The Playland Motel

Aileen the blue haired bar tender I find her sarcastic humor comfortable and definitely didn’t want to take my business elsewhere! Made you feel like you were one of her pals! They also have a server Anna who is so awesome friendly and hard working. Playland is the shit and so are the people who work here.

The lady with the blue hair is awesome. Great bar wench to say the least. But disappointed they didn’t have cheese balls

Love this place. Close to the beach and the Vibe is dope as hell. Plus the awesome lady bartender with the Blue Hair slings dope drinks! Great place to go pre or post beach. I wouldn’t miss it. Also left my wallet behind and they put in there safe til I could safe retrieve it don’t forget to Tip the blue haired bartender extra!

It’s not easy to find restaurants that open late at night at Rockaways, off-​season — and this is when Playland Motel comes to the rescue.
It’s a typical bar/​pub setup, with locals hanging out at the bar and TV screens playing sports.
Portions are HUGE. Even I was super hungry, I could not finish it.
Pretty good food, hearty and well-​seasoned.
Both beer steamed mussels & shrimp were on a spicy side, served with garlic bread, to dip into all that delicious broth.
Everything came out without delay, quick service.
If you looking for simple, no thrills bar to grab drink & some food, give it a try.

We came all last summer. This is the second Sunday we’ve been here this summer and have had bad experiences both times with the blue haired bartender who works Sunday brunch. She’s a really rude unfriendly bartender, especially to females. It’s really unfortunate because we really like this place and love the location. This go around (today) we went to the bar and she proceeds to give us menus and then decides to take them back away and gives them to the people next to us. Then she has the nerve to say them «can you tell I liked you guys better?» Who does that??? So we decided to leave and take our business elsewhere. Will not return if she’s working. It would be really nice to see friendly and professional people who weren’t selective about who they serve for no reason.

Stopped in on a whim late in the evening when we had trouble finding a seafood spot in the area. The food was good. Waitress seemed a bit aloof, but perhaps she was having a rough night. The place is not huge, but not cramped, either. It was about half full of patrons, mostly around the bar. Decent ambiance. All in all, a nice little spot for some good pub food.

Want to waste your $ 300? This is the place! Informed by the manager that the hotel was «hip and funky», what he didn’t mention that your room isn’t ready until an hour and a half after check in time, there is no closet, no hangers, no TV, not an extra roll of toilet paper, no shampoo, NOT A FREAKING PLASTIC CUP IF YOU HAVE TO TAKE A PILL! What a ludicrous joke. Guess you have to be hip and funky to appreciate it. We will be fighting for a refund.

I would give negative stars if it were possible. This place is just gross. To start I booked a room online and chose a private bathroom, (I guess they have some rooms without) when I checked in there was no door in the bathroom. They have no front desk. I called and emailed never got a response. I went to have dinner downstairs at their restaurant and saw a beetle crawling out of my salad. Don’t ever go here. I’d rather sleep on the beach since you can hear all the gunshots from the rooms anyway. They are located above a Chinese restaurant and it smelled terrible all time.

Unorganized. Came here on memorial day weekend. Should be extra staffed. Nope!!! Everyone frazzled and rude. Manager is a moron.
Wont come back to this hipster nonsense place.

Our team (3 bearded nerds) rocked up yesterday at 9am, and left at 6 or so. Amazing service, and fantastic food at great prices. We’ll be back.

Slow is the new go? Get one professional waiter and you could lose the rest of the staff. Also there must be enough DNA on to the door to the yard to grow a new person also they should clean the retro looking furniture it’s nice that they’re old and in great shape but you do have to wash them every so often. I will take a pass on this place you go up the block to the community house they smile and talk to you.

Only a week in NYC, so the next day I decided to do a ten mile bike ride with my brother to Far Rockaway.
One thing led to another and we ended up at Playland. This diner/​bar has a pseudo-​bohemian feel — with frequent patrons — it looks like it’s adored by the locals, though.
Straight to the food: very good and unexpected veggie burgers, burritos, etc. The service was okay-​ish, but they were slammed and short-​staffed. Friendly people. Good vibes.

