktail or two before a dinner reservation you won't find better tasting drinks. The reason I'm giving the review 3 stars is the service. This was our first time coming here, we met friends upstairs, and we were never told there isn't cellphone usage on the second floor. It was my wife's birthday and she got a call from a friend and answered, the waitress oddly starred at her two feet away for about a or so before saying there's no cellphones and told her she needed to get off of it. My wife said sorry someone was just calling to wish her a happy birthday and the waitress wished her a happy birthday and then said you still can't be on your phone. I would want to give this a lower star rating because it was an avoidable instance and I believe handled rudely, but this was just a split second in our visit and everything else was amazing.

The atmosphere was just wonderful. It was so inviting and cozy especially upstairs. Service was amazing and it was just a nice escape from the day! We will definitely be coming back!

Teeny hidden gem down an alley (The Pork Yard) in historic Lambertville stacked floor to ceiling with boating ephemera, plants, model boats and everything nautical in between. Great for a date, aperitif or Sunday slow down just to re-center your otherwise hectic soul. My favorite bar, bar none.

Just like the name suggests, The Boathouse pays homage to all things boat related with old rustic characterful charm. Walking into the small hidden gem, the walls are covered head to toe with antique paintings, tin steins, hanging boats, navy signs and more. On a holiday weekend, I went with a group of 4 for after dinner drinks and although it's Sunday the place is packed. Sedate, quiet, elegant with jazz music playing and a hefty wine pour (approx $10 a glass), I walked out incredibly relaxed and pleased with our stay.

This is one of my top 5 favorite bars in the world. It's that unique. The drinks are great and food is way above average.

Cool hidden bar. Not a lot of seating. Very old school place with a lot to look at. The drinks are good but very pricey! No food served.

Great pre dinner bar Bartender knew his stuff quintessential Lambertville establishment thanks

5* but don't tell anyone! Shhhhhhhh. We came after if you like jazzy jazz and chilkin' with your besties, before grabbing a bite to eat in town - DON'T go there!!!

We came here on the first night of an autumn get-away weekend, and it was the perfect way to get it going. Great drinks, excellent service, nice people. Loved the atmosphere; extremely comfortable and inviting place, could have stayed there all night! I also like that it was so out-of-the-way. You had to work a little to find it; a bit like a speak-eazy. The only reason I did not give five stars is their lack of snacks; I get that they don't serve food, but they could have a couple more options other than crushed pretzels.

What a unique place. Warm, cozy, and comfortable. No craft beer here. This place is all about craft cocktails. We were lucky enough to get a spot on the couch upstairs. The room is set up to provide intimate conversation settings for tables of two but it didn't take very long before everyone was talking with everyone. It became our own little cocktail party. It is the go to spot for great drinks and great conversation in the area. The only problem is everyone else knows it too. So get there early!

My husband and I just enjoyed a great day in the area, wine tasting and dinner, then I saw the Yelp reviews for this place and the pictures were great! I was pretty excited for a well made old fashioned. I walked through the first door, and the hostess opened the second door and as I went to step in, she stopped me abruptly and explained that there wasn't much seating available and maybe I'd like to go to the "cottage" instead. I looked inside through the glass, and there were at least 8 open seats on the first floor that I could see. Not including the bar seating. I don't know where the cottage was, but I just explained that I'd like to come in and have a drink. At this moment, I wasn't really catching onto what happened just then. She was blocking the doorway while convincing me that we were not welcomed. She reluctantly let me in, with a dry "okkkkk" as she moved away from the door. My husband and I are African American. I am biracial. There weren't any other people that looked like us there and it was obvious the hostess was uncomfortable. I wasn't upset, I wasn't angry, I was just very very sad. It's not something that I think about often, or focus all my energy on because I know it exists and will continue to exist. I guess in my naivety, I just didn't see it coming and it shocked me. I sat down, ordered a drink, and a tear dropped... I felt uncomfortable, even thought to leave and not spend my money there but I couldn't move. My husband and I had two drinks each as we chatted, wished the couple sitting next to us a great evening, thanked the bartender and left. Just a word of advice for the hostess, have the same smile on your face for all patrons that come to your establishment. I watched the interactions as people arrived and the place filled up and she smiled and accommodated everyone who came to the door with a warm welcome. Other than that, the decor is beautiful, the Old Fashioned's were good. Our waitress was attentive and I can appreciate the no cellphone policy to encourage conversation. I'd like to say that I'd come back, and I'd hope I'd receive a different welcoming. I hope.....

Excellent food, service and sunset views. Been there many times and never disappointed. Looking forward to our next trip!

Friendly, charming and kind of nicely tucked away. A true gem. Went there for drinks and sat outside.

This place is so cute! Last bar I went to before the quarantine started and I can't wait to go back once this is over. Great vibe!!

Went to the Boat House last night for the first time with another couple for pre dinner drinks and loved it!! We sat inside until a table opened up outside and the nautical/crew theme is great. It was a beautiful night so we were happy to sit on the patio but the inside would be awesome and cozy on a cold or rainy night. I got the lemon drop cocktail which was really good and my husband got a margarita which he also liked. They don't have any food so just be prepared for drinks only, however I was starving so they provided a basket of pretzels to snack on. We will definitely be back.

This back alley treasure is one of my favorite places to sit back and have a sidecar or gin gimlet, or a bottle of Sam Smith. The seafaring themes and cozy, mini-house is an intimate setting. It's great to just have a few drinks and hang with friends before or after a dinner at one of Lambertville's many excellent restaurants.

