Island View Waterfront Cafe in
Essex (MD)

Food and service were good, was very busy when we were there which attributed to the slower service. Cool vibe being on the water, nice place to have some drinks and dine. Just need to have staff care instead of just another number coming in the door to them.

I’ve been kayaking here twice now and it’s absolutely beautiful! Bruce is so kind and knowledgeable, he really helped to put my mind at ease the first time I went. The first time, I was with another person and we rented the tandem kayak; the second time I went, I rented a solo. I would highly recommend Island View Waterfront Cafe to anyone looking for a nice event venue or a fun experience on the water.

Jess and her team at Island View Waterfront Venue gave our daughter a dream of a wedding that we all loved! All of the day was just perfect - from the planning of the event to the final execution. Every detail was choreographed to perfection with such care and attention to every detail. It felt like a destination wedding on an island with water all around. There was so much space for the kids to run around and for the adults to dance and the table settings were so gorgeous. I highly recommend Jess and Island View Waterfront for the wedding of your dreams. It is so apparent that she loves what she does.

Gorgeous venue and event space. Calm and relax vibe off the water. Beautiful views

Attended the Charmnic Picnic event by Picnic Crush. Beautiful scenery!!!

I recently spent a sunny sunday morning at Island View Waterfront Cafe and it was nothing short of magical. The location right on the water offers stunning views, and the gentle lapping of waves set the perfect backdrop for a kayaking adventure. From the moment I arrived, I felt welcomed by the laid-back, friendly atmosphere that makes this spot so special. Spending time at Island View Waterfront Cafe after kayaking was absolutely magical, as I settled into a sun-drenched patio chair overlooking the Chesapeake If you’re looking for an unforgettable kayaking experience paired with outstanding local hospitality, Island View Waterfront Cafe is the place to go. Whether you’re a seasoned paddler or trying it for the first time, Jessica and her team will ensure you leave with a smile—and memories that will bring you back again and again.

We hosted our daughter's 18th birthday and graduation party at the Island View and it could not have been more perfect. If you're looking for amazing views and a stress-free environment, this is the place. Upon arrival, everything was set up and ready to go. There are plenty of indoor and outdoor spaces for guests to enjoy. Do not hesitate to book the Island View for your next event!

Me and my husband had our wedding here and the whole process from start to finish was Astonishing. Jessica is amazing and made everything feel like home from the moment we toured islandview to the moment we said our goodbyes on our wedding day. She is very accommodating and very helpful. The food was fantastic and the whole place is yours for any special event you book. You have the inside and outside we used the inside for our food and outside we got married under the two beautiful trees and did our first dance in the middle of the yard. She made sure everything was perfect and even did set up and clean up for us. This venue I would recommend to everyone a thousand times over and will use this venue in the future. We can't thank Jessica enough for the amazing service and day she provided us with. Please if you are thinking about getting married by the water you have to check this place out!!

We hosted a surprise 50th birthday party for my boyfriend at Island View Waterfront. We could not have been more pleased with the way Jessica handled every detail of our small event. She was friendly, down to earth, and always steps ahead of any potential problems. Your event can be as extravagant or as simple as you would like. She has a collection of vendors for any extras you would like to include at your event. I mean, it really does not get any easier! The day of the event when we arrived- the food was ready, the drinks were poured, the decorations were up, the music was on…..all we had to do was simply show up and have a good time. Booking our event here made it so we didn’t have to worry about all the details. We simply had to show up and enjoy ourselves and each other- which we did! I would not hesitate to book an event with Jess. She is truly a gem and her venue reflects that!

We celebrated our wedding at Island View in September 2024, and it was truly a dream come true! My husband and I envisioned a charming backyard-style wedding by the water, complete with romantic lighting and dancing under the stars, and Island View delivered beyond our expectations. From the very first moment we toured the venue, we knew it was the perfect place for us. The picturesque setting created an intimate atmosphere that felt both magical and cozy. Jess, the owner, was an absolute gem throughout the entire planning process. Her warm and approachable nature made everything so easy and relaxed. She even helped calm my nerves during a few freak-out moments the week before the big day—her support was invaluable! If you're looking for a stunning venue that offers a beautiful backdrop and a stress-free experience, I wholeheartedly recommend Island View. It made our special day unforgettable!

