Jeannette L.

With the unusually warm weather this Saturday, we went to South Beach to walk on the boardwalk and pier and enjoy being by the water. This was my first time at South Beach, normally I've just stuck to Midland that's adjacent. ​ Great views of the river and bridge, nice even/flat wooden boardwalk, variety of activities abuzz even in this winter season (fishing, walking, biking, skating, etc.). People were sitting on the benches by the Freedom Circle and little kids were playing around the dolphin statue. Nice place to stay active and get outside even during the colder months!

Christopher W.

Excellent beach and boardwalk in the Midland neighborhood. There are many piers designated for fishing; most being smaller jetties and a large main pier directly connected to the Franklin D. Roosevelt boardwalk. At the end of the 2.5 mile boardwalk there is a cafe offering different kinds of snack foods like hotdogs, popcorn, fries, etc., with views of the Verrazzano-Narrows bridge. Across the street from the main fishing pier, you can see the Ocean Breeze Recreational complex. At the start of the actual board, there is a walkway roundabout featuring various kinds of flowers in the non-Winter months. While this beach and boardwalk area is just about perfect, I am only giving it 4 stars because the beach sand could be cleaner (though a portion of this fault is from the beach-goers), and it would be nice to have more concession stands on the raised boardwalk than the single cafe towards the end.

Eric C.

I love this beach. It's one of the best things about living in my neighborhood. It's clean. There is a good crowd. Relatively wacko free. I've been here before sunrise, and after sunset, and I've always felt safe. The boardwalk itself is well-maintained, and so are the public bathrooms. Would I recommend it? Of course. If you want a quiet, non-touristy place to stroll.

Rashad K.

Being from Florida I was not expecting to stumble across a beach like this but I did and it was very relaxing. Nothing compares to the cool weather up north and beautiful views to go along with it. This area was very nice and seems to be a great place to run, fish or just enjoy the views

Glory M.

Location, Amenities, Swim/Sand= 1 Star This beach gets 1 because it's convenient and relaxing but it lacks because I advise you to not really swim in it. It's complicated so read on... Location= Ideal location because it's in NYC. You don't have to go to far into Long Island and deal with traffic or cross to Jersey and deal with traffic. It's not a busy beach. It's actually goes forgotten which makes it relaxing because on a hot day in the summer you don't want to feel overcrowding at a beach. The view is awesome of the city and the Verrazano bridge. Amenities= Free Beach, Free parking. They have a concession stand where the price is regular (means they're not overcharging because they're the only stand)This concession stand is on the boardwalk and they also have a restaurant on the boardwalk. Bathroom station is on the boardwalk but closer to the restaurant. Swimming/Sand= Sand was "clean". Not really a roudy beach. Before noon this beach is almost empty, quiet, almost relaxing in a sense. You can't even believe you're still in one of the 5 boroughs. The beach drops the ball with their "waters". Before noon this beach is "somewhat nyc clean ". In the afternoon "after tide" you feel like you're swimming in pure Garbage! Coney Island dirt seems to creep in. You see candy wrappers, swimmers garbage, etc... Due to this I would have given it 0 stars. So if you're a swimmer don't come here. If you come to the beach for the sun and sand this beach is there for location and convenience but lacks cause you can't swim in the water. Beach= No to swimming. 1 Star convenient for tanning on the beach, free parking, close proximity and restaurant/concession stand nearby.

Ella G.

Where else but here Can you find a dead raccoon And see fireworks And arm-wrestling competitions And god knows what else And kiss a friend in the moonlight And have no one around to ruin the moment And then find a bottle With sand inside And crunch small shells with your feet And then go eat with the sea air blowing in your hair Where else can you Plop down on the orange sand in the hot sun And not have strangers breathe down your neck? Where else can you swim in clear water And then a day later Swim again and realize You're swimming in garbage? Only on South Beach. I love this place For cleanliness I give it a 2 For the nearly abandoned vibe I give it a 5

Nadia Z.

