Central Park Boathouse

In addition to boat rentals, the restaurant is a popular destination for lakeside dining as well as birdwatching

Boating on the Lake is one of Central Park’s most enduring traditions. Looking to offer urban dwellers quintessentially rural experiences, Park designers promoted boating as an ideal way to explore the Lake’s scenic beauty. Beginning in the 1860s, Park visitors could take a “passage boat” that completed a circuit of the Lake, stopping at various boat landings. Visitors could also hire a gondola for a more intimate guided tour.

As boating grew in popularity, Park administrators realized they needed a building to house rentals. In the 1870s, the first boathouse was constructed on the eastern shore of the Lake, an ornate wooden structure designed by Park co-designer Calvert Vaux. By the 1950s, this structure had fallen into disrepair and the current boathouse was designed as a more modern facility with restaurants and restrooms.

In addition to boat rentals, the restaurant (formerly known as Loeb Boathouse) is a popular Park destination for lakeside dining.