First off let me say how amazing the venue manager Jessica was when I contacted Jessica in a email to set up a date and time to come visit the venue for a baby shower I was planning for October she answered my email with great enthusiasm willing to work with us with whatever budget we had that day. She was accommodating, courteous, and set a time and date to visit. Jessica was a wonderful person to work with from beginning to end. She answered every question I had in a timely manner, and even set up a FaceTime chat to go over details on tables and food placement. She also guided me on details of how many tables needed, which linens to rent, and how much food would be needed for the amount of people we planned on coming. She didn’t pressure me on sending the remaining balance till I was completely satisfied with the proposal. She also didn’t pressure me on how much food to purchase or any packages she felt I needed to get for our guest for our day. Overall If I could give her a 5+ rating I would for her expertise, kindness, courteous of our needs, and generous ways about her. The venue was picture perfect that day from beginning to end. The tables were already set up, linens pressed, food placement out on deck( go with this on an autumn day) you won’t be disappointed. We were greeted by Jessica a couple minutes early said we could come in and set up. Ashley was our warm, sweet, caring assistant that day. Boy did she help us tremendously in setting up, bringing tables as we needed them, and putting centerpieces on our tables, and as the shower got underway made sure ALL of our guest were taken care of. She helped our senior guests so they didn’t have to get out of their seats and she still managed to work the bar for all our guest to have drinks when they wanted them. Never had a line at the bar. She helped my husband and I move the gifts and put them in other room once opened. Set out all the desserts, and even at the end of the shower helped us packaged it all up and take down to put in vehicles. Couldn’t have asked for a better assistant to Jessica. Jessica also put our corn hole boards out for our guest to get outside to enjoy the grounds on our beautiful day in October. Overall if I could give this venue a 5+ star I would. The venue was amazingly clean, bathrooms were clean, food area clean, and grounds also clean. Overall the venue manager and assistant get a 10/10 for effort, kindness, went above and beyond, and very professional and courteous to All our guest. We look forward to coming back for another event in the coming years. We left this venue not saying goodbye, but see ya later because we feel we started out as strangers, but left as being lifelong friends and family. Thank you Jessica and Ashley for sharing your venue with us and our unborn son. It was a day we will never forget and the memories we made are truly appreciated. Brianna and Gary

My wedding was 9.28.24. Jess was amazing to work with from the start. She was always quick at responding and had the most calming demeanor. Every question I asked she already had a plan for! My experience at island view was amazing and I wish I could relive the day over and over again. Jess and her team truly made my day more magical than I could have wished for. Don’t second guess booking this venue! You won’t regret it!!

We had the good fortune of discovering Island View Waterfront, and it was a truly beautiful experience. We were celebrating the life of my mother, Jan, who had recently passed away, and the venue was the perfect setting for such a special occasion. The location itself was stunning, with breathtaking views of the water and the surrounding scenery. However, what truly set our experience apart was the exceptional service provided by Jessica, the venue manager. She went above and beyond to ensure that every detail of the event was meticulously covered, making things incredibly easy for us during what was clearly a difficult time. Her professionalism and kindness were truly appreciated, and we couldn't have asked for a better experience. Overall, I highly recommend Island View Waterfront as a venue for any special occasion. From the beautiful location to the exceptional service, it truly exceeded our expectations. It helped make our celebration of my mother's life a truly memorable experience.

My son and his fiance choose Island View for the great view. But what we got was so much more! Jess was great to work with and always got back to us quickly. She was happy to answer all questions and explain options. The weather was not the best the day of the wedding so we opted for inside for the reception, but i think that made it better since everyone was not as spread out as we would have been outside. But the ceremony outside was beautiful, right on the water. I highly recommend this venue for a wedding and can't say enough about how great Jess was to work with. Thanks so much for fantastic wedding memories!

Me and my now husband got married on 7-14-2023. Everything about our wedding was perfect. And the sites were so beautiful. We are so thankful we found this place. The owners are such great people. Jessica went above, and beyond to make sure that my day was special. We had a small micro wedding. We chose their catering Buffay, which included beef tenderloin and crabcakes. Both were so delicious. Crabcakes were all meat not much filler and the beef was perfectly cooked. We actually got some to take with us It was that good. The sites at the island view are just so beautiful. And I wish I could go back to this day again because it was just amazing. The island view has a beautiful rustic Look to it, which I myself love. They have multiple choices of which type of arch you would like at your ceremony. They have the perfect outdoor set up for a water front wedding. Their wedding prices are amazing so affordable. You could have any size wedding you would like here. Trust me when I say, it will be one you will never forget. Here are some photos of our beautiful wedding day.

