Essential Waterfront Restaurants in Missouri

The Canyon Grill at Dogwood Canyon is one of those places that you can’t really believe exists. If you can get there early and get a seat outside for lunch, consider yourself fortunate. Everyone I’ve spoken with who has eaten there has had trouble putting it into words. That’s how amazing it is.

Canyon Grill
Dogwood Canyon Nature Park
2038 West State Hwy 86
Lampe, Missouri 65681

Osage Restaurant at Top of the Rock may have the best views in the entire state. If you are there at sunset you also get to witness the bagpipes and cannon fire. Pro tip: Get there early and enjoy the hidden whisky bar below. Then order a cannonball for your sunset drink.

Osage Restaurant
150 Top of the Rock Rd
Ridgedale, Missouri 65739

Arnie’s Barn is much like Osage Restaurant above, only this one is Mexican. The experience is the about the same which is extraordinary. If I had to have a last meal, this may be where i get a reservation because it’s as close to heaven on earth as you can find.

Arnie’s Barn
150 Top of the Rock Rd
Ridgedale, Missouri 65739

One thing Guy Fieri does exceptionally well is picking hot locations. That is certainly true of the Branson Landing restaurant. If you are heading to old downtown Branson, you might as well slip in a celebrity restaurant as well… and maybe even see Guy himself.

Guy Fieri’s Branson Kitchen & Bar
100 Branson Landing Boulevard
Suite #1111
Branson, Missouri 65616

White River Fish House is a Bass Pro Shops-affiliated restaurant. The one thing we know about Johnny Morris inspired restaurants is that they are always top notch with some of the best food in the best locations.

White River Fish House
5 Bass Pro Drive
Branson, Missouri 65616

One of the best things about staying at the Chateau is having a restaurant like the Chateau Grill on premises. But you don’t have to be a guest at the hotel to enjoy Chateau Grill. The view of Table Rock Lake is mesmerizing, especially at sunset.

Chateau Grill
415 North State Highway 265.,
Branson, Missouri 65616

I’ll be honest, I wasn’t going to include the Showboat Branson Belle on this list. Our debate was that you can’t see the water while eating. But then a friend said, “the food is excellent, the show is amazing, and you are literally eating on the water”, and I couldn’t argue with any of that.

Showboat Branson Belle
4800 Historic State Hwy. 165
Branson, Missouri 65616

This is Margaritaville meets the Missouri Ozarks. The food and vibe at Landshark are also Jimmy Buffet approved, with the added benefit of being right on Lake Taneycomo. If you are looking for a spot to waste away an afternoon or evening, this may be just what you are looking for.

Landshark Bar and Grill
915 Branson Landing
Branson, Missouri 65616

Cantina Laredo is a Mexican restaurant right on the banks of Lake Taneycomo. Get a seat on the patio and enjoy the view along with the Branson Landing Water & Fire Show.

Cantina Laredo
1001 Branson Landing
Branson, Missouri 65616

Many people think that you have to stay at Big Cedar Lodge to enjoy Devil’s Pool, but that is not the case. This is southern hospitality meets Ozark’s beauty. An added benefit is that as the seasons change, the vibe of the restaurant changes as well..

Devil’s Pool Restaurant
612 Devil’s Pool Road
Ridgedale, Missouri 65739

There is nothing fancy with the Floating Cafe on Table Rock Lake — and that is just the way it’s supposed to be. The restaurant has been in business on Indian Point since the 1960s and has served generations of vacationing families. The traditional food is good, but this place is about the experience of being together with family on the water.

Indian Point Floating Cafe
3443 Indian Point Road
Branson Missouri 65616

There is no better place to spend a nice afternoon in St. Louis than in the lakeside restaurant in Forest Park. Whether it’s before a Muny performance, a trip to the zoo, or just a relaxing afternoon lunch, the Boathouse is the spot where you need to go.

Boathouse at Forest Park
6101 Government Drive
St. Louis, Missouri 63110

360 Rooftop is one of the top places in St. Louis, both literally and figuratively. The views are second to none. Not only do you get a view of the Mississippi River, you also get to look directly into Busch Stadium.

