Martinis On Water Street | Peoria, IL

~ Live Music ~
Mondays, Fridays, and Saturdays

~ Daily Drink Specials ~

~ Riverfront Market ~
(May – September 8am-Noon)
Enjoy fresh produce, arts and crafts at the Riverfront Market and then stop in Martinis for some Bloody Marys and Mimosas.

~ Host Parties and Special Events~

~ Fourth of July~
One of the best fireworks shows in the USA on the riverfront with great seats at Martinis for viewing. Reserve tables in advance.

For more information on these special events, please call 309-655-5003 or email [email protected].

History:

The Rock Island depot was built in 1891 at a cost of $60,000 plus land, and was regarded as one of the finest stations in the Midwest. It’s huge tower clock tolled the hours and looked down on a thriving transportation area. The Big Four Railroad was offering the only strictly first class line from Peoria to New York, Boston and the East. It had elegant cars, diners and Pullmans. Peoria to New York City was a 29 hour trip. The Burlington Route offered through train service to St. Paul, Omaha, Denver, Salt Lake City, and California and advertised “7,977 miles of perfectly equipped road.” The Iowa Central Railway boasted “The only line running palace drawing room sleeping cars to St. Paul and Minneapolis without charge”. The Chicago, Peoria and St. Louis Service had free reclining seats and claimed only “ballasted” roadway between Peoria and St. Louis. There were 14 railroads providing passenger service to Peoria in 1901, and the passenger rate was 3 cents per mile. It cost $4.83 to go to Chicago when the depot began service.

As recently as 1949, the Rock Island had four trains a day running to and from Chicago. That was down to only two runs a day as the railroad prepared to move to a new depot in June 1967. The remaining two were doomed by the removal of the Railway Post Office cars. The Peoria Rocket was one of the most popular and last to be taken out of service after 75 years. The old depot sat vacant until August 1968, when renovation began transforming it into a public park and a job training center for the handicapped. As part of a joint venture, the Forrest Park Foundation provided the property rent-free to the Community Workshop and covered their share of the renovation costs. The city of Peoria acquired the depot in 1976 in a trade with the Forrest Park Foundation for the old Tuberculosis Sanitarium acreage on Garden Lane plus $200,000. The city then asked proposals that would include exterior preservation, interior restoration, and “people-oriented use of the property.” In the early 1980’s, on the City Council’s insistence that the Early American architecture remain intact, renovations to the old depot resulted in a new restaurant for Peoria -- The River Station. The next twenty years saw a gradual development of the river front, with increased awareness of various commercial and cultural opportunities. Presently the River Station is home for Martini’s on Water Street. Martini’s boasts 35 foot ceilings and an elaborate 13 foot high mahogany bar, along with an amazing selection of cocktails. Martini’s offers an interesting trip back in time, to the by gone eras of speak easies, jazz, and bathtub gin. Thanks for joining us here at Martini’s On Water Street. Relax and enjoy some of the following selections featuring the very finest creations from our talented staff of mixologists.

Menu:

Top 10
(If you could only really choose 10)

ALMOND JOY
Malibu Coconut Rum, Kahlua Coffee Liqueur,
dark crème de cacao, Monin Almond Syrup and cream

BLOODY-TINI
Smirnoff Vodka and bloody mary mix
(Ask for Stoli Hot to spice it up!)

BOMB POP
UV Blue Vodka, blue curacao, lemonade and grenadine

CLOUD NINE
360 Vodka Madagascar Vanilla, white chocolate liqueur and
butterscotch schnapps

DREAMSICLE
U.V. Orange Vodka, vanilla liqueur, orange juice and cream

DIRTY MONKEY
Our classic chocolate martini with some extra goodness…

GERMAN CHOCOLATE CAKE
Malibu Coconut Rum, hazelnut liqueur and dark crème de cacao

LEMON DROP
360 Vodka Lemon Sorrento, triple sec and lemonade
with a sugared rim

STORMY SKIES
Smirnoff Blueberry Vodka, pomegranate schnapps and
lemonade with a splash of blue curacao

WATERMELON CRAWL
Smirnoff Watermelon Vodka, watermelon schnapps, sweet & sour,
splash of lemon-lime soda and a watermelon sugared rim.