Seaside Tiki bars are very tough to come by in the Greater Boston area.
That’s perhaps because, unlike in places like Florida, California and Hawaii, there’s a seasonal aspect to New England’s weather. Indeed, if you head north to the New Hampshire or Maine coast or south to beach towns on the Cape, the South Coast, Rhode Island or Connecticut, many such spots are either only open during the warmer months or have enough of an indoor presence that they can remain open all year long.
But did you know that less than an hour from downtown Boston (traffic willing) is one such bar where people can kick back with a tropical drink and some comfort food while soaking in some spectacular water views? The Tipsy Seagull Dockside Pub in Fall River is certainly such a place, and one that has the feel of a bar that is far, far away from the often-chilly Northeast.
The Fall River waterfront is a pretty well-kept secret, perhaps because it’s somewhat fractured — it’s split in two by Interstate 195 (and the Braga Bridge, which carries the highway west toward Providence) — and also because, though it has the look and feel of the ocean, the city actually sits along the Taunton River, where it opens up into Mount Hope Bay, a good 20 miles from the open sea. The waterfront north of the highway includes such historic sites as Battleship Cove and Fall River Heritage State Park and includes some dining options, while south of I-195 is an industrial and residential section of the city that has undergone some extensive redevelopment over the years and which also has some places for food and drink.
Hidden away in this area of Fall River south of the bridge is Ferry Street, a short, little-traveled road home to a few restaurants along with a brewery. Sitting within the Borden Light Marina is The Tipsy Seagull, a floating bar that caters to boaters, locals and those in the know during the warmer months.
The place resides at the end of a long dock and is surrounded by water, and because it literally is a floating bar, customers may feel it swaying just a bit depending on the wind and the weather.
There are a few different options for seating here, including a mix of thatched-roof Tiki tables and unshaded seating alongside the boardwalk entrance, a mostly shaded bar just beyond which is more or less the main part of the place, more seating in the sun along the periphery of the bar (and some of these tables have tremendous views of the water and the bridge) and an upstairs area that has a rooftop bar as well as a few tables with unimpeded views of the river and the bay.
A small stage for live music is set up by the bar on the main level while Adirondack chairs and swings add a laid-back, mellow air to the spot.
By the way, if you have a boat, you can pull right up to the bar and grab some food and drink, as there is plenty of space along the dock.
The Tipsy Seagull is one of three businesses by the marina that are under the same ownership. The new Morgan’s Cantina is an upscale, four-season Mexican restaurant while Pier 52 is also upscale, but it is seasonal and focuses mostly on seafood. (The nearby Tipsy Toboggan once had an ownership connection to The Tipsy Seagull but is run by a different group today.)
All three spots are quite different from one another, and The Tipsy Seagull is the most casual of the three, a place where the vibe is every bit as important as the food and drink. But unlike some Tiki bars, the food options here are quite good and varied, giving a nod to the terrific regional fare found along the South Coast and in Rhode Island next door.
Some items available include a classic New England clam chowder served with oyster crackers; some delicious stuffies that are loaded with chopped clams, breadcrumbs and Portuguese sausage; an old-school shrimp cocktail with jumbo gulf shrimp, a lemon and cocktail sauce; roasted red pepper hummus with tomato, feta, cucumbers, olives and warm naan; a juicy burger that seems to be a signature dish here and can be ordered with BBQ sauce; an all-beef hot dog that has the option of sauerkraut; tacos with seared ahi tuna and cilantro lime slaw; a decadent pastrami reuben with plenty of sauerkraut and Thousand Island dressing; and lobster rolls with a lemon caper aioli.
PHOTOS: The Tipsy Seagull, a floating Tiki bar in Fall River, Mass.
Tiki bars tend to be all about summer drinks, and The Tipsy Seagull has pretty much every type of cocktail you’d want at such a spot. The frozen daiquiri here is a perfect thirst-quencher on a hot day, as is the piña colada and the margarita options, while other faves include a mudslide that is topped with whipped cream, a mango mojito, red or white sangria and a rum punch with tropical notes coming from banana liqueur, pineapple juice and orange juice.
Beers mainly include mass market brews but some good warm-weather beers such as Blue Moon and Sam Summer are available, and the ever-popular beach drink — Surfside Iced Tea & Lemonade Vodka — is an option as well.
It has always seemed strange that a coastal metropolitan area with more than a million people basically has zero Tiki bars along the water, but you’ll find a few here and there if you’re willing to drive north or south, and if you’re heading south, The Tipsy Seagull is one of the closest to Boston.
Fall River may seem like a strange destination for a feel of the tropics, but here in New England, we’ll take what we can get, and this wonderful floating bar should help scratch the itch if you yearn for a taste of the Florida Keys or Southern California without having to leave the local area.
The Tipsy Seagull Dockside Pub, 1 Ferry Street, Fall River, MA, 02721. thetipsyseagull.com
