Everything You Need to Know About Shelter Island
Food scene
The social hub of the island, Marie Eiffel is a Shelter Island classic. Helmed by, you guessed it, the enigmatic Marie Eiffel herself, the cafe and market is open most of the year and serves delicious French-inspired cuisine including sandwiches on some of the best baguettes you've had, authentic home-baked French pastry (tarte tatin, anyone?), and a shockingly good turkey meatball sandwich. The take-home pizzas ($20), and rotisserie chicken make for an easy at-home dinner on nights you don't want to cook. The move here for dine-in is to snag one of the bayside tables and enjoy one of the best views Shelter Island has to offer, along with plenty of local flavor and color.
41 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Marie Eiffel Market
184 N Ferry RdThe social hub of the island, Marie Eiffel is a Shelter Island classic. Helmed by, you guessed it, the enigmatic Marie Eiffel herself, the cafe and market is open most of the year and serves delicious French-inspired cuisine including sandwiches on some of the best baguettes you've had, authentic home-baked French pastry (tarte tatin, anyone?), and a shockingly good turkey meatball sandwich. The take-home pizzas ($20), and rotisserie chicken make for an easy at-home dinner on nights you don't want to cook. The move here for dine-in is to snag one of the bayside tables and enjoy one of the best views Shelter Island has to offer, along with plenty of local flavor and color.
Your best date night/celebratory dinner/just great dinner with sunset view option on Shelter Island. The gently sloping lawn with bocce ball court, the elegant interior and patio, and the classic-meets-modern dinner menu all make this historic locale a must for your Shelter Island visit (even if it's on a separate island, accessible by a causeway sporting beautiful views of its own.) In late summer, you get an incredible sunset over Shelter Island and the little bay next to the inn. Sidle up to the bar year-round (check opening times) and enjoy a Manhattan or Wolffer Rosé. Classic architecture and an incredible history add to the allure and charm of this mainstay.
19 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Ram's Head Inn
108 S Ram Island DrYour best date night/celebratory dinner/just great dinner with sunset view option on Shelter Island. The gently sloping lawn with bocce ball court, the elegant interior and patio, and the classic-meets-modern dinner menu all make this historic locale a must for your Shelter Island visit (even if it's on a separate island, accessible by a causeway sporting beautiful views of its own.) In late summer, you get an incredible sunset over Shelter Island and the little bay next to the inn. Sidle up to the bar year-round (check opening times) and enjoy a Manhattan or Wolffer Rosé. Classic architecture and an incredible history add to the allure and charm of this mainstay.
Really excellent Mexican take-out in downtown Shelter Island, Maria's is run by the incredible Maria. She's been dishing out delicious, authentic Mexican cuisine for years here, and the locals know it. Come here for tacos al pastor and a surprising array of Mexican and international groceries and sundry. The smoothies are also top notch (we love the one with blueberries and peanut butter) and on rainy days, get the soup that she only makes when it rains.
16 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Maria's Kitchen
55 N Ferry RdReally excellent Mexican take-out in downtown Shelter Island, Maria's is run by the incredible Maria. She's been dishing out delicious, authentic Mexican cuisine for years here, and the locals know it. Come here for tacos al pastor and a surprising array of Mexican and international groceries and sundry. The smoothies are also top notch (we love the one with blueberries and peanut butter) and on rainy days, get the soup that she only makes when it rains.
A great restaurant? On a golf course? Yes, this is Shelter Island. Perfect spot for a two-martini lunch and some classic standbys: an excellent shrimp cocktail, turkey club, or fish tacos. Prepare to be wowed by the fast service and great food at an unlinkely (see what I did there?) locale.
The Flying Goat Restaurant
26 Sunnyside AvenueA great restaurant? On a golf course? Yes, this is Shelter Island. Perfect spot for a two-martini lunch and some classic standbys: an excellent shrimp cocktail, turkey club, or fish tacos. Prepare to be wowed by the fast service and great food at an unlinkely (see what I did there?) locale.
Family-style Italian in Shelter Island Heights, Isola's proprietor Brad will make you feel like one of the locals on Day 1. Sit at the bar for a true local experience, where you can order a Negroni or Boulevardier as you chow down on delicious gnocchi. Their Calabrian chile & garlic chicken wings are also a surprising standout. The dining room is also warm and inviting, and this is one of the few places open year-round with regular hours.
