Dock and Dine: Where to Eat on the Water in Putnam
Enjoy scenic waterfront dining and discover local spots where great food meets beautiful views.
Waterfront dining is a way of life here in Putnam County. It’s just another of the many ways that we enjoy the St. Johns River. Residents and visitors gather together as the setting sun turns the sky into an array of colors, and toast to another great day in our piece of paradise. Boats can idle up to docks where the freshest seafood and coldest drinks await. And if you don’t have a boat, no problem. All of our favorite places to eat by the water along the St. Johns River and Crescent Lake can all be accessed by car as well. Here are a few spots you’ll want to put on your list for your next visit. Your taste buds will thank you!
Address: 185 South Highway 17, East Palatka, FL, 32131
GPS Coordinates: 29.6496, -81.5980
What to Expect: This is a restaurant on the St. Johns River in East Palatka on Gator Landing. It sits in a section of the river known as “The Devil’s Elbow,” and there’s a boat dock where you can tie up and come in for a bite to eat. The deck overlooking the river offers great waterfront views and has an outdoor bar. Come hungry, because they serve platters that have a sampling of many of their popular items and are large enough for two people to share.
Best Bites: If you’re looking for a great place on the St. Johns River to get oysters, this is your place. You can order them raw or steamed.
Address: 10 Boston Street, Welaka, FL, 32193
GPS Coordinates: 29.4797, -81.6688
What to Expect: It’s great that overnight visitors at the onsite lodge only have to take a few steps to dine waterfront, but everyone is welcome here whether they’re staying or not. This local hangout has a variety of events throughout the week, including Bingo, pool tournaments, and karaoke. They also have a full bar and offer Happy Hour specials Monday-Wednesday 3 pm - 6 pm. Arrive by land or water and enjoy outdoor patio seating that offers great views of the St. Johns River. Andersen’s is open for lunch and dinner seven days a week.
Best Bites: Try the lasagna. It is so thick and comes with salad and garlic bread. Taco Tuesday, Wing Wednesday, and Fish Friday are also popular. They also make a great Bloody Mary.
Address: 1002 Front St, Welaka, FL, 32193
GPS Coordinates: 29.4797, -81.6688
What to Expect: Located at Mile Marker 50 on the St. Johns River, The Boat Bar at Welaka Lodge & Resort is a popular local hangout that has great sunset views. There are cottages and RV parking onsite, but anyone can visit the restaurant and bar. Sunset is a popular time to grab a table there, as you bask in the pink cotton candy and blue snow cone colors in the sky. The restaurant is open Thursday-Sunday, and you can enjoy Trivia Night on Thursdays and live music on the weekends. If you stop by, say hi to the resident mascot, Keto Bandito, a little pup that hangs out with the crew there and welcomes guests.
Best Bites: Try some of the international flavors they have, such as the hand-rolled eggrolls, lumpia (a Filipino-style spring roll), or crab rangoon. Wash it down with a fresh-squeezed margarita or mojito that both have multiple variations available.
Renegade’s on the River
Address: 1171 County Road 309, Crescent City, FL, 32112
GPS Coordinates: 29.423400, -81.648300
What to Expect: You can access this waterside hotspot by boat or by car, but many people also come here by motorcycle to enjoy the restaurant and tiki bar. The menu offers a little something for everyone, but a couple of their recurring specials include all-you-can-eat shrimp on Wednesdays and all-you-can-eat catfish on Fridays. If you just want to grab a drink and look out at the water, you can do that. They offer BOGO specials on well liquor and domestic beer from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Thursday. Onsite cabins and RV spots are also available for those who want to stay overnight.
Best Bites: For a true taste of Florida, try their gator tail.
The Lochside Restaurant
Address: 1124 North Summit Street, Crescent City, FL, 32112
GPS Coordinates: 29.430123, -81.510456
What to Expect: The Lochside Restaurant is Crescent City’s newest dining establishment and is an unexpected treat that’s positioned alongside Crescent Lake. In addition to great lakeside views, diners can also embrace a taste of Scotland when they visit. Signature Scottish dishes include Haggis, Shepherd’s Pie, and Fish and Chips. However, you can also find delicious burgers and pizzas there as well. The Lochside Restaurant is open every day from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Best Bites: One of their signature items is the Homemade Scotch Egg. Spiced sausage meat and breadcrumbs are wrapped around a boiled egg. This delicacy is topped with deviled egg filling and served with Sweet Chili Sauce.
