7 Oregon Coastal Restaurants Serving Fresh Catch With Ocean Views
There’s something magical about enjoying fresh seafood while watching waves crash against the Oregon coastline.
I’ve spent years exploring these coastal gems, searching for the perfect combination of mouthwatering local catch and breathtaking ocean panoramas.
From intimate family-owned spots to celebrated culinary destinations, these seven restaurants deliver unforgettable dining experiences where the seafood is as fresh as the salty air you’re breathing.
1. The Waterfront Depot: Florence’s Hidden Treasure
Tucked away in a converted train station, The Waterfront Depot stole my heart the moment I stepped inside. The cozy, intimate atmosphere immediately feels like dining in someone’s beloved home rather than a restaurant. Their seafood stew, brimming with local catches and simmered in a savory tomato broth, remains one of my most vivid food memories from the Oregon coast.
What makes this place truly special is how they transform the day’s catch into sophisticated dishes without any pretentiousness. The picture windows frame the Siuslaw River like living artwork, and at sunset, the golden light bathes everything in warm amber tones. I’ve watched great blue herons fishing along the shoreline while enjoying my own perfectly prepared salmon.
The staff treats everyone like old friends, remembering names and preferences even if you visit just once a year. Their wine list showcases excellent Oregon vintages that pair beautifully with seafood. Reservations are absolutely essential – with only about a dozen tables, this place books up weeks in advance during summer months.
I always save room for their marionberry cobbler, served warm with house-made vanilla ice cream melting into the bubbling fruit. While the menu changes with the seasons and available catch, their commitment to quality never wavers. The Waterfront Depot perfectly captures that magical combination of exceptional food, stunning views, and the warm, welcoming spirit that defines the best of Oregon’s coastal dining.
2. Bridgewater Fish House And Zebra Bar: Vintage Flair Meets Ocean Fare
My first visit to Bridgewater Fish House happened during a fierce winter storm, when the historic building’s warmth provided perfect refuge from the elements. Housed in a beautifully preserved 1915 structure, this Florence gem combines architectural character with seafood that makes you close your eyes in appreciation with each bite. The zebra-striped bar upstairs (hence the quirky name) adds an unexpected touch of whimsy to the elegant space.
Chandeliers cast a golden glow over the dining room, where the halibut fish and chips quickly became my go-to order. The beer batter achieves that perfect crisp-light texture that’s surprisingly non-greasy, while the fish inside remains flaky and moist. Their homemade tartar sauce has a secret ingredient I’ve tried unsuccessfully to identify through multiple visits.
Between courses, I love studying the historical photographs lining the walls, showing Florence’s evolution from fishing village to tourist destination. The cocktail program deserves special mention – their Bloody Mary comes garnished with a prawn so fresh it practically snaps when you bite into it. Local musicians often provide subtle background melodies that enhance rather than overpower conversation.
What keeps me returning is their commitment to sustainable fishing practices and relationships with local fishermen. The menu tells you exactly which boat caught your dinner. Their clam chowder achieves the perfect consistency – not too thick, not too thin – with tender clams that haven’t been cooked to rubber. When you visit, don’t rush away after dinner – the upstairs bar area transforms into a delightful spot for nightcaps with a view of the twinkling harbor lights.
3. Local Ocean Seafoods: Newport’s Dock-To-Dish Darling
Forget fancy white tablecloths – Local Ocean Seafoods proves that sometimes the most memorable seafood comes in humble surroundings with extraordinary flavor. Perched right on Newport’s working bayfront, this restaurant-market hybrid connects diners directly with the fishing boats visible through the windows. I’ll never forget watching a boat dock and unload, then seeing those same fish appear on specials within hours.
The restaurant’s industrial-chic interior features an open kitchen where you can watch chefs transform just-caught ingredients into culinary magic. Their fish tacos changed my understanding of what this dish could be – grilled (never fried) fish topped with vibrant slaw and a chipotle aioli that delivers perfect heat. The fishermen’s stew, loaded with whatever looked best that morning, arrives steaming in a cast iron pot that continues cooking the seafood tableside.
Owner Laura Anderson pioneered sustainable seafood practices in Oregon long before it became trendy. She knows each boat captain by name and can tell you stories about multi-generation fishing families while you eat. The restaurant’s commitment extends to education – each table features cards explaining sustainable fishing methods and identifying local species.
The second-floor seating area offers panoramic views of the bustling harbor, where sea lions often lounge on docks between fishing boats. I love watching the harbor activity with a glass of Oregon Pinot Gris and their famous crab cakes – mostly crab with just enough binding to hold them together. Before leaving, I always visit their market counter to bring home something fresh for tomorrow’s dinner, extending the experience of true dock-to-dish dining that makes Local Ocean a standout even among excellent coastal options.
4. Tidal Raves Seafood Grill: Depoe Bay’s Whale-Watching Wonder
Perched on a cliff edge in Depoe Bay, Tidal Raves offers what might be the most dramatic dining backdrop on the entire Oregon coast. My first meal here coincided with the gray whale migration, turning lunch into an impromptu whale-watching expedition as spouts appeared between courses. The restaurant seems to hover directly above the churning Pacific, with waves sometimes spraying against the windows during winter storms.
Floor-to-ceiling windows wrap around three sides of the dining room, creating an almost suspended-over-the-ocean sensation that initially made my acrophobic mother grip the table edge. Their Dungeness crab melt sandwich – an elevated grilled cheese stuffed with sweet crab meat – pairs perfectly with the complimentary binoculars provided at each table for spotting marine life. The seafood is consistently excellent, but it’s the combination of food and setting that makes this place unforgettable.
