The Rockaway Hotel and Spa blends city flair with resort luxury

On a rainy spring afternoon, the Pool House at the Rockaway Hotel and Spa is surprisingly busy. A few people are having a late lunch, while nearby on a cozy couch, two spa patrons wait for their treatments. Outside, ignoring the light precipitation, a mom and her toddler daughter frolic in the pool, heated to 90 degrees.

The 61-room boutique hotel, nestled on a quiet corner in Rockaway Park, is busy year-round, says general manager Darren McLeod. "We get a good mix of business," he says, everything from weddings and small corporate meetings to couples or families looking for a few days away. For Long Islanders, it’s the perfect place for a girls’ weekend or a quick staycation.

The hotel opened in September 2020 — yes, right in the middle of the pandemic. There was not much going on, says Margo Comis, director of guest experiences, so people came, drawn by a quiet spot for a nice dinner, an afternoon by the pool, or a relaxing massage. "People were desperate for things to do," says Comis.

Now, the hotel is bustling — earlier this year U.S. News & World Report named it the second-best resort in New York City (if you must know, first place went to the Margaritaville Resort in Times Square). Guests will find an intriguing mix — big-city flair combined with offerings typically found at much bigger resorts (several restaurants, a full-service spa, fitness classes, and beach access). Design elements tend toward Scandinavian, starting in the lobby with its bleached wood and an ivory color scheme brightened with bold graphic pillows. The same goes for the Pool House, enclosed in the cooler months, but opened in May for direct access to the pool and its two cedar barrel saunas.

All-in-one experiences

Like any city hotel, rooms are compact. A standard king room starts at 190 square feet. "We like to say the rooms are cozy," says Comis, but she quickly adds, "They are smart." Drawers are hidden under the beds, which are high enough to store luggage underneath, she says. Only a couple of rooms have closets, but hooks on the wall are good options. The hotel has three suites, and eight one- and two-bedroom bungalows that feature expanded balconies and small kitchens. "Every room has a view," says McLeod, "either of Jamaica Bay or the Atlantic Ocean. No one ever faces a concrete wall."

"We really don’t think guests are going to spend a lot of time in their rooms," says Comis. Quiet spaces for reading or chilling can be found in the Pool House or on the rooftop, where guests can lounge or have a quick meal. The hotel’s main restaurant is Margie’s, named for the grandmother of one of the owners, where the menu changes seasonally. Emphasizing wellness, the hotel stresses sustainability (no single-use plastics, branded water bottles with refilling stations). The spa has four treatment rooms, with offerings ranging from massages (hot stone, mother-to-be) to facials and body treatments (the Sea Serenity wrap sounds like 80 minutes of bliss). Guests can also get a chair massage or reflexology by the pool. Fitness classes, mostly yoga, some mat Pilates and strength training, take place daily (free to guests, otherwise $25).

The hotel provides bikes for exploring the peninsula, and the beach and boardwalk are a four-minute walk away. The hotel will arrange for a paddle board or surfing lessons (Rockaway Beach is the only place where surfing is legally allowed in the city) or for a sailboat charter around Jamaica Bay. Nearby attractions include Fort Tilden, a historic oceanfront military park now part of the Gateway National Recreation Area, and the Jamaica Wildlife Refuge, where the salt marshes are home to numerous birds. And Manhattan is a quick ferry ride away, with service running every half hour. (The nearby subway is under construction, but McLeod says they hope it will be open by summer.)

Kerry Ennis , of Long Beach, goes to the Rockaway Hotel several times a year. She grew up in Queens and went to the beach as a child, so visiting the hotel is something of a homecoming for her. For her 55th birthday in March 2022, Ennis and some friends stayed in one of the bungalows for a weekend.

One of Ennis’ favorite things about the hotel is its involvement with the neighborhood. "They embrace the community," she says, whether sponsoring a fundraiser for a local organization or offering swimming lessons and summer camps to neighborhood children. Guests were invited to join a beach cleanup for Earth Day.

Also notable at the hotel is a curated collection of paintings and photographs by up-and-coming artists. "There’s such a heavy arts presence on the peninsula," says Comis. "We want to enhance that," she says, noting that the hotel will occasionally sponsor an exhibition or a talkback with an artist.

With summer, the vibe at the Rockaway heats up considerably. The beach community comes alive, and the hotel is finalizing plans for special events, along the lines of the Wellness Week that took place in April. But what really gets things going is the summer concert series, which opens on May 23, with the indie-rock band Nude Party playing on a second-floor sundeck (tickets are $41.20). Other concerts — everything from surfer jam to R&B, says Comis — are scheduled through Labor Day weekend, including singer/songwriter John Oates, of Hall and Oates fame,  on Aug. 24.

Concerts are open to the public, but for hotel guests, it’s quite a scene, with many of the rooms overlooking the stage. (What could be better than room service, with a live band playing a few floors down?) It’s all in keeping with our goal of making this a destination for people, says Comis. "It becomes one big party."