Are you looking for a unique dining experience that combines delicious cuisine with breathtaking waterfront views? Look no further than these top dockside restaurants in Florida. From grilling your freshly caught fish to enjoying fusion dishes and sipping handcrafted cocktails, these establishments offer an unforgettable dining experience. Whether you’re in Miramar Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Sunny Isles Beach, or Miami, there’s a dockside restaurant waiting to tantalize your taste buds. Join us as we explore these remarkable dining destinations.
You Catch, We Cook at Marina Bar & Grill
Overlooking the Choctawhatchee Bay, Marina Bar and Grill at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort is the ultimate place to dine with family and friends after docking your boat at Baytowne Marina. This dockside hangout has a full bar with outdoor seating and is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Enjoy your morning coffee as you watch boats dock at the marina and return for dinner to admire the sunset on the bay. You can bring your freshly caught fish to the restaurant, and the chefs will grill, fry or blacken it to your liking. You Catch, We Cook ($15 per person) is served with French fries, homemade chips, or coleslaw.
Address: 8330 Mike Hayes Drive, Miramar Beach, FL 32550
Gourmet Gondola Tours at Casa Sensei
Voted “Best Asian Restaurant” by Fort Lauderdale Magazine in 2020, 2021 and 2022, Casa Sensei brilliantly blends traditional Latin American cuisine with Pan-Asian staples to create the best of both worlds. Situated right on the along the Himmarshee Canal, guest can dine dockside while indulging in a seafood dishes – including Tuna Truffle Tartar ($18), Komodo Lobster ($25), Miso Marinated Sea Bass ($39) or one of the many sushi rolls – in addition to a wide range of cocktails, wine and beer. Thanks to a partnership with Riverfront Gondola Tours, guests can reserve a private dinner cruise on one of three eco-friendly, electric-powered boats that seat up to six people. The 90-minute gondola ride offers views of stunning waterfront homes, tropical foliage and South Florida wildlife, including manatees, peacocks, iguanas, exotic birds and more.
Address: 1200 E. Las Olas Blvd., #101, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
Dock & Dine at Ara Rooftop & Pool Lounge
Atop Hotel Effie at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort is Ara Rooftop & Pool Lounge, the only rooftop pool on Florida’s Emerald Coast. Enjoy a relaxing day in a private cabana on the rooftop with a luxury pool experience or spend a night at a private table looking out at the jaw-dropping panoramic views of The Village at Baytowne Wharf. Enjoy handcrafted cocktails, including The Ara ($18), half pina colada, half margarita, and meals from renowned chef Hugh Acheson, including a Lobster Roll ($28) and Cheese Board ($38).
Address: 1 Grand Sandestin Blvd., Miramar Beach, FL 32550
Pier-Top Dining at Beach Bar @ Newport Pier
Summer never ends at Beach Bar @ Newport Pier. Located in Sunny Isles Beach, the seaside spot is the only pier-top restaurant in Miami-Dade County. Beach Bar has meticulously planned its all-American menu to seamlessly mix with Eastern seafood flavors, from an ocean twist on Sunday brunch to visually stunning sushi boats. Guests can sit on the outdoor patio for a more traditional experience or inside at one of the many bars, including the sushi-making station to watch skilled chefs at work. The refreshing fusion menu provides Florida-inspired dishes, such as the Floridian Benedict or the popular Florida Citrus and Crab Cobb Salad, and Asian-inspired fare like Bento Boxes (available for lunch until 4 p.m.) and an array of creative sushi rolls.
Address: 16501 Collins Ave., Sunny Isles Beach, FL 33160
Mega Views at The Deck at Island Gardens
The Deck at Island Gardens is Miami’s most treasured waterfront restaurant. From innovative brunch bites to weekday Sunset Happy Hour, private cabana service, special events and more, this unparalleled setting is the perfect space to dine and dance the day – or night – away. Guests can sit comfortably at reservable full-size dining tables or cabana lounges while enjoying a decadent menu of fresh seafood, brick-oven pizzettas, pasta, meats, large plates, desserts and more while taking in the views of Downtown Miami and Biscayne Bay.
Address: 888 MacArthur Causeway, Miami, FL 33132
