Where to Dock Your Boat on Wisconsin’s Fox River
July 18, 2017
8 Waterfront Restaurants and Bars for Boaters
Sunglasses on, wind in your hair, 105.7 WAPL on the radio—you’re with your family and friends on your way to a fantastic restaurant. You pull up, but you don’t step off onto the pavement. Instead, you tie up and step off your gleaming Crownline E2 XS onto a dock for a lakefront meal.
Sound appealing? Here’s a definitive list of the best spots to dock your boat on the Fox River, from the Bay to Lake Winnebago. Note: We’ve split destinations into two potential trips: north and south.
North Trip | Towards Green Bay
1. Titletown Brewing Company – 200 Dousman Street, Green Bay
Titletown Brewing in Green Bay: Photo via Facebook
Crowned with the Best Brewpub title two years running, this Green Bay icon represents its tagline: “Legendary Place. Legendary Taste.” Titletown’s expansive two-story restaurant and brewery lives in a 19th-century railroad depot and serves up traditional pub fare and craft brews with a local vibe. Memorable dishes include Venison Meatloaf, the Notorious P.I.G., and the Drunk Mac & Cheese Pizza.
Dock here: Transient boat slips are available at Leicht Memorial Park near the restaurant.
2. Fox Harbor – 348 S Washington Street, Green Bay
Fox Harbor, Green Bay: Photo via Facebook
In the heart of Green Bay’s downtown is Fox Harbor, a local favorite for weekly fish fries, regular wings specials, live music, open patios, and, drum roll … BOGO happy hour deals. As their website states, Fox Harbor is the place to stop for a cold beer and a bite “whether you’re on foot, bike or boat.” If your group prefers wine, take a single-block walk down Crooks Street to the Captain’s Walk Winery.
Dock here: Fox Harbor has its own docks available to patrons, located in front of the restaurant on the Fox’s east bank between West Mason and Walnut Street.
3. Nuk’s Thai – 1350 Marine Street, Green Bay
Nuk’s Thai in Green Bay: Photo via Facebook
The smells of red, yellow, and massaman curry waft from dockside Nuk’s Thai (formerly Nukeo Thai) in Green Bay just off Riverside and near the start of the Astor Park neighborhood. Nuk’s menu includes just about everything under the Eastern sun: appetizers, noodles, curry dishes in every shade, satays, house specialties, and our current favorite variety of soup: pho.
Dock here: Nuk’s Thai and Jimmy Seas (up next!) have multiple docks right in front of the restaurants.
4. Jimmy Seas – 1330 Marine Street, Green Bay
Jimmy Seas on the Fox River: Photo via Facebook
Where can you find house-made guac, live music, and vintage cars all in one place? Right next to Nuk’s tucked behind Riverside is Jimmy Seas Pub, Grill, and Fenders, where lively atmosphere and classic tavern fare converge. The next time you’re chugging past, make sure to rope up, grab a specialty cocktail, and kick back on the spacious deck. We recommend fueling up on a Long Board burger or Lobster Roll while you’re there.
Dock here: Like Nuk’s, Jimmy’s has multiple docks right out front (or back, if you’re street side.)
5. Zesty’s Frozen Custard – 3718 Riverside Drive, De Pere
Zesty’s Frozen Custard, De Pere: Photo via Facebook
South of Green Bay’s downtown in De Pere is Zesty’s, a locally-owned local’s favorite that is one of the first places De Pereans visit when it warms up. Zesty’s makes three flavors of custard daily, serves up homemade chili and booyah, and uses Seroogy’s chocolate as a gourmet ice cream and custard topping. Are you drooling?
Dock here: The Fox Point boat launch is directly behind Zesty’s and across from St. Norbert Abbey when you’re facing the restaurant from the street.
South Trip | Towards Appleton
6. Down the Hill – Little Chute | 221 Mill Street, Little Chute
Down the Hill Bar, Little Chute: Photo via Airbnb
Where Monroe and Mill Street meet at the base of the Grand Avenue hill is an unassuming bar with a descriptive name. Down the Hill Bar is a local pub with a 4.4-star rating from its affectionate Facebook fans. As one fan states, “Great place. Great people. Great owners. Fun bar with plenty of activities.” Need we say more?
Dock here: Check that you’re at the proper clearance and use any of the public docks to access the Island Park Trail (pictured) connecting Doyle and Heesakker.
7. Hawk’s Nest | 1621 W Main Street, Little Chute
Hawk’s Nest. Little Chute: Photo via Facebook
A river stone’s skip from Down the Hill is another Little Chute staple that boasts fish fries, $1 mugs, $0.45 boneless wings, and a laid-back atmosphere. Online reviewers love the Hawk’s Nest for its reasonably-priced grub and early morning opening hour—Hawk’s is open Monday-Saturday starting at 6 a.m.
Dock here: Tie off at the restaurant’s dock and climb the hill for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or happy hour.
8. Tempest Coffee Collective – 181 S RiverHeath Way #1100, Appleton
Tempest Coffee Collective, Appleton: Photo via Facebook
A Fox River excursion can really take it out of you. It’s lucky that Tempest Coffee Collective is kiddy-corner to the 6187 Reservoir in Appleton to the east of Lawrence University. Get your lakefront fuel at this cozy joint with superb espresso available in 10 service varieties, tasty signature coffee drinks, and gourmet waffles.
Dock here: Just to the north of the Tempest’s building (which also houses Brews Taphouse and Recyclist Bicycle Co.) is a set of six public docks.
Get Approved and Start Boating
Whether you’ve got your eye on an outboard cruiser with bells and whistles or you’re entranced by the old-school cool of a classic Chris-Craft, we can empower you to get out on the water in the boat you’ve always dreamed of.
Stop by one of our locations to get the boat loan you need for the boat you want—we’re in Kaukauna, Wrightstown, Little Chute, Grand Chute, and De Pere. See you soon!