Boathouse Cantina

We arrived in Salida one beautiful evening without any reservations and quickly found the town buzzing with energy — a live band was playing in the park, people were out enjoying the weather, and the whole place had such a fun, small-town vibe. The Boathouse seemed to be the spot to eat, so we put our name on the list and waited about 45 minutes to an hour. Luckily, the wait was easy — we were entertained watching kayakers and people floating down the river right next to the restaurant. When we were finally seated, we got a fantastic table right by the water. Our server was attentive and friendly despite how busy it was. The drinks were great, and our meals were delicious — totally worth the wait! The weather couldn’t have been better, and the whole atmosphere made for a really memorable dinner. The only downside was that a few people down by the river were smoking, and the smoke drifted up toward the dining area. Not the restaurant’s fault since it’s public space, but it did take away from the experience a bit. It might be nice if there were a small sign kindly asking people not to smoke near diners. Overall, though, this is a cool spot with great food, a fun vibe, and unbeatable views of the river. Definitely recommend sitting outside if you can!

We took the suggestion of the hotel owner and gave the Boathouse a try. A great neighborhood bar and restaurant right on the river in Salida. Very friendly staff, reasonably priced and well prepared food, in a comfortable setting. Bar seats, pub height tables, and regular tables. Lots of TVs with several different sports playing. We had a shrimp bowl and a chipotle chicken bowl. Both very good, very fresh, and very large.

The food was great and so was the beer. I had the fish tacos and the cold IPA. The Cold IPA is really good (I had tried it previously in cans but always prefer draft). My son really liked his pretzel bites. I think they should have more options for gear, especially since they have cool artwork for their cans but none of it is on shirts.

Another fantastic suggestion by the Amigo Motor Motel recommendations page in each room. Not only did this spot have delicious eats, but we sat against the side where you can view the river which was just as much of a treat for us. Our server was awesome, recommended great food to try (nachos are awesome if you want to try guac, queso and salsa) and I also got the egg roll rancheros which were excellent. We asked him what the best things to do in the area are and he mentioned checking out Charlotte Hot Springs and Botanical Garden, which we did and what a treat it was! Unfortunately, we weren’t able to enjoy golden hour on the sand dunes due to the rainstorm but the pictures he shared were awesome. Great spot and cool gift shop attached, make sure you stop in there for goodies!

The atmosphere and the service was excellent. However, the food was lacking. Stopped in for lunch and got a couple burgers. Very unimpressive burger. The burger itself resembled a frozen, pre patty from like a Costco. Definitely pass on the burger choices. For, $18 each burger I expect better. Would stop by again to try something else just because location is great and service was good.

Great experience! The salmon salad is awesome with the gingery sesame and teriyaki. My husband had the burger and said it was good. Staff are friendly and helpful.

Loved this restaurant! It offers a casual, welcoming vibe and the staff is super friendly! The bowls were so scrumptious and the service was so impeccable that I’m headed back here the next time I’m in Salida!! Be aware that some weekends they have a time limit on the patio tables with the water view but they told us 90 minutes which was very accommodating!

Wonderful local cantina located in dowtown Salida right on the Arkansas River. The mussels were excellent, the ahi tuna tacos were tasty, we loved the potstickers, the fried chicken was homemade, great fosh and chips and burgers were tops. Excellent service as well

It's ok. What you would expect from a touristy spot. It's big, the service was quick, the food was fine. We opted for a quick lunch with corn tortilla tacos (they let you choose, so of course, I go for the gluten free option). We tried the al pastor and duck, and the second one was a definite winner. It wasn't amazing, but it wasn't bad either. They also have a couple of house sauces on the table, and that improved the al pastor quite a lot.

We were able to get a table near the water which has great views. The food was good and the service was very friendly and pretty quick! They have a good sized menu so there's something for everyone!

10/10. Had to make a pitstop in Salida to experience their epic patio. Watching rafters float down the Arkansas river right under you with a great view of the mountains, all I've ever wanted. Food was banging. All burgers come with two smash pattys and they use quality ingredients with all the fixings. This thing held its integrity down to the last bite and was throughly enjoyable. Paired it with the Penelope Cruiser IPA and it went down smooth, hoppy and not very bitter. Perfect afternoon outing if you can make it.

