Have you ever eaten in a floating restaurant? We’ve drawn up a list of 20 of the most unique restaurants in the world with water as their foundation base. The construction of these restaurants is unique, their view from afar is interesting and each one provides an exceptional dining experience for its visitors. Best news, Scorpion Bay’s own floating Grill is on the list!
Arizona is the location of two of these restaurants:
- Jádí To´oh is the world's largest floating restaurant, located at Antelope Point Marina on Lake Powell in Arizona. It’s accessible by foot, by car, and by boat. The menu is extensive, with wood-fired pizza, thick sandwiches, juicy burgers, fresh salads, and unique vegetable side dishes, all served at a reasonable price. Take-out orders are also accepted, so feel free to call in before reaching the dock.
You’ll enjoy ample indoor seating in a relaxing environment. Try to snag a window seat if possible, as the giant glass windows provide unparalleled views of the surrounding lake.
Location: 537 Marina Parkway, Antelope Point Marina, Page, AZ
Phone: 1-928-645-5900 - Scorpion Bay Grill in Arizona is a floating restaurant on Lake Pleasant where you can drive your boat up dockside. You’ll find a full menu of fresh salads, sandwiches, burgers and cocktails, all served up with 360-degree mountain views.
Location: 10970 W, Peninsula Blvd, Peoria, AZ
Phone: 1-928-501-2628
Other Locations:
- Tattershall Castle Whitehall Westminster, a pub on the Thames and a former British World War ship, is open seven days a week and situated opposite the London Eye and between Westminster and Embankment tube stations. It’s the perfect venue for any occasion. From fish & chips on the deck, to drinks in the lounge - all the rooms have their own character, are fully air-conditioned and are available to book.
Location: Victoria Embankment, Westminster, Greater London
Email: tattershallcastle.events@stonegategroup.co.uk
- Petit Vardo is a South-African drifting eatery marvel, a flatboat-converted-restaurant in the River Vaal. Excellent dining experience, especially during evening hours.
Location: River Vaal in Africa
Phone: 016 420 1300
- The Rustar Dhow Cruise is the world's largest wooden dhow dinner cruise, a royal boat which is located in Deira Creek, accommodating 450 passengers. Meals and food are highly rated.
Location: Dubai Deira Creek
Email: res@rustardhowcruise.com
- Cat Ba Bay: The waters of the Cat Ba Bay in the South-Asian country of Vietnam are unique as they are full of boats that act as floating eateries. In pictures, these eateries look like tugs tugging houseboats along with them. Try Quang Anh Floating Restaurant, where you’ll find distinctive Vietnamese dining courses, especially fresh seafood dishes.
Location: Cat Ba Bay
Phone: +84 98 259 51 59
- Sea Palace: Named ‘Sea Palace’, this restaurant is located in the Dutch capital of Amsterdam. The decor of this floating restaurant is extraordinary, making you feel like you are in a Ming dynasty palace. The wide-ranging menu is an ode to authentic Cantonese cuisine. Try the steamed dim sum with prawns, stir-fried noodles with beef and soy sauce. The Peking duck (for two) is also a tempting option.
Location: Oosterdokskade 8, Amsterdam, 1011 AE, Netherlands
Email: info@seapalace.nl
- Kettuvallams: The Southern Indian state of Kerala is home to some of the most flamboyant houseboats in the world. The houseboats navigate the area’s lush backwaters and lagoons, offering visitors tranquil journeys through historic and remote locations. The upper portion of the ships are woven of natural materials like panambu, bamboo and coir, and fashioned into vaulted formations resulting in high ceilings and spacious interiors.
Location: Southwestern Indian state of Kerala
Contact: https://theculturetrip.com/asia/india/articles/kettuvallam-the-magnificent-houseboats-of-kerala
- BBQ Donut Party Boat: Plan a party/cookout with a delicious BBQ on the water, sailing on a BBQ Party Boat. Dine on BBQ ribs, beans, slaw and beverages, all included.
Or, rent a BBQ Party Boat and bring your own food!
Location: 5951 Silver King Blvd. Cape Coral, FL
Phone: 239-628-6908
- McMonagles: This is the world’s first sail-through fish-and-chips shop, located in Scottland. The restaurant sits on a boat with two sides for ordering takeaway: one window for land-dwellers on foot, and one that opens right onto the canal. You can actually place your order and pick it up from the back hatch without even having to leave your boat. Serves haddock, sausage, and haggis, as well as traditional breakfasts, pizzas, and healthy light bites.
Location: 1 Argyll Rd., Clydebank, Scotland, G81 1QA, United Kingdom
Order online: https://www.mcmonaglesglasgow.co.uk/order#/where
- Lone Star Float House: On the Guadalupe River in Texas. Enjoy burgers, music and tubing at the Lone Star Float House. Their Guadalupe River tubing trips range from 1 hour to 4 hours. Sit back and enjoy the view as you float the most beautiful river in Texas.
