Half Moon Hotel

The Half Moon Hotel was an Art Deco skyscraper with 14 stories located on the Riegelmann Boardwalk at West 29th Street in Coney Island. It stood approximately 225 feet tall and featured Spanish Colonial architectural details that distinguished it from other beach resort buildings of the period.

The hotel opened in 1927 as part of a strategy to establish Coney Island as a major beach resort competing with Atlantic City. During World War II, the building was converted into a naval hospital and later repurposed as a residence for senior citizens.

The interior displayed maritime themes, with the Isabella Lounge and a half-moon weather vane creating a nautical experience for guests. The Galleon Grill featured murals of Spanish ports, reinforcing the seaside resort character the place aimed to achieve.

The building sits directly on the famous boardwalk and is easy to spot from the beach, making orientation straightforward for visitors. Plan your visit during warmer months when the area is most active and the surrounding Coney Island attractions are fully accessible.

Room 623 is associated with a tragic event when FBI informant Abe Reles died there in 1941 while under police protection. This historical incident is frequently recalled when discussing the hotel's past.