The Ferry Crossing and St. George's Waterfront Bars
Board the free Staten Island Ferry at the terminal in Manhattan and watch the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island slide past your window—then step off into St. George, where the evening begins. The neighbourhood clusters south of the ferry terminal, and a left turn out of the boat puts you into a string of bars where locals and visitors mix. At Beso, 70 Bay Street, you can order a jalapeño margarita in a cozy space that feels nothing like the tourist crush of Midtown. Beer on the ferry itself runs $3.50 for a 16-ounce can of Bud or Miller, cheap by New York City standards, so you can start early if you like.
Flagship Brewery and Staten Island's Craft Beer Revival
Flagship Brewery, at 40 Minthorne Street, marks a turning point for the island—it is Staten Island's first brewery in nearly 60 years. The tap room opens Wednesday from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., Thursday to Saturday from noon to 11 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 8 p.m., with the tap list rotating. The space draws people who want to taste what local brewing looks like on an island that had gone decades without one.
St. George's Historic Streets and Victorians
St. George sits within two overlapping historic districts: the St. George Historic District and the St. Paul's Avenue-Stapleton Heights Historic District, both lined with large Victorian houses that anchor the North Shore's most urban character. Walk these streets before or after drinking, and you move through layers of the island's life—the ferry terminal's bustle gives way to residential blocks where 19th-century architecture frames a quieter rhythm.
Evening Pace and Hours
Venues tend to open in the early evening—Flagship Brewery's weekday hours (5 to 11 p.m. on Wednesday) set the tone—and the neighbourhood stays active through the night. There is no subway connection to Staten Island, so plan around the ferry schedule and the MTA bus lines that serve the borough, or arrive by car or taxi.
When to Time Your Visit
No specific festivals tied to drinking or nightlife are documented in the sources, so your timing can be flexible. The island's 12,300 acres of parkland and over 170 parks mean you have plenty to explore during the day before the bars and brewery fill in the evening.
Start by checking the ferry schedule from Manhattan, then plan an afternoon walk through St. George's historic districts before heading to Beso or Flagship as the sun sets. The island may feel quieter than the rest of New York City, but that is precisely why locals call it home.