15 Florida Eateries Where Burgers, Boats, And Ocean Breezes Rule The Day
Florida does drive-ins differently. Sure, you can pull up in a car like anywhere else, but here you might also arrive by boat, tie up at the dock, and order a burger while pelicans circle overhead.
Some spots hug the Gulf, others sit on inland lakes or rivers, and a few are tucked into small towns where the breeze smells more like pine than salt.
What they all share is that laid-back, windows-down feeling that makes eating outside feel like the only logical choice.
I have spent years chasing down the best roadside eats across the state, and these 15 places represent the perfect mix of good food, great views, and that uniquely Florida vibe where the line between land and water gets deliciously blurry.
Pack your appetite and maybe a pair of boat shoes, because some of these stops require more than just a steering wheel to reach.
1. Mike’s Drive-In — Bartow
Mike’s is the kind of place where a quarter-pound burger still means exactly that, and it’s been that way since the early ’70s.
The low-slung building hugs US-17, neon glowing just enough to catch your eye as you cruise by.
Inside, it’s all about made-to-order patties, tater tots, and milkshakes that turn a quick stop into a full-blown meal.
Regulars talk about the Deluxe Blues Bacon Burger like it’s a rite of passage, and on weekend nights, the parking lot doubles as a rolling car show.
It’s pure Florida drive-in energy, just a short hop from the Gulf side of the state.
Address: 1055 US Highway 17 S, Bartow, FL 33830
2. John’s Drive-In — Fort Meade
If your road trip runs through small-town Central Florida, John’s feels like hitting pause on the clock.
Locals still pull under the awning or slip into the tiny dining room for hefty burgers, wraps, and the kind of fried sides that belong in every roadside story.
The sign is simple, the prices are old-school, and the staff moves with that unhurried, we-know-you’ll-be-back confidence.
It’s less about ocean breezes here and more about windows down, summer air, and classic drive-in comfort before you head toward the coast.
Address: 17 N Charleston Ave, Fort Meade, FL 33841
3. Dino’s Drive-In — Winter Haven
At Dino’s, headlights line up in front of a low, weathered building that looks like it’s been feeding locals since forever.
The menu reads like a greatest-hits album: burgers, barbecue sandwiches, fried seafood baskets, onion rings stacked high, and a surprising amount of Greek-inspired comfort.
Outdoor tables catch the evening breeze off Winter Haven’s chain of lakes, and the crowd tends to be a mix of families, night-shift workers, and old-timers who’ve been coming for decades.
It’s a proper old-fashioned drive-in where you can still eat in the car, wipe burger juice off your hands, and watch the sky blush pink before you push on toward the coast.
Address: 2929 Havendale Blvd NW, Winter Haven, FL 33881
4. Cabbage Key Inn & Restaurant — Bokeelia / Pine Island Sound
Reaching this drive-in requires a different kind of vehicle: a boat. Cabbage Key sits in Pine Island Sound, wrapped in mangroves and rumor.
Skippers tie up at the dock and walk up to an open-air restaurant where dollar bills paper the walls and cheeseburgers come with a side of legend.
The house burger is famously linked to a popular song about paradise, and whether or not that’s the full truth, it certainly tastes like vacation.
Guests arrive via water taxi or private boat, eat under slowly turning fans, and watch pelicans glide past as the tide slides in and out beneath the pilings.
I made the trip last summer and still think about that burger.
Address: 13771 Waterfront Dr, Bokeelia, FL 33922
5. Square Grouper Tiki Bar — Jupiter
Square Grouper is the rare bar that’s both truly laid-back and quietly famous.
Boats nose up to the dock at Jupiter Inlet, music drifts from the stage, and the lighthouse blinks across the water like it’s part of the show.
This is the spot where a famous country music video was filmed, and the vibe has not changed much since.
Burgers and bar bites come in baskets that get dusted with sand the moment you set them down, and barefoot regulars lean on railings watching the current slide past.
It’s pure open-air, tiki-hut Florida, with burgers, boats, and ocean breezes all colliding in one scene.
Address: 1111 Love St, Jupiter, FL 33477
6. Whiskey Joe’s Bar & Grill — Tampa (Courtney Campbell Causeway)
Whiskey Joe’s feels like a beach party built right onto the causeway. Drivers roll in from Tampa or Clearwater, while boaters idle up from the bay to tie off at the docks.
A broad stretch of sand fronts the open-air bar, where burgers, tacos, and wings share menu space with frozen drinks and Flor-ribean seafood.
From most tables, you get a sweep of water views: jets skimming overhead, boats cutting across Rocky Point, and sunsets that burn gold behind the Howard Frankland.
It’s casual, a little loud, and exactly the kind of spot where a burger eaten in flip-flops somehow tastes better.
Address: 7720 W Courtney Campbell Causeway, Tampa, FL 33607
7. Beachcomber Restaurant — St. Augustine Beach
Follow A1A until it practically runs into the sand, and you’ll find Beachcomber perched at the point where A Street meets the ocean.
Tables sit just above the dunes, with kids’ picnic spots and dog-friendly corners spilling right into the beach.
The menu leans seaside casual: fresh fish, chowder, wings.
But the burgers here are the unsung heroes, big and juicy and exactly what you want after a day in the salt and sun.
Ocean wind whips napkins, surfers trudge past with boards underarm, and the Atlantic rolls in close enough to soundtrack your meal.
It feels more like stumbling into a beach party than walking into a restaurant.