Busy place but we got seated within 20 minutes. Wait staff friendly and attentive. Cool building. Outdoor seating but we were sat inside. Wanted first available. The food was great. So much to choose from. Pretzel bites were ok. A little overcooked and I prefer a full size pretzel not bites. Tacos were good. Messy good.

Cool location but not great food. I ordered the chili relleno and had to ask what the inside was filled with because it was not the usual melted white or yellow cheese. Turns out it was cojita and something else. I thought it was terrible. My son got a French Dip and it was 24.00. No way should a French Dip sandwich cost 24.00. Not going back...sorry.

Came here on a Friday night and because it seemed empty and we could eat quickly. Turns out the place is just massive and there are many different areas to sit in. Looks like a great place for big groups. Our waiter, I believe Taylor was awesome. Kept the food and drinks coming. The food was so plentiful and we had a big box to take home a portion of the nachos. I wish we would have come during the day because it seems like they have a great view of the river. I look forward to coming back and giving the patio seating a try in summer. Overall 4/5 stars!

This was my first time in Salida and this restaurant came highly recommended. It is great for a group of people purely because of the options available. You can get tacos to cheeseburgers - all at an affordable Colorado price. The portions are large and the food was great. We loved the variety of craft cocktail options and that you can get the brewery beer fresh. We had a great seat outside and the service was great. Very accommodating for groups - my husband returned with a group of 15 a few weeks later and had a similar sentiment that they were welcoming and service was just as great as our group of 4.

2nd or 3rd time at this location and always pleased with staff, service and drinks and food. During FibArk I was feeling a bit dehydrated so popped in and asked for a water and without question the bartender gave me one with ice. In our final night in Salida my wife and I with son, wife and grand baby stopped to eat. They were busy and at least 30 wait. We started to look for another place and within 10 minutes they called and said a place opened up and yes near the river. Service was excellent as they accommodated our grandson with high chair and commendable service. I highly recommend their Parmesan fries. We all had great tasty food. If you're ever in Salida stop in and enjoy great customer service and great food!

This place was absolutely packed on a Saturday night. In fact, it was so busy, I had to make, no exaggeration, 4 trips to the bathroom before I could actually use it. Only two stalls available for a gigantic, packed restaurant. In general, the place was chaotic and loud. Definitely family-friendly if that's your thing. Drinks were good, however the fish tacos were literally the worst I've ever had. Super fishy, overcooked and bland. The toppings on the tacos along with the fish were luke warm and mushy. Definitely pass on these. One in our party got a hamburger which he said he enjoyed, so likely best just to avoid seafood options here.

What a great place to kick back, chill out, enjoying the dining on the banks of the Arkansas River

Nice location at the river with good seating choices for dining. It's a big place with several dining areas. Service was good and food was OK. I ordered a chicken salad which was OK, and another ordered the grilled chicken sandwich which was tasteless. Didn't seem grilled or cooked well. We'll give it another try sometime.

Unexpectedly fresh and exciting flavors. The Brussels pop with acidic notes that are scrumptious. Fresh light salad with a delicious coconut dressing. Have to say that was a nice twist that added a nice element. So good I ordered a salad for lunch the next day. Great views of the river so was able to see folks floating the river. Service was relatively slow, but honestly that might just be a reflection of the slow pace to life in a sleepy mountain town :-)

This restaurant is located in the heart of downtown Salida and is quite busy but we were able to get a table outside after a short wait! The food is good but nothing outstanding. Our server was good but busy. I would probably only visit for the outdoor dining and views of the river, not necessarily the food or atmosphere.

Fabulous view, and food. Nice service too. Great location. Brewery on site. Take some home.

Love the Sage''s Pork Green Chilie -sooo good!!! I love the atmosphere and it's right in the middle of all the action on the river!

This is such a cute restaurant located right by the river in Salida. Note that it gets super busy on the weekends. We had to get on the wait list on Friday and had to wait about 25 minutes. It wasn't an issue because the town is cute to walk around but just to be aware. Our food and drinks were good but we found service to be very slow. Definitely don't come here if you are on a tight schedule.

Food was great! Mahi tacos and salmon salad. Big portions! Ambiance was fabulous. The view on the deck was spectacular. Great service too!