Honestly, when I moved to New Hope I thought The Boat House was one of the coolest places ever, especially since it was hidden and not many people know about it. I've had some great experiences there, but every time I go I get very poor service. The place itself is so cool with awesome vibes but the service is SO DISAPPOINTING. you walk in, they don't make you feel welcome. Some lady served my friend and I pretzels that she touched with her bare hands. Another time I got yelled at for moving a chair over two feet in order to sit around the table with the people I was with. What am I supposed to do, sit alone??? Anyway, unfortunately I won't be going back there ever again or anytime soon. I would also like to add that I had the worst hangover of my existence the last time I was there. Thanks!

Hostess is completely rude and unwelcoming. She basically chased us out of the place. They only want locals and regulars here. If you are out of towners- don't come here. If you don't know the secret handshake don't come here. Give the other great local places your business! Plenty of fun spots nearby.

Great atmosphere to this eclectic hideaway bar, but this is not a good place to go if you have more than 4-6 people in your party. Various old chairs and tables with pictures on the ceiling make for a really cool hangout. This would be a better place to go on a date for a drink or two before dinner.

What a great spot for a before or after dinner drink - especially if dinner is at Hamilton's Grill Room. Reminded us of a small bar we frequented when living in Avon lake, Ohio, called Close Quarters - but more upscale. The decorating theme is definitely nautical and the bar only seats 5 or 6 patrons. We just happened to walk in at the right time and found 4 empty stools. As indicated in other reviews, this place is quite special and, thankfully, off the beaten path. I am looking forward to enjoying a glass of wine on the patio when the weather turns warmer. I didn't go upstairs but my brother-in-law did and echoed the positive comments in other reviews. Good prices and good wine pours along with conversation with the bartender as he made drinks was a great. It was nice to just sit there at the bar and not have 3 or 4 TVs in your face. Conversation - what a nice concept!

5 stars for cool ambience. 3 for drinks. 1 for the server. The server has been there awhile, something about her personality for table service just doesn't work. She came over to our table asking what we wanted to drink yet hadn't shared menus. This is the same approach I was greeted with before from her. It's cool to just do classic drinks, but it's worth sharing the menu. And how about be warm and friendly? Drinks. I had an OF. Not all OFs come w cherries. I find it depends on the bartender. But if you're going to do cherries, luxardo over maraschino - period. End of story. My OF was just okay. They default to Makers Mark... eh, ok. They do get the margarita right. Ambience and private tucked away location keeps this place cool.

I love this little bar! It is off the beaten path but not to missed! The cocktails they make here are top notch. When my husband and I are in the mood for a cocktail this is almost always where we end up going. Try their margaritas- you wont regret it.

I have been to The Boat House five times in the past, say, 10 years. Ambiance is very cool, which is why I have patronized this joint. It's a bit unclean, however. And, the bartender and most of the wait staff are rude and condescending, always have been. (Unique atmosphere, up to this point, trumped the rudeness......) Went there this weekend with some friends, after dining up the street... we walked in, and as usual the pompous staff attitudes were apparent. We turned around and walked out before ordering a drink. Can't deal with that any longer. That's the last time I will set foot in that place. Sayonara forever, Boathouse Buttheads! Get a life you pompous creeps!

Eclectic nautical decor and a knowledgeable and fast moving bartender make this an ideal refreshment oasis. Excellent old fashioned, it's intimate with not a lot of room. One bathroom, so admire the wall to ceiling art while you wait.

I'd give it no stars if I could. What a joke of a place. We've been coming to Lambertville for years and always thought we should give this place a try with all of the good reviews we see. Well we did, and how sorry were we. We walked in and the bartender was non vocal and very cold. We said to him, "we've been coming here for years and always wanted to try this place and now we did". No words to us, not even a smile. We were the only customers here. The place is the size of a shoebox. They had some cool memorabilia but it had cob webs all over them. It was filthy. He was washing glasses by dipping them in soapy water. Ugh! We ordered a margarita and got out of there real fast because he started staring at us non stop. Wtf? This place a disgusting.

The Boat House is an intimate, quiet place that seems like a place out of time. Stepping past the ivy-covered walls and into the small first floor filled with old boating memorabilia, you feel like you've stepped back in time. The staff was very friendly and the drinks were very well made. The outdoor patio is as delightful as the indoor space. It's a little tough to find, tucked down an alley, but it is worth a little searching.

Nice place to get a cocktail. My old fashioned was well made. We enjoyed sitting at the bar and watching the bartender make drinks. They request that you don't use your cell phone so that people entertain each other with conversation or a board game. Made for a cool way to kill time and let traffic die down after the fireworks.

Other then the abrasive, abusive and nasty wait staff (not all, but most) the place is relaxing and really enjoyable to go with friends. The wood stove and wonderful seating arrangement ad to the fun decor. It's cozy relaxing and I recommend it to everyone looking to have drinks, meet new people and share conversation. (again, only if your able to put the wait staffs behavior out of your mind...they believe your evening is about them, not you) I was yelled at..Yes, yelled at by a waitress for, very politely, asking when I would be getting my drink. Her response was so odd it came off as mentally ill...I'm not joking here!

We spent a cozy couple of hours upstairs, drinking bloody marys and playing cards. The drinks were good, the staff was pleasant, and a good time was had by all.