Address: 2 A St, St Augustine Beach, FL 32080
8. Schooner Wharf Bar — Key West
At Schooner Wharf, it feels like the docks themselves decided to open a bar.
The whole place is open-air: timbers, tarps, and mismatched tables looking straight onto Key West’s Historic Seaport.
Boats creak against their lines a few feet away, masts rattle, and live music flows almost nonstop.
The menu is classic dock bar: burgers, fish sandwiches, peel-and-eat shrimp, and conch fritters you chase with cold sodas or sweet tea.
It’s the sort of joint where flip-flops are standard, boat dogs curl up under the table, and sunsets are watched through a blur of rigging and neon.
If you want a burger with real boat traffic as your background, this is your stop.
Address: 202 William St, Key West, FL 33040
9. The Waterfront Brewery — Key West
Just a few steps from Schooner Wharf, The Waterfront Brewery adds craft brews and a rooftop feel to the harbor story.
Huge windows and an upstairs deck look out over the working marina, where fishing boats, catamarans, and sunset cruises come and go all day.
Inside, stainless-steel tanks gleam while bartenders pour house brews with names inspired by island life.
The food stays comfort-heavy: burgers, wings, loaded fries, fresh fish sandwiches, perfect for refueling after a snorkeling trip or a long stroll through Old Town.
It’s one of the few places where you can sip a Key West-made brew while watching actual shrimp boats ease past.
Address: 201 William St, Key West, FL 33040
10. Sunset Grille & Raw Bar — Marathon
At the base of the Seven Mile Bridge, Sunset Grille spreads out like its own little island: big thatched roof, massive pool, wide-open decks, and nothing but blue water between you and the horizon.
Drivers roll in from US-1, while boaters pull up from the channel to grab a slip and head for the bar.
Burgers, fish tacos, and raw bar platters fuel the crowd as everyone slowly pivots their chairs toward the evening sky.
When the sun finally slides behind the bridge, the whole place turns into a communal viewing party, phones raised and drinks clinking.
It’s one of the Keys’ best mashups of burger joint, pool bar, and oceanfront hangout.
Address: 7 Knights Key Blvd, Marathon, FL 33050
11. The Old Salty Dog — City Island, Sarasota
Old Salty Dog’s City Island outpost feels like a dockside pub that just woke up one day and realized it had million-dollar views.
Set on the water near Mote Marine Laboratory, it’s the kind of place where you can literally arrive by boat, step onto the deck, and be handed a burger or the namesake hot dog buried in toppings.
Inside is all nautical kitsch and bar chatter. Outside, the breeze comes straight off Sarasota Bay, pushing the smell of salt and fry oil together in a way that just works.
It’s relaxed, ramshackle, and exactly what an old Florida waterfront should feel like.
Address: 1601B Ken Thompson Pkwy, Sarasota, FL 34236
12. Hurricane Dockside Grill — Tavares
The breeze here is technically lake, not ocean, but the energy hits the same.
Hurricane Dockside sits on the edge of the Dead River where it opens onto Lake Eustis, in a town that calls itself America’s Seaplane City.
Boats tie up at the long dock, and seaplanes literally glide past as guests dig into burgers, wings, tacos, and big, messy platters meant for sharing.
The brand is known for its sauces and bar-food staples, but the Tavares location adds water views, live music, and that extra dock-bar looseness.
On a warm evening, with a burger in front of you and boat wakes slapping the pilings, you don’t really miss the salt.
Address: 3351 W Burleigh Blvd, Tavares, FL 32778
13. Two Georges Dockside Grille — Port Salerno
In Port Salerno, Two Georges feels like a floating party that just happens to be tethered to the marina.
The big, multi-level space hugs the water, with an upper deck, a large dockside bar, and a floating stage where bands play to both boaters and land-based diners.
The menu leans seafood: crab cakes, fried shrimp, fish tacos. But burgers and handhelds are right there for those craving something char-grilled.
Boats line up along the slips, lights reflecting in the water while live music rolls out over the basin.
It’s the perfect scene for a burger eaten one-handed while your other hand points out yet another ridiculous yacht.
Address: 4290 SE Salerno Rd, Port Salerno, FL 34997
14. Grills Seafood Deck & Tiki Bar — Port Canaveral
Grills sits right in the working heart of Port Canaveral, so the show starts before the food arrives.
Charter boats unload their catches, cruise ships ease away from the terminals, and dolphins occasionally surface between hulls.
Diners pack the big deck and tiki bar, ordering burgers, grilled fish sandwiches, coconut shrimp, and strong iced tea from breakfast through late night.
The vibe is pure Space Coast: casual, busy, a little gritty from the actual working port, but still very much a place to linger over long views and a big plate of food.
If you time it right, you can tackle a burger while a cruise ship slides past just a stone’s throw away.
Address: 505 Glen Cheek Dr, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920
15. Frenchy’s Rockaway Grill — Clearwater Beach
Frenchy’s Rockaway sits almost impossibly close to the Gulf.
Step off the deck and you’re basically in the sand.
The building glows pastel at sunset, packed with people clutching frozen drinks and baskets of seafood, but the burger menu holds its own against the famous grouper sandwiches.
From most seats, you can see volleyball games, breaking waves, and that iconic Clearwater Beach horizon line.
A sea breeze cuts through the crowds, carrying the mingled smell of salt, sunscreen, and sizzling grill.
When the sky flares orange and pink, the deck goes quiet for a split second, then the music and chatter swell back up and you remember you still have a few bites of burger left.
Address: 7 Rockaway St, Clearwater Beach, FL 33767