Ruby's Old Time Bar and Grill

The space has been a Coney Island tradition since 1934, when it started out as the Hebrew National Deli and Bar¹. In 1972 it was bought and turned into Ruby's Bar and Restaurant, family owned and operated ever since, which by its own count makes it the oldest bar and grill on the boardwalk^{1, 2}. In 2009 we said Ruby's opened in 1975; Ruby's says 1972¹.

We also called a six-dollar plastic cup of domestic draft on the patio, overlooking the boardwalk, a singular pleasure. In November 2010 it looked like the pleasure was over: Zamperla, the management company that also owns nearby Luna Park, did not renew the bar's lease and gave notice to close up shop and vacate the space³.

Ruby's Bar & Grill is still at 1213 Riegelmann Boardwalk⁴. It opens at 11 Monday through Thursday and at 10:30 Friday through Sunday, weather permitting⁵, and in 2026 it was voted Best Beach/Boardwalk Bar in the Best of Brooklyn contest, a six-peat by its own count⁵.