Amelia Island Restaurants

Where To Eat?

Browse Amelia Island restaurants, from casual beach dining along the island’s eastern seashore, to the historic district in downtown Fernandina near the riverfront. Plus fine dining options on Amelia Island’s south end, including several restaurants at the two luxury resorts, The Ritz-Carlton & Omni Amelia Island Plantation.

Downtown Fernandina Historic District
Wicked BAO Restaurant, Fernandina Beach
Wicked BAO Restaurant

Wicked BAO — 232 North 2nd St., Fernandina Beach (904-775-5577). Open for dinner only (4 p.m. to 9 p.m.), closed Sunday and Monday. Unique dining experience known for great service and flavorful “Asian Street Food.” In a crowded downtown dining scene, Wicked BAO has created a recipe for success. Don’t miss trying this gem, tucked away a few blocks off Centre Street. The combination of menu options, casual atmosphere, delightful restaurateur, Nathalie Wu, and the signature — steamed Taiwanese buns (i.e. “BAO”) — have all made a big impression on this town and its visitors. Chef Nathalie’s past culinary experience includes working at The Ritz-Carlton Millenia Singapore.

The Boat House Restaurant, Fernandina Beach, Florida. Photo by Amelia Island Living magazine.
Expansive Patio For Outdoor Dining & Cocktails, The Boat House

The Boat House — 30 S. 2nd Street, Fernandina Beach (904-321-1234). For those looking to dine al fresco, the restaurant features a large patio with two outdoor bars. The restaurant is just a block back from Fernandina’s city marina and had been the site of a former boat yard for at least 30 years. The old building underwent an amazing transformation by new owners from Atlanta. The restaurant’s close proximity to the riverfront gives patrons the opportunity to eat, drink and glimpse a colorful Fernandina sunset. Offering a diverse menu, naturally there’s lots of seafood, steak, salads, sandwiches, and some Southern American specialties. Chef Jason Brumfiel was formerly at The Cloister, Sea Island, GA and also previously at Omni Amelia Island Plantation. Also dine at times while musicians/entertainers perform on outdoor stage.

Ciao Italian Eatery – 614 Centre Street, Fernandina Beach (904-206-4311). Serving dinner only. Chef/owner Luca Misciasci has been pleasing patrons in downtown Fernandina for decades. Serving pasta, pizza, salads, seafood, veal, chicken, pork, ribeye steak. A popular “special” when on the menu is Ciao’s seafood lasagna.

Espana restaurant, Fernandina Beach dining, downtown historic district, Amelia Island, Florida.

Espana Restaurant — 22 S. 4th St., Fernandina Beach (904-261-7700).  Specializing in traditional Spanish and Portuguese dishes, a very popular place to dine. Reservations are suggested, especially weekends and busy summer season. Menu includes varied hot and cold tapas, steaks, fish, paellas, and homemade sangria. Indoor dining room, enclosed patio dining or outdoor garden dining.

Café Karibo — 27 North 3rd Street, Fernandina Beach (904-277-5269). Café Karibo, tried and true, a downtown eatery for nearly 20 years. Serving sandwiches like the yummy “Big Bella”(portabella mushroom), chili, burgers, and tasty salads (such as Spicy Thai Noodle or Mediterranean Couscous). Plus after 5 dinner menu and homemade desserts. Eat inside or dine al fresco. Karibo features a side and rear courtyard, shaded by tree canopy (and pet-friendly, too.) Karibo’s “Happy Hour” is Tues. – Fri. 3-6 pm, drinks 50% off.

Timoti’s Seafood Shak — 21 N 3rd Street, Fernandina Beach (904-310-6550). Serving seafood prepared fried, grilled or blackened, tacos, PO’Boys, salads and bowls. Small seating area inside. Outdoor seating at covered picnic tables. Pirate ship play structure for kids.

Salty Pelican
Salty Pelican, Downtown Fernandina Beach

Salty Pelican — 12 N. Front Street, Fernandina Beach (904-277-3811). A popular restaurant with second-floor overlooking the Amelia River along the railroad tracks. The restaurant features many big-screen TVs, a nice spot to watch sports and a sunset.

