There’s nothing quite like sitting out on the patio on a pleasant summer evening, enjoying some good food and good friends while you watch the sun set over the water. You can find that little slice of heaven right here in Iowa. Here are 10 amazing restaurants that will provide you with a jaw-dropping view, as well as some mouth-watering food, right here at home!

  1. Bracco World Cafe & Island Bar, Arnolds Park

Yelp The view at Bracco is simply unbeatable. Grab a table outside, order yourself a bite to eat, and have a drink from the beach bar while you relax and escape for a little while.

  1. Maxwell’s Beach Cafe, Arnolds Park

Maxwell’s Beach Cafe/Facebook Located across from the State Pier on Lake Okoboji, Maxwell’s offers fine dining in either a covered, heated patio, an open patio, or a dining room. No matter where you sit, the beautiful beach is always in sight.

  1. Go Fish Bar & Grill, Princeton

Go Fish Bar & Grill Go Fish offers an unforgettable view of the Mighty Mississippi. Sit back and relax on the patio as you watch the tugboats and riverboat cruises go by.

  1. The View Bar and Grill, Dubuque

The View Bar and Grill/Facebook The View, true to its name, offers a sweeping panorama of the Mississippi River from the outdoor deck. Grab some friends, grab a couple drinks, and enjoy a sunny afternoon here.

  1. Off Shore Bar and Grill, Bellevue

Trip Advisor Off Shore offers a prime view of the Mississippi, and you’re so close, you actually feel like you’re on the river.

  1. The Gardens, Arnolds Park

Yelp Located right on Lake Okoboji, The Gardens offers a beautiful view of the clear, blue lake, and dockside access.

  1. Iowa River Power Restaurant, Coralville

Yelp Nestled in a turn of the century power plant is the Iowa River Power Restaurant, which offers a fantastic view of the Iowa River. This is a unique place to grab dinner, and you can dine indoors, or outdoors - with a great view either way.

  1. Bev’s On The River, Sioux City

Bev’s On The River/Facebook For many years, Bev’s has been a favorite spot for those in Sioux City, and it offers a stunning view of the Missouri River.

  1. Catfish Charlies, Dubuque

Trip Advisor Catfish Charlies offers not only an unbeatable view of the Mississippi, but also some of the best seafood around. Be sure to grab a seat outside and try one of their Bloody Marys.

  1. The Barefoot Bar, Okoboji

The Barefoot Bar at Okoboji/Facebook You don’t need to go on a tropical island vacation to enjoy a tiki bar when we have The Barefoot Bar right here in northwest Iowa! Of course, Barefoot offers an unbeatable view of the lake, with palm trees and everything else to complete your tropical getaway.

What are some of your favorite restaurants with a view here in Iowa? We’d love to hear about them!

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  1. Bracco World Cafe & Island Bar, Arnolds Park

Yelp The view at Bracco is simply unbeatable. Grab a table outside, order yourself a bite to eat, and have a drink from the beach bar while you relax and escape for a little while.

  1. Maxwell’s Beach Cafe, Arnolds Park

Maxwell’s Beach Cafe/Facebook Located across from the State Pier on Lake Okoboji, Maxwell’s offers fine dining in either a covered, heated patio, an open patio, or a dining room. No matter where you sit, the beautiful beach is always in sight.

  1. Go Fish Bar & Grill, Princeton

Go Fish Bar & Grill Go Fish offers an unforgettable view of the Mighty Mississippi. Sit back and relax on the patio as you watch the tugboats and riverboat cruises go by.

  1. The View Bar and Grill, Dubuque

The View Bar and Grill/Facebook The View, true to its name, offers a sweeping panorama of the Mississippi River from the outdoor deck. Grab some friends, grab a couple drinks, and enjoy a sunny afternoon here.

  1. Off Shore Bar and Grill, Bellevue

Trip Advisor Off Shore offers a prime view of the Mississippi, and you’re so close, you actually feel like you’re on the river.

  1. The Gardens, Arnolds Park

Yelp Located right on Lake Okoboji, The Gardens offers a beautiful view of the clear, blue lake, and dockside access.

  1. Iowa River Power Restaurant, Coralville

Yelp Nestled in a turn of the century power plant is the Iowa River Power Restaurant, which offers a fantastic view of the Iowa River. This is a unique place to grab dinner, and you can dine indoors, or outdoors - with a great view either way.

  1. Bev’s On The River, Sioux City

Bev’s On The River/Facebook For many years, Bev’s has been a favorite spot for those in Sioux City, and it offers a stunning view of the Missouri River.

  1. Catfish Charlies, Dubuque

Trip Advisor Catfish Charlies offers not only an unbeatable view of the Mississippi, but also some of the best seafood around. Be sure to grab a seat outside and try one of their Bloody Marys.

  1. The Barefoot Bar, Okoboji

The Barefoot Bar at Okoboji/Facebook You don’t need to go on a tropical island vacation to enjoy a tiki bar when we have The Barefoot Bar right here in northwest Iowa! Of course, Barefoot offers an unbeatable view of the lake, with palm trees and everything else to complete your tropical getaway.

Yelp

The view at Bracco is simply unbeatable. Grab a table outside, order yourself a bite to eat, and have a drink from the beach bar while you relax and escape for a little while.

Maxwell’s Beach Cafe/Facebook

Located across from the State Pier on Lake Okoboji, Maxwell’s offers fine dining in either a covered, heated patio, an open patio, or a dining room. No matter where you sit, the beautiful beach is always in sight.

Go Fish Bar & Grill

Go Fish offers an unforgettable view of the Mighty Mississippi. Sit back and relax on the patio as you watch the tugboats and riverboat cruises go by.

The View Bar and Grill/Facebook

The View, true to its name, offers a sweeping panorama of the Mississippi River from the outdoor deck. Grab some friends, grab a couple drinks, and enjoy a sunny afternoon here.

Trip Advisor

Off Shore offers a prime view of the Mississippi, and you’re so close, you actually feel like you’re on the river.

Located right on Lake Okoboji, The Gardens offers a beautiful view of the clear, blue lake, and dockside access.

Nestled in a turn of the century power plant is the Iowa River Power Restaurant, which offers a fantastic view of the Iowa River. This is a unique place to grab dinner, and you can dine indoors, or outdoors - with a great view either way.

Bev’s On The River/Facebook

For many years, Bev’s has been a favorite spot for those in Sioux City, and it offers a stunning view of the Missouri River.

Catfish Charlies offers not only an unbeatable view of the Mississippi, but also some of the best seafood around. Be sure to grab a seat outside and try one of their Bloody Marys.

The Barefoot Bar at Okoboji/Facebook

You don’t need to go on a tropical island vacation to enjoy a tiki bar when we have The Barefoot Bar right here in northwest Iowa! Of course, Barefoot offers an unbeatable view of the lake, with palm trees and everything else to complete your tropical getaway.