Image supplied
A long-empty Murray Bridge riverfront restaurant is finally being revived by the duo behind one of the region’s best known dining spots.
The Foggy Lantern is landing in the riverside town thanks to brother duo, Peter and Damien O’Riley, along with their business partner James Jasiunas.
The brothers already own the successful 1924 Riverfront Steakhouse, which is located just a few steps down from The Foggy Lantern, and was recently dubbed the regions best restaurant at the 2025 Murraylands Business Awards.
The start of the new venue is actually a full circle moment for Damien, who owned and built the former venue, Riverscape, which occupied the same space around 20 years ago. At the time he saw a big gap in the market for a prime dining spot along Sturt Reserve, which is located on the river’s edge.
All these years later, he is helping bring the site back to life and is looking to recreate what once was but perhaps even better.
“We’re looking to open this up as a breakfast, coffee, cakes, takeaway food, hot chips, focaccias, rolls, and light lunches venue,” Peter said. “It’ll be a different business to what the steakhouse is, catering for a different style of customer.”
Images supplied
The Foggy Lantern will be open seven days a week, from 8am to 3pm and also be a prime spot for people wanting to host functions of up to 100 people.
“I envisage some people will come down here once a week as their regular and sit down with their mates for three hours, just having a coffee and cake,” Peter said.
“At night time, probably only Fridays and Saturdays at this stage, if it’s not booked out for a function, it’ll be a cocktail and tapas bar.”
The name The Foggy Lantern is a nod to Murray Bridge’s riverboat history, with Damien explaining that foggy lanterns were once used as navigation lights to help boats make their way along the river before locks and weirs.
The former Riverscape. Image: River Murray, Lakes and Coorong
Riverscape shut down back in 2017, and locals have long been asking what the empty space would become and when it would be used.
The support has been overwhelming, the brothers said.
“I can’t believe it, but why would it be otherwise? It’s been huge, 100 percent positive,” Damien said.
“It’s been sitting here for so long, people have been thinking, “What’s going to happen there?”
“Everyone’s been asking that question every time they’ve driven down Sturt Reserve for over five years, and then all of a sudden something happens.”
That something is expected to open during spring, when the weather starts to turn warmer and the days get longer, the Foggy Lantern will be blooming.
The Foggy Lantern
When: expected Spring 2026
Where: 2 Murray Cods Drive, Sturt Reserve, Murray Bridge
For updates, click here.
