Eat & Drink
Chase the Flavor
From gourmet grilled cheese to fresh Mayport shrimp and shellfish to our signature Camel Rider sandwich, food in Jacksonville, FL and across Northeast Florida is guaranteed to float your boat — quite literally with waterfront dining coming standard throughout the region.
We’re one of America’s top coffee destinations and best BBQ cities, complete with our own mustard-based style that’s pure Northeast Florida. From St. Augustine to Nassau and Flagler Counties, multicultural foodie scenes are steeped in culture and creativity. Here, authentic Mexican tacos are just as easy to find as Mediterranean entrees, with diverse and delicious food options everywhere from San Marco to Midtown. Explore our Ale Trail for a night you won’t forget, or hit up happy hour at 20+ craft breweries stretching from Amelia Island to Jacksonville. Whether you’re looking for comfort food and crispy fried chicken sandwiches or a quaint bistro on the beach, you’ll find it in JAX. Every sip and every bite tells a story.
Facts & Rankings
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It doesn’t get any more sandals-and-beach-clothes friendly than Northeast Florida, where good food flows as easily as the ocean breeze.
- Grumpy’s Restaurant (opens in new window) earned the #1 spot from Bold City Best, born from passion for bringing family and friends together over great diner food. They serve quality, no-fuss American and Southern dishes and diner deals at locations up and down the Northeast coast of Florida.
- If you need a play area with your meal, The Bearded Pig (opens in new window) delivers outdoor space, a giant chalkboard for kids to doodle, a playground and a beer garden for adults to unwind.
- Craving waterfront views? Safe Harbor (opens in new window) serves fresh-caught seafood alongside stunning water vistas.
- For breakfast or brunch, Cool Moose Cafe (opens in new window) caters to picky eaters with menus featuring veggie options and healthy choices alongside crowd-pleasers.
- For dessert, head to Waffle Cone JAX (opens in new window) for over 30 flavors of ice cream by the river, or Sweet Emmaline Cheesecake (opens in new window) for top-rated homemade cheesecakes.
There’s also no shame in putting the kids to work in the kitchen either. Let them earn their keep and have fun doing it at Cooking JAX Studio (opens in new window). Here, kids can learn basic culinary skills and kitchen safety — or take a class with the entire family and turn dinner into a fun-filled adventure and bonding experience.
Jacksonville’s craft beer scene is thriving and continues to expand. Pour yourself into Northeast Florida’s brewing culture with more than 20 craft breweries across the region.
Start at Ruby Beach Brewing (opens in new window), where small-batch brews and taproom tours showcase the craft behind every pint, and Poe’s Tavern (opens in new window), which pours more than 50 beer options from hazy IPAs to golden blonde ales.
Rooftop bars also dot the region, elevating your drinking experience above the city skyline, while pet-friendly spots bring the fun down to ground level. Got a four-legged friend? Brewhound Dog Park & Bar (opens in new window) in Neptune Beach, Kanine Social (opens in new window) in Riverside and Wicked Barley (opens in new window) in Southside all welcome tails and ales alike.
Want all of Northeast Florida’s brewing hot spots charted in one place? The JAX Ale Trail (opens in new window) maps dozens of local breweries, including Engine 15 Brewing Co. (opens in new window), Aardwolf Brewing Co. (opens in new window) and Veterans United Craft Brewery (opens in new window).
Northeast Florida also has several distilleries, including St. Augustine Distillery (opens in new window) and Manifest Distillery (opens in new window) — a full-scale organic distillery bringing Florida’s natural ingredients to life in spirits that capture the essence of the region.
The tradition of barbeque runs deep in Florida. The indigenous Timucua people slow-cooked their meat over open fires and grills long before modern pitmasters arrived.
Local restaurants in Jacksonville offer their own twist on BBQ with a unique, mustard-based sauce — darker, sweeter and thicker than Carolina-style versions. Distinguishible by its inclusion of vinegar, molasses and sugars, Northeast Florida’s sauce blends into something distinctly JAX.
Today, the legacy lives on at spots like The Bearded Pig (opens in new window) near Downtown Jacksonville, where outdoor seating and playful vibes meet serious smoke. Billy Jack’s (opens in new window) and 4 Rivers Smokehouse (opens in new window) both serve up quality cuts with their own signature spins on regional favorites.
Looking for one of Northeast Florida’s oldest BBQ joints? Woody’s Bar-B-Q delivers Southern hospitality in a hometown atmosphere, serving the finest cuts of meat with fresh ingredients and secret-recipe house-made BBQ sauce that’s been perfected over decades.
Limitless Opportunity in Food & Beverage Lives Here
Kelly and Jamie moved to JAX and found the opportunity to start their own craft beer store and tasting room in Jacksonville’s Five Points/Riverside neighborhood. Discover how Northeast Florida’s affordability, diversity and unmatched business opportunity helped them find their JAX.
Hear Their Story (opens in new window)Resource Tiles
Recreation & Adventure
With 22 miles of beaches, 400+ parks, world-class golf, professional sports and one of the top zoos in the U.S. — adventure finds you in Northeast Florida.
Arts & Culture
Immerse yourself in a culture of broadway performances, film festivals, theaters, art galleries and over 20 live music venues with nationally-lauded artists across every genre.
Tips for Relocating
Get pointers on Northeast Florida’s top places for healthcare, education and more. Find a greater quality of life.
Ally Steeg
"Jacksonville is the perfect place for young professionals looking to balance work and play. With stunning beaches, lush parks and year-round outdoor adventures, you'll never run out of things to do. The city's vibrant festivals and live events offer plenty of opportunities to explore local culture, while the laid-back Southern hospitality makes it easy to feel at home. Plus, Jacksonville is home to strong, growing companies across various industries, making it a great place to build your career while enjoying everything this dynamic city has to offer."
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