Coney Island in Winter:
A Local’s Guide to Winter in Coney Island
By Lola Star– a longtime Coney Island business owner
Most people only know Coney Island in summer.
The rides are loud. The boardwalk is packed. The spectacle does the talking.
But after spending 21 years opening a shop on the Coney Island boardwalk, I can tell you this with certainty:
Winter is when Coney Island tells the truth.
When the cold comes, the noise drains out. The air sharpens. The Atlantic steps forward. What’s left isn’t emptiness—it’s clarity.
This is Coney Island without the performance.
And for many locals, it’s the best time to be here.
Coney Island in winter isn’t a tourist attraction.
It’s a threshold.
Winter reveals the soul of Coney Island.
Not through noise—but through quiet.
Why the Atlantic Ocean Feels Stronger in Winter
In summer, the rides dominate the skyline.
In winter, the ocean is the star of the show.
The Atlantic doesn’t sparkle this time of year—it commands.
Bright blue. Electric.
No vendors.
No performers.
No filters.
You notice your breathing first. Then the horizon.
Then suddenly life seems to shift into focus.
Everything seems clearer. Like magic.
The Coney Island Polar Bear Club: A Weekly Winter Ritual
If you’ve heard of Coney Island in winter, it’s probably because of the New Year’s Day Polar Bear Plunge.
What most people don’t realize is that the Polar Bear Club swims every Sunday.
From November through April, around 1 PM, swimmers gather in front of the New York Aquarium to plunge into the Atlantic together.
Here’s the secret- you don’t have to swim
Watching is so much fun.
There’s cheering. Laughter. Someone in a costume. Strangers rooting for strangers.
You walk away feeling alive—whether you swim or not.
So I highly recommend being a spectator at the weekly polar bear swim! It’s a perfect way to soak in the beach and good vibes before heading somewhere warm for brunch.
Surf Avenue in Winter: What Changed, What Stayed, What’s New
Around 2011, Surf Ave went through a major redevelopment push. New buildings went up, familiar national names moved in, and there was a real push to reintroduce Surf Ave as something more polished and permanent—less seasonal, more year-round.
For a moment, it felt like momentum.
But the rents and expectations set during that redevelopment didn’t line up with reality. By the early 2020s, that mismatch showed up in real ways. A number of businesses that opened during that era closed. Local landmarks like Grimaldi’s went dark. Big names like Wahlburgers moved on. Even Applebee’s, built for volume and durability, couldn’t sustain a Surf Avenue footprint. By around 2021, long stretches of the avenue felt dark. Storefronts sat empty. Not because the neighborhood lost its pull—but because the numbers stopped making sense.
And then, slowly, something shifted. As spaces reopened, Surf Avenue began to breathe again. Newer restaurants and bars have brought real energy back—places that feel intentional, warm, and welcoming.
My personal favorite brunch spots are:
TaoXi Asian Cuisine
1003 Surf Ave
Fresh, thoughtful Asian fusion with yummy tofu dishes. Warm service and cozy interior make it perfect after a cold beach walk.
Surf City Pizzeria
837 Surf Ave
A neighborhood staple. Dependable veggie pizza and a true local anchor—especially welcome on quiet winter nights.
Liman
825 Surf Ave
Incredibly flavorful plant-based tapas. Order a few along with their amazing Shepherd’s Salad and make it a meal.
Where Locals Go for Drinks in the Off-Season
The Red Door (Surf Avenue)
In winter, The Red Door becomes exactly what its name suggests: a warm, lived-in room where Coney Island nights actually happen.
This is where locals gather when there’s nowhere else they need to be.
Check our neighborhood calendar for
– DJ Joe Gonzalez spinning NYC house, freestyle, and contemporary beats
– Paint & Sip parties, comedy nights, karaoke
– RuPaul’s Drag Race viewing parties hosted by Maxxxim—pure joy on cold ocean nights
What 21 Winters on the
Coney Island Boardwalk Taught Me
Running a shop on the Coney Island boardwalk for 21 years taught me that in winter, people slow down. Conversations deepen. Visitors who come out feel like they earned the experience.
Coney Island in winter teaches you how to stay with a place when it’s not entertaining you.
The joy isn’t fireworks—it’s permission:
To be quiet
To wander without a plan
An Invitation
If you’ve only known Coney Island in summer, consider this an invitation.
Come when the rides are still.
Or carry a piece of this place with you—for days when you need the ocean’s steadiness close at hand.