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Brighton Beach
Rating Details »
Neighborhood: Brighton Beach
Coney Island Ave & Brightwater Ct
New York City, NY 11230
Coney Island Ave & Brightwater Ct
New York City, NY 11230
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
22 reviews for Brighton Beach
This is the beach I go to when it's a beach day.
Sure, it's not "as nice" as Rockaway, Jones Beach, Long Beach, or Robert Moses but come on, at the end of the day this is NY, we're not on a tropical island like Hawaii so none of these beaches have crystal blue water. I used to live in Hawaii so compared to that, I don't think any of the beaches are amazing in NY.
Back to why I gave 4 stars for Brighton Beach...I love the fact that I can just hop onto the Q line or F line (transfer at coney) and get there in an hour instead of driving in traffic or taking the LIRR from Penn Station (the commute back home SUX when you have to take the Lirr to pennstation then, to hop on a subway home or cabbie home) I love the fact that you don't have to pay to get on the beach. I love the Russian fruits and veg market by the subway where I always buy my donut peaches. I love the fact that there's dudes hustling beers and water on the beach..yep Corona's on your demand.
I've lived in NY for 16 years and I think I took a dip in the water maybe like twice...I just strictly go there to tan and relax. So the next time you missed the express train to Long Beach, or do not have a car to drive to Jones beach, Brighton is the way to go!
I've been out to Brighton Beach a few times now and I'm not so sure about it anymore. The first time was early in the summer and it was quite nice. About a 45 minute subway ride from midtown, not too crowded that weekday, and seemingly cleaner than I expected a NYC beach to be. The restrooms are pretty bad, but I usually avoid public restrooms anyway.
Once I went on a Saturday and it was really, really crowded. You couldn't get close to the water to sit at all. I don't usually get in beach water anyway, but I like to watch the swimmers. The only thing I got to watch this day was tanners, including one girl tanning with her top OFF and Band-Aids covering her nipples. This beach is as diverse as it gets with tons of girls (and even guys) in high-cut bottoms and thongs, and just as many of larger women and men in just as little clothing.
I went back out this week and it was really crowded for a Tuesday. I found 2 pieces of broken glass next to my towel too. Also, a half buried Corona bottle a few feet away.
I read the reviews for Jones Beach and Long Beach, so maybe next time I'm feeling like a beach trip I'll drive my car out to one of them.
Really relaxing beach.
Since this is not really a tourist beach (those guys go to Coney Island), you will really only encounter residents of Brighton Beach. Quiet citypeople who just want to breathe and sleep by the sea- heaven for a girl who's put up with Jones Beach on a number of unfortunate occasions.
It is only really crowded in the small area in front of Tatiana's Restaurant. Keep walking to the right.
Bring a towel, sunblock, and enjoy the view. Everyone from your typical uber-orange beach bunnies to proudly flabby ladies and gentlemen strutting around in their bathing suits.
Its a dump....
Broken glass in the sand
Croweded beyond any point necessery
Jelly fish in the water
Pepole Making BBQ every where and not cleaning up
Smoking
Drinking
Really bad wood on the broadwalk
Nasty not clean bathrooms
Expensive not good food
Loud Music...
Everything you can imagine floating in the water
UM no thanks.....
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Yes! - Excellent! The beach is clean, and you see TONS of non-tourist, resident, and completely unabashed residents wearing swimming outfits (I call them OUTFITS) that leave little to the mind for imagining (this makes you laugh). TALK TO THE PEOPLE YOU SEE - it's AMAZING. When I'm here I make a point of being in this neighborhood.
WATCH OUT FOR THE JELLYFISH (according to a russian dude on the beach drinking something other than sprite out of a sprite can which he sat his cigarette in, they "bite for me, you know?" soooo, watch it)... dude had sting marks along his arms
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Coney Island's more chilled out, attractive brother.
Smaller waves, less crowded beaches, and a whole lot less obnoxious boomboxing (or whatever the whippersnappers are into these days) and screaming children than just a mile over on Coney Island beach.
And let's face it; sometimes you just need to escape the concrete jungle. This is a good place to have on the list of options.
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Don't be jealous people that I live by a beach in New York City and you don't. And No I am not Russian. My family just decided to move here because it's by the beach and it's a nice neighborhood to raise kids.
So, let me tell you....it was 1:30am, and guess what? I took a nice stroll to the beach, took my shirt off, and went for a swim. The water was clean and crisp. The sand was just raked by cars with mechanical rakes. The sand was smooth and clean. A few young people were acting silly and a young couple were making out.
I feel safe here and the beach is for the most part clean. I went to a beach in Massachusetts, and it's much cleaner in Brighton Beach. I obviously like going during off peak times because It can get extremely busy on the weekends and when it's very hot.
Brighton Beach is an amazing place.
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ugh. no. just no.
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not a bad beach nothings changed over the last 20 years. defenitely brooklyn as you can get good mix of all ethnic backgrounds.
fat guys in thongs
$3 coronas being dragged around in trash bags with ice
$2 deep fried treats sold by the lady walking back and forth on the beach
fully clothed homeless guy panhandling on the rocks jutting out to sea
$5 beach umbrella hats being hawked on the beach
the guy 3 spots over with a boom box blasting Spanish love ballads
the screams of tterrified Cyclone riders every 30 seconds
"git your ice cold corona"
yep, I love Brighton Beach.
