As you begin planning your Cocoa Beach vacation, you may find yourself wondering about the foods that you may be enjoying during your stay. Every traveler loves a taste of the town they are visiting, sampling new flavors that may not exist in their own home towns while appreciating the different views seen out the windows and in Cocoa Beach, of course you will want to dine at restaurants that offer water views. And so you aren’t left to your own device, struggling to find the best spots where the food is fantastic and the views are magical, we at Happy Palm Stays have created this ultimate water view dining guide to the Cocoa Beach restaurants with a view in the area that serves the meals that we crave.
Breakfast of Champions
Starting the day off on the right foot is always important and although you may not be used to enjoying breakfasts with a view, Cocoa Beach is filled with dining options that allow guests to blend water views with waffles and egg dishes that will give them the perfect start to another perfect day in paradise. Please note that some of these restaurants may be in our sister towns, not in Cocoa Beach proper.
Discovery Beach Café, 300 Barlow Avenue in Cocoa Beach
Although they have discontinued their weekend breakfast hours for the moment, Discovery Beach Café offers beach views and a Sunday Bottomless Bubbles Brunch that will truly make Sunday a fun day. Best of all, reasonable prices will ensure that your vacation budget doesn’t take a huge hit.
Grills Riverside Seafood Deck & Tiki Bar, 6075 N US Highway 1 in Melbourne
Serving breakfast every day from 7 AM until 11 AM, Grills Riverside Seafood Deck & Tiki Bar is destined to become your favorite place to enjoy breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Breakfast is what we want to talk about today and if you happen to wake up feeling especially hungry, Grills will provide. Their Shotgun Start is for the hungriest eaters, featuring a plate filled with eggs, pancakes, your favorite breakfast meats, choice of hash browns, home fries, or grits, AND a choice of toast. The views of the water will serve as a reminder of why you chose Florida as your vacation destination.
When Breakfast Ended Hours Ago
Not a lot of thought is put into our lunch hours. At work, we toss a frozen meal into a lunch bag and nuke it until it is tolerable in the middle of the day, and on weekends, we may grab a drive-thru burger in the midst of doing our errands. But on vacation? No one ever talks about how hungry we were after spending the morning at the beach, swimming, surfing, or fishing. We don’t really know where to go when our hike finishes at noon, but we know that if we don’t eat soon no one will be safe from our moods. Happy Palm Stays, however, understands the conundrum, and these lunch spots offer water views that will help you relax while the food works its magic on your energy levels.
Coconuts on the Beach, 2 Minutemen Causeway in Cocoa Beach
Open every day of the week from 11 AM until 10 PM, visitors might want to head back to Coconuts for dinner, but for the moment, we want to discuss lunch. Offering a great place for people watching, the menu is filled with beach foods and southern favorites, including shrimp and grits and island conch fritters, your lunch on the beach will be the site of some of your favorite memories.
Squid Lips, 2200 S Orlando Avenue in Cocoa Beach
Open from 11 AM until 8 PM, Squid Lips isn’t fancy, but its menu is filled with more beach favorites that somehow taste better when enjoyed with water views. Their menu is large, featuring everything from appetizers to desserts, and whether you are simply sipping and savoring their conch fritters, or are down for a full lunch of Oak Grilled Grouper Sandwiches, or are just enjoying a coffee and a piece of key lime pie, your lunch at Squid Lips will satisfy.
Family Friendly Dinners
Restaurants and young kids don’t always mix so well, but these family friendly restaurants will ensure that every member of your traveling party will feel comfortable and at home as they enjoy water views and an excellent meal.
Captain J’s, 211 E Cocoa Beach Causeway in Cocoa Beach
Open from 11 AM until 10 PM every day of the week, Captain J’s combines sunset views of the water with sandwiches and handhelds that aren’t fancy but are certainly delicious. Their cocktail menu is expansive, and their signature Rum Runner is destined to be your new favorite drink.
Boardwalk Bar at Cocoa Beach Pier, 401 Meade Avenue in Cocoa Beach
Although this cool spot on Cocoa Beach Pier is a bar primarily, they do offer a menu of beach eats and appetizers that are delicious and filling. Crab Cake Sandwiches are always popular, and their tacos come with a variety of fillings including shrimp, grouper, chicken, and beef.
The Special Occasion You Are Celebrating
Vacations can also be celebrations of something momentous. A milestone birthday, a destination wedding, even a new job or promotion at work is worthy of celebrating, and when you want to celebrate in style, a fine dinner at a fancy restaurant brings joy and happiness. These restaurants will be an integral part of whatever you are celebrating, offering fantastic food, great service, and of course, those water views you will never tire of seeing.
Chart House, 2250 Front Street in Melbourne
White tablecloths, sea views, and the best seafood in town are just a few reasons you will want to visit Chart House during your Florida getaway celebration. Sunset views over the water will strike a chord deep in your heart, rising to the service even years later when you think back to this special time and their seafood-centric menu will tickle your taste buds.
