15 Best Waterfront Restaurants on Long Island

Long Island is surrounded by water on almost every side — Long Island Sound to the north, the Atlantic to the south, Great South Bay cutting through the middle, and a dozen harbors, inlets, and tidal rivers threading through every town in between. That geography has produced something genuinely special: a waterfront dining scene that's dense, diverse, and deeply connected to the water itself.

Whether you arrive by boat, by car, or by ferry, the experience of eating a meal with the water right there — the smell of salt air, the sound of halyards, the occasional osprey overhead — is one of the real pleasures of Long Island life. These are our fifteen favorites, spread across the North Shore, South Shore, and East End.

North Shore

1. View at Louie's — Port Washington

Perched directly over Manhasset Bay, View at Louie's has been a North Shore institution for decades. The dock accommodates transient boaters and the raw bar is one of the best on the Sound. Arrive by water and hail on VHF 9 to check slip availability. The sunset from the outdoor deck is worth arriving early for.

2. Harbor Mist — Cold Spring Harbor

A quieter, more intimate spot than some of its louder neighbors to the west, Harbor Mist focuses on local seafood done simply and well. Cold Spring Harbor is one of the most scenic anchorages on the North Shore, and the restaurant sits at the head of the harbor with easy dinghy access from the mooring field.

3. Danfords Hotel & Marina Restaurant — Port Jefferson

Danfords is one of the few places on Long Island where you can book a slip, walk twenty steps, and sit down to a serious dinner — and do it all over again the next morning. The full-service marina means depth isn't an issue for larger vessels. Hail on VHF 9. The waterfront patio fills up fast on summer weekends; reservations are strongly recommended.

4. Hellenic Snack Bar & Restaurant — East Marion

A beloved and slightly eccentric Greek diner with a view of Orient Harbor that has made it a cult favorite among North Fork loyalists. It's not fancy, and that's the point. Arrive by car from the North Fork Wine Trail or anchor in Orient Harbor and dinghy in. The moussaka and the sunsets are both exceptional.

5. Claudio's Wharf — Greenport

Greenport's waterfront has evolved considerably over the years, but Claudio's has been there for all of it — it's one of the oldest restaurants in the country. The wharf extends over Stirling Basin, the views stretch toward Shelter Island, and the steamers are still the thing to order. Dock space is available; hail on VHF 16 before pulling in.

South Shore

6. The Nautical Mile, Freeport — Multiple Restaurants

The Nautical Mile in Freeport is technically several restaurants, but it functions as a destination: a strip of dockside seafood spots along Woodcleft Canal where you can park the car (or the boat) and eat your way down the block. Bracco's, Capt. Ben's, and Hudson & McCoy all have docks. Come by boat on a summer weekend and you'll feel like you're in the middle of the best block party in Nassau County.

7. The Dock — Fire Island (Ocean Bay Park)

No cars on Fire Island means the water is the only way in — and The Dock leans into that beautifully. Casual tables, cold drinks, fried clams, and a crowd that arrived by ferry, kayak, or center console. Tie up at the Ocean Bay Park dock and walk five minutes. This is exactly what dock-and-dine Long Island is supposed to feel like.

8. Legends — Ocean Beach, Fire Island

A cut above the typical Fire Island bar scene, Legends has proper food, a serious wine list, and a covered deck that makes it comfortable even when the ocean breeze gets aggressive. Take the ferry from Bay Shore and settle in. The duck and the lobster bisque are perennial favorites.

9. Pelican Bar & Grill — Babylon

Sitting on the edge of Great South Bay, Pelican is a reliable South Shore staple with a deck that extends over the water and a kitchen that knows how to handle local clams, bluefish, and fluke. Transient dock space is limited but available. The bay views at golden hour are among the best between Jones Beach and Islip.

10. Starfish Grille — Sayville

A neighborhood waterfront spot on Brown's River with genuine local character. The menu leans into South Shore seafood without being precious about it — good fried, good grilled, strong cocktails, and a dock-side bar that fills up by 5pm on Friday. Easy access from the Great South Bay for boats drawing under four feet.

East End — Hamptons & Forks

11. Navy Beach — Montauk

Montauk's most refined beachside experience: driftwood-and-linen aesthetic, a raw bar that goes all day, and a location right on Fort Pond Bay that gives you the feeling of being miles from the Hamptons even though you're technically in them. Arrive by boat via Fort Pond Bay or make the drive from the train. Reservations essential.

12. The Reef Bar & Grill — Hampton Bays

Sitting on Shinnecock Bay with a long dock and an easy approach through Shinnecock Inlet, The Reef is a genuinely boater-friendly operation that doesn't sacrifice food quality for foot traffic. Hail on VHF 16, ask for slip availability, and expect a menu that takes local fluke, bass, and oysters seriously.

13. The Ram's Head Inn — Shelter Island

The Ram's Head occupies a category all its own — a proper inn-style dining room with a dock on Coecles Harbor, linen on the tables, and a wine list deep enough to keep you at anchor for the night (rooms are bookable, too). It's one of the few spots on Long Island where arriving by boat genuinely elevates the entire occasion. Hail on VHF 9.

14. Rowdy Hall — East Hampton

Not technically on the water, but located close enough to Three Mile Harbor that it functions as the unofficial dinner spot for the boating crowd anchored there — and worth the short ride or dinghy jaunt. The burger has been a fixture on best-of lists for twenty years. The fish and chips holds its own. The scene is relaxed and unpretentious by East Hampton standards.

15. Gosman's Dock — Montauk

No list of waterfront restaurants on Long Island is complete without Gosman's. It's one of the most recognizable waterfronts in the Northeast: a sprawling complex of docks, fish markets, lobster tanks, and open-air dining perched at the edge of Montauk Harbor. The fish is as fresh as fish gets. Dock-and-dine Long Island doesn't get more quintessential than this. Transient dockage is available; hail on VHF 9.

A Few Tips Before You Go

If you're arriving by boat, calling ahead on VHF before you enter the harbor is always worth doing — even if the listing shows docks available. Dock space fills fast on summer weekends, and a quick hail can save you an hour of circling. Most of the restaurants on this list monitor VHF 9 or 16 during service hours.

And if you're arriving by car, don't write off the dock-and-dine experience. Many of these spots have dedicated parking, and watching boats come and go from the dock is half the entertainment anyway.

Long Island's waterfront dining scene is one of the region's great underrated assets. These fifteen restaurants are a good place to start.