Loeb Boathouse

Loeb Boathouse is best known as the launch point for the rowboats dotting Central Park's iconic Lake.

From Loeb Boathouse, visitors can also take a ride on an authentic Venetian gondola or enjoy a meal with a view at the Lakeside Restaurant. More casual fare can be found at the cafeteria-style Boathouse Express Cafe, where an inviting fireplace provides a cozy respite in winter.

Few Central Park views rival that from a rowboat in the center of the Lake. Locals and visitors alike have been enjoying this tranquil pastime since the Park’s early days. Boats formerly embarked from six landings along the water’s edge; nearby kiosks sold tickets for rowboats, gondolas, and multi-seat call boats. In 1874, Park architect Calvert Vaux formalized the tradition by designing the rustic Boathouse on the Lake’s eastern shore as a covered space for docking and storage. Overlooking no detail, he incorporated charming Victorian touches and a second-story terrace with sweeping views of the Ramble.