360 STL Downtown
One South Broadway
St. Louis, Missouri 63102

On Spring and Fall days, there is no better place to spend an afternoon than at Creve Coeur Lake Park. The only thing that makes that day better is a trailside table at the Lakehouse Bar and Grill.

Creve Coeur Lakehouse
2160 Creve Coeur Mill Road
St. Louis, Missouri 63146

Marina 27 is perhaps the only true waterfront restaurant in the Kansas City area. It sits on the shores of Lake Lotawana, which is due south of Blue Springs. The upscale restaurant has an extensive wine list and great views of the sunset.

Marina 27 Steak and Seafood
22 A Street
Lake Lotawana, Missouri 64086

Finley Farms is a historic riverfront restaurant on the bank of the Finley River at the Riverside Bridge. Actually, it’s two restaurants to be precise. Of course, any restaurant owned by the Johnny Morris family will exceptional, and this one is no different. The Ozark Mill and The Garrison are both located inside the nearly 200-year-old Ozark Mill and much of the food is sourced locally.

Finley Farms and The Ozark Mill
802 Finley Farms Lane
Ozark, Missouri 65721

Washington is going through a renaissance in the downtown area. The beautiful brick buildings are coming back to life and the crowds are following. Oak & Front Wine and Bar has a patio area with a great view of the Missouri River.

Oak & Front Kitchen and Bar
120 West Front Street
Washington, Missouri 63090

One of the first rules we had when putting the list together was there were to be no “chain restaurants.” We broke our rule this time due to how amazing Sugarfire is and the view they created in Washington along the Missouri River.

Sugarfire Smoke House
512 West Front Street
Washington, Missouri 63090

There aren’t many restaurants looking directly at the Current River, so thankfully we have The Blue Heron in Van Buren. The restaurant may look quaint, but they have great food to back it up.

The Blue Heron
The Landing – Current River
110 Front Street
Van Buren, Missouri 63965

Pier 28 in Kimberling City gets bonus points for being right on the water. It’s just around the corner from the Highway 13 bridge and is accessible by boat and car. So if you are craving pizza and need to be waterside, here is your spot in southwest Missouri.

Pier 28 Pizza and Grill
344 Nautical Circle
Kimberling City, Missouri 65686

One of the newest waterfront dining establishments in MIssouri, The View at Kimberling was given an appropriate name as the view of Table Rock Lake goes for miles. And when they have live music, there is no better backdrop in the state.

The View at Kimberling
11863 Missouri Highway 13
Kimberling City, Missouri 65686

Cooper’s Landing may be the most hidden waterfront dining location in Missouri. It’s near Columbia right along the Katy Trail and is the only place along the trail where you can camp directly on the Missouri River. You can order food from food trucks and craft beer while listening to live music.

Cooper’s Landing
11505 Smith Hatchery Road
Columbia, Missouri 65203

There really is nothing like the Creekside Grill anywhere in the state. The restaurant is inside Echo Bluff State Park overlooking Sinking Creek. This dining establishment is an oasis in what is already one of the most beautiful locations in Missouri.

Creekside Grill
34489 Echo Bluff Dr.
Eminence, Missouri 65466

The Bistro is a part of the Les Bourgeois complex off I-70 in Rocheport. This restaurant is a little more upscale, yet still as comfortable as the A-Frame at Les Bourgeois below. The Bistro sits high on a bluff with the best view of the Missouri River in the state.

The Bistro on The Blufftop at Rocheport
14020 W Hwy BB
Rocheport, Missouri 65279

For people of a certain age, the A-Frame is what you remember from your college years at Les Bourgeois. It is the quintessential getaway along the Missouri River in Rocheport. The only thing that has changed over the years is that it’s gotten better.

