The Honorable William Wall
Yacht club · Jersey City ·
Floating clubhouse anchored off Ellis Island, BYO food
Floating clubhouse anchored off Ellis Island, BYO food
"The Honorable William Wall certainly isn’t the only place in New York to drink on a docked boat, but it’s the only spot on this list that’s not docked to land. This floating houseboat is anchored off Ellis Island, and you need to take two other boats (and pay $20-30) in order to get there. But you can make up for that by taking advantage of the BYO food policy. Sit on the top deck, eat some shrimp cocktail, sushi, or whatever feels boat-worthy, and spend an afternoon closer to the Statue of Liberty than you’ve been since your sixth-grade field trip. The Honorable William Wall opens for the season on May 13th." - willa moore, bryan kim, neha talreja, matt tervooren, molly fitzpatrick
"The Honorable William Wall is a houseboat anchored off Ellis Island, and we’re positive you’ve never heard of it. In order to get here, you have to buy a $20 ticket ($30 on weekends) and take two boats. That might sound annoying, and that’s because it is. But the trip only takes about 30 minutes, and, once you arrive, you can enjoy what feels like your own private floating clubhouse. There’s an outdoor deck with tables and a bar, in addition to a little indoor area that feels like the lobby of a Holiday Inn. Most importantly, it's BYO food. The season begins May 14." - bryan kim
"Here’s another, possibly more ridiculous boat plan: bring your friends to The Honorable William Wall on Friday or Saturday. Getting to this houseboat anchored off Ellis Island takes some effort (you need to first get to the Manhattan Yacht Club in Jersey City - but the trip only takes about 30 minutes once you’re there). Upon arrival, this place feels like your own private, floating clubhouse decorated like a Holiday Inn lobby circa 1992. In addition to amazing views of Manhattan and the New York Harbor, there’s an outdoor deck with tables, astroturf, and a little bar. You can still book plenty of tickets for September 3rd and 4th. The best part? It’s BYO food. That means you can bring an entire rack of ribs. Or shrimp fried rice. Or both, in addition to 40 packs of Haribo Twin Snakes. All drinks must be purchased from the onboard bar though." - hannah albertine
"You know that scene in a movie when the hero is about to get defeated, then a third party shows up to save the day? That third party is The Honorable William Wall. It’s a floating bar anchored near Ellis Island, and it’s just sitting there, waiting to save you from the humid, crowded summertime version of NYC that tends to smell like warm garbage. In order to get here, you have to take two different boats, but it’s worth it because the view is excellent, it doesn’t get too full (because boats sink with too many people), and you can bring your own food. If you want to hang out on the equivalent of a houseboat with a fully stocked bar, start making plans. (This place opens for the season on May 11th.)" - bryan kim
"A picnic on a boat is a luxurious experience on par with having a subway car to yourself or wearing a bathrobe to brunch. Unfortunately, you usually have to own a boat in order to do this - unless you go to The Honorable William Wall. This is a houseboat anchored in the Hudson near Ellis Island, and in order to get here from Manhattan, you have to buy a $20 ticket and take two other boats. That might sound inconvenient, but it’s actually a nice little trip, and you’ll appreciate the fact that you can bring as much food as you want. So stop by the store and get a few whole lobsters, several loaves of bread, a bushel of apples, and bunch of hard-boiled eggs. Or whatever it is you bring on your picnics." - bryan kim, matt tervooren