Riverside Dining in Chester

The River Dee and the nearby canal give Chester plenty of places to eat and drink beside the water. Some venues sit right on the promenade. Others are a short walk or quick taxi ride away, yet still easy to include in a day by the river.

With a mix of pubs, cafés, restaurants and bars. Chester Taxi Services links them all together. We move people between the river, the Rows, hotels and attractions, so you can enjoy your visit without worrying about parking or busy roads.

River Dee and Chester’s Waterfront

The river runs past The Groves promenade, the bandstand and the suspension bridge. From here you can join a sightseeing cruise, hire a pedalo or rowing boat, walk across to Handbridge or head up to the city walls and Roman gardens.

Just behind the riverfront, you will find more places to eat and drink. A few streets away, the Shropshire Union Canal passes the old Steam Mill, which now has its own bar and restaurant. Together, they offer plenty of riverside and canal-side options in a compact, walkable area.

Riverside Dining in Chester - Chester Taxi Service

Classic Riverside Favourites

The Boathouse and Riverside Rooms

The Boathouse is a long-established riverside pub on The Groves. It has outdoor seating, beach hut-style booths, and a floating beer garden on the River Dee.

The menu covers British pub food such as fish and chips, pies, burgers and Sunday roasts. There is a good range of cask ales, lagers, wines and cocktails. Families are welcome, and the inside space is warm and comfortable on colder days.

The Boathouse also has bedrooms with a river theme, as well as rooms that look straight out over the water. It works well for weekend breaks when you want to park once, relax, and explore the city on foot or by taxi.

The Moorings

The Moorings is a friendly café and restaurant further along The Groves. It faces the river and has both indoor tables and outside seating.

You can expect cooked breakfasts, sandwiches, light lunches, roast dinners and homemade cakes. It is popular with walkers, families and day visitors who want a straightforward meal in a good location. From here you can walk into the city centre or use Chester Taxi Services for your next stop.

Hickory’s Smokehouse

Hickory’s Smokehouse brings American-style barbecue to the side of the Dee. The restaurant overlooks the river and has an outdoor area usable in most weather.

Inside, there are booths, sports screens and a lively bar. The menu focuses on slow-cooked meats, ribs, burgers, fried chicken and sharing plates. It is a strong choice for families and groups, especially on match days and weekend evenings. Booking is sensible during busy times.

Snugburys On The River

Snugburys On The River is an ice cream and coffee spot on The Groves. It serves ice cream from the well-known Snugburys brand, along with hot drinks and snacks.

You can take a cone for a walk along the river or sit at the outside tables and watch the boats. It is an easy stop after lunch or a boat trip and a simple treat for children after a walk.

The Ship Inn Handbridge

Across the Old Dee Bridge in Handbridge, you will find The Ship Inn. It is one of the closest pubs to the river on that side and has a traditional feel inside, with beams and open fires.

The kitchen serves classic pub dishes. The bar offers real ales and a solid choice of drinks. Many people combine a visit to The Ship with a walk along the riverbank or over the city walls, then call a taxi back to their hotel or home.

Canal Side Dining Near The Water

The Duck and Dagger

The Duck And Dagger sits beside the Shropshire Union Canal in the old Steam Mill building. The brick interior and canal views give it a different feel to the River Dee, although it is still very central.

The menu focuses on British dishes and seasonal food. The bar serves cask ales, beers, wines and cocktails. Large windows and waterside seating let you look out over the towpath and boats. It is a good choice if you want a quieter setting than the main riverfront.

City Centre Favourites Close To The River

These places are not on the water itself, but are a short walk from The Groves or a quick taxi ride away. They fit easily into a day that starts or ends by the river.

Piccolino Chester

Piccolino is in the dining quarter on Pepper Street. It serves Italian food such as pasta, pizzas, grilled meats and seafood.

The restaurant suits date nights, work meals and pre-theatre visits. There is also covered outdoor seating at certain times of year, which keeps you close to the city centre’s atmosphere.

Shrub

Shrub is a plant-based restaurant and bar on Eastgate Row. It overlooks the shopping streets below and has a bright, modern interior.

