Sweetwater Marina is Competing in USA Today's 10Best Voting

Sweetwater Marina & Riverdeck is competing in the 2026 USA Today 10Best and earning national attention as a top waterfront dining designation.

Sweetwater Marina & Riverdeck, at 2870 7th Street in Hammonton, on the banks of the Mullica River, is known for its laid-back atmosphere, boat-docking facilities, live music, and outdoor dining.

The venue has built a solid reputation for fun with marina-side cocktails and casual fare, lodging, and events.

How Does the USA Today 10Best Work?

A national panel of experts makes nominations in awards covering food and drink, and many other categories.

Readers and fans of the waterfront restaurants then get 28 days to vote for their favorite -- one vote per day.

20 restaurants are competing to make the 10Best, including eateries in Honolulu, Key West, Chatham, MA, California, and the Carolinas.

When I checked, with 20 days remaining in the voting, Sweetwater Marina was ranked 16th out of 20.

Vote here for Sweetwater Marina & Riverdeck.

Although it would be great to win the voting, just being one of the 20 waterfront restaurants chosen is quite prestigious.

A Look Back at Sweetwater Marina & Riverdeck

Established in 1924, Sweetwater Casino never contained an actual casino. It got its name during prohibition, when it was run as a speakeasy where many came to drink booze and gamble.

In its day, Sweetwater Casino was known as a popular site for weddings.

In the summer of 2008, a lightning strike caused a fire to break out at Sweetwater Casino. Despite firefighters’ best efforts, the building that held so many memories was destroyed.

A local family purchased the former Sweetwater Casino in 2016. They changed the name to Sweetwater Marina & Riverdeck. For the first three years, they ran the establishment as a glorified party tent with a large bar underneath and about 50 picnic tables out on the lawn.

In 2020, they broke ground and began construction of two brand new buildings, one being the restaurant and the other being an event space.

The Riverdeck building features roll-up doors to merge the indoor and outdoor space when the weather cooperates.

The second building on the property is home to “The Riverview,” Sweetwater’s new event space.