Enjoy These Georgia Restaurants Nestled By Scenic Lakes
Georgia’s lakeside dining scene is where good food meets jaw-dropping views, and honestly, it doesn’t get much better than that. Just try to imagine it…you’re sitting by the water, the sun is doing its golden hour thing, and someone just brought you a plate of something delicious.
These restaurants scattered across Georgia’s most beautiful lakes know exactly how to turn a meal into a full-blown experience, and I’m about to walk you through the best of them.
1. Skogie’s Lakefront Restaurant, Lake Lanier
Where the water practically laps at your feet, this spot serves up serious lakefront vibes. Skogie’s Lakefront Restaurant has been a Lake Lanier favorite for years, and once you see the view, you’ll understand why people keep coming back.
The menu here doesn’t overthink things. Fresh seafood, burgers that actually taste like someone cared, and sides that complement rather than distract.
What really sells it is the outdoor seating area where you can watch boats glide by while you eat. It’s casual, unpretentious, and exactly what lakeside dining should feel like without any unnecessary fuss or fake charm.
2. The Oaks Lakeside Kitchen, Lake Chatuge
This place knows how to balance elegance with approachability, which is harder than it sounds. The Oaks Lakeside Kitchen sits right on Lake Chatuge, offering views that make you want to linger over every bite.
Their kitchen turns out dishes that feel thoughtful without being overly complicated. Think Southern ingredients prepared with a modern twist, plated beautifully but not pretentiously.
Grab a seat on the patio if the weather cooperates. The mountain backdrop, combined with the lake, creates a setting that’s almost unfair to other restaurants trying to compete in the scenery department.
3. Gaby’s by the Lake, Lake Oconee
How do you make a lakeside meal feel special without being stuffy? Gaby’s by the Lake figured it out perfectly.
Situated on Lake Oconee, this restaurant serves Italian-inspired cuisine that actually respects the ingredients. Pasta that’s cooked right, sauces that don’t drown everything, and proteins prepared with genuine skill.
The atmosphere strikes that sweet spot between refined and relaxed. You can dress up or dress down, and either way, you’ll fit right in while enjoying one of the most stunning lake views Georgia has to offer with food that matches the setting.
4. The Boathouse Restaurant, Lake Oconee
Did someone say nautical charm without the cheesy decor? The Boathouse Restaurant delivers exactly that on Lake Oconee’s pristine waters.
Their menu leans heavily into seafood, which makes total sense given the setting. Fried platters, grilled catches, and shrimp prepared multiple ways all make appearances, each done with more care than your typical waterside joint.
The dock seating is where you want to be. There’s something about eating next to actual boats that makes the whole experience feel more authentic, like you’re part of the lake life rather than just observing it from afar.
5. Fish Tales Lakeside Grille, Lake Lanier
When the name tells you exactly what to expect, you know they’re confident in their game. Fish Tales Lakeside Grille on Lake Lanier specializes in seafood that tastes fresh, not frozen and forgotten.
Their menu covers all the classics: fish tacos, crab cakes, shrimp baskets, and fried platters that actually stay crispy. Each dish comes out hot and properly seasoned, which sounds basic but isn’t always guaranteed.
The outdoor seating area offers unobstructed lake views and a laid-back atmosphere that encourages you to slow down. It’s the kind of place where flip-flops are perfectly acceptable and nobody’s judging your third basket of hush puppies.
6. Pelican Pete’s Tiki Bar & Grill, Lake Lanier
Are we still in Georgia or did someone teleport us to the Caribbean? Pelican Pete’s Tiki Bar & Grill brings island vibes to Lake Lanier with zero apologies.
The menu here embraces the tropical theme with Caribbean-inspired dishes, fresh seafood, and flavors that transport you somewhere significantly more humid. Everything tastes like vacation, which is exactly the point.
The tiki decor could easily veer into tacky territory, but somehow it all works. Maybe it’s the lake views, maybe it’s the consistently good food, or maybe it’s just the fact that sometimes you need a little escapism with your dinner.
7. Lake Burton Grill, Lake Burton
Though tucked away in the North Georgia mountains, this grill punches way above its weight class. Lake Burton Grill combines mountain coziness with lakefront dining in a way that feels completely natural.
The food here is comfort-focused but executed with precision. Burgers, steaks, and local trout all get their moment to shine, prepared by people who clearly know their way around a kitchen.
Sitting by Lake Burton while eating here feels like you’ve discovered a secret that only locals know about. The views are spectacular, the vibe is welcoming, and the food backs up everything else beautifully.
8. 88’s Lakeside Bar, Lake Blackshear
However you define a perfect lake day, it probably ends at a place like this. 88’s Lakeside Bar on Lake Blackshear keeps things refreshingly simple and unpretentious.