Les Bourgeois A-Frame
14020 W. Hwy BB
Rocheport, Missouri 65279

JB Hook’s is one of those iconic Lake of the Ozarks restaurants that you sometimes take for granted. It’s been there since 1995 and still ranks as the #1 restaurant on many surveys. Some of the best seafood, steaks, and drinks with the best view of The Lake – all in one place.

JB Hook’s
2260 Bagnell Dam Blvd
Lake Ozark, Missouri 65049

The Horny Toad at the Lake of the Ozarks is almost like a rite of passage for all Missourians. And now that the complex has gotten bigger and better, H. Toad’s Bar & Grill is still a “must do” at the Lake of the Ozarks… for so many reasons!

H. Toad’s Bar & Grill
2325 Bittersweet Road
Lake Ozark, Missouri 65049

The Trophy Room is upscale dining at its finest. And although it’s not a view of the Lake of the Ozarks, you are looking at a lake on one of the most beautiful golf courses in Missouri, Old Kinderhook.

The Trophy Room at Old Kinderhook
56 Club Place
Old Kinderhook Resort
Camdenton, Missouri 65020

There are several great restaurants at the Lake of the Ozarks that have two distinct personalities. One part is good food and drinks while the other part is big party. Backwater Jacks is one of those places where you can have a great meal while watching the festivities below.

Backwater Jacks
4341 Beach Drive
Osage Beach, Missouri 65065

It’s true that many people don’t venture to the “other side of the Lake” very often. That would be a big mistake to miss Tap and Grill. It is actually one of the closest restaurants to Bagnell Dam and from the picture you can see why it ranks so high on the list.

Tap and Grill
31959 Dunwandrin Road
Gravois Mills, Missouri 65037

Baxter’s Lakeside Grill is perfectly situated on a bluff overlooking the Lake of the Ozarks where Horseshoe Bend begins. It was even named as one of Open Table Top 100 Best Restaurant in the Country for Scenic Dining and A Top 100 Most Romantic Restaurant.

Baxter’s Lakeside Grill
2124 Bagnell Dam Blvd.
Lake Ozark, Missouri 65049

Michaels’ Steak Chalet has so much going for it. It obviously has one of the best views and the food matches the lofty expectations. It has won numerous awards over the past few years, so it is certainly an essential.

Michael’s Steak Chalet
1440 Swiss Village Road
Osage Beach, Missouri 65065

Redhead’s is a blast… plain and simple. This place is a party waiting to happen. If you are looking for a quiet meal, this may not be your place. If you are looking for a great meal and a lot of fun, this is definitely your place.

Redhead Lakeside Grill
1700 Yacht Club Drive
Osage Beach, Missouri 65065

See and be seen. That’s is what Shady Gators is about most of the time. The people and boat watching are some of the best in the state on an awesome little peninsula jutting into the Lake of the Ozarks.

Shady Gators
132 Sweet William Rd
Lake Ozark, MO 65049

This is the only Cajun restaurant on the list, so it is certainly unique for Missouri waterside dining. There is also a Tiki Bar with some of the best slushy drinks on the Lake of the Ozarks. So if you want a great view, island style drinks, and spicy Cajun food, this is your spot.

Shorty Pants Lakeside Cajun
1680 Autumn Lane
Osage Beach, MO 65065

Dog Days Bar and Grill is in view of the Grand Glaize Bridge, so you know it has a great view. It has been named the #1 Entertainment place on the lake, so you know it has the right vibe, too.

Dog Days Bar and Grill
1232 Jeffries Road
Osage Beach, Missouri 65065

Windrose is a great “newer” addition to the Lake at Margaritaville at Tan-Tar-A. If you are looking for something more upscale with views for miles, this one has to be high on your Lake list.

Windrose Mile Marker 26
Margaritaville Lake Resort
494 Tan Tar A Drive
Osage Beach, Missouri 65065

Much like the other Landshark locations around the country, you already know what to expect. Sunset views, great drinks, firepits, and the cool Jimmy Buffet vibe abound. All you need is a change in latitude to change your attitude.

Landshark Bar & Grill
Margaritaville
494 Tan Tar A Drive
Osage Beach, Missouri 65065