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I recommend this place more in the off-season or in the evening/night time then during the day. Nothing wrong with it during the day, but's a very beautiful and expansive beach(directly connected to coney island beach - same shoreline) which is great for contemplation or romantic moments. Jetties, all sorts of seaguls, and distant scenery like the Gil Hodges Bridge to the east(beautifully lit at night) and the Parashoot jump/Cyclone back and to the west, as well as the tree-covered Jersey shore in the distance really give it a unique feel. Both the sun and moon move over the water from east to west so you get spectacular twinkles on the water and waves. The water opens out into the atlantic so you'll see some large beautifully lit boats at night. The place was a bit more beautiful in terms of viewing the land behind you, before the amusement park area in Coney Island starting being closed down, plus the ridiculous beach laws popping up everywhere(including the no swimming without a lifeguard law have dampened the natural and free nature of the beach-particularly if you don't give em the peverbial finger), but the beach itself is a pleasantry.
A note for the many who are interested in the beach for the daytime-summertime fun. There beach is fairly populated in the summer, but not overcrowded as it may have once been. The water is about what you would expect from a new york city beach. It's not without it's share of litter, which baffles you when seeing all of the available garbage cans around, but down on the wet sand you won't be dodging litter left and right just to enjoy the water. There's get-together volleyball games that can be spotted across the beach most of the day, and there's usually a frisbee flying around somewhere that's just looking for another person to join in. Or a football.
how could i have NOT written about this..
here's the deal. I'm from Ukraine... That being said, I LEFT Ukraine for a reason. The people that live/hang out here are like a soviet time capsule.
I really cannot understand how and why they exist the way they do, preserving all the aspects of russian life under the american sun.
The food stores here are amazing, and the piroshki on the street, the plombir ice cream, and Baltika beer are worth the trip alone, but the people are a bit on the unfriendly side.
Here is a little scavenger hunt for those who decide to take the trip:
1) overweight lady with bright red hair
2) someone wearing leopard print
3) russian techno blasting out of a moving car
4) grandparents boozing up on the board walk
5) mom pushing stroller in high heels
6) really really blonde hair and really really pink/purple lips
I think thats enough to look for in one trip. Enjoy yourself.
(the beach itself is nice, i mean not the cleanest , but doable)
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Once darkness sets in, Brighton Beach becomes magic. The edge of the sea here is far enough from the roads and the buildings to forget the existence of the hustle and bustle, and yet close enough to the city so that you don't have to travel miles and miles. The feeling is almost like you are standing in a doorway, right in between the light of the city and the darkness of the sea, and it's mesmerizing.
I don't like Brighton Beach Ave itself, I always feel a bit unsafe here if I'm walking by myself at night, plus I have reason to be, I've had a few unpleasant moments here, but with a friend it's always fine.
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A little bit of Russian heaven on earth.
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I happened to wander down here with two of my friends after riding the bumper cars in Coney Island.
We hit up an Uzbeki place for some cheap food, sat on a bench by the beach to eat it while a little Russian boy became enchanted with me and gave me his toy. I politely returned it and he ran away giggling.
We then decided dessert was needed and after hitting up every dried fruit place and buying more pickles than necessary, what else can a girl do but go buy some cake by the pound.
Brighton Beach is an odd corner of New York and I recommend it for people who like a little bit of odd in their life.
Caution: beware the Geri's. They can be irritable.
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One of the cleanest beaches in Brooklyn yet. I love how there's no bombardment of tourists or families here during the summer. Which leaves the rest of us with more room. I love coming here and being at peace with my thoughts.
Five stars for embracing the amazingness of my people. Yes, that's right, I'm Russian (I know, you had no clue, right?), and Brighton beach is my homing beacon in NYC. Have I ever gone swimming there? Of course not. I've wandered the boardwalk and the beach (the boardwalk is best done in very high heels and full make up, carefully jumping around so as not to get a heel stuck in said boardwalk, and this totally qualifies as exercise! The beach is best done holding said heels in hand while rolling pant legs of designer jeans).
This is the epitome of my people, the NYC version of Odessa and the Black Sea. And the apartments with the ocean views? Yeah, anyone in their right mind would kill for one of those.
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I love, love, love Brighton Beach - Another place I spent more childhood years with the family. We would wake up at 7am, drive to brighton and stay until 7pm. It was so much fun. Brighton is a great place to swim, not many waves which is great for children.
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ok. where do i start?
the boardwalk: it's wood. unlike bay parkway or the east river or west side highway walk. at night its full of music and restorunts and just great lively stuff. you can see astroland from the distance. its just great.. walking there on a nice evening, you'll be entertained. garanteed.
the beach: the sand is hot so get slippers (in the summer of course) its also not smooth (meaning there might be broken glass or broken shells - either one will hurt if stepped on) so yeah, you'll need those slippers
the water: is wonderful. its the beach after all. I love it. stand in the water with the kids (hold them, its scary) and let the waves wash over you (don't swallow the water it doesn't taste too good)
there are big rocks you can sit on too and get only your legs wet
There aren't too many places in New York that are quite as unique as Brighton Beach. Tons of cheap ethnic foods, lots of people watching, and of course the beach. If you come to Coney Island you must take a walk through Brighton Beach.
You know this is probably the only beach I can tolerate in NYC. I love walking along the boardwalk and seeing the babushka's in their fur coats in 90 degree weather (hey you do what you got to do). I mean I just love this area of my beloved borough.
Love to hate it , hate to love it, one and only , can't live with it, can't live without it, wormhole to my russian identity...Brighton Beach, Brooklyn. Its loud, its crowded, its got an attitude all its own, its dirty, its poetic, it has way too much perfume and makeup on...Brighton Beach, Brooklyn. Where else can you have a dirty atlantic ocean view while being surrounded by seagulls and pigeons because there are at least a dozen senior citizens around you feeding them while drinking kvas(russian beer) and eat everthing from blini w/caviar to escragot to vareneki to lobster....Brighton Beach. The land of dreams, the american kind.
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