Best location in town for sure! Baja style mexican - good food - not the best. Their relleno was actually fantastic! worth checking out for sure!

We loved boathouse Cantina. It is a really fun atmosphere and a wonderful place to visit in the small town. They had a wide variety of appetizers with some thing everybody will enjoy. We also ordered the chicken nuggets for our kids, which they enjoyed.

Seating, wait staff and food all great!! Love eating out on the covered patio and watching the Arkansas River flow!

One of our favorite stops while visiting Salida. I like the Smoked Chicken Tacos or the Philly Steak sandwich. My wife enjoys the salad with salmon. You should try the Boathouse Margarita. The view of the Arkansas River can't be beat. The staff is always great. I look forward to visiting again soon!

Great atmosphere especially if you can see the river ... food is about as bad as it gets .. service not great either... never refilled the drinks ... DO NOT get the burgers( flavorless bland dry almost un-edible). the only thing worth buying is the nachos.. cheese curds highly over priced and very little given nothing special. Stomach not feeling great either something was off almost like the meat pattys were old. Waaaaaay better choices im here to save you money time and save you from a bad ecperience

Arrived to check out Salida, Co., decided to get a bite to eat. We were seated by the river but inside. I ordered Chilles Rellenos. They were served with frijoles and guacamole. Yummy! A little expensive but worth it to me. Like the town, had cool art vibe. Recommend visiting and trying the restaurant.

This is the third time I have eaten here and ordered the same Mahi Tacos and a Pilsner. It seems to have slipped a little bit from previous experiences. Maybe I came on a busy day. But the food seemed whipped together.

Love love love this place we ate here on a date day and we enjoyed it so much here we will be coming back! The food was amazing and the service was great!!

I reside in Colorado Springs and came out for a hiking and hotsprings adventure. Boathouse Cantina was highly recommended and didn't disappoint. Impeccable service from Taylor. Menu was amazing, as was the food quality and pricing.

Got the blackened fish. Wasn't blackened at all and was room temp when they served it. Also had the shrimp appetizer. Overdone and was just shell on shrimp that tasted like old bay's seasoning

Great service and more importantly, REALLY GOOD FOOD! Portion size was very good and the flavors were spot on! Very Bueno if you ask me! Wait staff were super friendly as well. A great experience!

Came in on a Thursday night. Took some time to get our drinks and it was obvious our food was sitting on the line too long before brought to us. Poor management to leave understaffed. UPDATE. Appreciate the follow up on the review. We went in last week and things were much better. Still one of our favorites.

The Boathouse is where we eat whenever we're in Salida. In certain days they have trout which is really good. Their salad with salmon is great, fish and chips are very popular there. I love the view of the river. Good service.

Really great fresh food. Quick efficient friendly service. We mistakenly thought since ideally located on the river that it wouldn't be good. It was great.

So Huge!!! This place is so huge!! You will definitely get seating. There was fairly large line right at opening, which tells you every thing you need to know. I enjoyed a double cheeseburger while watching folks outside raft down the river. Great spot!!

Bar keep great was shown to table after 10 min wait ok waited forever for the waiter and then the food. The food fish taco was nothing to write about.will not go back.

This place is always packed! We wanted the French dip but unfortunately they have very small print that says it's available limited days of the week. This was a huge bummer for us. We opted for some truffle fries and both soup varieties. We were highly impressed worh the soups for sure. The portion for a cup is wonderful for the price of $6 for this touristy town. I had to even ask if the portion I got was a cup or bowl. I was scared my meal price would have surprisingly sky rocketed unknowingly. The truffle fries were too crisp for Mh linking but my boyfriend enjoyed them. We will be back if we are in town and hopefully the items and prices remain the same.

Great dinner option in Salida. Right on the water. Indoor and outdoor seating available. Friendly staff. Large menu selection. Lots of drinks available including craft beer, cocktails, and wine. Salads, sandwiches, burgers, and everything we tried was pretty tasty. Reasonable prices for tourists. Overall if you are looking for a nice dinner on the water, I would recommend!

The service was a bit slow due to staffing, but our experience was good because we weren't in a hurry. I ordered the fish and chips without any expectation it wills be as good as it was. The fish was flaky on the inside and crispy on the outside with being too greasy. The fries were excellent. My date ordered the carne asada burrito and she thought it was delicious. We were both pleasantly surprised at the quality and flavour of our lunch.

