USA TODAY International Edition
Dining on water a must- do for summer
Floating bars and restaurants give customers that special experience
Summer is the perfect time to enjoy a drink or a meal on the water. While there are plenty of waterfront dining experiences around the USA, a choice few restaurants and bars operate on boats and barges, adding a floating sensation to a great view.
New York City has the lion’s share of floating bars and restaurants.
Roman Tartakovsky, beverage manager for Pier 81 venues Hudson’s and North River Lobster Company, attributes this to the large amount of aquatic real estate available around the city. “The horseshoe shape of Manhattan Island makes for a colossal amount of waterfront territory,” he says. The protected waterways and harbor that surround the city make it a perfect location for floating bars and restaurants, of which there are at least seven.
Gus Markou, president of New York Cruise Lines, says that in addition to following all state rules for operating a bar or restaurant, “You need a U. S. Coast Guard certificate,” to run one on a boat.
The vibe at maritime eateries and watering holes ranges from decades- old, family- run restaurants to more modern, upscale party atmospheres. The cuisine is often seafood- heavy, and drinks are frequently given a nautical twist — expect lots of rum.
Here are some of the USA’s most appealing restaurants and bars on boats, barges and floating docks. Grand Banks is a bar and raw bar that sits on the F/ V Sherman Zwicker, a fishing schooner built in 1942 that is now docked at Pier 25 in New York City’s Hudson River Park. Grab a seat at the bar and enjoy a selection of oysters, as well as a seasonal cocktail menu. The Honorable William
Wall is a steel barge anchored in New York Harbor. The floating venue is accessible only by boat; purchase round- trip ferry tickets from Jersey City or Manhattan’s WFC Ferry Terminal. You can bring your own food, but drinks must be purchased onboard, leading to a lively and convivial atmosphere.
Brooklyn Barge is open for its second season, offering a full menu of food and drinks with views of the Manhattan skyline. The barge, which once transport- ed railroad box cars, is docked on the East River in Brooklyn’s Greenpoint neighborhood.
The Crow’s Nest sits atop The Water Club, a restaurant on a moored barge on New York City’s East River with amazing views of Manhattan and Brooklyn. Food and drinks are served in a much more casual setting than at the restaurant below. DiMillo’s on the Water opened in 1982 on an old car ferry docked at Portland, Maine’s, historic Old Port. The family- run restaurant and bar has two outdoor decks where guests can eat and drink from a menu full of seafood, including fresh Maine lobster. Philadelphia bar and lounge
The Deck opens every summer above Moshulu, a restaurant on a ship built in 1904. The vessel is docked at Penn’s Landing, a lively part of the Delaware River waterfront. The Deck offers food, a creative cocktail menu, and a full wine and beer list.
Tiki Barge is home to a bar ( open to the public) and pool ( members only), near the Federal Hill neighborhood of Baltimore. Tiki Barge also hosts yoga classes on select Tuesdays and Sundays, with a free drink afterward.
In Key West, Fla., Thai Life has been floating for 40 years under different ownership and names. The current owners were inspired by the floating restaurants of Thailand, and decided to bring the concept to the USA. Landry’s Seafood House is on a docked boat in Corpus Christi, Texas. Landry’s serves Gulf Coast seafood, such as seared scallops, right on Corpus Christi Bay.
The Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa & Casino is home to Pier 111, a bar floating on Lake Tahoe at the end of the resort’s floating pier. Pier 111 serves specialty cocktails, such as the Lakeside Lemonade. Chowder Barge was built in 1934 for the filming of Mutiny on the Bounty, and has been docked in Wilmington, Calif.’ s, Leeward Bay since 1988. Locals frequent this spot south of Los Angeles for pub grub and beer. In Sacramento, Calif., The Virgin Sturgeon offers al fresco seating and a daily changing seafood selection on the Sacramento River.
“There is a certain amount of magic that happens when dining on the water.”
Roman Tartakovsky, beverage manager for Hudson’s and North River Lobster Company