Burlingame Restaurant — 20 S. 5th Street, Fernandina Beach (904-432-7671). Enjoy a fine dining experience downtown at Burlingame, offering a “seasonally inspired menu, top quality ingredients and native products of the southern coastal region.” Chef Chad Livingston was formerly with “Salt” at the Ritz-Carlton and is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park, NY.

Happy Tomato Courtyard Cafe & BBQ — 7 South 3rd Street, Fernandina Beach (904-321-0707). Lunch menu includes chicken salad, pimento cheese sandwiches and their popular BBQ.

Arte Pizza Fernandina Beach Restaurant
Arte Pizza, Fernandina Beach

HOLA! Cuban Cafe — 31 South 5th Street, Fernandina Beach (904-206-1985). Unique in Fernandina serving authentic Cuban cuisine. Cuban coffee, pressed sandwiches, and desserts such as Empanadas, Churros and Flan.

La Sureña Restaurant (& Store) – 22 S. 8th Street, Fernandina Beach (904-261-2844).  Seeking authentic Mexican cuisine? This restaurant is known for their delicious tacos and more, featuring Mexican & Centro-American food. With over a decade’s presence in Fernandina, they also offer catering.  La Sureña is a block south of downtown’s Centre Street (just behind the historic Hoyt House B &B). 

Joe’s 2nd Street BistroUPDATE:  RESTAURANT CLOSED permanently at year end (late Dec. 2023)

David’s — 802 Ash Street at corner of 8th Street, Fernandina Beach (904-310-6049). One of Fernandina’s fine dining experiences, David’s also offers a beautiful cocktail lounge with live entertainment some evenings and a private wine room that can be reserved.

T-Rays Burger Station – 202 South 8th Street, Fernandina Beach (904-261-6310).  Serving breakfast and lunch. T-Rays is a magnet for locals. Don’t let the name fool you. T-Rays offers what some feel is the best fried shrimp in Fernandina Beach, besides their burgers.  Also serving salads, fish, chicken sandwiches, grilled cheese, tuna, turkey and more. T-Rays has attracted national media attention over the years with its unique setting — a former Exxon gas station.

Casual Beach Dining & Bars

Salt Life Food Shack restaurant, Fernandina at Main Beach. Amelia Island Living magazine photo, December 2020.
Salt Life Food Shack in Fernandina, Main Beach (Dec. 2020)

Salt Life Food Shack, at Fernandina’s Main Beach Park, 17 North Fletcher Ave., (904-432-7385). Particularly popular with tourists, this restaurant’s design and setting exudes a beach vacation vibe. The blue hues of evening lighting along with glowing flames of tiki torches adds to the nighttime ambiance at this dining/beach bar option. Visitors enjoy the elevated waterfront view from rooftop bar that looks across Main Beach Park to the ocean.

Amelia Island oceanfront restaurant, Sandbar & Kitchen, Fernandina's Main Beach Park.
Sandbar At Main Beach

The Sandbar is also located oceanfront at Fernandina’s Main Beach Park, 2910 Atlantic Ave. (904-310-3648), formerly known as The Sandbar & Kitchen, and Sandy Bottoms. Brick pizza oven plus full menu. Sit oceanfront at tables on covered outside patio, at the outdoor bar, or at picnic tables with umbrellas right in the sand on the beach. Inside, dine upstairs or on main level (interior design is themed “the Main Beach Pier”). Lots of TVs for sports, often features live music, entertainment.

Sliders Seaside Grill, Oceanfront at Seaside Park, Fernandina Beach
Sliders Seaside Grill, Oceanfront

Sliders Seaside Grill — 1998 South Fletcher Ave., Fernandina Beach (904-277-6652).  A landmark restaurant/bar on the beach for over 50 years located at the city’s Seaside Park.  Sliders features a large covered tiki bar near the dunes next to the outdoor patio dining area. There’s live entertainment, two levels of dining/bars inside and valet parking in busy summer season.  Tortuga Jacks (Baja Mexican), located upstairs at Sliders also serves “sunrise breakfast,” just before dawn so patrons can watch an oceanfront sunrise. It’s the only non-resort beachfront restaurant where one can get breakfast and watch the day’s dawn.

