Florida · best-of list
The 27 Best Restaurants in Florida
All 27 restaurants our route editors picked in Florida, across 15 destinations, gathered in one list. 2 spots on this list appear on more than one of our routes.
Our curated picks
27 restaurants in Florida, grouped by destination. Destinations with the most picks come first; this is not a ranking.
Downtown Tampa & the Riverwalk 4 picks
Armature Works
Downtown Tampa & the Riverwalk · On our Tampa New Year's Eve route
Food hall and event space in a restored 1910 streetcar barn on the river in Tampa Heights.
Tip: Its New Year's Eve party is ticketed; the food hall is open earlier in the day.
Bern's Steak House
Downtown Tampa & the Riverwalk · On our Tampa New Year's Eve route
South Tampa steakhouse since 1956 with one of the world's largest wine lists and an upstairs dessert room.
Tip: Ask for the kitchen and cellar tour after dinner.
Columbia Restaurant
Downtown Tampa & the Riverwalk · On our Tampa New Year's Eve route
Florida's oldest restaurant, opened in Ybor City in 1905, with tiled dining rooms, the 1905 salad and flamenco shows.
Tip: Book a table in the courtyard room for the flamenco show.
Photo: LittleT889 · CC BY 4.0Ulele
Downtown Tampa & the Riverwalk · On our Tampa New Year's Eve route
Restaurant and brewery in the 1903 water works building by Ulele Spring, cooking Florida seafood and native ingredients.
Tip: Walk the Riverwalk from Ulele back downtown after dinner.
Downtown Miami & Bayfront 3 picks
Joe's Stone Crab
Downtown Miami & Bayfront · On our Miami New Year's Eve route
South of Fifth institution since 1913, famous for chilled stone-crab claws with mustard sauce and key lime pie.
Tip: Reservations are limited; arrive by 5 p.m. or use Joe's Take Away next door.
Photo: Cullen328 · CC BY-SA 3.0Rusty Pelican
Downtown Miami & Bayfront · On our Miami New Year's Eve route
Waterfront restaurant on Virginia Key with a full view of the downtown skyline across Biscayne Bay.
Tip: Its New Year's Eve dinner seats you facing the fireworks; book weeks ahead.
Versailles
Downtown Miami & Bayfront · On our Miami New Year's Eve route
Little Havana's Cuban restaurant and ventanita since 1971: ropa vieja, croquetas, pastelitos and cafecito.
Tip: Order a colada at the walk-up window before heading downtown.
Photo: Bobak Ha'Eri · CC BY 3.0
Key West 3 picks
Blue Heaven
Key West · On our Miami Beach Getaway route + 1 more
Bahama Village garden restaurant with roosters underfoot; famous for breakfast and tall key lime pie.
Tip: Closes every year from the day after Labor Day to mid-October.
Photo: Gary J. “Livin the Dream!” Turek · Google
El Siboney
Key West · On our Florida Keys Adventure route
Cash-friendly Cuban restaurant serving roast pork and plantains in large portions.
Tip: Order the roast pork with black beans and yuca.
Photo: El Siboney Restaurant (Downtown) · Google
Pepe's Cafe
Key West · On our Miami Beach Getaway route
Key West's oldest restaurant (1909), serving seafood and steaks under a backyard arbor.
Tip: Good for breakfast or an early dinner; small, so expect waits.
Photo: Pepe's Cafe · Google
Walt Disney World 3 picks
'Ohana
Walt Disney World · On our Orlando New Year's Eve route
A family-style Polynesian dinner of skewered meats and noodles at the Polynesian Village Resort, near the lagoon.
Tip: Book an early table on Dec 31, then walk out to the beach for the fireworks.
California Grill
Walt Disney World · On our Orlando New Year's Eve route
A dining room at the top of the Contemporary Resort with views over the Magic Kingdom and the Seven Seas Lagoon.
Tip: Book the New Year's Eve dinner as soon as Disney reservations open; it fills months ahead.
Victoria & Albert's
Walt Disney World · On our Orlando New Year's Eve route
A long-running tasting-menu restaurant in the Grand Floridian, the most formal dinner at Walt Disney World.
Tip: Dress up and book well ahead; holiday seatings sell out first.
Downtown Jacksonville & Southbank 2 picks
Cowford Chophouse
Downtown Jacksonville & Southbank · On our Jacksonville New Year's Eve route
Steakhouse in the restored 1902 Bostwick Building on Bay Street, with a rooftop bar over the river.
Tip: Book early for Dec 31 and ask about the rooftop for the fireworks.
Taverna
Downtown Jacksonville & Southbank · On our Jacksonville New Year's Eve route
Mediterranean and Italian restaurant on San Marco Square, with wood-fired dishes and a long wine list.
Tip: Closed Mondays.
