8 amazing places to eat by the water in Europe

The view of the New Maas is never boring, with water taxis, slow cargo ships and tall cruise ships sailing by continuously against the background of the Erasmus Bridge and the tall buildings at Kop van Zuid. Zenne has a terrace by the water and serves a Turkish three or four-course dinner every day (fish, meat or vegetarian): fresh, tasty and often too beautiful to eat.

Taverne Sokrates is a slice of Greece in Vienna. From the terrace you can see the water of the Donau sparkle in the distance and with a bit of imagination you can even think that you are at the seaside. The picture becomes even more perfect when the suflaki, squid and other Greek specialities arrive on your plate. A little like My Big Fat Greek Wedding!

In the crooked little house at the Oberhafenbrücke, you may find all your blood rushing into one butt cheek, the building’s on such a slant. But storm floods and water erosion couldn’t bring the old Hamburg coffee bar down. Today, modern Hamburg cuisine is served here – good lobscouse, for example.

Located at the so-called ‘silent beach’, this is one of the most laidback beach pavilions to start or end your day. Wake up slowly with a breakfast board with Turkish bread, frittata, organic cheese, yoghurt, and fresh fruit, or watch the sun go down in the sea while enjoying a spit-roasted chicken or a stone-oven pizza.

Emanuele Ridi has been a culinary celebrity since 2012, when he made his first appearance on Czech TV. His ristorante is located on a small islet near Vltava’s left bank and serves Mediterranean cuisine and Italian wines. In the summer, the lounge is extended with an open-air pop-up bar.

Granted, this is not exactly a hidden secret. On the contrary: Rogacki Delicatessen is almost an anachronism in this ever- changing metropolis. It started out as a smoked-fish shop in 1928. Nowadays they sell everything from champagne to cheese, meat and fish. If you’re hungry, you can eat – still pretty affordably – on-site and watch life in City West go by.

This tavern has a menu full of amazing dishes for which it sources its ingredients exclusively from the islands in the lagoon. Even the wines are produced in extremely limited quantities and come from the only vineyard on the island of Mazzorbo. An excellent example of traditional cuisine with a contemporary twist and a restaurant that pays special attention to sustainability.

Nikolaj Kovdal has transformed an old customs building in the harbour quarter into a hip Nordic fish restaurant. The original interior has been carefully preserved, including the counters where customs officials once handled the paperwork. Diners can now sit at the tiled counter watching chefs grill fresh fish on an open fire. There’s also a rustic terrace at the back looking out on the harbour.