Skinnys Cantina
Long Island City-Hunters Point, New York City
Restaurant in New York City, United States
Book with PearlThe Read
Price
$20–30per person
Dress
Casual
Why go
Skinnys Cantina is a practical Long Island City pick when location and ease matter more than a destination-dining experience. Lunch is the safer play; dinner works for casual groups near the waterfront, but compare Maiella or American Brass if the meal needs more polish.
About Skinnys Cantina
Skinnys Cantina is a New York City venue with daily hours and a casual dress code.
Use Skinnys Cantina as a practical option when the facts fit your plans. It is open from 11 AM daily, closes at 10 PM Sunday through Thursday, and stays open until 11 PM on Friday and Saturday.
Hours are the clearest planning detail
Hours are Monday through Thursday from 11 AM to 10 PM, Friday and Saturday from 11 AM to 11 PM, and Sunday from 11 AM to 10 PM.
If you are comparing options in New York City, consider Skinnys Cantina alongside other dining choices such as Maiella, American Brass, Kaiyo Omakase, Blend on the Water, or SHI. Choose based on the details each venue provides, especially if your plans depend on a specific menu, price point, seating style, or occasion.
Start with the basics, then check for specifics
The dress code is casual, so neat everyday clothing is an appropriate baseline.
The verdict: Skinnys Cantina can be considered when you want a New York City venue with daily hours and a casual dress code.
Planning details
- Hours
- Monday: 11 AM–10 PM · Tuesday: 11 AM–10 PM
- Location
- 47-05 Center Blvd, Long Island City, NY 11109
- Reservations
- Book on OpenTable
- Website
- skinnyscantina.com
- Phone
- +17187298300
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Skinnys Cantina reads as a neighborhood cantina that leans into a relaxed, come-as-you-are posture. It sits on Long Island City’s Center Boulevard waterfront, amid converted industrial buildings and newer residential towers, so the room balances an industrial edge with modern, design-aware energy. The food-and-drink program is bar-forward and share-oriented, which keeps the atmosphere casual and welcoming rather than ceremonious. Regulars and local workers feel at ease popping in for drinks and plates; the place favors approachable conviviality over fine-dining formality, making it feel like a lived-in local spot rather than a destination tasting menu.
Best For
Skinnys Cantina is best experienced as a neighborhood gathering spot: groups, families and casual hangouts all find a natural fit here. The cantina format and shareable plates encourage communal ordering and visiting with friends, while the bar program, focused on agave spirits and draft beer, supports after-work drinks and low-key celebrations. Positioned on the Center Boulevard waterfront, the restaurant serves the local Long Island City community rather than courting Manhattan destination traffic, making it an ideal place for repeat visits, spontaneous nights out, and modest group celebrations where the emphasis is on socializing rather than ceremony.
Ordering Tips
Lean into the cantina’s shareable format when you order: pick a mix of small plates and tacos to pass around the table. The venue’s signature items, Mexican Meatballs, Carne Tacos and Frozen Margaritas, are natural starting points and reflect the bar-forward, agave-oriented program. Because the format favors sharing, plan for several plates per person if you’re in a group, and leave room for drinks from the draft-beer and margarita offerings. The casual, repeat-visit ethos means it’s easy to try a few things rather than committing to a single large entrée.
Venue details
Ambiance
Festive and vibrant atmosphere perfect for celebrations with friends and family, enhanced by waterfront skyline views.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Sourcing
View
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Casual
- Noise Level
- Lively
- Service Style
- Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Standard
- Capacity
- Large
- Kitchen
- Traditional
- Menu Format
- A la carte
- Drinks Focus
- Margaritas
- Private Dining
- Available
- Outdoor Seating
- Yes
Signature Dishes
- Mexican Meatballs
- Carne Tacos
- Frozen Margaritas
Know before you go
Know Before You Go
- Getting there
- 47-05 Center Blvd, Long Island City, NY 11109
Planning details
Hours
- Monday
- 11 AM–10 PM
- Tuesday
- 11 AM–10 PM
- Wednesday
- 11 AM–10 PM
- Thursday
- 11 AM–10 PM
- Friday
- 11 AM–11 PM
- Saturday
- 11 AM–11 PM
- Sunday
- 11 AM–10 PM
Location
47-05 Center Blvd, Long Island City, NY 11109 · Directions
Also consider
Also Consider
- SHI, Notable alternative
- Maiella, Notable alternative
- American Brass, Notable alternative
- Blend on the Water, Notable alternative
- Kaiyo Omakase, Notable alternative
Restaurant context
How it compares on the Long Island City waterfront
Skinnys Cantina is the lowest-commitment choice in this set: easier for a casual lunch or relaxed group meal than Kaiyo Omakase, which is better for diners who want a format-driven sushi experience. If the decision is about value for money, Skinnys Cantina makes sense when convenience is the main value; Kaiyo Omakase makes sense when the meal itself is the reason to go.
Maiella and American Brass are stronger choices for a more polished dinner near the water. Pick Maiella when the night needs a composed sit-down feel, American Brass when the group wants a broader restaurant setting, and Skinnys Cantina when the plan is casual and timing matters more than ceremony.
Blend on the Water is the clearer call for a waterfront-ambiance-first evening, especially if the view and room energy are part of the brief. SHI sits closer to the neighborhood-restaurant comparison set; choose it over Skinnys Cantina when the group wants a more defined sit-down alternative nearby.
Explore New York City
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Skinnys Cantina guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Skinnys Cantina
| Venue | Location | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| Skinnys Cantina | New York City | No published awards |
| SHI | New York City | No published awards |
| Maiella | New York City | No published awards |
| American Brass | New York City | No published awards |
| Blend on the Water | New York City | No published awards |
| Kaiyo Omakase | New York City | No published awards |
How Skinnys Cantina compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is lunch or dinner better at Skinnys Cantina?
Hours begin at 11 AM daily, with closing at 10 PM Sunday through Thursday and 11 PM on Friday and Saturday. A separate lunch or dinner format is not indicated, so choose your timing based on the posted hours and confirm current service details with the venue.
