Around 15-20 minutes west of Alton, Illinois, resting right on the Mississippi River is Grafton, a peaceful getaway town pretty much consisting of one main street and a handful of bars/pubs. It’s a great spot to spend a day off, bar hopping and enjoying a beautiful summer night.

Grafton Pub

While I wouldn’t necessarily recommend eating here as the food is pretty mediocre at best, it is a nice spot to hang out and grab a drink. The service is great, and it definitely gives off the midwestern small-town pub vibe.

Loading Dock

This is my personal favorite spot on this list. It’s a great spot to hang out, grab a bite to eat, watch the sunset and imagine (wish) that you’re in a Floridian coastal town. The views are amazing, the vibes are always high, and the piña coladas are absolutely unbelievable. Not sure what they do, but they’ve nailed their recipe.

Oyster Bar

Although I’ve never really been here, I’ve had dozens of trustworthy sources say that this is the best place to eat in Grafton and it’s not even close. It’s right on the water with its own marina, so if you arrive on a boat, you have a spot to eat as soon as you dock.

3rd Chute

3rd Chute Bar & Grill is an interesting dive bar spot right across the street from the Grafton Pub, and it definitely doesn’t lack in character. It has an indoor and outdoor bar, with plenty of random decor and memorabilia, and it’s a fun place to go and hang out on a hot summer night. You’ll always run into some interesting people here and the bartenders are always nice.

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Let me know if there are any other spots in Grafton that I missed, and don’t forget to like the post if it was helpful and follow for a new blog post every Wednesday!

Have a great week!