Boating on the lake is one of the oldest traditions in Central Park. In an effort to offer city dwellers a typically rustic experience, the park’s designers promoted boating as an ideal way to explore the lake’s scenic beauty. Beginning in the 1860s, park visitors could board a “passing boat” that completed a circuit of the lake, stopping at various boat marinas. Visitors could also rent a gondola for a more intimate tour.
As boating became popular, park administrators realized they needed a building to rent. In the 1870s, the first boathouse was built on the eastern shore of the lake, an ornately decorated wooden structure designed by one of the park’s designers, Calvert Vaux. By the 1950s, this structure had fallen into disrepair, and the current boathouse was designed as a more modern facility with restaurants and restrooms.
In addition to boat rentals, the restaurant is a popular spot in the park for lakeside dining. The more casual café is a popular hangout and gathering place for birdwatchers, who document recent sightings from the nearby Rambla in the “Bird Register” located in the lobby.
n the heart of Central Park is a cafe aboard a ship moored to the lake. Sitting at a cozy table on the deck, you can enjoy birdsong, the smell of violets and butterflies fluttering overhead. The restaurant’s cuisine is designed in American style.
Hamburgers, steaks, potatoes, chicken legs in a spicy sauce – this is not the whole list of what you can taste in this wonderful place. The cafe is a long open pavilion supported by a number of massive columns. Since the place is located right on the lake, it is always fresh here, and you can watch white swans while having lunch. In addition, Boathouse In Central Park has several boats that it rents out to customers for a fee. Prices here are affordable, which often attracts tourists, students, and those who cannot afford to pay more than 20 euros for lunch.