Brunch me again bitches!
Place was incredible.
The cocktails were flavorful and unique, the chicken and waffles were perfect (take on Sylvia’s good), the kale and farro egg bowl was amazing, as was the carne asada burrito.
You want brunch and the beach, you go here.
For a late lunch follow it up with pizza from Whits End.

Came in over labor day weekend was surprised how empty it was (although everyone was probably at the beach.)
Ordered the chicken sandwhich, and I have to say it was one of the best chicken sandwhiches ive ever had. Fries were awesome too. Reasonably priced for the quality.
My girlfriend even mentioned that stopping by here is a must if going to Rockaway beach.

I’ve driven past this restaurant many times thinking it was only open to the Play Land Hotel guest. It turns out that I was wrong. anyone can go woohoo. There’s a limited drink menu, me and my friend really didn’t enjoy the drinks. We lean towards wine rather than mixed drinks so maybe that’s why. The buffalo wings were good, the macaroni was TO DIE FOR x10000! My friend some kind of mushroom and veggies in a bowl…

Ok folks here we are at the coolest local joint. Saying goodbye to good friends who are moving out to California.
We ordered a turkey meatloaf sandwich French fries and nachos. Then a friend ordered at beef stroganoff. Well they were all delicious! The stroganoff and the noodles were absolutely fantastic. Tasty and filling.
The place on a Sunday nite is really buzzing. The bartender Ty is pouring drinks like he doesn’t own the booze. Local folks having a super time. My first time here definitely coming back!

Wow what another insane turnaround for this wild wacky place! The place is actually better than ever now. While not quite as debauched as initial incarnation, the place is still plenty sleazy and in keeping with everything the Rockaways are all about. The food is fantastic, especially the much lauded chicken and waffles as are the drinks especially the incredible spicy cilantro Margarita. The new bar is fantastic and the staff are the best in the city,

Cozy, fun dining area. Decent food.
Very slow slow service.
The restaurant seats about 30. We were two of 5 people in there on a slow weekday afternoon.
It still took the chef 30 min to make fish tacos and clam fritters.
The fish tacos were edible. The cabbage slaw and lime juice over the tacos was appetitzing.
The clam fritters were mostly flour and had a great dipping sauce.
The cucumber cooler was 50% Hendricks. Love Hendricks.
I definitely liked the décor more than anything I consumed.

I came here a few times last year, mainly for the Pizza Nazi (whom I hear is now next door at Whit’s End), and who lived up to pizza expectations.
When I came again for drinks and dinner after an event on 5/​30, I found it had indeed been cleaned up a lot compared to last year’s hipster/​post-​surf/​under-​the-​radar deal, and is very much a more family-​friendly kind of operation, which is both nice for hotel stayers, but not as fun. Pizza and wobbly tables and janky operation are gone, replaced by normal dining tables, waiters, and a much smoother service… somewhat.
The drinks are basically the same as last year — fun, but nothing particularly special (the cucumber drink is my go-​to), and the menu has changed to be seafood oriented. We ordered the fish sandwich, fritters, fries, and fish tacos. The fish sandwich never arrived (but was also not billed for), and all the other food was… adequate. The fish tacos, I mean, you’re in Rockaway, you already know where to go for those, you don’t need my help.
So, this is a nice (much cleaner and quieter) spot for a post-​swim drink, sans the interesting milieu that it had last year, but the food is basically reserved for when the beach carts close down and you’re starving. I will have to see how the Whit’s End has changed from last year to see if you’re better off going next door instead. WATCH THIS SPACE!

Just ate a post-​beach dinner here. Food was great, cocktail list extensive, and beer options focused on «NY State» offerings.
My husband and I had the clam fritters, steak salad, and fish tacos. The fritters were Amazing! Large portion, great seasoning, and loaded with clams. Steak salad was good, topped with a spicy dressing.
Décor of the place is amazing, great beach theme. Music selection was good, lots of Motown.
I would definitely suggest this place to anyone looking for a post beach dinner. Great food compared to the casual offerings of other Rockaway locations.