If you’re looking to make the most out of your summer in the Northeast, you’ve probably already beached, shopped and road-tripped it. But there’s one aspect of a Northeast summer you really shouldn’t miss, and that’s dining al fresco at the shore.
With miles of coastline at our disposal, it’s no wonder we’re spoiled with choice when it comes to waterfront dining. Out of everywhere to go, these are our picks for the best places to hit the deck this summer.
Connecticut
The Wharf at Madison Beach Hotel
Madison
Perched directly on the shoreline of Long Island Sound at the AAA Four Diamond designated Madison Beach Hotel, the Wharf pairs panoramic water views with modern New England fare. This place has been singled out as one of the state’s top waterfront restaurants and praised for its top-tier service. Watch the sunset over the sound as you choose from a menu built almost entirely around local seafood, including oysters, mussels, scallops, tuna tartar and more.
Shell & Bones Oyster Bar and Grill
New Haven
Shell & Bones is the kind of place where the atmosphere is the entree. Watch a yacht or two drift by in the adjacent marina while digging into the Tower of Shells, piled with lobster, lump crab, jumbo shrimp, oysters, clams, ceviche, and smoked salmon, and you’re pretty much set. Other menu offerings include a 1.5-pound lobster, filet mignon and a whole branzino.
Boathouse Restaurant
Westport
The Boathouse perfectly splits the difference between casual clam shack and refined dining. Sure, there are white tablecloths, but the vibe is pure ease. The seasonal menu features everything from crabcakes to littleneck clams, lobster rolls, linguine frutti di mare and more.
Massachusetts
Beach House Grill at Chatham Bars Inn
Chatham
This is, officially, the best waterfront restaurant in America (at least according to USA Today’s 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards.) Settled on the sand at Chatham Bars Inn on Cape Cod, Beach House offers an outdoor patio with sweeping view of the Atlantic with a menu chock-full of twists on coastal classics. Choose from lobster nachos, crab BLTs and swordfish tacos, among many other fan favorites.
Row 34
Boston
If you’re looking for oysters in and around Boston, Row 34 is the place. Run by the same folks behind Island Creek Oysters, the menu is based around responsibly sourced seafood from local waters (so the oyster on your seafood tower is a Bostonian, too.) With a harbor-adjacent patio, you can glance out at the passing ships while you indulge.
The Black Whale
New Bedford
New Bedford has one of the most storied harbor histories in the Northeast, and the Black Whale is a place where it feels like history comes alive through food. Rather than the waterfront being merely a backdrop, this spot is rooted in New Bedford’s working-harbor identity with hearty seafood, an unpretentious atmosphere and a front row seat to the port’s daily rhythm of fishing boats.
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Read nowNew Jersey
Blu on the Hudson
Weehawken
For a wow outdoor dining experience, don’t miss Blu on the Hudson. With views that look out to the Manhattan skyline, you’re in for a treat in both atmosphere and cuisine. From the kitchen, enjoy plentiful options like bluefin tuna tartare with caviar, a stacked raw bar of gold Kumamoto oysters and jumbo lump crab, house made pastas and Wagyu tomahawk steak.
Haven
Edgewater
Haven’s modern American menu is second only to the views of the Hudson from its glass-walled dining room. Come for dinner at golden hour to get the most beautiful panorama or try the morning instead — they serve a mean brunch on the weekends.
Tim McLoone’s Supper Club
Asbury Park
Jersey Shore boardwalks have it all. Carnival games, T-shirt shops, a Ferris wheel and everyone’s favorite place to take in the view: McLoone’s. The menu swings confidently from birria tacos to jerk swordfish, which perfectly describes the eclectic, lively and ready for anything vibe. Here, you can enjoy the easy beachside feeling with food that’s many steps up from your typical boardwalk food stand.
New York
Grand Banks
New York City
There’s waterfront dining, and then there’s dining literally on the water. Grand Banks is a seasonal oyster bar set on the deck of a real, retired fishing schooner docked on the Hudson at Pier 25. Sustainably sourced oysters, nautical cocktails and a laid-back, sun-soaked vibe make it feel like a genuine escape from Manhattan. It’s not fine dining in the traditional sense, and that’s totally the point.
Claudio’s
Greenport
Claudio’s has been slinging seafood on Greenport Harbor since 1870, making it one of the most historic waterfront restaurants anywhere in the country. Legend has it there’s even a Prohibition-era trap door behind the bar. Enjoy all of your waterside favorites, like baked clams, crispy calamari, fluke, tuna crudo and more.
Hudson House River Inn
Cold Spring
For a totally different flavor of New York waterfront, head up the Hudson to Cold Spring, a picture-perfect river town where this 1832 landmark building has transformed into a charming inn and restaurant. If you can, grab a table on the wraparound porch for sweeping views of the river and Storm King Mountain.
Rhode Island
The Black Pearl
Newport
Situated on Bannister’s Wharf in the heart of Newport’s bustling harbor, the Black Pearl is about as beloved and classic as Rhode Island waterfront dining gets. The four-season waterside patio allows you to enjoy the sea breeze as you tuck into a bowl of New England clam chowder and clam cakes or lobster or calamari or all of the above.
Waterman Grille
Providence
Providence’s waterfront dining scene tends to fly under the radar compared to the state’s more oceanic destinations, but Waterman Grille makes a case for the state capital. Set along the Seekonk River, it pairs contemporary fare with lovely water views from above.
Matunuck Oyster Bar
Wakefield
After a fire almost leveled the original building, Matunuck Oyster Bar opened al fresco dining just across the street while a new restaurant is built. Until then, the outdoor spot’s got it all: the views, the food, the sustainable sourcing — all creating a perfect coastal dining experience that’s a favorite among locals and visitors.
What’s your favorite place to dine al fresco? Let us know in the comments!
Last updated on August 5, 2026 by AAA Staff
Based in Rhode Island, Sarah has been a copywriter and content producer with AAA Northeast since 2021. When she’s not scouring the best spots for all things food and drink or whipping up her own versions of tasty meals, you can often find her in the garden, planning her next trip or sipping on (another) hot coffee.
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