3 Bananas
Address: 11 South Lake St, Crescent City, FL, 32112
GPS Coordinates: 29.4308, -81.5118
What to Expect: Located on the shores of Crescent Lake, 3 Bananas is an intriguing spot for history buffs, as this waterside restaurant is inside the oldest commercial structure in Crescent City and dates back to 1883. In the back of the property, you can also see the oldest bald white cypress in the state that’s almost 700 years old. Trivia happens on Wednesday nights, but they’re open seven days a week. However, on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays, they close at 5, so plan your visit accordingly. There is a boat dock there, so come by boat or car to dine lakeside on Crescent Lake. This is also a popular spot with motorcycle enthusiasts.
Best Bites: The burgers are a favorite with the locals, and they have a robust variety, including their Bourbon Bacon Burger, Black N’ Bleu, and Island Burgers. They have a secret blend of spices there that they call “Magic,” and it goes on everything.
Porky’s Lodge, Bar & Grill
Address: 120 Georgetown Landing Road, Georgetown, FL, 32139
GPS Coordinates: 29.3917, -81.6327
What to Expect: There’s a fishing pier and dock at Porky’s that has plenty of room for those who want to come by boat, but if you prefer to come by car, you can do that as well. This waterside restaurant and lodge are located on the St. Johns River at the mouth of Lake George. This spacious eatery has plenty of room inside, but the outside deck gives diners the ultimate waterfront views. They’re open seven days a week for lunch and dinner and have Bingo on Friday nights and Karaoke every other Saturday. If you time your visit appropriately, you may get to see an epic sunset. You can also buy liquor to go from Porky’s.
Best Bites: Two of their most popular specialty pizzas are the Nature’s Way and The Works. Many people also love their Reuben and Patty Melt. Whatever you choose, you can wash it down with a River Rum Runner or their cocktail of the day.
Palatka Coffee Company
Address: 102 North 1st Street, Palatka, FL, 32177
GPS Coordinates: 29.6465, -81.6316
What to Expect: This coffee shop in downtown Palatka has won the award for “Best Coffee” from the Palatka Daily News for 2025 and 2026. They serve a variety of bakery and made-to-order items, and a tasty selection of specialty beverages. You can sit outside on the patio or head to the rooftop and have views of the river and the iconic bridge that stretches across the river connecting Palatka and East Palatka. This coffee shop also has another location on Crill Avenue, but this is the spot that offers waterfront views.
Best Bites: The Honey Badger Latte (made with honey, cinnamon, and vanilla), the PCC (made with caramel and vanilla), and the Dirty Latte (made with salted caramel, white chocolate, and caramel) are some of their best drinks.
Velchoff’s Corner
Address: 105 North 2nd Street, Palatka, FL, 32177
GPS Coordinates: 29.6465, -81.6323
What to Expect: This restaurant in downtown Palatka offers outdoor seating where you can be surrounded by flowering foliage on their patio and have waterfront views of the St. Johns River. They have a variety of Southern favorites, and die-hard seafood enthusiasts can also try their Seafood Tower that includes many of their famous seafood dishes. You can sit outside on the plant-filled patio and have waterfront views of the St. Johns River
Best Bites: Velchoff’s Corner excels in their scrumptious Cajun dishes like Shrimp and Grits (made with cheddar, trinity, and pork belly). The Seafood Gumbo is also a must-try.
From laid-back tiki bars to fresh seafood, Putnam County has plenty of cool waterfront dining experiences. All these locations are accessible by the river or the road and are great places to dine by the water’s edge. If you’re coming by boat, you can pull up directly and dock at all these locations except Velchoff’s Corner and Palatka Coffee Company. To get to those spots, dock at Boathouse Riverfront Park (also known as Mary Lawson Brown Municipal Marina and City Marina). From there, these two eateries are just a short walk away.
There are so many great places to eat along the St. Johns River that you may need to stay a few days to try them all. For information on where to stay and what to do while you’re in town, download the Visit Putnam FL app for Apple or Android.