Where to eat in Watertown at a glance
Watertown is a small city, and you can eat well in a few clear areas. Downtown, around Public Square and the Paddock Arcade, is the place to combine a meal with a walk. The Salmon Run Mall area by I-81 has a food court and fits a shopping stop or a quick lunch. For a meal with a view, drive to the river towns, above all Alexandria Bay.
This page names areas, not individual restaurants, so there is no ranking. Menus, prices and hours change often, and Sunday and winter opening hours vary from place to place, so check before you set out. If you are planning a boat day, a dinner cruise is one way to combine the two. See Thousand Islands boat tours for the cruise types.
Our pick: a lunch cruise
A seated meal on the water, but it starts in Kingston, Ontario, so it is a cross-border day rather than a Watertown dinner.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Tours and day trips from Watertown
Boat tours, dinner cruises and day trips to the Thousand Islands, with live prices and availability.
Three places to eat, compared
Pick by what else you plan to do that day.
| Area | Good for | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown Watertown | A meal with a walk around Public Square | Restaurants cluster around the square and the Paddock Arcade at 1 Public Square |
| Salmon Run Mall area | A quick lunch or a stop on the way through | Food court; mall hours differ from individual shop and restaurant hours |
| Alexandria Bay | A meal on a boat day | Restaurants in the village; dinner cruises need a reservation in advance |
For most visitors, eat in Watertown on town days and in Alexandria Bay on boat days, so that you are not driving back and forth for dinner.
Downtown Watertown
The easiest place to walk between a meal and a sight.
Downtown has dining around Public Square and the Paddock Arcade. The Jefferson County Historical Society museum is on Washington Street, and the Wednesday Farm & Craft Market runs there from May to October, so a meal fits a museum visit or a market day. Read about the walk on the things to do page. Opening hours vary by place, so check them, especially on Sundays and in winter.
Salmon Run Mall
A food court and a shopping stop near the interstate.
Salmon Run Mall is at 21182 Salmon Run Mall Loop West, near I-81 exits 45 and 46. It has a food court and other places to eat. General mall hours are Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Individual shops and restaurants may keep different hours, so a late dinner is not guaranteed.
Alexandria Bay and dinner cruises
For a meal on the river.
Alexandria Bay has restaurants in the village, close to where the boat tours leave. A dinner cruise from the village lists adult fares of $67.50 to $89 in 2026. On the operator's price list, ages 5 to 12 count as children, adults start at 13 and children up to 4 are free. Dinner, lunch and special cruises need a reservation in advance. Boarding starts 15 minutes before departure, and the operator's lots at 45 James Street are free to park in. Read more on the Alexandria Bay page.
Eating on a castle day
The rules at Boldt Castle shape your plans.
Eat before or after
Eating and drinking inside the buildings at Boldt Castle is not allowed. Plan a meal before you board or after you return to the mainland.
No alcohol on the grounds
Alcohol is not allowed on the grounds, apart from licensed special events.
Know the tour length
The Two Nation tour takes 2¼ hours. The Singer Castle tour takes 3½ hours, including a one-hour guided walk. The Clayton tour with Boldt Castle takes 3½ hours. Allow a snack for the longer ones.
See the Boldt Castle page for the full rules and the 2026 and 2027 seasons.
Picnics and the winery
Cheaper and flexible options.
Thompson Park has picnic areas with views, and Wellesley Island State Park charges a peak day-use fee of $7 per vehicle in 2026. Both suit a packed lunch. If you want a tasting rather than a meal, Thousand Islands Winery in Alexandria Bay offers two wines free and four for $5, and six for $7 in 2026. See the winery page. Details on the park are on the Thompson Park page.
Sales tax and what to budget
A short note on the bill.
The combined sales tax rate in Jefferson County is 8%, in effect since 1 March 2025. Whether it applies depends on the item, so a menu total may differ from the final bill. Menu prices change often and are not listed here, so look at the current menu before you go.
Watertown restaurants: frequently asked questions
Which area should I eat in when in Watertown?
For a walk plus a meal, downtown around Public Square. For a quick stop, the Salmon Run Mall area near I-81. For a view, Alexandria Bay on the river.
Can I eat inside Boldt Castle?
No. Eating and drinking inside the buildings at Boldt Castle is not allowed, and alcohol is not allowed on the grounds apart from licensed special events.
Do I need to reserve a dinner cruise?
Yes. Dinner, lunch and special cruises need a reservation in advance. Boarding starts 15 minutes before departure.
What is the sales tax on a restaurant bill?
The combined sales tax rate in Jefferson County is 8%. Whether it applies depends on the item.
Are restaurants open on Sundays and in winter?
It varies by place. Check the hours of the restaurant before you set out, especially on Sundays and between late fall and spring.
Is this site a restaurant guide run by the city?
No. This is an independent travel guide, not run by the City of Watertown or by any restaurant or tour operator.