D Piper Inn Hotel

Extremely frustrating and disappointing when you make a reservation a month in advance on the phone and then you call to confirm the morning of and the owner acts like he never spoke with you and denies you a room over Labor Day weekend. I want to share our experience so no one else has to be panic stricken like we were over a holiday weekend. Forget about this place!!!

Stayed at this place in late September and had a really nice time. I’m a huge fan of old hotels, and this place definitely has a rich history. Peter, the dude who runs the place is really cool. He made us feel right at home and offered us beach towels, and coolers to bring to the beach. This impressed me.
It’s located stones throw from the shore, and is also right next to a few delis, supermarkets and restaurants. The subway trains are right there also.

Such a lovely place. The location is great — convenient to the subway but still peaceful and right next to the beach. The inn was clean and had everything we needed, including free use of beach chairs, towels, and coolers. The owner, Pete, is a warm host and a great conversationalist who knows the neighborhood like the back of his hand, but if you’re there for some quiet time he’s respectful of that too. We came on a busy August weekend and will definitely be back in the off-​season.

This place was awesome. The owner/​operator hangs around all day with the 2 cutest, sweetest little dogs. He’s got towels, umbrellas, beach chairs, coolers, ice. whatever you need for the beach. Our room was super cold and totally clean. We had a fridge and microwave and the bed was very comfortable.
The block is a little sketch, but no more or less so than any other block in Rockaway. Unlike some other reviews, we were not harassed or worried about our stuff/​car/​safety at all.
Will definitely return next summer!

The stay was awesome. Pete, the owner, was very welcoming and made our stay wonderful and memorable. I will go again definitely.

Upon arriving, we were greeted by inn owner Peter, a large, unkempt man. We could tell immediately that Peter was a free spirit, as indicated by his laid-​back attire: a black t-​shirt, no pants, socks, and white-​ish ill-​fitting underwear.
He kindly waived us in, right in to a thick cloud of his cigarette smoke, which filled the cramped, dark space like a mysterious fog. I noticed a litter of puppies lying on the ground in the room immediately to the right of the entrance. «Wow, nice puppies!» I remarked, intrigued. «Thanks. $ 2,600 each,» Peter grunted through one side of his mouth, balancing his impossibly long-​ashed cig out of the other.
Peter then reared back and yelled «MAAAAAAAAAA!!!» at the top of his lungs, à la Will Ferrell in Wedding Crashers. A frowning, little old lady emerged from the shadows, mumbled something incoherent in our direction with a beckoning waive and began walking up the stairs. «She’s blind,» explained Peter.
We made it to our room, which was charming/​disgusting, and took a look out the window. We saw some people milling about on the large second floor balcony/​rooftop of the house next door, a halfway house. Their balcony stretched right up to our room’s same-​level window, which allowed for convenient face-​to-​face interaction with several recovering drug-​addicts and/​or current drug addicts. «Yeeeeeeeah…» one of them exclaimed a foot or two outside our blind-​less window while casting a creepy, aggressive glare at my wife.
While very entertained, we considered leaving, but it was late and we were tired. Luckily, there was a late night dollar store around the corner that sold knives. My wife and I were able to fall asleep eventually, over the playful ’round the clock ruckus emanating from the loony bin next door, comforted only by my new dollar store knife I placed on the bedside table.

Had an amazing time at D Piper Inn — we were going to stay for a night so we could enjoy 2 full beach days and not take the A train back to Manhattan. The afternoon when we were supposed to head out, we decided to stay an extra night because we couldn’t leave! Peter the owner is a cool guy and very nice, and the other guests were as well. The Inn and the people it attracts have very good energy. We loved the cozy, spotless rooms with strong AC, private full bathrooms and comfy beds and the quiet mornings with coffee and sitting outside on the comfortable lounge chairs. And after coming back at night after a long beach day and dinner out, having a drink and conversation with whoever may be sitting on the patio. It is a gorgeous old house with interesting corners, crevices and furniture. We are already planning our trip back!

Had a wonderful stay with my husband this weekend. The house is gorgeous and our room was spotlessly clean and cozy with very comfortable beds. Wonderful location very close to a wonderful stretch of beach with great bathrooms. Peter the owner is awesome and makes sure that your stay great. I highly recommend staying here.

As of July 2013, they were still closed because of Hurricane Sandy. :(No idea when they’ll reopen.

great place to stay in Rockaway.
I recommend it totally. Right near the beach. Clean nice rooms. Friendly setting.
Charming rooms.

We really enjoyed our stay at the D Piper. Peter the owner is a great guy who cares about making sure you have an enjoyable stay. The inn itself is very cozy — fun rooms to sit in and great outside space to relax in.
You cannot stay any closer to the beach and Peter has bikes available for your use which makes cruising the boardwalk a must! After a long day at the beach the open air porch was a great place to unwind and read. As mentioned the beds are not the most comfy but after a long beach day and the warm atmosphere of the inn you barely notice.
We are looking forward to going back — see you there!

The D Piper Inn is the only place to stay on the Rockaway Peninsula, as far as I know, unless you have a friend with a bungalow.
This is a mid-​size house with a porch and bar on the first floor, beach cruisers parked in the backyard, and dogs, cats, and guests relaxing everywhere.
Our room was charming but simple, grab a doughnut and coffee on the way out, if you’d like. This is a beach inn, not a froofy bed and breakfast your aunt and uncle would pick for a romance-​rekindling getaway. And that’s how we like it.
Peter, the owner, runs a friendly ship docked just off the boardwalk.