Eating Your Way through Delray Beach

We offer our picks for the best places to eat in Delray Beach, from laid-back beach bars to the refined plates of chic Atlantic Avenue.

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Beach Market Cafe

Delray’s newest health-conscious cafe, Beach Market Cafe, gives you the fuel you need to power through your busy day of beach-hopping and gallery-browsing. Located at Opal Grand Resort & Spa right by the beach, this is the place for you to refresh and relax with an acai smoothie bowl and iced coffee in bicycle-inspired environs.

Latitudes

Delray Sands Resort’s signature restaurant, Latitudes may be nautical in nature, but don’t think salt-encrusted ropes, lobster traps, or weather-worn schooners – just pristine white sand views of the Atlantic and an unconventional theme of “bubbles.” Yes, bubbles, which are conveyed in the form of glass chandeliers and a wave wall. As for the dinner menu, guest favorites include tuna poke, mini ahi tuna tacos, shellfish stew, as well as the restaurant’s signature iced shellfish towers.

City Oyster

This upscale, wood-paneled seafood spot is known for its sushi and wine list. The Grand Plateau is one of the standouts here, with a plate of fresh oysters, littleneck clams, blue crab meat, and shrimp arranged around an entire chilled lobster.

Monkey Bar

If you’re looking for light bites, mozy on over to Monkey Bar at Opal Grand. Think papas fritas, Adobo grilled shrimp, and cheese and charcuterie plates. But don’t forget skip the clever cocktails, boasting names that play off the monkey theme, like The Smoking Banana (mezcal, rum, and banane du brésil) and The Baboon (rum, vermouth, dry curacao, and angostura bitters).

50 Ocean

Phenomenal views of the ocean from the deck mix with inventive seafood here. The Sunday Brunch is legendary for its Grey Goose Bloody Mary Bar with more than 30 add-ins from which to choose, including olives, sweet chili asparagus, pepperoni, cheeses, and hot sauces. Then, there’s happy hour with signature dishes, like five-onion truffle dip and rock shrimp pot pie.

Boston’s on the Beach

Boston’s on the Beach has been feeding and entertaining for 35-plus years against the backdrop of the Atlantic Ocean. While the views and local seafood may be the original draw, it’s the live music five days a week – from reggae and blues to jazz and pop – that invites you to stay for one more handcrafted cocktail at the backlit quartz bar.

Drift

Don’t have time to make it out to sea for a sunset dinner cruise? Drift into Opal Grand’s new nautical social and dining experience and go on a “coastal culinary voyage” of your own. Find a seat at one of their five unique dining spaces from the main dining room, chef’s gallery, two private enclaves, a mixology room and bar, and an outdoor verandah with dreamy ocean views. Their menu offers a mix of seaside-inspired cuisines like Xoastal Shellfish Stew, Gemelli Pasta, and Spicy Fish Tacos.

Dada

Nestled inside an old house across from Old School Square in downtown Delray, this bright, quirky space is home to nightly live music and a street-side patio that will make you feel like you’re sitting in someone else’s front yard. Oh, and there’s comfort food, too, from a seven-cheese grilled cheese to caramel-spiced chicken, all accompanied by a drink menu with more than a dozen mojitos.

Sandbar

If you’re going to be at the beach, why not do it with a conch fritter in your hand? Here, what locals call comfort food is best enjoyed in a relaxing atmosphere while dipping your toes in the sand, whether under the tiki bar hut or lounging back in an Adirondack chair.

Cabana El Rey

Fresh takes on Latin cuisine meet legendary service in this Miami-esque setting. Dishes like the “Tropicana” (marinated grilled chicken breast with pineapple, cantaloupe, orange, and mango tossed with a guava mojo) will remind you you’re just blocks away from the beach.