Marker 99 Restaurant & Lounge, 4263 US-1 in Melbourne
This chef-driven restaurant never fails to impress, offering an elegant ambience, flavorful meals, and views that will calm the most frazzled of souls. Sitting on the banks of the Indian River, the vibe is casual, but the service and décor is absolutely top notch, working together to create a dining experience that will never be forgotten.
Beach Bars
The quintessential Florida experience involves sand, sea, and sipping your favorite cocktails and these beach bars are known for providing all three, as well as offering quick bites and pub grub on occasion.
Longboards Tiki Beach Grille, 1550 N Atlantic Avenue in Cocoa Beach
While the rest of the world requires shirts and shoes, Longboards Tiki Beach Grille has long appreciated diners and sippers dressed in their beachiest best. Offering an oceanfront deck on which rum runners and crab cake sandwiches will turn an ordinary day into an extraordinary and delicious adventure worth repeating as often as possible.
Riki Tiki Tavern, 401 Meade Avenue on Cocoa Beach Pier
Cocoa Beach Pier is a prime destination for dining and shopping and Riki Tiki Tavern is one of our favorite examples. Sitting directly on the ocean, the drinks are frothy and tropical, the thatched roof brings up thoughts of the tropics, and because they do offer a limited food menu, visitors can sip and savor some of Florida’s best beachy eats.
Off the Water
Although this guide is about water view restaurants, we would be remiss if we didn’t mention some of the other restaurants that make the Cocoa Beach area shine. We are surrounded by the sea and we promise, after eating your meal you can go back to the beach and revel in the sand and surf, feeling full, satisfied, and eager to experience more adventures. Let’s start with breakfast first.
Simply Delicious Café & Bakery, 125 N Orlando Avenue in Cocoa Beach
Closed on Tuesdays and open at 8 AM on the remaining days, Simply Delicious Café & Bakery does not offer false advertising; everything on its menu IS simply delicious. Featuring baked goods, classic egg dishes, and a variety of sandwiches, you really can’t go wrong with a stop here.
Whisk & Grind, 410 N Atlantic Avenue in Cocoa Beach
Some mornings we wake up hungrier than on others and when that happens during your Cocoa Beach adventures, Whisk & Grind, one of our newer restaurants, is where you should be. Their expansive menu covers almost every breakfast dish you can think of, and their mimosas make it impossible to be in a bad mood.
More Lunch Spots That Shouldn’t Be Missed
We won’t lecture anyone on the importance of not skipping lunch, we just encourage you to visit the following restaurants when hunger pangs strike midday.
Long Doggers, 350 W Cocoa Beach Causeway in Cocoa Beach
Long Doggers has long been a Cocoa Beach favorite, providing a laidback vibe and casual foods that include burgers, seafood, and as you might expect, a wonderful selection of foot-long hot dogs! The High Life Dog, topped with bacon, chili, cheddar cheese, onions, and a side of jalapeños is highly recommended.
Rock the Guac, 4265 N Atlantic Avenue
The guacamole here is fantastic, and so is every other item on the menu at Rock the Guac. Providing counter service and a casual vibe, guests can choose between six different types of meals, including bowls, tacos, burritos, and nachos, and then will continue their order by choosing their favorite toppings.
International Delights
Food is an international language and the international delights you can consume while on a vacation in Cocoa Beach never ceases to amaze. Here’s a list of some must try international restaurants that will expand your horizons.
Flavors of India Cocoa Beach, 5675 N Atlantic Avenue #117 in Cocoa Beach
Indian food is a spicy treat with flavors that will open your mind to all the possibilities, but if you are worried that it will be too hot, you can crank the heat down as low as you need.
The Pig & Whistle Pub, 240 N Orlando Avenue in Cocoa Beach
The Pig & Whistle Pub provides the meals you will love and have no problem pronouncing their names. Shepherd’s pie, bangers & mash, even sausage rolls will fill your stomach and feed your soul.
La Catrina Mexican Restaurant, 315 W Cocoa Beach Causeway in Cocoa Beach
Most people have sampled the wonders of Mexican food, and although we tend to believe that there are no bad Mexican meals, La Catrina does offer proof that there can be some tacos that shine brighter than others.
Something Special
This next restaurant deserves its own category, providing an elegant dining experience, followed by a comedy show. Gregory’s Steak & Seafood Grille & Upstairs Comedy Club, located at 900 N Atlantic Avenue in Cocoa Beach, is a treat for all the senses and will add sparkle to your Florida vacation. Offering a menu of haute cuisine favorites and winner of the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence in 2023, the only thing better than the meal you will enjoy is the show that will make you laugh harder than you have in years. Gregory’s offers the only professional comedy club in Cocoa Beach and some of the nation’s best comedians have performed on its stage.
Come Home to Comfort
Whether you visit just one of the restaurants listed here or decide that all of them are worthy of trying, coming home to the comforts found in our Happy Palm Stays sanctuaries promises to be the highlight of your Florida getaway. Sit on balconies overlooking the sea, sipping chardonnay and snacking on treats you concocted in our fully equipped kitchens, play board games at dining room tables, relax in a hot tub, and sleep deeply in beds where the only acceptable dreams are happy ones. Reserve your favorite Cocoa Beach vacation home or Cocoa Beach condo for rent today!
