Frying Pan

The Frying Pan, one of the best waterfront restaurants in NYC, has a few things going for it. The entire outdoor area has nice views and plenty of seating, and it is on the Hudson River. Technically, it's also on a boat. However, spending time here has more in common with attending a frat party on a decommissioned tugboat than it does with sipping Champagne on a yacht with Rihanna. Every time the weather is even remotely agreeable, you can count on long lines and having to wait too long once you're on board to get a plastic cup of beer.

While docked in Maryland, this "lightship," a floating lighthouse once used by the Coast Guard, sank and spent three years underwater. After being salvaged, the boat is now a floating boat bar close to Chelsea Piers that serves buckets of beer and hamburgers from May to October. Drinks and seaside fare like fish and chips or lobster rolls can be ordered by walking right onto the bi-level railroad barge from Pier 66. You can then relax on the Frying Pan or its nearby fire boat caboose.

• Tripadvisor ratings: 4.0/5
• Website: http://fryingpan.com/
• Location: 207 12th Ave, New York, NY 10001