Rendering (Provided)
The Indigo Road Hospitality Group is opening a new coastal Italian-inspired rooftop restaurant in the Charleston Design District at Navy Yard Charleston this summer.
Set atop Storehouse Nine and overlooking the Cooper River’s working waterfront, Riva Mare will be the first full-service food and beverage concept to open as part of the multi-phase Navy Yard Charleston redevelopment.
Inspired by fishing villages along Italy’s Ligurian Coast, the restaurant will pair Lowcountry seafood with European influence. The restaurant group describes the concept as "a love letter to the Italian coast, embracing a chic, coastal aesthetic rooted in la dolce vita, with nods to the port city of Genoa and the Navy Yard’s maritime history."
Storehouse Nine (Provided)
The menu will focus on coastal Italian cooking, highlighting fresh, local seafood, crudos, whole roasted fish, house-made pestos and olive oils. Wood-fired dishes and seasonal accompaniments will round out offerings inspired by both land and sea. Additional details, including culinary leadership and an official opening date, are expected in the coming months.
“Italy is an incredibly diverse country, and I’ve always been especially drawn to the vibrant, ingredient-driven cuisine of its coast,” said Steve Palmer, founder of The Indigo Road Hospitality Group. “I’m excited to bring that energy to the Navy Yard and be part of the momentum happening there right now.”
Designed to evoke a timeless seaside retreat, the space will feature an open kitchen, wood finishes, marine-inspired furnishings accented with red-and-white striped décor and multiple outdoor areas. David Thompson Architects is leading the design in collaboration with Jamestown, with Lennon Construction overseeing the buildout.
Michael Phillips, president of Jamestown, said the restaurant will offer “a new expression of coastal Italian that feels both elevated and fun.”
Rendering (Provided)
“The restaurant bridges the essence of the Italian Riviera with Lowcountry soul and is made for enjoying leisurely afternoons that stretch into golden-hour evenings while soaking in views of the Navy Yard and Cooper River,” he said.
Riva Mare will also make its debut during Historic Charleston Foundation’s annual Charleston by Design fundraising event on March 14. As part of the Charleston Design District programming, the restaurant will host an Insider’s Pass luncheon, offering 100 VIP guests a preview of the space. Additional events scheduled throughout the day include Design in Mind lectures by Nickey Kehoe and Michael S. Smith, guided showroom tours, curated design vignettes and designer book signings. Tickets are currently on sale.
The Charleston Design District, anchored by Navy Yard Charleston and the neighboring Navy Yard Industrial Campus, is home to dozens of design businesses and artisan makers. The district is a central component of the broader Navy Yard Charleston redevelopment, led by Jamestown in partnership with Weaver Capital Partners and WECCO Development.
More information about Navy Yard Charleston is available at navyyardcharleston.com.