What do I like the most about it? Certainly boardwalk! About 2 miles long, it is great for morning runs, or just walking and enjoying stunning views. Verrazano and morning sunrises along are camera-worthy, but do not miss Dolphin fountain, Gazebo and Midland Beach/Fishing pier just a stroll away! (park on the commuter parking lot further down Father Capodanno if you going fishing, it's quite a hike from South Beach parking lot) And if you looking for refreshments or dinner, there is a cafe with Ben & Jerry's ice cream, and beautiful South Fin Grill restaurant right on boardwalk. Beach and boardwalk currently closed after Sandy, but should reopen by Memorial Day! Note that beach gets crowded during summer months, esp. on weekends.

Matt E.

1.5 stars... Thank you South Beach for making Coney Island seem pristine. This is by far the worst beach I've ever been to. The only saving grace here is the cool view of the Verazanno Bridge and the 7 mile long wooden boardwalk and because of Sandy the entire thing (except for a few hundred feet of it) is currently blocked off despite looking to be completely intact. Don't confuse this boardwalk with Coney Island or anything in NJ, it isn't lined with shops and restaurants. In fact from what I can tell there is only two businesses on the boardwalk on the main entrance of the beach (north side). One was a fancy restaurant (South Fin Grill) and the other was a little ice cream stand with limited options. Onto the beach itself. It's a pretty wide beach with plenty of lifeguards on duty. Due to the location of the beach there aren't any waves here. It's great for small children who want to play in the chilly water but no so great for people who like to listen to the sound of the ocean. There were no waves to drown out the faint sound of music coming from every beach patron who thinks that everyone wants to listen to their garbage. Which brings me to the final point, this is the filthiest beach I've ever seen. There was so much garbage on the beach, especially if you moved a few feet away from the busier section of the beach in front of the ice cream shop. When I grabbed my towel to leave I saw a hypodermic needle that I almost stepped on. Yeah, watch your step and your property if you come here and pack food and drinks. Or better yet, don't come here.

Lisa C.

No amusement park on this boardwalk! Only a long trail along the Atlantic coast. Great views, healthy steps, rent a bike or take run, get some healthy steps in!

Abelle N.

You have no Idea living here for almost five years and haven't been to certain areas makes you wonder.... Staten Island is actually pretty big lol Frist time ever at south beach... I was so excited finally south beach... Heard so many things about this place ... There's a really nice boardwalk...clean and stable...lots of people come here jogging...what I enjoy the most is the actually boardwalk... Love walking by and seeing the lovely sights... I can see the bridge, Brooklyn and mahatten right by the beach... It's so nice and comforting just to sit there and enjoy the sights...there's this cute little secluded island as well... It was pretty cool... I didn't go swimming and I didn't walk on sand...maybe next time...lots of family and friends come here during a hot gloomy day to chill and relax...there's a restaurant on the boardwalk and a icey/ice cream shop ....there is parking...free parking! Restrooms are located in the center of the boardwalk...

Nadelle S.

Let me start by saying, most of the reviews are outdated (pre 2015) this beach is clean now. Regular beach debris that you would expect, pebbles, small pieces of twigs that washed up from the water or that birds brought to the beach. I saw one plastic bottle cap and a piece of a straw on the sand as i looked for a good place to put my blanket down. The nearer you are to the boardwalk the more pebbles and small stones are (harder to walk). I think that's a common feature of beaches, just depends on the sand. Beautiful view of Verrazano bridge, and parts of brooklyn, i'm sure it would look amazing at night. As other reviewers have already stated, the boardwalk is long and beautiful, you always see joggers/walkers and cyclists on the bike path. There are no features on the boardwalk (meaning not like Coney Island with games and other attractions). The boardwalk is the feature. Because it's such a long stretch of beach that also merges into Midland Beach there was way more than enough space, especially if you are willing to walk further down one way or another. I didn't go in the water, I went to have a beach picnic and the breeze from the ocean was cool enough for me to know the water would have been cold for me! Lol I had an amazing time and didn't want to leave.