Is Smorgasburg coming to Governors Island?
A major new waterfront restaurant is heading to Governors Island this spring and because Smorgasburg is behind it, the obvious question is: are we getting a full-on food market out there next?
Not quite, but the vibe might feel familiar.
The Trust for Governors Island has selected Six Coasts by Smorgasburg to take over the massive former Island Oyster space, a 32,000-square-foot waterfront venue next to Soissons Landing. Opening in May, the new concept will lean into Pan-American coastal flavors, drawing inspiration from “six coastal identities across the Americas,” from Nova Scotia and Baja to Bahia and the Caribbean.
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Rather than recreating Smorgasburg’s classic vendor-style market, Six Coasts will be a full-service restaurant and cultural hub. The menu will focus on seasonal seafood and tropical cocktails, paired with sweeping harbor views, music programming and a 100-seat outdoor bar intended for enjoying long, breezy afternoons.
Still, the operator’s DNA is all over the project. Plans include visiting chef residencies, sunset DJ series, coastal film nights, live music and collaborations with arts groups and island partners, all programming that feels like an extension of the food-market energy Smorgasburg has cultivated over the years.
“At Smorgasburg, we’ve always believed that food is a gateway to culture and Six Coasts brings that to life in its own vibrant and unique way,” CEO Gaston Becherano Cohen said in a statement, adding that the space will bring together chefs, music and global coastal traditions against the backdrop of New York Harbor.
The opening is a new chapter for the high-traffic site, which has sat empty since Island Oyster closed after its final season last year. When the Trust issued a request for proposals, it emphasized family-friendly dining, sustainability and accessibility—all guidelines that Six Coasts appears to embrace. The restaurant will operate as a fully electric facility and prioritize sustainably sourced ingredients in line with the island’s climate goals.
Governors Island’s food scene has steadily grown alongside its broader transformation over the past decade, with dozens of small businesses operating seasonally across the park’s expanding arts and cultural landscape. Adding a Smorgasburg-run restaurant is almost certainly part of a bigger push to turn the waterfront into a year-round destination.
So, is Smorgasburg itself landing on Governors Island? Not exactly. But if Six Coasts delivers the same energy that made the market a citywide phenomenon, it could be the closest thing yet—and a sign that the island’s dining scene is only getting started.
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