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9 Fantastic Restaurants With Waterfront Dining Near Albany, NY

If you believe waterfront dining is only for coastal towns, think again! The Capital Region offers fantastic waterfront dining near Albany, NY, along the Hudson River, Mohawk River, and nearby lakes. Here are nine top spots to enjoy a meal with a stunning waterside view.

Note: Outdoor seating is available seasonally.

Lakeview Restaurant on Crystal Lake

restaurant patio with tables and chairs overlooking water

Have you heard of Crystal Lake? This picturesque body of water is located in Averill Park, and you can enjoy the views from the deck at Lakeview on Crystal Lake.

This restaurant is ideal for a family dinner or a casual lunch with a friend. Explore a menu that offers a wide variety of dishes to suit nearly everyone - you'll find pizza, prime rib, seafood, sandwiches, soups, and much more.

One satisfied Google reviewer praised the atmosphere and food, noting, "Great patio. Casual atmosphere. Seafood chowder very good. Fish fry cooked just right."

Dukes Chophouse

seafood platter entree

Craving succulent seafood and savory steaks? Look no further than Dukes Chophouse, a premier steakhouse located at the Rivers Casino and Resort in Schenectady.

This restaurant boasts a waterfront patio on the Mohawk River, offering guests a beautiful view while they enjoy a delicious meal.

Dukes Chophouse also offers a diverse menu that caters to all tastes, from high-quality steaks to an array of seafood entree. For a special dish, try their Chilled Seafood Spectacular, featuring Alaskan king crab legs, Maine lobster tail, iced jumbo shrimp, lump crab, littleneck clams, and oysters on the half shell.

Brown's Brewing Company

close up of a glass of beer overlooking a patio on the water

Brown's Brewing Company is a Troy hotspot for independently brewed beers, flavorful food, and stunning views of the Hudson River. The restaurant consists of a brewery, taproom, and restaurant, and they're also a hotspot for live music in the summer.

Fun fact, Brown's Brewing actually gives you two opportunities to enjoy waterfront dining - at their Troy location, and at their second taproom in North Hoosick.

The Walloomsac Taproom and Brewery in North Hoosick overlooks the Walloomsac River, about an hour away from Albany, and close to the Vermont border.

Ryan's Wake

two glasses of beer on a table with water in the background
Photo credit: Eddie Quinn

Ryan's Wake is a neighborhood bar and grill on River Street in Troy, where you can relax on the patio and soak up the views. It's the perfect spot to dine and wait for the sunset, and their menu includes top-notch pub food favorites.

Enjoy a Wake Burger, the shrimp tacos, or their famous chicken teriyaki dinner (a quintessential Capital Region favorite!). Plenty of free parking is available in the lot right next door too.

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que

two glasses of beer on a table overlooking water
Photo provided

It's right in the name: Dinosaur Bar-B-Que serves up some truly mouthwatering barbecue!

The restaurant is best known for their slow smoked pork ribs, however you can get tasty sandwiches like barbecue pork and barbecue brisket, as well as a "pick your own combo" option, wherein you can enjoy a combination of pork, brisket, chicken, wings, shrimp, and/or sausage.

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que is located by the Hudson River, right by the Green Island Bridge in Troy. They also have live music playing frequently during the summer.

Sea Smoke Waterfront Grill

people outdoors on a restaurant patio
Photo Credit - YTK Photography

This neat spot is located in the heart of Troy on an island. Sea Smoke Waterfront Grill is situated on Starbuck Island, providing incredible waterfront views and a wide selection of food and drinks.

In addition to their main menu, which features items like house-made lobster ravioli, calamari, and a raw bar selection, they also have a vegetarian and vegan menu.

Past visitors highlight the inventive seafood dishes, the pleasant atmosphere, and the opportunity to walk along the waterfront after your meal.

Max 410 at The Waters Edge

a restaurant on the water
Photo credit: Bizi Media Co.

Max410 at The Waters Edge is situated in the oldest building in Glenville, about 30 minutes from Albany, and it overlooks the beautiful Mohawk River. They pride themselves on exceptional service in addition to being a can't-miss waterfront dining location.

You can enjoy everything from fresh seafood to NY strip steak to prime rib melts and more. They also offer a gluten-free menu, and vegan cheese is available for a number of dishes, making this a really versatile restaurant with tastes to please any palate.

Yanni's Too

an outdoor patio overlooking water

There is just something special about eating seafood outdoors by the water. Yanni's Too, located right on the Hudson River in Coeymans, gives you this experience.

They're known for having some of the best seafood in the Capital Region, particularly the calamari. Not a seafood lover? They're also touted for their amazing pub grub and burgers. Or, simply enjoy a cocktail by the water.

Boathouse Grille

a restaurants table and chairs overlooking water

Boathouse Grille is located on the Hudson River in New Baltimore, less than half an hour from Albany. Think roasted vegetable pizza, fish tacos, build-your-own burgers, and those aren't even the entrees!

Their main meals include fish and chips, pan seared salmon, southwest chicken, and more. When paired with a seat on their lovely patio, you have a waterfront dining experience that's hard to beat.

Check out some great burger spots in the Capital Region >>

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