Pilot
EST. 2017
PREMIUM VENUE
PILOT, Brooklyn, NY, USA

Pilot
Send messages & view rates of your favorite venues in one spot.
Pilot is a seasonal oyster bar aboard one of America's most prized wooden schooners.
Our full-service bar and restaurant boasts a full-service bar and a dining room with unobstructed views of the Manhattan skyline. Enjoy sustainable seafood, a rotating selection of oysters and quality cocktails while the boat gently rocks with each passing ship on the East River. It's the best place in the city to watch the sunset.
The Lowdown
Type
Beach / Lake / Waterfront LocationBoat / Yacht / Yacht ClubHistoric BuildingRestaurant / Private Dining
Views
CityscapeCoastlineParkRiverSkyline
Style
Classic
Coastal
Nautical
Best type of Celebrations
Birthday Party
Corporate Event
Dinner Party
Product Launch
Rehearsal Dinner / Welcome Reception
Social Event
Wedding Reception
Anniversary
Engagement Party

Venue Setting

Pilot is a seasonal oyster bar aboard one of America's most prized wooden schooners. Showcasing sustainably harvested oysters and nautically inspired cocktails, Pilot presents a concise menu of ingredient-driven seasonal plates by nationally acclaimed chef, Kerry Heffernan. Over the course of Pilot's nearly 100-year history, she's led many lives: as a contender to be the fastest sailboat in the world, as the country's longest-serving pilot ship, as a ferry for soldiers in World War II, and as a research vessel that circumnavigated the world twice.

Capacity

Seated
64
Buffet
N/A
Standing
150
Fees
(Prices listed here are estimates only & are subject to change)
Price range

Does this include catering fees?

Yes

Estimated price per head

from $78 to $135

Additional charges

Taxes, Administration Fee, Gratuity 

Insurance

Additional Insurance May Be Required Depending On The Event

Connect
Call Venue
Event Logistics and Amenities
(Essential event logistics and amenities to ensure a seamless and memorable experience for you gathering)
Celebrations hosted here since
2017
Curfew
12 AM
Venue spaces
Outdoor Venue Space Only
Catering
Client Must Use The Catering Provided By The Venue
Alcohol
Provided By Venue For Fee – You Must Use The Venue For All Alcohol Services
Music
Outdoors Only
Smoking
Non-smoking Venue
Eco/Green Events
Yes
Pet-Friendly Events
Yes
Amenities
  • Dining Chairs
  • Dining Tables
  • Onsite Restrooms
Venue Features
The scene:
Before you see the boat, you'll see the mast rising high above the landscaping of Brooklyn Bridge Park's Pier 6. Then, you'll see Pilot—140' of floating history, permanently docked alongside one of Brooklyn's most beautiful green spaces. Our full-service bar and restaurant boasts a full-service bar and a dining room with unobstructed views of the Manhattan skyline. Enjoy sustainable seafood, a rotating selection of oysters and quality cocktails while the boat gently rocks with each passing ship on the East River. It's the best place in the city to watch the sunset.

Pilot is a rare surviving Grand Banks style schooner and is an eligible candidate for the National Register of Historic Places. Built in 1924 by J.F. James & Son in Essex, Massachusetts, "she is 140’ of remarkable maritime craftsmanship" (Vogue). She's had many roles in life, from carrying soldiers in WW2 to sailing around the world. Now, she provides New Yorkers a piece of permanent vacation.
Design:
Pilot was thoughtfully renovated, preserving the beauty of much of the original wood on the ship. With its signature yellow and white awnings, brass accents and marble bars, the ship feels both modern and classically nautical.
Awards & Notables
Awards, recognitions, or noteworthy achievements associated with the venue.
#1 on The Infatuation's "The Boat Power Rankings" and listed in "The Summer Hit List: New Places To Eat & Drink Outside"
Food Restaurants, Cafes, Bars, Lounges
This section provides insights into our diverse culinary and social offerings.
Pilot is a floating restaurant focusing on sustainable seafood, oysters and nautically-inspired cocktails.
Venue matched with reports
Weddings
The Best Boating and Floating Wedding Venues Across the World
Planning a wedding on the open seas, lake shores or rivers near home? Check out these charter yachts, riverboats and sailboats we’re currently crushing on. If your wedding style is all about showing off your favorite city skyline, a mega-yacht rental in Miami might be right up your alley. Or, maybe you’re more likely the type to take your closest friends and family on a cruise in celebration of your marriage, culminating in one epic dinner party night that doubles as your reception. Keeping style, luxury and good design in mind, we’re bringing you the best boats and floating wedding venues across the world. Whether your destination wedding options include Istanbul, an African safari or Croatia, or keeping it close-to-home in Chicago, New York or Savannah, we’ve got you covered. Reporter: Alyssa Brown
Read roundup
Weddings
19 Crazy Cool Wedding Venues in Brooklyn
These days, there’s hardly a cooler spot in the country than Brooklyn. A divine borough to eat, drink and be merry in, Brooklyn has become a go-to wedding destination for hidden heartfelt gems, tucked away from the hustle and bustle of city streets. Remodeled warehouses, factories, and shops are found across the vibrant and varied borough, offering couples and their guests the right balance of romantic and rustic, hip and historic.
Read roundup
An Insider’s Guide to NYC’s Best Outdoor Dining & Drinking Spots Right Now
Summer in New York might have you lusting to get out of the city, but these 35 outdoor dining and drinking spots are bound to make you reconsider. From historic boats on the harbor that serve oysters by the dozen to lobster bars and taco shops sprinkled across the boroughs, we’re sure you’ll be adding at least a few of the places on this list to your NYC summer bucket list. Reporter: Alyssa Brown
Read roundup