10 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Isola
15 Grand AveFamily-style Italian in Shelter Island Heights, Isola's proprietor Brad will make you feel like one of the locals on Day 1. Sit at the bar for a true local experience, where you can order a Negroni or Boulevardier as you chow down on delicious gnocchi. Their Calabrian chile & garlic chicken wings are also a surprising standout. The dining room is also warm and inviting, and this is one of the few places open year-round with regular hours.
A favorite with the yachting and sailboat crowd, SALT offers low-key vibes and delicious seaborne cuisine including sushi rolls (may be the only sushi on Shelter Island?) in relaxed digs. Take in marina views, chat with the sailors and friendly staff, and drink a mudslide.
34 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
SALT Waterfront Bar & Grill
63 S Menantic RdA favorite with the yachting and sailboat crowd, SALT offers low-key vibes and delicious seaborne cuisine including sushi rolls (may be the only sushi on Shelter Island?) in relaxed digs. Take in marina views, chat with the sailors and friendly staff, and drink a mudslide.
A Shelter Island Heights standby, Stars is locally-owned and has good sandwiches, coffee, and surprisingly good Mexican cuisine. Open til afternoon, it's also open year-round (including when Marie Eiffel is closed). Try the rugelach, mahi sandwich, and turkey avocado sandwich!
22 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Stars Cafe
17 Grand AveA Shelter Island Heights standby, Stars is locally-owned and has good sandwiches, coffee, and surprisingly good Mexican cuisine. Open til afternoon, it's also open year-round (including when Marie Eiffel is closed). Try the rugelach, mahi sandwich, and turkey avocado sandwich!
The closest thing to nightlife on Shelter Island, this trendy spot helmed by local Shelter Islander and international hotelier Andre Balazs is the "it" place from Memorial to Labor Day. The yacht crowd arrives in full force and with them, gallons of rosé are poured down. It's definitely worth a visit, just for the scene of it, but also for the beautiful views.
93 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Sunset Beach
Shore RdThe closest thing to nightlife on Shelter Island, this trendy spot helmed by local Shelter Islander and international hotelier Andre Balazs is the "it" place from Memorial to Labor Day. The yacht crowd arrives in full force and with them, gallons of rosé are poured down. It's definitely worth a visit, just for the scene of it, but also for the beautiful views.
Shelter Island's primary fine dining spot (aside from Ram's Head and 18 Bay), Vine Street Café is an excellent standby that's easily bikeable from Moonlit Manor. Definitely a splurge evening, enjoy freshly caught seafood and creative takes on American classics amid a buzzy interior and a charming gravel patio with fairy lights.
61 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Vine Street Café
41 S Ferry RdShelter Island's primary fine dining spot (aside from Ram's Head and 18 Bay), Vine Street Café is an excellent standby that's easily bikeable from Moonlit Manor. Definitely a splurge evening, enjoy freshly caught seafood and creative takes on American classics amid a buzzy interior and a charming gravel patio with fairy lights.
Your go-to pizza pick-up on Shelter Island, right next to Marika's. Great for evenings in watching movies in the theater at Moonlit Manor, Slice offers an almost-as-good-as-NYC pie and delicious chicken wings, along with homemade cannoli. We recommend ordering your pizza well done for that extra char.
Slice pizza
3 North Ferry RoadYour go-to pizza pick-up on Shelter Island, right next to Marika's. Great for evenings in watching movies in the theater at Moonlit Manor, Slice offers an almost-as-good-as-NYC pie and delicious chicken wings, along with homemade cannoli. We recommend ordering your pizza well done for that extra char.
Sightseeing + Beaches
A really, truly beautiful spot for sunrise, sunset, or any time between. Great fishing at the very point, but also perfect for a dog walk or just a walk - any time of year. Also excellent for flying kites any time of year (we did it in January!) Not a great swimming beach but a gorgeous walk with views across Coecles Harbor of Mashomack Preserve, and hordes of gamefish using the narrow cut at the end to feed.
