Dining on the Chattahoochee in Helen
Decks and patios over the river, with hours checked this month
The short answer
Why eat by the river
Eating next to the Chattahoochee is one of the easy pleasures of a Helen trip. A handful of restaurants have decks or patios over the water, and the river here is small, quick and cold. You'll hear it before you see it.
This page covers the places with river-side seating, plus a few nearby German restaurants. For the wider food scene, see our restaurant guide.
Where to sit by the water
| Restaurant | Where | Hours | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paul's Steakhouse and Margarita Deck | 8537 S Main Street (phone 706-878-2468) | Daily 4 to 10 PM, year-round | Steaks and seafood, plus the Margarita Deck by the river. Live music and karaoke on the calendar. Serving Helen for 60 years. |
| The Troll Tavern | 8590 N Main Street, under the bridge (706-878-3117) | Mon to Thu 11 AM to 9 PM; Fri to Sun 11 AM to 10 PM; seasonal hours can change | Riverfront patio, bar and a large indoor dining room. Reservations only for parties of 20 or more. Vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options. |
| Cafe International | 8546 S Main Street (706-878-3102) | Hours not posted online; call | Deck overlooking the Chattahoochee. German and American menu. |
Hours checked on the restaurants' own sites in October 2026: Paul's, Troll Tavern and Cafe International. Hours change with the season, so call before a special trip.
Also worth a look
| Restaurant | Where | Hours | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Heidelberg | 8660 N Main Street (706-878-0061) | Sun to Thu 11 AM to 9 PM; Fri to Sat 11 AM to 10 PM | Three-floor German restaurant, pub and music hall. First come, first served. |
| Bodensee Restaurant | 64 Munich Strasse (706-878-1026) | Call for hours | German restaurant. Reservations aren't being taken right now. |
| Hofbrauhaus Restaurant | 9001 N Main Street (706-878-2248) | Call for hours | German restaurant on the north end of Main Street; call to ask about seating. |
Hours from The Heidelberg and Bodensee. These aren't confirmed as river-side, so ask about seating when you call.
When to go
The riverside decks fill fastest at summer lunch and dinner, when tubers finish their float, and on Oktoberfest weekends. Weekday afternoons and early dinner (before 6) are the easy times for a deck table. In spring and fall you'll want a jacket by evening; the Helen weather station averages lows in the 40s in October.
Tubing runs on the river from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and outfitters sometimes open on warm fall weekends, so call ahead if you want to float. Read more in our tubing guide.
Tips
Eat early
Get a river table before the dinner rush, and before the sun drops behind the ridge.
Call first for large groups
The Troll Tavern needs reservations only for 20 or more; for anything under that, plan to wait on busy weekends.
Bring layers
River-side seating is cooler than the street, especially after dark in spring and fall.
Plan parking
Use the free city lots on the east side of Main Street when you can; see our parking guide.
Common questions
Which Helen restaurants sit right on the river?
Paul's Steakhouse and its Margarita Deck, the Troll Tavern (under the bridge on North Main Street) and Cafe International (deck over the Chattahoochee) all have river-side seating.
Do I need a reservation?
The Troll Tavern only takes reservations for parties of 20 or more, and The Heidelberg's website says both yes and no, so call 706-878-0061. Paul's and Cafe International are best to call. Expect waits at lunch and dinner on summer and Oktoberfest weekends.
What time does Paul's open?
Paul's is open daily from 4 to 10 PM, year-round.
Is parking easy near the river restaurants?
Not on festival weekends. Helen has free city lots, one city pay lot and private pay lots; see our parking guide.
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