Flavors of the Shore: The Best Restaurants in and Around New Smyrna Beach
New Smyrna Beach boasts over ten miles of golden shores that stretch from the Canaveral National Seashore to the tip of Smyrna Dunes Park on the inlet. Still, there’s more to it than natural beauty. Given the local seafood tradition aligned with an ever-growing cosmopolitan vibe, you can also find an array of great restaurants and eateries spread across the beach.
If you are planning a vacation in the area, it’s very useful to have some guidance on the best food places and favorite spots by locals. We’re here to help with this; this blog will bring you the best from our list of the best restaurants in and around New Smyrna Beach.
Prepare your taste buds; this will be a culinary ride!
Located right on the waterway, Outriggers is a harborside tavern with a wraparound bar and patio that makes the perfect spot to enjoy some local eats and fanciful beverages.
The menu boasts modern versions of Southern classics, all made with fresh ingredients from New Smyrna Beach. They pride themselves on offering straight-from-the-ocean catches and Chairman’s Reserve Certified Angus Steaks. The fish tacos are also delicious. Everything is cooked to a flavorful perfection that will make you smack your lips!
Besides the food, the place is pretty lively, with live musicians performing and a welcoming crowd that immerses you right into the Florida lifestyle.
Feel like some authentic Italian flavors? The Garlic will bring you a taste of Tuscany right in beachside Florida! This lovely eatery combines the Italian tradition with local flavors, making it your go-to Italian spot in the region. The menu is great, from the entrees to the wine list, and the atmosphere is on the casual side.
Their signature is the garlic clove appetizer. Another notable dish is the Il Forno-cooked New York Strip Steak, with a delicious garlic crust. Still, there’s something for everyone, and vegetarians will love the Eggplant Tower. When you visit, make sure to check what the daily special is.
As you can imagine, the interior environment is dominated by the irresistible aroma of garlic. Outdoor seating boasts a lush garden and beautifully lit trees at night, with its large fireplace being its most photogenic hit. They don’t take reservations, but the place has ample seating, so waiting rarely takes long. Even if it did, it would be well worth it!
From Italy to Germany and still in Florida! This charming bistro & bakery offers German specialties and other delicious food options. The setting is pretty relaxed, combining the beach experience with an intimate bistro feel: there are only nine tables available.
This small scale is to guarantee the quality. The food is superb, from the escargot and duck leg with risotto to the Alaskan halibut and Basil Ricotta Gnocchi. For dessert, The Hummingbird Cake and the Belgian Chocolate Cake are a must. Speaking of which, desserts are their forte, and we highly suggest you try one!
Due to the small size, you might want to make a reservation, especially if you’re visiting on weekends.
This restaurant with a lovely retro feel, originally a 1920s gas station, is where you can enjoy some of the finest seafood in New Smyrna Beach, and guess what? It has been a local tradition for about 80 years! The quality? It has always been kept at its highest through the decades.
Norwood’s is famed for delicious seafood, homemade sauces, and salad dressings, as well as locally sourced ingredients. They specialize in seafood, but if you’re craving a nice steak or pasta, they have it as well. They smoke their own meats featured in meals like their bacon-wrapped scallops and shrimp and grits.
Wondering about the treehouse part? The Treehouse Bar was a spruced-up addition made about a decade ago around the oak tree at the fort. It’s the type of magical spot that’s perfect for some cocktails after dinner and maybe even for a date night. Whoever you are with, there’s nothing like enjoying the relaxing breeze from the deck. Oh, they also have an extensive live entertainment program, including great music, so make sure to check it out before you visit.
Drawing inspiration from different corners of the globe to fuse various cuisines with southern coastal traditions, Third Wave is a relaxed and cozy spot offering gourmet coffee, sandwiches, and pizzas, as well as global wines and craft beers.
For you to have an idea of the diversity, the menu features options ranging from short ribs on hummus and baked feta to superb pizzas. The Burrata pizza is a must-try. If you’re unsure about what to order, look for the options marked as TW favorites — there’s no going wrong with those.
The outdoor area, from where you can actually see the kitchen, is adorned with bamboo, palm trees, and other tropical flora. In the evening, fairy lights make everything even more charming.
Service is more than friendly; it’s exceptional. And the fact that they have a very respectful commitment to sustainability is a nice plus.
A relatively new addition to New Smyrna Beach, this cozy cottage with a porch and a leafy garden serves all-American classics created with ingredients sourced in the immediate area.
Menu options feature a lot of everyone’s favorites, including a variety of fish, meat, poultry, and pasta, as well as vegetarian dishes. Sauces are homemade daily, and their seasonal menus capture the best ingredients of each month.
Besides fresh seafood, they use free-range poultry and eggs, antibiotic-free proteins, and only items with no preservatives or food dyes. Ending your experience with one of their amazing desserts and an espresso is a great idea.
From time to time, they host wine tastings, painting events, and live music. There’s always something fun going on at Riverpark Terrace, a stone’s throw away. If the day or evening is nice, we highly recommend sitting outside. The patio setting features fire pits, chandeliers, and lovely foliage.
JB’s Fish Camp is an all-in-one spot: eatery and water equipment rental spot. From its humble beginnings as a simple shack in the late 1970s, this place has become a local staple, offering not just delicious seafood but also some pretty nice cocktails.
Sitting outside will grant you amazing river views, a natural spectacle that’s even better if you visit during sunset. There is a stage for live music and a big deck for al-fresco dining.
The menu includes raw oysters, alligator tails, crab cakes, hush puppies, and fried shrimp, among other delicious options. The frozen margaritas are famous, and the vibe is your classic laid-back Florida.
Feeling energetic? You can even rent kayaks and canoes by the hour and paddle out to the islands nearby. We told you: all in one!
What about some Latin specialties? From Puerto Rican mofongo to fish tacos, taco salads, quesadillas, nachos, burritos — you name it, The Taco Shack has it all, and they will have it for you in a cool window-serve setup with a patio.
The decor is colorful and quirky, and the staff is super friendly. In fact, this is a family restaurant, and chances are you’ll see the owners themselves preparing everything.
A staple of quality, if you ask us. Prices are reasonable, and portions are large. Oh, they have veggie options too. What’s not to like?
The Best Restaurants in and Around New Smyrna Beach
With these tips for the best restaurants in New Smyrna Beach, you will make your visit worthwhile for the culinary experience alone. Whenever you plan to visit this Florida paradise, make sure to look for a guide on the best restaurants in New Smyrna Beach.
Now and then, a new place pops up offering a fresh take on local cuisine and incorporating more experimental flavors from across the world.
Here are some extra tips to enjoy culinary delights in New Smyrna Beach:
- Keep an eye on local events and food festivals happening in the area.
- Strike up a conversation and ask locals for their favorite dining spots.
- Join a culinary tour if available. Wherever you go in the world, that’s an amazing opportunity to learn from an expert.
Wondering where to stay in New Smyrna Beach?
Want another tip from us? When you visit New Smyrna Beach, we suggest choosing vacation rentals over hotels to enjoy a place with local vibes and all the privacy you want.
There are plenty of beach vacation properties, cozy condos, and charming homes in this area. This is another way to immerse yourself in the local culture — shop at local markets, stroll through nearby neighborhoods, and dine at local restaurants.
You’ll truly feel like a local.
For a selection of the very best vacation homes in New Smyrna Beach, visit our booking page. For all of the above, we’ve got you covered.
Not to brag, but we are very proud to have earned the official title of one of the “Best Vacation Rental Professionals in the World” from Business Insider.