Reel Point
A really, truly beautiful spot for sunrise, sunset, or any time between. Great fishing at the very point, but also perfect for a dog walk or just a walk - any time of year. Also excellent for flying kites any time of year (we did it in January!) Not a great swimming beach but a gorgeous walk with views across Coecles Harbor of Mashomack Preserve, and hordes of gamefish using the narrow cut at the end to feed.
The closest beach to Moonlit Manor, it's also our favorite. Take the dirt road just after turning right onto the Ram Island Causeway and you're there. Never crowded, always gorgeous. This is one of my favorite swimming beaches in Shelter Island, maybe the world?
Upper Beach
The closest beach to Moonlit Manor, it's also our favorite. Take the dirt road just after turning right onto the Ram Island Causeway and you're there. Never crowded, always gorgeous. This is one of my favorite swimming beaches in Shelter Island, maybe the world?
One of the crown jewels of Shelter Island, Mashomack provides literal miles of walking trails and some of the most beautiful (and shockingly, diverse) scenery that New York has to offer. Maintained by the Nature Conservancy, it's unfortunately not a dog-friendly trail, but you'll see plenty of wildlife. We recommend dedicating at least three hours to a walk here to get the most of Mashomack, although there are shorter trails. Expect everything from Great Blue Herons to chipmunks and everything in between. Wear tick repellent and, as always, check for ticks upon return!
70 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Mashomack Preserve
79 S Ferry RdOne of the crown jewels of Shelter Island, Mashomack provides literal miles of walking trails and some of the most beautiful (and shockingly, diverse) scenery that New York has to offer. Maintained by the Nature Conservancy, it's unfortunately not a dog-friendly trail, but you'll see plenty of wildlife. We recommend dedicating at least three hours to a walk here to get the most of Mashomack, although there are shorter trails. Expect everything from Great Blue Herons to chipmunks and everything in between. Wear tick repellent and, as always, check for ticks upon return!
There are walking trails, a 350 year old windmill, and tons and tons of history on this working educational farm. Take the time for a visit and get to know the real Shelter Island. Visit their website for more information about operating hours, tours, and more.
18 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Sylvester Manor Educational Farm
80 N Ferry RdThere are walking trails, a 350 year old windmill, and tons and tons of history on this working educational farm. Take the time for a visit and get to know the real Shelter Island. Visit their website for more information about operating hours, tours, and more.
One of the most popular beaches in Shelter Island, Wades Beach is a great access point for watersports. It also hosts a 4:30pm daily dog meetup, where owners bring friendly dogs who play and socialize off-leash.
12 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Wades Beach
114 S Midway RdOne of the most popular beaches in Shelter Island, Wades Beach is a great access point for watersports. It also hosts a 4:30pm daily dog meetup, where owners bring friendly dogs who play and socialize off-leash.
A mini golf course that's almost 100 years old, Whale's Tale is an absolute blast for the family (or for adults who want to experience some real, authentic nostalgia.) An easy walk from Moonlit Manor, you can rent your putters and balls and easily do the course in 90 minutes. After celebrating your win or licking your wounds, wind down with ice cream, frozen mocha-chinos, and a fun selection of arcade games in the improbable but amazing little indoor cafe space.
9 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Shelter Island Whale's Tale
3 Ram Island RdA mini golf course that's almost 100 years old, Whale's Tale is an absolute blast for the family (or for adults who want to experience some real, authentic nostalgia.) An easy walk from Moonlit Manor, you can rent your putters and balls and easily do the course in 90 minutes. After celebrating your win or licking your wounds, wind down with ice cream, frozen mocha-chinos, and a fun selection of arcade games in the improbable but amazing little indoor cafe space.
Shopping
A really surprising (but amazing!) find on Shelter Island, Marika's is the secret decor destination for everyone from Hollywood A-listers to local hoarders (I mean, designers) who fancy a good deal. Marika is a warm, friendly matriarch of the place which is described as a boutique but straddles the line between antique store, French brocante, and some sort of high-class salvage yard. Furniture pieces, decor, glassware, and more from literally every area sprawl across what feels like an acre, and you can always, always find something to bring home (usually at a MUCH better price than in NYC, or practically anywhere else.) Many a Shelter Island home is spruced up with finds from Marika.
