Is there anything better than getting out on the water, the wind in your hair, drink of choice in hand? Sounds like a dream to us. But when renting a boat isn’t an option, get to a floating bar. Some are anchored in the sea, so you can splash in between sips. Others are docked but still offer water views—and the convenience of being able to take the subway home after. From a Seine-side perch in Paris to a taco shack in the Virgin Islands, here’s where to have a drink while (gently) bobbing in the water—with no seasickness to fear.
Cloud 9
No list of floating bars around the world would be complete without Cloud 9, which is where you’ll be after a sojourn here. The azure and turquoise water of the Roro Reef off Malolo Island, part of the Mamanuca archipelago, is staggeringly clear. This South Pacific paradise serves up local drinks, international DJs, wild water sports, and wood-fired pizzas; the surfer-chic, two-story platform is outfitted for R&R with daybeds, beach chairs, and plenty of other places to perch. It’s a family-friendly space, open all day, with the last return at 6 p.m. Go for a dip with your own snorkel kit or rent one on-site for $15.
Frying Pan
Watch the sun set over the Hudson on a vintage Coast Guard ship
Courtesy Frying Pan NYC
New York City
On any day over 60 degrees from April through October, New Yorkers flock to the Frying Pan, a historic bar barge docked on the Hudson River. It’s not a dive nor is it too fancy: The food menu is solid—think raw bar staples, carnitas tacos, lobster rolls, and a few nonseafood options and, to drink, nautical- and tropical-leaning cocktails by the glass or pitcher. (The watermelon agua fresca or mint lemonade mocktails are super refreshing.) Because the barge faces west, you’ll have wide-open sunset views.
Captain Oak’s Tiki Bar
Arrive at Captain Oak’s via its water taxi or your own boat or Jet Ski
Courtesy of Visit Turks & Caicos Islands
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos
Anchored off Long Bay Beach in the warm, calm waters off Turks and Caicos is Captain Oak’s, a day bar—aka a restaurant where people get tipsy and dance—open from noon to sunset. The floating bar is scarcely a 10-minute ride from shore but is still too far to swim to, so come with your own (rental) boat or Jet Ski or book a round-trip ferry ($20).
Tamesis Dock
Sip a pint with the Palace of Westminster and Big Ben in the background.
Photo by Roserunn/Shutterstock
London
Tamesis Dock, a double-deck “dive” bar (har har) is permanently docked on the Thames between Lambeth and Vauxhall bridges, with the Palace of Westminster (the Houses of Parliament) and Big Ben in the background. The 1930s-era Dutch barge now lives a second life as an eclectic neighborhood pub and hosts live music nights, stand-up comedy events, and showings of sports matches (football, Olympics, etc.). Given the rarity of warm, sunny days in London, this is an ultra-popular spot when the weather is welcoming, so get in early for your pizza and pint. (It also has a good selection of wine and cocktails/mocktails.)
Casa en el Agua
This eco-hostel is an inviting place to sip a tropical drink and find travel buddies.
Courtesy of Casa en el Agua
San Bernardo Islands, Colombia
Two hours from Cartagena by speedboat is this floating eco-lodge in the San Bernardo Islands off Colombia’s Caribbean coast. If you don’t have your own boat, you’ll need to stay over for a night; the lodge’s boat leaves Cartagena daily at 9 a.m. and makes the return at 11:15 a.m. ($36 each way). The ride can be a little bumpy and is always windy, so take precautions if you are prone to seasickness. But by 11 a.m., you’ll be bobbing in the almost ludicrously warm, gently lapping Caribbean, a deep pink papaya juice in hand. Expect dishes prepared simply with that day’s catch (ceviche, grilled fish, or lobster) with vegetarian options, such as roasted eggplant and rice and beans.
Les Maquereaux
Les Maquereaux Rive Droite is mostly open-air in warm weather and enclosed and heated in winter.
Courtesy of Les Maquereaux
Paris
The Seine is used for more than just the Olympics’ opening ceremony; it’s also home to a handful of barge-bars, including Les Maquereaux, on both the Right Bank and the Left. Les Maquereaux Rive Droite sits right next to the Pont Marie, one side facing Île de la Cité and the other the row of poplar trees shading the pedestrian path. It’s open year-round—enclosed and heated in winter—serving more or less anything you could want to drink and shareable plates of oysters, burrata, and cod fritters. The Rive Gauche outpost, just after the Pont Charles de Gaulle, has a tiny outdoor pool, a menu similar to its Right Bank sister, and regular DJs. This one is seasonal, open July and August and then Thursday nights in September.
Lime Out
At Lime Out, your tacos arrive on their own little float.
Courtesy of Visit USVI
St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands
Liming is Trinidadian slang that’s spread around the Caribbean for hanging out with friends, and you’ll never want to stop liming once you get a taste of Lime Out. It’s the ultimate vacation fantasy come to life: tacos served and eaten as you float blissfully in the warm bath that is the Caribbean. Order a spiced tuna taco and a tamarind juice, go for a dip, and repeat, working your way through the menu of 8 tacos and 11 cocktails (plus nonalcoholic options to keep you hydrated). The tiny floating taco shop is accessible by boat only (no swimming over or arriving by paddleboard or kayak); rent your own or book its shuttle at $30/person. Note that the bar is closed for hurricane season, roughly late August to the third week of October.
This article was originally published in 2018 and most recently updated on September 11, 2024, with current information.