Unlike some view-focused restaurants that neglect the menu, Tidal Raves excels at both scenery and cuisine. Their calamari arrives tender rather than rubbery, accompanied by a zippy aioli that balances richness with acidity. The house specialty – seafood stew with fennel and saffron broth – warms you from the inside on foggy days when the ocean disappears into mist just beyond the glass.
The restaurant’s location in the “World’s Smallest Harbor” adds to its charm, with fishing boats navigating the notoriously narrow channel entrance visible from your table. I’ve watched fishermen unload their daily catch while enjoying that same fish prepared by Tidal Raves’ talented kitchen. Their desserts deserve special mention – particularly the marionberry cobbler that showcases Oregon’s signature berry. Time your visit for sunset if possible, when the entire restaurant glows with golden light and the ocean transforms into a sparkling copper sheet.
5. Ecola Seafood Restaurant & Market: Cannon Beach’s Fresh-Off-The-Boat Favorite
Family-owned since 1993, Ecola Seafood embodies everything wonderful about coastal dining without any unnecessary frills. When I stumbled upon this Cannon Beach institution during a rainy afternoon escape from the beach, I found myself seated at a simple table surrounded by locals – always a promising sign. The owners, the Beckman family, still fish commercially, bringing their catch directly to your plate in a true sea-to-table experience that larger establishments can only imitate.
The unassuming storefront on Hemlock Street belies the treasure trove of seafood excellence within. Their fish and chips – available with cod, halibut, or salmon – features a light, crisp batter that enhances rather than masks the fish’s natural flavor. I’ve developed a particular weakness for their smoked salmon chowder, a Pacific Northwest twist on the classic that adds smoky depth to the creamy base.
What makes Ecola special is its dual nature as both restaurant and market. After finishing your meal, you can purchase the same fresh fish to prepare at your beach rental. The walls display decades of fishing photos and newspaper clippings chronicling the Beckman family’s maritime adventures. During my last visit, Jay Beckman himself emerged from the kitchen to share stories about the morning’s challenging fishing conditions while delivering our food.
The restaurant’s large windows frame Cannon Beach’s iconic downtown, with glimpses of the ocean just a block away. Their crab cakes – formed by hand each morning and packed with Dungeness meat – have minimal filler and maximum flavor. The casual, come-as-you-are atmosphere welcomes sandy feet and windblown hair, making it perfect for beach day refueling. Don’t miss their homemade cocktail sauce, which packs enough horseradish punch to clear sinuses while complementing rather than overwhelming the delicate seafood.
6. Mo’s Restaurant: Newport’s Nostalgic Chowder Institution
Some places become institutions not because they’re fancy, but because they capture something essential about their location. Mo’s embodies the unpretentious spirit of the Oregon coast I fell in love with as a child. My grandparents first brought me here thirty years ago, and the restaurant’s weathered wooden interior overlooking Newport’s bay hasn’t changed much since – including their famous chowder recipe that’s been warming seafood lovers since 1946.
The original Newport location offers front-row seats to the working harbor, where fishing boats and sea lions provide constant entertainment. Mo’s red-checked tablecloths and nautical decor might seem kitschy elsewhere, but here they feel authentic – remnants from when founder Mohava Marie Niemi (the eponymous “Mo”) first welcomed fishermen into her small café. Their clam chowder, served in sourdough bread bowls, achieves that perfect balance of creamy richness without becoming gluey or overly thick.
What many visitors don’t know is that Mo’s played a crucial role in developing Oregon’s coastal tourism industry. When most restaurants closed during winter months, Mo kept her doors open year-round, providing consistency that helped Newport transition from seasonal destination to year-round community. The restaurant’s walls showcase photographs documenting this evolution, including visits from celebrities and politicians over the decades.
Beyond the legendary chowder, their simple grilled seafood plates let the ocean’s flavors shine without fussy preparations. The salmon, when in season, comes perfectly cooked – still moist with crispy skin and a squeeze of lemon being the only embellishment needed. While waiting for your meal, watch the harbor seals playing among the docks or the bridge opening for taller vessels. Mo’s offers something increasingly rare in our Instagram-perfect world: an authentic, unchanged slice of Oregon coastal life that connects today’s visitors with generations past.
7. South Beach Fish Market: The Authentic Seafood Shack Experience
Sometimes the most extraordinary seafood comes from the most ordinary-looking places. South Beach Fish Market, just across the bridge from Newport, proves this theory deliciously. Housed in what resembles a large shed with picnic tables, this combination market-eatery lacks fancy decor but delivers seafood so fresh it practically jumps off your plate. I discovered it by accident when a local fisherman redirected me here after I asked where he sells his catch.
The setup is refreshingly straightforward: order at the counter from the chalkboard menu (which changes based on the day’s catch), then find a seat at one of the wooden picnic tables overlooking the harbor. Their fish tacos – stuffed with whatever white fish looked best that morning and topped with crunchy cabbage and homemade sauce – have ruined me for all other versions. The small kitchen operates in full view, where you can watch your meal being prepared by cooks who handle seafood with the respect it deserves.
What distinguishes South Beach from fancier establishments is their direct relationship with the fishing fleet. Many mornings, you’ll see trucks unloading directly into their market section, where locals and visitors alike select from the day’s bounty. Their smoked salmon is prepared in-house in small batches, resulting in a perfect texture that’s neither too dry nor too oily. During Dungeness crab season, the market becomes a neighborhood gathering spot where regulars exchange cooking tips while waiting for their orders.
The covered outdoor seating area offers views of the Yaquina Bay Bridge and passing boats, with heaters making it comfortable even on foggy days. Their fish and chips – available with several different fish options – features a light, crisp batter that enhances rather than masks the seafood’s natural flavor. While South Beach lacks white tablecloths or fancy plating, it delivers exactly what matters most: extraordinarily fresh seafood prepared with skill and served with genuine coastal hospitality.