7 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Marika's Eclectic Boutique
6 S Ferry RdA really surprising (but amazing!) find on Shelter Island, Marika's is the secret decor destination for everyone from Hollywood A-listers to local hoarders (I mean, designers) who fancy a good deal. Marika is a warm, friendly matriarch of the place which is described as a boutique but straddles the line between antique store, French brocante, and some sort of high-class salvage yard. Furniture pieces, decor, glassware, and more from literally every area sprawl across what feels like an acre, and you can always, always find something to bring home (usually at a MUCH better price than in NYC, or practically anywhere else.) Many a Shelter Island home is spruced up with finds from Marika.
Great all-in-one toy store/fishing gear/hardware/party planning shop in Shelter Island Heights. You can find practically anything here, the owners are extremely helpful, and they'll even tell you where the fish are biting!
Jacks True Value Hardware & Marine
188 N Ferry RdGreat all-in-one toy store/fishing gear/hardware/party planning shop in Shelter Island Heights. You can find practically anything here, the owners are extremely helpful, and they'll even tell you where the fish are biting!
A charming local grocery store, what more could you want? Oh yeah, there's also a totally idiosyncratic (but totally cool!) streetwear boutique inside (the owner's son is a designer), as well as perhaps the best 70s/80s yacht rock playlist ever created. They stock a wide variety of must-haves and a few specialty items, as well as many other conveniences like firewood, paper plates, and bird seed. The deli counter serves Boar's Head and actually makes really excellent wraps and sandwiches.
28 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
IGA Shelter Island
75 N Ferry RdA charming local grocery store, what more could you want? Oh yeah, there's also a totally idiosyncratic (but totally cool!) streetwear boutique inside (the owner's son is a designer), as well as perhaps the best 70s/80s yacht rock playlist ever created. They stock a wide variety of must-haves and a few specialty items, as well as many other conveniences like firewood, paper plates, and bird seed. The deli counter serves Boar's Head and actually makes really excellent wraps and sandwiches.
Your local ACE hardware, in case you need anything! They're very friendly and will help you find whatever you need.
ace hardware
4 Grand AveYour local ACE hardware, in case you need anything! They're very friendly and will help you find whatever you need.
The only functioning gas station on Shelter Island, Piccozzi's also operates the marina across the street as well as providing bike rentals and bicycle service. It's a very Mayberry-vibe gas station, and they'll pump your gas for you.
13 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Piccozzi's Fuel & Bike Shop
1 Bridge StThe only functioning gas station on Shelter Island, Piccozzi's also operates the marina across the street as well as providing bike rentals and bicycle service. It's a very Mayberry-vibe gas station, and they'll pump your gas for you.
Open on weekends in season, the Farmstand offers all fresh produce from Sylvestor Manor farm (across from Moonlit Manor!) as well as some other delicious specialty items from local purveyors. Sometimes, there's someone set up selling fresh oysters. Other times, there's live guitar music. Stop by and see what they have!
The Farmstand at Sylvester Manor
21 Manwaring RdOpen on weekends in season, the Farmstand offers all fresh produce from Sylvestor Manor farm (across from Moonlit Manor!) as well as some other delicious specialty items from local purveyors. Sometimes, there's someone set up selling fresh oysters. Other times, there's live guitar music. Stop by and see what they have!
The source of so many of the volumes on the shelves of Moonlit Manor, Black Cat is a veritable emporium of the written word. Insider tip: it's also one of the best places in the country to find affordable first editions. You could easily spend hours poring through the shelves upon shelves of mystery novels, high literature, comics, art books, as well as a really excellent selection of vinyl. A must-visit while in Shelter Island, and the proprietor Michael is a joy to talk to.
9 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Black Cat Books
54 N Ferry RdThe source of so many of the volumes on the shelves of Moonlit Manor, Black Cat is a veritable emporium of the written word. Insider tip: it's also one of the best places in the country to find affordable first editions. You could easily spend hours poring through the shelves upon shelves of mystery novels, high literature, comics, art books, as well as a really excellent selection of vinyl. A must-visit while in Shelter Island, and the proprietor Michael is a joy to talk to.