MORGANTOWN — Experience a new view of downtown Morgantown and enjoy a craft beer at River Birch Cafe’s rooftop bar, River View and Brew.
River View and Brew hosted by River Birch Cafe opened June 10, 2021. The new rooftop bar is open to all ages and offers a small food menu including pretzel bites, hummus platter, charcuterie board, cheese board, pierogis and pork tacos. Some of the drinks include eight local craft beers, white and red wines, and a wide variety of mocktails.
However, the craft beers and some food items change daily.
River View and Brew plans to expand its menu to include bratwurst, sauerkraut and more German-inspired foods.
River Birch Cafe had closed its doors for the first several months of the COVID-19 pandemic. In July of 2020, the cafe reopened, and then the construction of the rooftop bar began in the fall of 2020.
“It started out as a way to have a sense of community and bring life back to the Wharf District,” said Caitlin O’Connell, manager at River Birch Cafe. “With people being more comfortable going out again we thought, how do we re-develop a model to make help feel safe, hence opening an outdoor area upstairs.”
O’Connell mentioned that one of the owners of River Birch Cafe had the idea for a German-themed rooftop bar for about four years.
“He is very good at looking at a completely blank canvas and envisioning something being there,” O’Connell said. “His idea to throw a beer garden on the top of the building was definitely one that I don’t know if most people saw coming. … Even though it is not fully complete, I think it gives the community a sense that we can utilize more space in Morgantown. It inspires us to look for adventure in areas we probably never thought about.”
River View and Brew, at 48 Donley St. on the ninth floor of the Marina Tower, is open from 5 p.m.-10 p.m. Thursday, 5 p.m.-midnight Friday-Saturday, and 5 p.m.-10 p.m. Sunday, weather-permitting.
For more information about the new rooftop bar, check out its Instagram @riverviewandbrew and on River Birch Cafe’s website, https://www.riverbirchcafe.com/.
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