A go-to lunch spot when in salida! Lots of seating and good options for beer on tap (almost always have a ska brewing beer). Try to sit a by the river!!

We stopped in for a late lunch and ordered a few appetizers to share among us, everything was delicious and fresh. From the wings and truffle fries to the Brussel sprouts and pretzel bites. The hostesses were so polite and our server was great too. The ambiance was amazing out back, sitting by the river. Great views of the local landscape.

Fun place to have drinks and eat right by the water! Food takes a while to get to your table but that's what you get for freshly cooked meals.

Had a great experience at the Boathouse Cantina! The horny grandma margarita was excellent- maybe the best margarita I've had in a while! The sweet potato fries were also excellent, along with the burger.

Excellent service and beer selection with decent food and a great location on the river. Probably gets pretty busy during tourist season, but we'll definitely be back!!!

We sat at a corner table on the deck overlooking the Arkansas River. Our server was attentive and my fish tacos were delicious. We waited 20 minutes for our premium seats but it was well worth the wait.

Riverfront eatery with great food. Thanks to the beautiful Salida weather in the summer, even eating inside we were treated to the wall of windows being opened and a breeze throughout the restaurant. Our waitress was attentive and friendly. She offered food suggestions and was knowledgeable regarding food allergy information. The stuffed mushrooms had a delicious cream cheese and bacon filling. My blackened salmon was the best I've ever had. My family will definitely be back.

I want to put more stars to this place but alas... I think they earned a 3. Highlights!! Hostess was a rock star, fun, inviting, and felt like my best friend by the time I left. She hung in with friends straggling in and told me to get my name on the list 15 minutes before they all arrived. While my friends trickled in, we had a drink or two at the back bar. The tender was fun and friendly. The struggles: service was extra, extra, extra slow. Yes it was busy and we were patient but felt we waiting a lot to order drinks, food, etc. Once we were sat, the server was extremely unfriendly. Never smiled, never made conversation, and made us feel like a burden eating there. When food arrived, she just kind of popped it on the table and walked away. For the price you are paying for food and drinks, we expected something different, not sure what but definitely not extreme grumpiness (and we aren't a complicated group of 4). Food was decent (I ordered the chili relleno (yum) two others got salads and one person the tacos, view was great. Just expect slower service but go enjoy, kickback, grab a drink and soak up downtown Salida life.

We were debating where to eat when we saw the location of this place and the decent reviews. We headed downtown and were surprised by what a very vibrant area it is. Plenty of shops, bars and restaurants. We popped in and were told it would be 20 mins for a table on the outdoor space overlooking the river but in less than three mins we were being seated. It is a great nice view down to the river. It appeared that there was only one waitress for the entire outdoor patio - she did a good job keeping up. I ordered a Colorado brewed Kolsch beer - very good. I ordered the Yardbird chicken sandwich (fried) with Buffalo wing sauce and a side salad. Both were very good. My date ordered the salmon salad - the salmon was nicely prepared and not overcooked. The prices were typical. Sure glad we got a table right on the edge because that really made this a memorable dining experience.

Staff nice, beer nice, fried Brussels Sprouts not drained, servered swimming in oil. Fish and chips over cooked and bland. Nice view of river. Pass..

I like sitting at tables overlooking the river. Great place to watch a televised game. Good drinks, good food. Nice waitstaff, & bartenders.

It didn't sink! Get it? We stayed afloat here for a few rounds of Horny Grandmas. They are not what or who you think! They are just freaken delicious margaritas with a crazy hilarious name that you should definitely order. :D We cast an order of fish and chips + a the tangy salmon salad. They both deserved a trophy, although the fish and chips took the Grand Prize. I'd recommend drifting in here & docking up!

Overall it was ok. But just ok. A burger, 1 order of fish tacos, one glass of wine and an Arnold Palmer with a decent tip almost hit $90. Insane. The Arnold Palmer was 12 oz and cost $7. AI tells me it costs 50-60 cents to make on average. The food was average and I can honestly say I make better tacos and burgers at home. So, the company we kept made the evening worth it but $90 for a very average meal is not something I'd repeat.