With a population that has been growing faster than that of any other State in the U.S., it's no surprise that more and more people are looking for the best restaurants in Florida. Thankfully, the restaurant scene in Florida has gotten more creative and expansive right along side that population boom. Below are our picks for five of the best food cities and towns in Florida. Heading to Florida but not sure where to eat? What follows might prove to be a useful guide for foodies visiting The Sunshine State.
St. Augustine.
St. Augustine, the oldest city in the United States, is steeped in both Old World and Southern charm, with its cobblestone streets, 300+ year old Spanish fortress and relaxed vibe. It's no slouch in the food department either.
When in St. Augustine, be sure to plan a breakfast at The Blue Hen Cafe. This is Southern breakfast done right- think house made corned beef hash (with buttered biscuits, of course), blue crab quiche (with swiss cheese, scallions and homemade pickles on the side) or go big with chicken biscuits, with eggs and grits (and then go take a nap). Get here early, as there's likely going to be a line. Luckily, though, they pour mimosas into pint glasses and let you sip them outside whilst anxiously awaiting your nosh.
Then there is The Ice Plant. Set in a gorgeously remodeled original ice making factory from 1927, the fine folks at The Ice Plant are serious about their cocktails. It's an excellent (and busy) bar utilizing house-pressed juices and specially crafted syrups and bitters. But the fine-tuned food menu deserves some attention as well. Check out dishes like the crispy beef short rib (in red mole sauce, with grits, corn salsa and oaxaca cheese), or the house made pimento cheese (with guava-datil jelly). As a bonus, the lower floor is home to the St. Augustine Distillery Co, which offers tours (and tastings) of their delicious bourbons, gins and vodkas. It's worth a trip in its own right.
Finally, there is Llama Restaurant, a fine dining Peruvian restaurant (one of two on this list!) that crushes it from start to finish. The mango ceviche is great, as is the arroz con mariscos (creamy risotto with a mix of seafood perfumed with Andean Pepper sand Herbs and garnished with parmesan and green peas). Expect to see plates so pretty you won't want to eat them (but you should, you definitely should).
Miami.
No surprise here, but the high-end hotspot that is Miami is absolutely replete with excellent restaurants and watering holes. Located in the upscale Mandarin Oriental luxury hotel, and helmed by Lima native Chef Diego Oka, La Mar by Gastón Acurio offers truly elevated Peruvian food in a waterfront setting with absolutely stunning views of downtown Miami from Brickell Key. Then you've got Joe's Stone Crab, a 100 plus year old institution at the south end of South Beach. If you are there in early Spring, grab the chilled stone crab claws (served with mustard sauce). Otherwise, splurge (you are in Miami, after all) and get the King Crab Legs. Finally, and this one probably needs no introduction, but the Michelin starred Stubborn Seed (helmed by James Beard Semi-Finalist and Top Chef winner, Chef Jeremy Ford) is worth the extra effort that may be needed to get a reservation (although the bar offers an a la carte menu that is also first come first served). Other than the bar, it's a tasting menu only locale, with a small but oft changing menu (and not vegetarian friendly), but damned if it isn't delicious.
Bal Harbour.
Just the north of Miami (and, thus, easily combined with Miami into a single trip) lies the village of Bal Harbour. It's got all of the classic elegance of Miami, but with a much calmer atmosphere. Plus, it has one of our favorite East Coast hotels/resorts - The St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort (a destination unto itself). For eats, check out Makoto located in the Bal Harbour shops. This is our go to sushi and Japanese grill spot when in the area. Try the Hamachi Ponzu, the Tiger Prawn or, for a real treat, the Kurosawa 30 day aged ribeye. If you've got a special occasion in mind, you can't go wrong with acclaimed Chef Thomas Keller's The Surf Club Restaurant, which features Continental style cuisine reminiscent of the bygone Rat Pack era, but with Chef Keller's world renowned level of skill, attention and elegance. Go old school here, with dishes like the warm soft-boiled egg (with caviar, a buckwheat blini and crème fraîche), the Maine Lobster Thermidor or the decadent prime beef short rib wellington.
St. Petersburg.
We want to let you in on a little secret. St. Petersburg is AWESOME. It's big enough (about 260,000 people as of the 2021 census) while also not being overcrowded. It's a 20 minute ride to the eponymously named beach and about 30 minutes from Tampa. It's a great blend of beach chill and upper-scale date night. On Saturdays, be sure to check out the Saturday Morning Market (in the summer, they are located at Williams Park) with its 170 vendors offering everything from organic vegetables to food trucks from all over the planet (e.g. Ecuadorian, Belgian, Thai, Ethiopien, etc). Looking for some modern Italian food? Beeline it to Il Ritorno with its excellent oxtail malfade, or their foie gras lasagna. For cocktails, head to Copper Shaker in the downtown area (one of two locations, the other being in Ybor City, Tampa) or, if you're in need of some views of the Bay with your beverage, you can't go wrong with Pier Teaki.
Random bonus tip: The Woodhouse Day Spa on 1st Street is a great way to start a day (and the front door leads out to the above-mentioned Saturday Morning Market (so, you know, perfect Saturday planned right there!).
Orlando.
Orlando has come a loooong way from just being the jump off point for a visit to a certain large talking mouse and his band of merry friends. It has now really developed its own lively and creative food scene. For instance, Doshi, helmed by Chef Rikku O'Donnchu, was included in the 2023 Michelin Guide Orlando and serves up excellent and stunningly plated Korean dishes in a sheek modern setting. The menu changes seasonally, but look out for dishes such at the Seafood Bibimbap (with uni, scallop, shrimp and octopus) or the Kurobuta Pork Belly (with ssamjang (that beautiful Korean medley of gochujang, doenjang, sesame oil and spices that belongs on everything), kimchi and perilla). The Ravenous Pig, an early standout in Orlando when it opened way back in 2007, is still going strong. Head here for an eclectic mix of southern and afar cuisine, like the Mongolian BBQ octopus, the chicken fried quail or the truffle gnocchi. And, as a bonus, just next door is the Ravenous Pig Brewery and Beer Garden serving up small batch craft beers. Finally, be sure to check out Kaya, the Filipino fine, but causals, concept from Chef Lordfer Lalicon and GM Jamilyn Salonga Bailey. We suggest opting for the five course tasting menu (without much of the pretense inherent in a tasting menu), which masterfully blends family recipes with locally sourced ingredients.
Florida is known as a great vacation and retirement destination, but we think there's much more to it. Indeed, it has, in recent years, really established itself as a foodie destination, with some amazing eats all over the State.
Did we miss your favorite spot? Drop us a line and let us know what you think about our list of the best foodie towns in Florida.