Location: 7430 River Rd, New Braunfels, TX
Phone: 830-907-3866
- Paddlefish: Paddlefish is the perfect vessel for an unparalleled dining experience. Located at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. Experience 360 views of Lake Buena Vista aboard a luxurious steamboat. Serves many types of seafood and steak.
Location: Walt Disney World® Resort, 1670 Buena Vista Drive, Lake Buena Vista, FL
Phone: 407-934-2628
- Reef Burger at Crab Island, Florida: Drop by Crab Island for hot dogs, burgers, chicken sandwiches, and more at this floating restaurant in Florida. Gorgeous location and food cooked fresh daily.
Location: Crab Island, Destin, FL
Contact: none
- Just the Cook: Owner, Ernie Hall, was hand-picked by the Food Network as one of the Top 16 Cooks in America. It’s a floating "food boat" located in Panama City. Like a floating food truck, Just the Cook serves up unexpectedly elevated cuisine with just a tiny kitchen and limited staff. Serves American and seafood cuisines. People love the fish tacos!
Location: 1851 Hidden Oaks Drive, Panama City, Florida
Phone: 850-610-1775
- Belmond Afloat in France: Belmond offers a few floating experiences throughout France. These small cruisers drift along some of France’s most famous waterways, from the Canal du Midi to the vineyards and villages of Burgundy, or charming Provence. Superb cuisine, including five-course candlelit dinners, prepared by an onboard chef, plus a selection of wines from France's finest vineyards.
Location: https://www.venuereport.com/venue/belmond-afloat-in-france/map/
Phone: 1-800-524-2420
- My Fair Lady in London: My Fair Lady is a fully enclosed and heated restaurant boat serving contemporary British cuisine, freshly prepared onboard by an acclaimed chef. Offers picturesque surroundings and a fully licensed bar.
Location: 250 Camden High Street, London
Email: info@walkersquay.com
- Barge East in London: Enjoy dining aboard a 120-year-old Dutch barge. Three friends converted the historic barge into one of the most beloved floating restaurants in London. You’ll find the food is delicious, the decor and setting are brilliant, and the service is outstanding.
Location: River Lee, Sweetwater Mooring, White Post Ln, London E9 5EN, United Kingdom
Email: info@bargeeast.com
- Lotus: London's largest floating Chinese restaurant, Lotus is situated on the eastern dockedge of Millwall Dock, Isle of Dogs, in the heart of London Docklands. Features a laid-back atmosphere with a menu focusing on Dim Sum, sweet and sour chicken, and other Chinese staples.
Location: 9 Oakland Quay, London, United Kingdom
Phone: +44 20 7515 6445
- The Cheese Bar: Love cheese? With several locations in London, The Cheese Bar offers a seasonal cheese-focused menu, from a whole half-kilo Baked Baron to their infamous Westcombe Curried Cheese Curds. You’ll find cheese plates with innovative pairings and small producer wines.
Locations: https://www.thecheesebar.com/paddington/
Phone: 07862 001418
- The Cedars Floating Restaurant: We love fresh meat and seafood on the water! Opened in 1965 on the Spokane River, their menus rotate seasonally to reflect the best locally-sourced ingredients and offerings. All entrées include your choice of premier 18-foot salad bar or bowl of house-made New England clam chowder.
Location: 1514 N Marina Drive, Coeur d’Alene, ID
Phone: 208-664-2922
So much to choose from! There’s nothing like excellent food with gorgeous views. Pick your top five floating restaurants today to add to your travel and culinary bucket list!
About Scorpion Bay
Located just 45 minutes from downtown Phoenix in Peoria, Arizona on Lake Pleasant, Scorpion Bay offers convenience and world-class marina services for the entire family. With hundreds of covered and uncovered wet slips, world-class food at Scorpion Bay Grill – as well as boat rentals including pontoons, fishing boats, ski-boats, kayaks, floating cabins and private charter boats – you’re sure to find a full day of entertainment on the water. As part of Lake Pleasant Regional Park, visitors can venture out for hiking, picnicking and wildlife viewing in the area. Parking is easily accessible, and our no cost electric tram will take guests and their gear from the parking lot to the dock in minutes. Scorpion Bay is managed by Desert Troon Companies https://desert-troon.com/
Scorpion Bay is Arizona’s premier floating playground, offering everything from daily pontoon and ski boat rentals to slips for harboring your yacht (or dinghy). Come for the fishing or come for the frolicking—either way, incredible mountain views, fantastic dining and world-class marina services await less than an hour out of Phoenix. https://www.scorpionbayaz.com/
Scorpion Bay is Arizona’s premier floating playground, offering everything from daily pontoon and ski boat rentals to slips for harboring your yacht (or dinghy). Come for the fishing or come for the frolicking—either way, incredible mountain views, fantastic dining and world-class marina services await less than an hour out of Phoenix. https://www.scorpionbayaz.com/