Jess and Island View Waterfront were absolutely incredible to work with. Jess shared the same vision as us for our wedding day and helped in every way possible to make that a dream for us. Jess was perfect with communication, extremely accommodating, and upfront and honest about everything during this process. She oversaw all of the set up/clean up as well as the day of our wedding. Jess is organized and laid back and fits into any planning style. The best decision we made is choosing Island View Waterfront and working with Jess! We would recommend her for any event!!

I can't even put in to words how grateful I am to Jess and her team. My husband and I got married here and the wedding could not have been more perfect. Not only did the scenery and the quaint cafe make for amazing photos, but even a month later our guests are still telling us how absolutely beautiful the venue was. What's most important though, is Jess and her team handled EVERYTHING. We didn't even taste test the food before we used their catering, and we were stunned at how good the food was (the best wedding food we've both had). Their professionalism, experience, and friendliness made our day perfect. If I could get married again, I would pick this venue EVERY time without doubt. Thank YOU so much Jess!

Absolutely hands down the perfect venue for our wedding day. I couldn’t have dreamed up a more scenic location to celebrate our love with family and friends. Jessica was wonderful and helpful every step of the way. She had recommendations for vendors and helped the entire day from set up to break down. Her passion for what she does really shines through and would recommend for any bride to have their wedding at Island View!

Simply beautiful venue and wonderful people to work with while planning your big day. Cannot say enough amazing things about it and will forever be grateful we chose this spot :) Still waiting on the photographer pics which I am sure will be breathtaking. (The pics attached are from cell phone)

A great place to celebrate a wedding. As a wedding photographer I always look for venues that offer great opportunities for photos. This venue is great for couples looking for photos that are unique and different than the expected.

During the pandemic, they are only serving using disposable plates and plasticware. Everyone at the table was satisfied with their meal, and for myself, the breakfast burrito was wonderful. At the time we were there, they had no champagne, so they could not serve mimosas. I myself, was going non-alcoholic, and chose coffee and grapefruit juice for my beverages. The weather when we were there, was cloudy and a little drippy outside, but the view was fine. Our server, Abby, was wonderful and took care of all of our needs.

Island View Waterfront Cafe for being my first time to this place I can say it is such a well hidden gem in Essex, MD Such a great view, food, drinks and great customer service. I highly recommend their soup a mix of the Maryland crab soup with Creamy Crab soup is to die for. Delicious soup. Please give them a try they will wow ya. Trust me the view is amazing !!!!

The Island View Cafe is a nice quaint place to enjoy good food and take in the great views of the waterfront. Rent a kayak in the summer right there. The food and service is always consistently good. Shrimp wrap.....yummy! Nice bar and family friendly.

My wife and I really did enjoy our lunch today. We had the mixed crab soup, coddies, and the Russian burger. The food taste great and the service was fantastic! They did have craft beer. However, it would have been better if they served something from the closest brewery (Key Brewery). That being said, I cannot wait to be a repeat customer. I highly recommend this place if you like a nice relaxing place on the waterfront.

Tucked away on a very back road. Not fancy, but just right for a warm summer day. Nice outside seating. Excellent service and very good food. Glad we stumbled on this little gem.

We found Island View Waterfront Restaraunt by accident and we are so pleased that we did. The atmosphere is great, but the food and service is even better. You can sit on the deck and dine while watching the boats go by or sit inside. You can even put your kayak out for 10.00 or you can rent a kayak from them. Great place to eat breakfast, lunch or dinner.

BEAUTIFUL VIEW, WARM SERVICE & GOOD FOOD! We were looking for having lunch with beautiful ocean views and this place didn't disappoint. We arrived there and the the restaurant was spic and clean and had this breeze feel from inside. The deck was full but the waitress told us to wait for 15 mins and I am glad we did. The views from the outside were amazing. The sun was blazing, there was little breeze and the shade due to umbrella, there were kayaks in the water and you can hear the water gushing on the pier. The server was pretty friendly and started us with a carafe of sangria (which was okay-ish) and pina colada which was amazing. For entrees we ordered: - Maryland crab soup which was creamy and delicious - Soft crab sandwich which lacked some seasoning but otherwise okay -Steamed Mussels which were fresh and delicious -Mrs Frans Crab cakes which were perfectly cooked and delicious - Veggie burger which well seasoned and delicious! - We ordered Baltimore pie (way too sweet) and Key lime pie (perfectly sweet and tart and creamy) for desserts! Overall, we enjoyed our extravagant food with the breath taking views. I would highly recommend checking this place out during lazy summer weekends !