Looking for a waterfront restaurant in Connecticut? With over 300 miles of shoreline, there are many waterfront restaurants in Connecticut. Ranging from a variety of dining options from waterfront seafood shacks to raw bars to waterfront steakhouses.
Here are the 21 waterfront restaurants in Connecticut with outdoor seating.
Waterfront Restaurants in Greenwich, Connecticut
L’Escale at 500 Steamboat Road, Greenwich, CT 06830. Phone: (203) 661-4600
L’Escale is a beautiful, waterfront restaurant in Greenwich, CT serving seasonal Mediterranean Cuisine. It is the restaurant at the Delamar Hotel Greenwich Harbor. Have brunch on the outdoor patio. Enjoy a glass of wine as you watch the sunset over Greenwich Harbor.
Check out our Guide to the best Happy Hours in Greenwich, CT
Waterfront Restaurants in Westport, Connecticut
Arezzo Ristorante at 5 Riverside Ave, Westport, CT 06880. Phone: 203-557-9375
Arezzo is a waterfront, Tuscan-style restaurant located in Westport, CT. Arezzo has a big patio for outdoor dining while overlooking the Saugatuck River. Enjoy Italian cuisine at this beautiful riverfront restaurant in downtown Westport.
Bartaco at 20 Wilton Road, Westport, CT 06880. Phone: (203) 222-8226
Bartaco is a fun and vibrant waterfront restaurant in Westport, CT. Serving Mexican street food fare, stop in Bartaco for tacos and margaritas! The fish tacos are delicious! Bartaco is also a family-friendly restaurant with a kid-friendly menu. You will enjoy dining on their outside patio!
The Boathouse at Saugatuck at 521 Riverside Avenue, Westport, CT 06880. Phone: 203-227-3399
The Boathouse at Saugatuck is a beautiful, waterfront restaurant located at the Saugatuck Rowing Club in Westport, CT. You will enjoy alfresco dining at the outdoor patio, overlooking the Saugatuck river. Enjoy American cuisine at this Connecticut waterfront restaurant. You will love the lobster roll and truffle fries! Come for happy hour- have a glass of wine with appetizers.
Parker Mansion at 541 Riverside Avenue, Westport, CT 06880. Phone: 203-557-9325
Parker Mansion is a waterfront restaurant in downtown Westport serving American cuisine. Catch up with friends over a glass of wine and dinner at the outdoor patio overlooking Westport’s Saugatuck river.
Rive Bistro at 299 Riverside Avenue, Westport, CT 06880. Phone: (203) 557-8049
Rive Bistro is a waterfront restaurant in Westport serving French bistro cuisine. The dining room has a wrap-around wall of windows overlooking the river. Dining at the outdoor patio feels like dining alfresco by River Seine. Enjoy a glass of wine with your steak frites. If you are looking for a waterfront restaurant in Westport with outdoor seating, Rive Bistro is a solid choice.
The Whelk at 575 Riverside Avenue, Westport, CT 06880. Phone: (203) 557-0902
The Whelk is a restaurant in Westport located along the Saugatuck River. You go to The Whelk, not for the outdoor, waterfront dining, but for the food! If you are a foodie, you should definitely add The Whelk to your list of waterfront Connecticut restaurants to visit. You will not be disappointed with this Bill Taibe restaurant.
La Plage at 260 Compo Road South, Westport, CT (203) 684-6232
If you’re looking for a restaurant on the water, La Plage is the perfect waterfront restaurant- stunning views of the Saugatuck River and Long Island Sound.
Their menu is a celebration of coastal cuisine, focusing on locally harvested seafood and shellfish. But seafood isn’t their only specialty – they also serve sustainable meats and incorporate garden-fresh produce into their dishes. In addition to their main menu, they feature an oyster bar for the shellfish aficionados.
Whether you are a seafood lover or not, the delicious fare and relaxing ambiance at La Plage make it a must-visit spot for a memorable waterfront dining experience.
Waterfront Restaurants in Norwalk, Connecticut
Rowayton Seafood at 89 Rowayton Avenue, Norwalk, CT 06853
Rowayton Seafood is a waterfront restaurant in the Rowayton section of Norwalk, Connecticut. Known for their New England seafood fare, you can’t go wrong with Rowayton seafood. Enjoy the freshest seafood as you dine by the water, taking in the river views of Five Mile River. Don’t forget to stop by Rowayton’s Seafood fish market to pick up prepared foods and the catch of the day on your way home.
Overton’s at 80 Seaview Avenue, Norwalk, CT 06855
For a low-key waterfront dining experience, stop by Overton’s. It’s a casual, New England fried seafood shack overlooking the water. Place your order at the take-out window and grab a seat at one of the picnic tables by the water. Get your fill of fried clam strips and lobster rolls. You won’t want to miss this quintessential New England seafood shack.
Sono Seaport Seafood at 100 Water Street, Norwalk, CT 06854. Phone: 203-854-9483
Sono Seaport Seafood is a waterfront restaurant overlooking Norwalk Harbor in Connecticut. Enjoy fresh New England seafood fare at this casual eatery on the water. Their fried seafood basket is delicious but the must-try is their famous lobster roll. The lobster roll comes hot (butter) or cold (citrus mayo).
Waterfront Restaurants in Stamford, Connecticut
Prime at 78 Southfield Avenue, Stamford, CT 06902. Phone: 203-817-0700
Prime is a waterfront restaurant in Stamford, CT serving classic American fare. Enjoy a glass of wine from the restaurant’s extensive wine cellar. Pair your wine with a perfectly cooked dry-aged, porterhouse steak. Watch the boats come in as you enjoy your dinner on the waterfront deck. It’s the perfect waterfront dining experience.
