Florida dining leans hard on the water, from Gulf shrimp and grouper to Cuban sandwiches and Peruvian ceviche in Miami. This directory gathers standout restaurants across the state so you can find the right table wherever you land.
Miami sets the tone for the state's most ambitious cooking. Latin American flavors run deep, from the ceviche at CVI.CHE 105 to Cuban plates at Havana Vieja and Alma Cubana in Miami Beach. Prices climb fast at the high end, with tasting-menu spots like MILA sitting in the very expensive tier, while most neighborhood Cuban and seafood spots land in the moderate range (roughly $15 to $35 a plate).
The Panhandle is seafood country in the most casual sense. Around Destin and Pensacola, places like McGuire's Irish Pub of Destin, Shaggy's Pensacola Beach, and the fish-market-and-restaurant combo at Joe Patti's Seafood serve fresh Gulf catch without the white tablecloth. Tampa brings its own history, most of all at the Columbia Restaurant, Florida's oldest restaurant, known for Spanish and Cuban cooking. Use the Florida travel guide to orient yourself, then plan meals around the Panhandle if you want the state's best casual seafood.
Some of the best meals in Florida come with a view. Waterfront spots like the Rusty Pelican Miami put you over Biscayne Bay, and Pensacola's Flounder's Chowder House sits close enough to the beach to walk off dinner. If you are chasing sand and food in the same day, pair a morning on the best beaches in Florida with a nearby seafood shack, since most beach towns keep their kitchens open late in season.
Timing matters. Peak dinner hours (6 to 8 p.m.) fill up fast at popular Miami Beach and Destin restaurants from December through April, so reserve ahead or eat early. A day on the water pairs naturally with a big seafood dinner, so many travelers book a morning trip with local fishing charters or dive and snorkel operators and let the afternoon catch guide where they eat.
Steak House · 43.2k reviews
Ole Ole Steak House is a high-end steakhouse on Lincoln Road in Miami Beach serving premium cuts and traditional steakhouse fare. It's known for quality beef and upscale service, suited for special occasions and business dinners.
626 Lincoln Rd, Miami Beach, FL 33139
$$ Peruvian Restaurant · 30.5k reviews
CVI.CHE 105 is a ceviche-focused Peruvian restaurant in the Wynwood area of Miami with a casual, trendy atmosphere. It specializes in fresh raw fish preparations and ceviches, appealing to diners seeking authentic Peruvian coastal cuisine.
105 NE 3rd Ave, Miami, FL 33132
$$ Restaurant · 36.2k reviews
Fudpucker's is a casual beachside bar and grill in Destin with a laid-back vibe, known for burgers, seafood, and tropical drinks with views of the beach. It suits families and groups looking for a relaxed beach meal.
20001 Emerald Coast Pkwy, Destin, FL 32541
$$ Seafood Restaurant · 26.1k reviews
Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. is a casual seafood chain restaurant at Universal Orlando themed around the Forrest Gump movie, serving shrimp dishes and standard American seafood fare. It's designed for tourists and families visiting the theme park area.
6000 Universal Blvd Ste 735, Orlando, FL 32819
$$ Seafood Restaurant · 24.6k reviews
Shaggy's is a casual beachfront bar and grill in Pensacola Beach offering seafood, sandwiches, and drinks with direct beach access. It caters to beach-goers and locals wanting informal waterfront dining.
701 Pensacola Beach Blvd, Pensacola Beach, FL 32561
$$$ Italian Restaurant · 19.6k reviews
Il Pastaiolo is an Italian restaurant on Collins Avenue in Miami Beach specializing in fresh pasta made daily and traditional Italian dishes. It suits diners seeking authentic Italian cooking in a casual neighborhood setting.
1130 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139
$$ Peruvian Restaurant · 19.5k reviews
CVI.CHE 105 South Beach is the second location of the Peruvian ceviche restaurant, positioned on Lincoln Road in South Beach with the same focus on fresh ceviches and Peruvian seafood. It's suited for tourists and South Beach visitors.
1245 Lincoln Rd, Miami Beach, FL 33139
Restaurant · 19.1k reviews
Españolita is a Spanish tapas and small plates restaurant in Miami Beach serving cured meats, cheeses, and traditional Spanish dishes. It suits groups and diners who enjoy shared small-plate dining and Spanish flavors.
441 Española Wy, Miami Beach, FL 33139
$$ Spanish Restaurant · 18.8k reviews
Bulla Gastrobar is a Spanish tapas restaurant in Tampa offering traditional small plates, cured meats, and Spanish wines. It's suited for diners seeking casual Spanish cuisine in an accessible urban location.
930 S Howard Ave, Tampa, FL 33606
$$ Brunch Restaurant · 17.6k reviews
Café Bastille is a French bistro in Fort Lauderdale serving classic French fare in an intimate, casual setting. It appeals to diners looking for traditional French cooking without formal pretension.
704 SE 1st St, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
$$$$ Mediterranean Restaurant · 21k reviews
MILA is a rooftop restaurant in Miami Beach combining Italian and Mediterranean cuisine with views of the city. It suits diners seeking elevated casual dining with a modern setting and good vantage point.