The menu is built around vegan and vegetarian dishes, with plenty of flavour and some options that also work for people who need gluten-free food. Shrub is popular for brunch, lunch, and evening visits, especially for groups looking for strong plant-based options.

The Church Restaurant and Bar

The Church is based in a converted church building and has a striking interior with high ceilings and stained glass. It offers a mix of bar food, sharing plates and drinks.

The Terrace Bar has heated outdoor seating that works in both colder and warmer months. The Church also runs cocktail classes for larger groups. There is a smart casual dress code, so it suits slightly more dressed-up evenings.

Vin Santo

Vin Santo is a wine bar set in old cellar rooms on Watergate Street. The atmosphere is relaxed, with candlelight and shelves of bottles.

The team focuses on a strong wine list and small plates that pair well with the drinks. Many guests finish their evening here after dining elsewhere or come for a quiet drink with friends. If you enjoy a particular wine, you can often buy a bottle to take home.

Café 1092

Inside the cathedral complex, you will find Café 1092 in the historic refectory. The space was once the dining hall for Benedictine monks and still has stone arches and tall windows.

The café serves soups, sandwiches, cakes and hot drinks. It offers a calm break in the middle of the city and pairs well with a short walk from the river through the Roman gardens.

The Townhouse Chester

The Townhouse is a hotel inside the Roman walls. It has a bar, a lounge and a small garden area that gives a quiet spot for drinks and light food.

Its location makes it a useful base if you want easy access to both the river and the nightlife. Chester Taxi Services can collect or drop you at the door, which is especially helpful if you have luggage or are travelling with children.

ExSqueeze Me Greengrocer And Juice Bar

ExSqueeze Me is in Handbridge, across the river from the city centre. It sells cold-pressed juices, smoothies and fresh produce, with a strong focus on local suppliers and low waste.

It is a handy place for a healthy drink before or after a river walk or as a stop on the way into the city from the Handbridge side.

Days Out And Evenings On The Waterfront

A day by the water in Chester usually starts at The Groves or at the canal. You might walk the promenade, watch the boats and then sit down for breakfast or lunch at The Moorings or Hickory’s. Later in the day, ice cream from Snugburys and a stroll over the bridge to The Ship make easy additions.

For longer days, many people mix riverside stops with time in the city centre. A typical pattern is a drink at The Boathouse, then an evening meal at Piccolino or Shrub, followed by wine at Vin Santo. Canal-side evenings at The Duck And Dagger give another option if you prefer a quieter setting away from the main promenade.

Families tend to focus on venues with plenty of space and simple menus, such as The Boathouse, Hickory’s and The Moorings, then add a trip to Chester Zoo and The Oakfield on another day. Couples often favour Shrub, Piccolino, Vin Santo or The Church for later evenings, once the riverfront has quietened.

The point is that everything sits within a short distance, so it is easy to build a day that suits your group. You can start beside the river, move into town for dinner and finish in a cellar wine bar or back at your hotel without a long journey in between.

Getting Around Chester

Chester is compact, but it is an old city with narrow streets, one-way systems and busy periods during race meetings and significant events. Parking close to the river or canal is limited at peak times, especially near The Groves and the Steam Mill.

Chester Taxis provides a straightforward way to move between the riverfront, Handbridge, the canal, the city centre and outlying spots such as Chester Zoo. We can collect you from the railway station, your hotel, your home address, or a park-and-ride site, and drop you close to your chosen venue.

Our vehicles are clean and well-maintained, and many have card machines on board, so you do not need to rely on cash. All drivers are DBS-checked and licensed by Cheshire West and Chester Council. We focus on punctual pickups so you reach table bookings on time. Children travel free, helping local families and visitors with younger relatives.

For groups, our eight-seater minibuses are useful for birthday meals, work nights out or family gatherings at places such as Hickory’s, The Boathouse or The Duck And Dagger. Everyone arrives together and leaves together, and nobody needs to miss out on a drink in order to drive.

We also operate wheelchair friendly vehicles. If you let us know your chair dimensions when you book, we can send a suitable minibus and plan drop-off points that keep walking to a minimum. This makes riverside and canal-side dining accessible even on busy days or in poor weather.

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