Tucked along the South Shore of Fire Island, Cherry Grove is one of the most historic and culturally significant communities on the island. Accessible by ferry from Sayville via Fire Island Ferries, this waterfront hamlet feels intentionally removed from the mainland. There are no cars, only wooden boardwalks winding through dunes, colorful cottages tucked behind beach grass, and a community built on decades of tradition.
Cherry Grove is widely recognized as America’s first openly LGBTQ+ beach community. Its spirit is rooted in creativity, inclusion, and celebration. The atmosphere is welcoming yet intimate, lively yet deeply personal. It is not just a destination. It is a legacy community where generations return each summer.
What to Love
- A historic LGBTQ+ enclave with national cultural significance
- Car-free boardwalk living surrounded by ocean and bay
- A tight-knit community with decades of tradition
- Iconic nightlife balanced with quiet beach mornings
- Direct ferry access with a true escape-from-it-all feel
Local Lifestyle
Life in Cherry Grove follows the rhythm of the tides. Mornings are quiet and restorative. Coffee on the deck. A walk to the ocean before the beach fills. Afternoons stretch long in the sand or on the bay, where boats drift in and out and neighbors gather naturally.
Because the community is compact and entirely walkable, everything feels connected. A short boardwalk stroll takes you from ocean to bay, from a quiet residential walk to the center of town. Conversations carry. Neighbors know each other. There is a sense of familiarity that deepens year after year.
Evenings begin slowly with sunset views over the Great South Bay, then transition into dinner, performances, and social gatherings that feel uniquely Cherry Grove.
Dining and Social Scene
Cherry Grove’s dining and social scene is intimate, waterfront, and deeply woven into the fabric of the community. Everything is just steps apart, creating a natural flow from breakfast to sunset cocktails to late-night performances.
Mornings often begin at Floyd's, a Grove institution where coffee turns into conversation and beach plans are mapped out over a relaxed breakfast. It sets the tone for the day, easy, familiar, and unhurried.
As evening approaches, the energy shifts toward the bay. Cherrys On The Bay offers one of the most iconic waterfront settings in the community. Tables fill before sunset, and the atmosphere transitions seamlessly from dinner to cocktails as the sky softens over the Great South Bay. Top of the Bay provides a slightly more elevated coastal dining experience, pairing refined fare with panoramic water views that define a Cherry Grove summer evening.
At the center of the social scene stands Cherry Grove Ice Palace, the historic anchor of the community. Its legendary drag performances, themed parties, and dance nights are not simply entertainment. They are part of Cherry Grove’s cultural legacy and identity.
For a casual bite after the beach or late into the night, Cherry Grove Pizza remains a dependable staple.
In Cherry Grove, dining and social life are inseparable. Evenings unfold organically, neighbors reconnect year after year, and every venue contributes to a rhythm that feels celebratory yet deeply rooted in tradition.
Things to Do and Entertainment
The beach is expansive and easily accessible, offering wide oceanfront sand and a vibrant summer atmosphere. On the bay side, boating, paddleboarding, and dock gatherings are daily rituals.
The scenic boardwalk path to The Pines connects two of Fire Island’s most storied communities, making for an easy afternoon walk through the dunes.
Summer in Cherry Grove is marked by themed parties, charity events, performances, and long-standing traditions that have defined the community for decades. Yet even with its celebratory reputation, mornings remain peaceful and restorative.