
NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – The new coastal Italian restaurant, Riva Mare, created by renowned restaurateur Steve Palmer and located in the Charleston Design District at Navy Yard Charleston, opens Friday.
The restaurant, located above Storehouse Nine overlooking the Cooper River, encompasses a chic, coastal ambiance, inspired by the port city of Genoa and the Navy Yard’s maritime history.
Additionally, Riva Mare features an open kitchen, warm woods, marine-inspired furniture with red-and-white striped décor, and relaxed outdoor spaces.

Andrew Cebulka via Mary Frances Garner
Riva Mare’s menu honors coastal Italian cooking, highlighting fresh, local seafood, crudos, whole roasted fish, house-made pestos, and rich olive oils.
Wood-fired dishes and seasonal accompaniments will also be offered, all inspired by the coastal land.
Riva Mare is the first full-service food-and-beverage establishment to join the multi-phase Navy Yard Charleston redevelopment.
David Thompson Architects is leading the restaurant’s design, alongside Jamestown, with Lennon Construction managing the buildout.
Steve Palmer is the founder and Chief Vision Officer of The Indigo Road Hospitality Group, a property management company that oversees chef-driven restaurants and boutique hotels throughout the country.
“There’s a strong creative community at the Charleston Design District and broader Navy Yard Charleston, and it’s quickly become a place where people genuinely want to spend time together. That combination is what makes this location so exciting to us,” says Steve Palmer.
“I’ve always loved the Italian coast for that same sense of place and the natural way it brings people together through community and cuisine. Riva Mare is our take on that feeling, designed to be a seamless part of the Navy Yard and a place for people to gather around the table, enjoying time together,” Palmer added.
Riva Mare is located at 2154 Noisette Blvd, Suite 500, North Charleston. The restaurant is open for dinner service Monday through Thursday from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Lunch service hours will be announced at a later date.
Complimentary parking is available in the lot on the corner of Noisette Boulevard and Cosgrove Avenue Extension.
Reservations are available on OpenTable. For more information, visit RivaMareCHS.com and/or follow on social media @rivamarechs.
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Dining and Cooking