Downtown St. Petersburg 2 picks
Ted Peters Famous Smoked Fish
Downtown St. Petersburg · On our Tampa New Year's Eve route
Roadside smokehouse since 1951 serving mullet and mackerel smoked over red oak, with smoked-fish spread.
Tip: Cash only and closed Tuesdays.
Photo: Astrophobe · CC BY-SA 4.0
The Vinoy
Downtown St. Petersburg · On our Tampa New Year's Eve route
Pink 1925 Mediterranean Revival resort on the waterfront, with a brunch dining room overlooking Vinoy Park.
Tip: Book Jan 1 brunch in advance; walk the waterfront parks after.
Photo: Beyond My Ken · CC BY-SA 4.0
Key Largo 2 picks
Key Largo Fisheries Backyard Café
Key Largo · On our Florida Keys Adventure route
Working fish house serving lobster rolls and fresh hogfish at waterside tables.
Tip: Order at the window; get the lobster BLT.
Photo: Tia & Ida Travels · Google
Sundowners
Key Largo · On our Florida Keys Adventure route
Bayside restaurant since 1985 with west-facing tables over Florida Bay.
Tip: Book a sunset table; the hogfish is the order.
Photo: Lori Morris Paintings · Google
Amelia Island 1 pick
Timoti's Seafood Shak
Amelia Island · On our St. Augustine & Amelia Island route
Casual local seafood counter a block off Centre Street, known for local wild-caught shrimp and fish tacos.
Bahia Honda & the Lower Keys 1 pick
No Name Pub
Bahia Honda & the Lower Keys · On our Key West New Year's Eve route
A pizza and beer stop on a back road of Big Pine Key, its walls covered in signed dollar bills.
Tip: Bring cash for tips and follow the signs; the road ends at the old No Name Bridge.
Everglades 1 pick
Robert Is Here Fruit Stand
Everglades · On our Miami Beach Getaway route
Family farm stand since 1959 near the park entrance; get a key lime or mamey milkshake.
Tip: Stop on the way in; it opens 8am most of the year.
Photo: Edee-Jo Egts · Google
Jacksonville Beach 1 pick
Metro Diner
Jacksonville Beach · On our Jacksonville New Year's Eve route
Jacksonville-born diner, first opened in San Marco in 1992, known for fried chicken and waffles.
Tip: Expect a line on Jan 1 morning; put your name in before the plunge.
Miami 1 pick
Versailles Restaurant
Miami · On our Florida Keys Adventure route
Landmark Cuban restaurant on Calle Ocho since 1971.
Tip: Grab a cafecito and croqueta at the walk-up ventanita.
Photo: Bobak Ha'Eri · CC BY 3.0
Old Town & Duval Street 1 pick
Louie's Backyard
Old Town & Duval Street · On our Key West New Year's Eve route
A long-running restaurant on the Atlantic side of the island, with dinner on tiered decks over the water.
Tip: Reservations are recommended year-round; book New Year's Eve dinner weeks out.
South Beach 1 pick
Puerto Sagua
South Beach · On our Miami Beach Getaway route + 1 more
Old-school Cuban diner on Collins Ave serving ropa vieja, Cuban sandwiches and cafecito since 1962.
Tip: Grab a counter seat for a quick Cuban breakfast.
Photo: John Roy · Google
St. Augustine 1 pick
Columbia Restaurant
St. Augustine · On our St. Augustine & Amelia Island route
St. Augustine branch of Florida's oldest restaurant family, serving Spanish and Cuban dishes on St. George Street since 1983.
Tip: Order the 1905 Salad and a paella; reserve for holiday weekends.
Photo: Rob Briscoe · CC BY 2.0
How we picked these
Every entry is a stop on at least one of TripsCircle's hand-curated routes, chosen by our route editors, who wrote the reason to go shown with each place. These are our curated picks, not a scored ranking: we haven't rated or reviewed them against each other. The list is grouped by destination, and within each destination places that appear on more routes come first.
Prices ($ to $$$$) and visit lengths are rough guides from our route notes, not quotes. Check opening hours before you go.
About this list
How did you choose the restaurants in Florida?
Each one is a stop on a TripsCircle route that our editors built by hand, and each comes with a written reason to go. This page shows all 27 of them. They are curated picks, not a ranked score.
Which part of Florida has the most restaurants on this list?
Downtown Tampa & the Riverwalk has the most (4 of 27), followed by Downtown Miami & Bayfront (3) and Key West (3).
More lists for Florida
Best restaurants nearby
Destinations on this list
- Downtown Tampa & the Riverwalk 4 on this list
- Downtown Miami & Bayfront 3 on this list
- Key West 3 on this list
- Walt Disney World 3 on this list
- Downtown Jacksonville & Southbank 2 on this list
- Downtown St. Petersburg 2 on this list
- Key Largo 2 on this list
- Amelia Island 1 on this list
Turn this list into a plan
Open a curated route in TripsCircle, add the spots your crew wants, vote with polls and keep everyone on one shared itinerary.