1636 Meridian Ave Rooftop, Miami Beach, FL 33139
$$ Cuban Restaurant · 16.5k reviews
Havana Vieja is a Cuban restaurant on Washington Avenue in Miami Beach focused on traditional Cuban dishes, roasted meats, and rice-based meals. It's suited for diners seeking authentic Cuban food in South Beach.
944 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139
$$ American Restaurant · 19.5k reviews
Crazy About You is a rooftop seafood and international restaurant in Brickell, Miami offering fish, meats, and seasonal preparations with panoramic city views. It suits diners seeking upscale casual dining with a view.
1155 Brickell Bay Dr PH101, Miami, FL 33131
$$ Restaurant · 15.9k reviews
Limoncello is an Italian restaurant on Washington Avenue in Miami Beach specializing in handmade pastas and traditional Italian dishes with a lemon-focused theme. It suits diners seeking Italian cooking in a casual South Beach location.
1334 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139
$$ Pub · 24k reviews
McGuire's Irish Pub is a casual Irish bar and grill in Destin serving burgers, seafood, and pub food with a traditional Irish atmosphere. It caters to casual diners and locals seeking straightforward American and Irish pub fare.
33 US-98, Destin, FL 32541
$$ Seafood Restaurant · 23.2k reviews
Crabs is a casual seafood restaurant on the Casino Beach Boardwalk in Gulf Breeze focused on crabs, shrimp, and regional Gulf seafood. It suits beachgoers and seafood lovers wanting informal waterfront dining.
6 Casino Beach Boardwalk, Gulf Breeze, FL 32561
$$ Brunch Restaurant · 14.2k reviews
Café Bastille Miami Beach is the South Beach location of the French bistro, serving classic French dishes in a casual atmosphere. It appeals to South Beach visitors seeking accessible French cuisine.
538 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139
$$$ Seafood Restaurant · 21.1k reviews
Rusty Pelican is a waterfront restaurant in Key Biscayne serving seafood and steaks with views of Biscayne Bay. It suits diners seeking upscale casual dining with waterfront scenery and quality seafood.
3201 Rickenbacker Cwy, Key Biscayne, FL 33149
$$ American Restaurant · 19.9k reviews
The Tavern is an American restaurant in a Miami Beach hotel lobby serving casual American fare including burgers, seafood, and sandwiches. It's suited for hotel guests and casual diners seeking uncomplicated American food.
3720 Collins Ave Lobby, Miami Beach, FL 33140
$$ Seafood Restaurant · 19.8k reviews
Flounder's Chowder House is a casual seafood restaurant in Gulf Breeze specializing in clam chowder, fish, and Gulf seafood in a laid-back beachside setting. It suits families and casual diners seeking straightforward fresh seafood.
800 Quietwater Beach Rd, Gulf Breeze, FL 32561
$$ Seafood Restaurant · 12.7k reviews
Cajun Boil Seafood Restaurant Brickell is a casual seafood spot in downtown Miami that serves boiled shrimp, crab, and crawfish by the pound with Cajun seasoning and sides like corn and potatoes. It appeals to people who want fresh seafood in a no-frills setting and don't mind eating with their hands.
141 SW 7th St, Miami, FL 33130
Market · 15.1k reviews
Joe Patti's Seafood is a fish market and restaurant in Pensacola that has been operating since 1931, offering fresh Gulf seafood sold retail or prepared to eat at simple tables. It suits people looking for the freshest possible catch without paying restaurant markup prices.
524 S B St, Pensacola, FL 32502
$$ Spanish Restaurant · 21.9k reviews
Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City, Tampa is a Spanish and Cuban restaurant that opened in 1905 and serves paella, ropa vieja, and tapas in a tiled courtyard setting with old-school atmosphere. It works for people who want established Cuban-Spanish food and historical ambiance rather than trendy innovation.
2117 E 7th Ave, Tampa, FL 33605
$$ Cuban Restaurant · 11.6k reviews
Alma Cubana is a casual Cuban restaurant on Ocean Drive in Miami Beach serving sandwiches, rice and beans, and traditional Cuban entrees at moderate prices. It suits tourists and locals who want authentic Cuban food without the resort markup that dominates that street.
650 Ocean Dr, Miami Beach, FL 33139
Fresh Gulf and Atlantic seafood (grouper, shrimp, stone crab, and mahi), Cuban sandwiches and Latin American cooking centered in Miami and Tampa, Key lime pie, and casual beachside fish shacks along the Panhandle. Ceviche and Peruvian food are a Miami specialty.
Casual seafood and Cuban spots usually run $15 to $35 per entree. Upscale Miami Beach restaurants and tasting menus can run well over $100 per person. Panhandle and Gulf Coast towns tend to be more affordable than Miami.
For popular Miami Beach, Tampa, and Destin restaurants during winter peak season (December through April), yes, especially for prime dinner hours. Casual beach spots and lunch are usually walk-in friendly year round.