Sweetwater Marina: The Must-Visit NJ Riverfront Venue for Food, Music, and Events

2780 7th Ave, Hammonton, NJ • 609-668-1545 • www.sweetwaterriverdeck.com

An easy boat ride from Brigantine up the Mullica River will bring travelers to Sweetwater Marina & Riverdeck, a hidden gem that boasts a rich 100-year history, scenic riverfront beauty, and an expansive menu of delicious drinks and eats.

"It's a family-owned business, built from the ground up," said owners Kimmie and Mike Iles.

The couple purchased the venue in the winter of 2016, which at the time was little more than a dilapidated building along the river after a 2008 fire burned down the former Sweetwater Casino. For three years, the Iles worked out of a tent, serving customers at picnic tables on the property, before they broke ground in 2020 on the new and improved Sweetwater Marina & Riverdeck.

As it stands now, the venue boasts a restaurant and bar downstairs, the "Riverview" banquet room upstairs, and 80 boat slips along the marina.

Marina view from Sweetwater deck

"Upstairs is a private event space," Gia Marini said, listing weddings, showers, and parties as some of the many events hosted in the space. "We have a lot going on there. We try to accommodate everyone, and the weddings are very pretty."

Gia has worked at Sweetwater for five years, starting as a hostess and now serving as assistant to Kimmie and Mike.

All catering is done on-site, except for dessert. Sweetwater recommends a preferred vendor, but guests are welcome to bring sweets from their own favorite spot. There are a variety of menus, and the staff doesn't shy away from themed events.

Indoor wedding reception setup

"We did a 5 O'clock Somewhere party where everything was Caribbean food," she said with a smile. "We don't have that generic catering food vibe."

As far as weddings go, even the baseline wedding package is elevated. There is a wide selection of plated dinners (with buffet style available), 20 butlered passed hors d'oeuvres, and a number of creative enhancement stations. These include stations themed Asian (potstickers, fried rice), New England (clam chowder, lobster rolls), and South Philly (mini cheesesteaks, soft pretzels), to name a few.

"We're always willing to add special details," Gia said. “Any niche things you really like, you could include as an add-on."

Wedding reception centerpiece with floating candles

When not hosting private events, the upstairs space is also used to host ticketed events open to the public—think brunches, mystery dinners, and a kids' Frozen luncheon. The events are reflective of Kimmie's love of all things fun—she often organizes special activities such as karaoke nights, (foam) ax throwing, and the annual Beer Fest.

"Kimmie is huge on events," Gia said.

"No matter what day you're here, there's bound to be something going on." That "something" includes live music, which happens Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays all summer long on the stage, with both daytime and evening bands on Saturdays and Sundays. If it's a popular band in South Jersey, Gia said they’re most likely going to be playing at Sweetwater.

"We're definitely more bar-oriented downstairs, but people love it," Kimmie laughed.

There are dinner specials and amazing bar food, such as wings and tails, burgers, and cheesesteaks. The buffalo chicken cheesesteak, bang bang shrimp, and drunken clams are favorites. Sweetwater serves freshly made, hand-rolled sushi all summer long, too.

Bucket drink with Red Bull

"We also do the buckets—that's our big thing," Gia said.

Bucket drinks mostly use Red Bull as a mixer, "and they basically taste like juice with three shots in the bucket," she explained.

For those who want their own space while at Sweetwater, the restaurant's three firepits are a great option. If eating dinner, they recommend 10 or fewer people at the firepit; if just drinking or socializing, it can be up to 15 people.

If you want a firepit, it's best to reserve it early via the website. You can get all the details there—but act fast. According to both Kimmie and Gia, they book up very quickly in summer.