Crab Shell at 46 Southfield Avenue, Stamford, CT 06902. Phone: 203-967-7229
Crab Shell is a popular, waterfront restaurant in Stamford, CT. Enjoy New England seafood fare as well as traditional classics. In the summer months, the outdoor patio is a vibrant, happening place with live music. It’s definitely a go-to waterfront restaurant in Connecticut.
Check out our Guide to the Best Happy Hours in Stamford, CT
Cisco Brewers at 4 Star Point, Stamford, CT
Cisco Brewers Stamford is the Nantucket-based brewery’s first outpost in Connecticut. Located in The Village in Stamford, this is a family- and dog-friendly outdoor restaurant in Connecticut serving world-class beers, wines, and spirits.
Waterfront Restaurants in Milford, Connecticut
Stonebridge Restaurant at 50 Daniel Street, Milford, CT 06460. Phone: 203-874-7947
Stonebridge Restaurant is a waterfront restaurant in Milford, CT serving American fare and the freshest seafood. Have brunch alfresco at the outdoor patio by the water overlooking Wepawaug River. Enjoy a glass of white wine with your lobster roll. You can’t go wrong with Stonebridge for an outdoor waterfront dining experience.
Waterfront Restaurants in Mystic, Connecticut
S&P Oyster Restaurant and Bar at 1 Holmes Street, Mystic Connecticut 06355. Phone: (860) 536-2674
S&P Oyster Restaurant and Bar is a waterfront restaurant in Mystic, Connecticut serving New England seafood fare. They serve the freshest seafood for their Farm and Sea to Table cuisine. Don’t miss their New England Clam Chowder.
Watch the boats go by as you enjoy dinner on the outdoor, waterfront patio. You can even catch the famous Mystic drawbridge in action as you sip a glass of wine! You can’t go wrong with this quintessential waterfront restaurant in Mystic.
Seaview Snack Bar at 145 Greenmanville Ave., Mystic, CT 06355. Phone: 860-572-0096
Seaview Snack Bar is a casual, seafood shack overlooking Mystic River. Order fried seafood dinners at the take-out counter and sit at one of the picnic tables on the water. You will get your fill of classic New England fried seafood fare at this casual, waterfront restaurant.
Oyster Club at 13 Water Street, Mystic, CT 06355. Phone: 860-415-9266
Oyster Club is a waterfront restaurant in Mystic, Connecticut serving fresh seafood fare. Stop by the raw bar for half-price oysters and clams during happy hour.
Take in the views of Mystic River while you enjoy your locally sourced dinner. The Oyster Club is a must-try for the freshest seafood.
Red36 at 2 Washington Street, Mystic, CT 06355. Phone: 860-536-3604
Red36 is a waterfront restaurant located in Connecticut’s historical downtown Mystic serving eclectic American Cuisine. Have a lobster carbonara while you dine on the outdoor patio with views of the Mystic River.
Stop in for their happy hour buck a shuck. You will enjoy dining at this vibrant and gorgeous Connecticut waterfront restaurant.
Waterfront Restaurant in Stonington, Connecticut
Breakwater Restaurant at 66 Water Street, Stonington, Connecticut 06378. Phone: (860) 415-8123
Breakwater is a beautiful, waterfront restaurant in Stonington, Connecticut serving classic New England fare. Enjoy a glass of wine as you admire the stunning sunsets & views of Stonington Harbor & Fishers Island Sound.
Have a lobster roll on the outdoor deck by the water. If you want to dine at a waterfront restaurant with breathtaking water views, you can’t get any better than Breakwater.
Waterfront Restaurant in New London, Connecticut
On the Waterfront Restaurant at 250 Pequot Avenue, New London, CT 06320. Phone: 860-444-2800
On the Waterfront is a restaurant in New London, Connecticut serving modern Italian cuisine. Have a shrimp scampi while taking in the stunning views of Connecticut’s Thames River.
Sip a glass of pinot grigio on the outdoor patio. You can’t go wrong with waterfront dining at this New London Connecticut waterfront restaurant.
Waterfront Restaurant in New Haven, Connecticut
Shell and Bones Oyster Bar and Grill at 100 South Water Street, New Haven, CT. Phone: (203) 787-3466.
Shell and Bones Oyster Bar and Grill is a beautiful, waterfront restaurant in New Haven, Connecticut serving New England seafood fare. Enjoy the freshest seafood as you dine al fresco on the outdoor patio by the water.
Have a glass of cabernet with your perfectly cooked steak as you watch the breathtaking sunset. For a picturesque waterfront restaurant experience in Connecticut, you can’t go wrong with Shell and Bones.
Check out our interview with Executive Chef Camacho.
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Looking for Restaurant Recommendations from Chefs? Check out our other Eat Where the Chef Eats interviews:
Chef Luke Venner’s Favorite Restaurants in New York and Connecticut
Chef Peter Kelly’s Favorite Restaurants in Westchester
Best Restaurants in Fairfield County: Chef Robin Selden
Best Thai Restaurants in NYC: Grumpy Dumpling Chef Kook’s Faves
Best Restaurants in NY: According to Chef Ellen Sledge
Best Restaurants in Litchfield County, CT: According to Chef Evan Kalogiannis
Best Sushi in Greenwich, CT: According to Chef Scott Fratangelo
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