15 Beachfront Restaurants In Florida Where The Views Rival The Food
Florida’s coastline isn’t just famous for its sand and surf, it’s home to restaurants where every meal comes with a side of breathtaking scenery.
From casual shacks to upscale dining spots, these beachfront eateries serve dishes that match the beauty outside your window.
Sunsets, ocean breezes, and crashing waves make every bite more memorable.
Visiting these restaurants proves that in Florida, the combination of incredible views and delicious food is a recipe for unforgettable experiences.
1. Ocean Grill (Vero Beach)
Built in 1941 atop a rocky outcropping, Ocean Grill feels like you’re dining on a ship at sea. Waves crash dramatically beneath the dining room windows while you fork into their famous crab cakes.
The building survived multiple hurricanes, including the devastating 1947 storm that washed away nearby structures.
Local fishermen still deliver their catch directly to the kitchen, ensuring seafood doesn’t travel more than a few miles from ocean to plate.
2. The Reef (St. Augustine)
Perched on St. Augustine Beach since 1989, The Reef boasts floor-to-ceiling windows that frame the Atlantic like a living painting.
Sunrise breakfasts here are legendary – imagine golden light streaming in while you sip coffee and watch pelicans dive.
Family-owned for generations, they’re famous for their Menorcan chowder, a spicy tomato-based seafood concoction that honors the city’s unique heritage.
The outdoor deck practically hovers over the dunes, putting you close enough to hear each wave break.
3. The Beachcomber (St. Augustine)
Barefoot casual defines this St. Augustine gem where surfboards decorate the walls and tables sit directly on the sand.
Morning fog often creates a mystical atmosphere as it rolls across the beach while early risers enjoy their coffee.
Locals swear by their conch fritters – crispy outside, tender inside, and served with a key lime aioli that packs just the right punch.
The restaurant’s open-air design means you’re never more than a glance away from watching surfers catch waves while you catch up with friends.
4. Sandbar Restaurant (Anna Maria Island)
Sunsets at Sandbar become nightly celebrations as staff and customers alike pause to applaud nature’s show.
Tables planted right in the sand give this Anna Maria Island institution its name and its charm.
Fourth-generation fishermen supply grouper and snapper daily, often visible bringing in their boats as you dine.
The restaurant grows its own herbs in beachside gardens, and their key lime pie uses a 103-year-old family recipe that’s withstood the test of time and countless taste tests.
5. Beach House Waterfront Restaurant (Bradenton Beach)
Wedding proposals happen weekly at Beach House, where romantic Gulf views and tiki torches create instant magic.
The 650-foot private beach means you can walk straight from your table to the water between courses.
Their signature grouper sandwich uses a secret beer batter recipe that locals have tried unsuccessfully to replicate for years.
Kids love watching for the resident dolphins that appear so regularly the staff has named them – look for Notch and Bubbles around sunset!
6. Gulf Drive Cafe (Bradenton Beach)
Morning rainbows frequently arch over the Gulf at this beachfront breakfast hotspot. Their banana rum French toast has achieved cult status among visitors who plan entire vacations around returning for another taste.
Hurricane shelters once stood on this spot, and historic photos on the walls show how the coastline has changed.
The thatched tiki bar serves drinks in coconuts with paper umbrellas so colorful they match the spectacular sunsets that paint the sky nightly.
7. Frenchy’s Rockaway Grill (Clearwater Beach)
Steel drums provide the soundtrack at this Caribbean-inspired spot where picnic tables sit steps from Clearwater’s famous white sand.
Their grouper sandwich is so legendary that when grouper shortages hit, regulars practically stage revolts.
Founded by a French-Canadian surfer nicknamed “Frenchy” in the early 90s, the restaurant still maintains its laid-back vibe.
Volleyball courts adjacent to the dining area mean you can work up an appetite before tackling their famous She Crab Soup, creamy with a splash of sherry.
8. Pompano Joe’s (Destin/Miramar Beach)
Caribbean blue umbrellas dot the deck at Pompano Joe’s, where the emerald waters of Miramar Beach provide a stunning backdrop.
