- Exploring the hidden gems of Western Wisconsin—curating unforgettable stays and sharing the places locals love most.
There’s a moment every spring in Prescott when the first warm Saturday hits and the whole town moves outside. The umbrellas go up on the decks along Broad Street, the boats start coming back up the St. Croix, and suddenly every seat facing the water is taken by noon. I live for that day.
Prescott is a river town, and its best patios are built right over the water where the St. Croix meets the Mississippi. When patio season opens again next spring, here’s where I’d send you, what to order at each one, and which table to ask for.
Muddy Waters is the patio people mean when they say “that place on the river in Prescott.” Three levels of deck step down toward the St. Croix, and reviewers call it the best deck in the area, which is hard to argue with. The upper levels are a little calmer, good for dinner. The lower level is the Backwaters, a tiki bar with its own outdoor menu and a more festive crowd. All summer long, there’s live music on the patio, with local bands on weekends and fun sets on Sundays.
What to order: Leon’s House Smoked Salmon to share, the “Bite Me” Beef Tips, and a glass of the house red sangria. Their summer smashburger specials have a following.
Insider tip: No reservations, and the patio fills up fast, even midweek. Go early in the afternoon, grab a table and settle in. And if you just want to know where the fun is, ask anyone in town where the Backwaters is.
A few doors down, Two Rivers Lodge has a recently renovated deck that looks over the confluence and the railroad tracks, with a full outdoor bar in summer and covered seating where bands play. Upstairs, big garage-door windows open up on warm days. The trains roll by close enough to wave at, and kids love it.
What to order: The Ellsworth cheese curds, battered in-house, and either the 12-ounce Canadian walleye dinner or the cranberry turkey Brie sandwich. For drinks, the Two Rivers Signature Bloody comes with a beef stick and a spicy pickle, and the Coconut Lavender Margarita and the Dockside 75 are fun summer picks. There’s a separate patio beer menu too.
Insider tip: Happy hour runs Monday through Friday from 2:30 to 5:30, with $5 Spotted Cow and $6 house margaritas. The main patio isn’t dog-friendly, so if you have your pup, ask about seating on the lower level.
This one is pure summer. Point St. Croix Marina and Pub, known around here as the Shrimp Shack, sits right at the water with a deck overlooking both rivers. When the river level allows, there’s a lower waterside area with tables and benches where you can actually put your feet in the water. Caribbean-colored chairs, tiki umbrellas and a lot of Beach Boys. Boaters pull right up to the gas dock.
What to order: The jumbo broiled shrimp. They’re sprayed with olive oil, dusted in a secret seasoning and served with butter and house cocktail sauce. Here’s the local move: dip each shrimp in the cocktail sauce first, then in the warm butter. Wash it down with a fresh fruit margarita or a Mai Tai. Kids get their own mocktails with names like Shark Attack and Ocean Water.
Insider tip: It’s cash only (there’s an ATM inside), and it’s seasonal. The Shrimp Shack is closed for the rest of 2026 and plans to reopen in early May 2027.
Out back of the Roadhouse is a small covered deck looking toward the river confluence and the railroad bridge. It’s quieter than the big decks on the water, and it’s where I’d take someone I actually want to talk to. There’s a dog-friendly area, too.
What to order: The cheeseburger wontons, the Roadhouse Roll from their sushi menu (served Wednesday through Sunday), and a glass of their fruit sangria. On weekend mornings, the Roadkill Skillet tastes even better outside.
Insider tip: The high-top is the table with the best view. Midday in July it gets hot and sunny, so go later in the afternoon.
Prescott Tap is a laid-back sports bar, and its patio feels the same way: bean bags, cold beer in frosted mugs and nobody in a hurry. Order the build-your-own burger (try it with bacon jam) or a handmade 12-inch Deluxe pizza, plus the smothered waffle fries with homemade queso. Reviewers say the queso is insane, and they’re right.
Insider tip: Happy hour is Monday through Friday from 3 to 6, with $3 rails and domestics. All ages are welcome, with under-21s accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Not every patio needs a deck. The Kitchen Table puts a few tables out on the Broad Street sidewalk, and on a summer morning there’s nothing better than a Hangover Hash and a Bloody Flight in the sun while the motorcycles roll by. Get there early. Those tables are the first ones taken. More in my Prescott breakfast guide.
Start with breakfast on the sidewalk, walk up to Freedom Park on the bluff, spend the afternoon with shrimp and your feet in the water at the Shrimp Shack, then wander back to Broad Street for dinner on the deck at Muddy Waters while the band plays and the sun goes down over Minnesota. That’s a perfect Prescott summer day.
Make downtown Prescott your home base and book direct with us: The Port of Prescott for boutique king suites steps from the river, Port After Dark for romantic suites made for couples, The Harbor Hotel for themed rooms and extended stays, and The Cove Guest House for downtown condos and group getaways.
