Waterfront Restaurants

Experience Madison's true treasures while you dine. Located on an isthmus and flanked by glacial lakes Mendota and Monona, Madison combines unprecedented natural beauty with some of the finest dining choices.

On the rooftop of Monona Terrace you'll find the Lake Vista Café, which offers a panoramic view of Lake Monona. This sparkling lake also plays backdrop to delicious dishes presented at Paisan's Italian Restaurant and the French American bistro stylings at Sardine.

Lake Mendota shares her shores with a number of lakefront dining establishments, including several owned for more than 40 years by the von Rutenberg Family: Mariner's Inn, Captain Bill's and the Nau-Ti-Gal. The family also adds new meaning to dining "on the water" by offering Betty Lou Cruises, passenger boats (named for the von Rutenberg matriarch) that provide breakfasts, lunches, and themed dinner cruises.

Beyond Madison's biggest lakes, you'll also find peaceful waterfront dining along the Yahara River at Bourbon Street Grille. There, you can sit and enjoy the scenery while you dine on the deck or in the rooftop seating area.