Servers wearing tropical shirts deliver platters of their famous Jamaican jerk-spiced seafood to tables with unobstructed Gulf views.
Kids squeal with delight when the restaurant’s parrot mascot makes appearances on weekends.
The walls showcase salvaged pieces from shipwrecks discovered along the Emerald Coast, turning an ordinary meal into a treasure-hunting history lesson.
9. The Back Porch Seafood & Oyster House (Destin)
Legend claims The Back Porch began when locals started cooking fresh-caught fish on a small porch behind someone’s beach house in 1974.
Now an institution, the restaurant still maintains that casual “just caught” freshness despite its growth. Their Amberjack sandwich comes from fish often caught within sight of diners.
Sand dunes form a natural border between tables and beach, with wooden walkways allowing guests to stroll to the water. Pelicans often perch on nearby pilings, watching hopefully for scraps.
10. The Crab Trap — Destin (James Lee Park)
Wooden boardwalks wind through sea oats to this Destin landmark where crab claws arrive by the pound.
Floor-to-ceiling windows slide open completely during perfect weather days, effectively removing the barrier between restaurant and beach.
Children giggle at the water fountain playground just steps from the dining area.
The signature Crab Trap Bucket – literally a beach bucket filled with steamed seafood – creates Instagram moments daily as families dig into the spectacle of shrimp, crab, corn and potatoes spilled across paper-covered tables.
11. Runaway Island (Panama City Beach)
Hurricanes couldn’t keep this Panama City Beach favorite down. Rebuilt stronger after Michael in 2018, Runaway Island now features a second-story deck where the Gulf stretches endlessly before you.
Their smoked tuna dip starts with fish smoked on-site over cherry wood, creating an appetizer that locals order by the pint to take home.
Giant Adirondack chairs painted in beach colors make perfect photo ops, while the restaurant’s resident cat, Captain, often naps in sunny spots near the entrance.
12. Oceanic at Pompano Beach (Pompano Beach)
Sleek modern architecture distinguishes Oceanic, where glass walls create the illusion of dining on water.
The historic Pompano Beach fishing pier extends just beside the restaurant, creating a perfect frame for sunrise photos.
Signature cocktails change color as you drink them, thanks to butterfly pea flower infusions that react to citrus.
The chef sources lionfish from local spearfishers, turning an invasive species problem into a delicious solution – their lionfish tacos sell out almost daily.
13. Beach House Pompano (Pompano Beach)
Rooftop sunsets reach their peak at Beach House Pompano, where the elevated deck offers 360-degree views of coastline and Intracoastal Waterway.
The dual-view location means you can watch boats on one side and waves on the other.
Their lobster mac and cheese incorporates five cheeses and chunks of Maine lobster so generous you’ll need to hunt for the pasta.
A restored vintage lifeguard stand serves as the host station, complete with the original rescue equipment displayed as art above diners’ heads.
14. Aruba Beach Café (Lauderdale-by-the-Sea)
Steel drums and reggae music flow from Aruba Beach Café, creating an instant vacation vibe in charming Lauderdale-by-the-Sea.
The restaurant sits at the heart of this walkable beach town, just steps from a pier where you can spot sea turtles. Their famous rum runners come in souvenir glasses that locals collect like trophies.
The kitchen’s conch fritters use a recipe brought directly from the Bahamas by the original chef, who insisted on importing the special peppers that give them their distinctive kick.
15. Sharky’s On The Pier (Venice)
Fossil hunters frequently display their shark teeth findings at Sharky’s, built at the end of Venice’s famous pier in “Shark Tooth Capital of the World.”
Fishing happens directly from the adjacent pier, sometimes providing dinner for lucky anglers.
Their grouper sandwich won “best in Florida” three years running – an impressive feat in a state obsessed with the fish.
Volleyball courts just steps away host professional tournaments, giving diners unexpected entertainment with their Gulf views and frozen drinks served in shark-shaped glasses.