The food menu sticks to crowd-pleasers: wings, burgers, sandwiches, and appetizers meant for sharing. Nothing revolutionary, but everything executed well enough that you’re not disappointed, just satisfied.
What makes this spot special is the atmosphere. It’s the kind of place where locals gather, visitors feel welcome, and everyone agrees that the view across Lake Blackshear makes everything taste just a little bit better than it probably should.
9. Sunset Grill at Victoria Harbor Marina, Lake Allatoona
Hence the name, timing your visit here around sunset is basically mandatory. Sunset Grill at Victoria Harbor Marina on Lake Allatoona serves up views that could make a sandwich taste gourmet.
Fortunately, the food here doesn’t rely solely on the scenery. The menu features American classics prepared competently, with portions that won’t leave you hungry and flavors that hit the right notes.
The marina setting adds an extra layer of charm. Watching boats come and go while the sun paints the sky in ridiculous colors makes for an experience that feels special without trying too hard to impress you.
10. Bullfrogs Bar & Grille at Lanier Islands Resort, Lake Lanier
Where resort convenience meets actual good food, this spot delivers on both fronts. Bullfrogs Bar & Grille at Lanier Islands Resort sits right on Lake Lanier, making it the perfect stop after a day on the water.
The menu covers all the bases with burgers, sandwiches, salads, and entrees that cater to various tastes and dietary needs. It’s family-friendly without being boring, which is a tricky balance to strike.
The outdoor seating area offers prime lake views and a relaxed vibe that matches the resort setting. Whether you’re staying at the resort or just visiting for a meal, the location and food quality make it worth the trip.
11. Lake Rabun Hotel Restaurant, Lake Rabun
This place has a history that you can actually feel when you walk in. Lake Rabun Hotel Restaurant has been serving guests since the early 1900s, and that kind of longevity doesn’t happen by accident.
The restaurant serves Southern comfort food with recipes that feel like they’ve been perfected over decades. Fried chicken, fresh trout, and homestyle sides all make appearances, prepared the way your grandmother would approve of.
Eating here feels like stepping back in time, but in the best possible way. The lake views, historic setting, and reliably delicious food combine to create an experience that’s genuinely special and refreshingly authentic.
12. Dockside Bar & Grill, Lake Sinclair
When you want to eat literally on the water, this is your spot. Dockside Bar & Grill on Lake Sinclair takes the whole lakeside dining concept seriously, with seating that puts you right next to the action.
The menu keeps things straightforward with burgers, seafood, and bar food that’s better than it needs to be. Nothing fancy, nothing pretentious, just solid food served in a setting that does most of the heavy lifting.
The dock seating is the main attraction here. There’s something undeniably cool about eating while boats drift by just feet away, making you feel like you’re part of the lake community even if you’re just visiting.
13. The Lakehouse Restaurant, Lake Hartwell
Though many lakeside restaurants try to be everything to everyone, this one knows exactly what it is. The Lakehouse Restaurant on Lake Hartwell focuses on elevated comfort food in a setting that’s polished but not stuffy.
Their menu features steaks, seafood, and creative entrees that show actual culinary ambition. Each dish is plated thoughtfully and tastes like the kitchen staff genuinely cares about what leaves their station.
The wraparound deck offers panoramic lake views that make every meal feel like a special occasion. Whether you’re celebrating something specific or just celebrating the fact that you found this place, the experience delivers consistently.
14. Sunset Grille at Victoria Harbor Marina, Lake Allatoona
Set on the shores of Lake Allatoona in Woodstock, the Sunset Grille lives up to its name, perched at Victoria Harbor Marina with sweeping lake views and warm breezes that hint at vacation even on a weekday.
The menu features casual, crowd-pleasing fare from fish tacos to loaded nachos, and many guests come not just for the food but for the setting: outdoor decks at the marina let you watch boats glide by and the sun sink into the water.
With boat-slip access, dog-friendly areas, live music weekends, and a lively deck-side atmosphere, it’s a top pick for those after a relaxed lake-view dining experience.
15. J.D.’s On The Lake Restaurant, Lake Allatoona
Over at Lake Allatoona in Canton, the bayside hotspot J.D.’s On The Lake sits across from Little River Marina and brings a laid-back coastal-meets-lake vibe that’s rare for inland Georgia.
Housed in the building that once stood in for the “Blue Cat Lodge” in the Netflix series “Ozark”, the restaurant marries scenic waterfront seating with fresh coastal-style fare, think bourbon-glazed salmon, low-country shrimp, and smoked wings, with plenty of outdoor deck space to soak in the view.
Whether you arrive by boat or drive in, the vibe remains: informal, friendly, and anchored in the lake lifestyle.