The Surf — 3199 S. Fletcher Ave., Fernandina Beach, FL 32034. Phone: 904-261-5711. Located across the street from the ocean. Around since the 1950s, The Surf restaurant/bar has very casual beach vibe and offers outdoor dining on huge deck, TVs for watching sports, music/entertainment schedule varies.

Waterfront, Intracoastal

Dockside dining and drinks at riverfront Down Under Restaurant in Fernandina Beach
Dockside Dining & Drinks, Down Under Restaurant

The Down Under, located under Amelia Island’s Shave Bridge (96106 Wades Place, 904-310-6211). A seafood lover’s menu, waterfront setting, and Southern nautical vibe, the restaurant/bar often features live musical entertainment. Dockside dining and/or drinks inside or out (large riverfront deck with Tiki bar), with floating docks for mariners.

Shuckers Oyster Bar & Grill – 96008 Wade’s Pl, Fernandina Beach (904-277-2580). Waterfront on the river next to Shave Bridge (on the mainland side). Shuckers offers indoor dining plus a nice outdoor area with fire pit, corn hole, and play structure for the kids. For oyster lovers, you can’t go wrong by getting the “big bucket” of steamed oysters, served with crackers, horse radish and cocktail sauce. However, Shuckers has big menu, a lot of seafood and more. The restaurant often features live musical entertainment.

Amelia Island’s South End

Parkway GrilleUPDATE: RESTAURANT CLOSED permanently (year end 2023).

Lagniappe – 4810 First Coast Highway (904-844-2634). While some may stumble pronouncing its Creole name (“LAN-YAP”), don’t trip up by missing out on this fine dining experience. Chef/ and owner, Brian Grimley, moved his culinary talent from Lulu’s at the Thompson House in downtown Fernandina, shifting to Amelia Island’s south end location for this restaurant. He’s met resounding success since, introducing “a little something extra” (the translation of “The Lagniappe”).  Calamari lovers, be sure to try the appetizer here!

Dining at Omni Amelia Island Plantation

Marche Burette “STEAK OUTS” – 85 Amelia Village Circle, 904-491-4834. Not just for resort guests, locals love “Steak Outs” at Omni Amelia Island Plantation. Casual setting, al fresco dining served on rear covered porch and patio lakefront with live music.

Marche Burette, Omni Amelia Island Plantation
Covered Porch & Patio, Marche Burette

“Steak Outs” are seasonal (not offered during winter). This dining experience typically reopens in March and usually wraps up each year around Thanksgiving. Omni offers “Steak Outs” on Friday and Saturday evenings from 5 pm to 9 pm. While Marche Burette’s dinner menu is limited to just a few choices, steak is skillfully prepared on lakeside grill (you can watch chefs).

Marche Burette Steak Out Weekend Dinners Amelia Island Restaurants
Marche Burette Steak Out Weekend Dinners

Choices include a huge 36 ounce Bone-In Ribeye, a more petite 8 ounce Beef Tenderloin or a 10 ounce NY Strip. All dinners are served with a side salad, bread, and loaded baked potato. (Alternative to beef is Salmon.)  

Fine Dining At Ritz-Carlton

Salt (at The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island) — 4750 Amelia Island Pkwy., (904-277-1100). The hotel’s restaurant, Salt, has been awarded AAA Five Diamonds in multiple years. Enjoy a rare fine dining experience at Salt (valet parking, jackets suggested, reservations recommended).

The Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island Beachfront Image (AmeliaIslandLiving.com)
The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island

Another Ritz-Carlton restaurant, Coquina, offers alfresco dining poolside, just steps from the sea, and features flavors inspired by Amelia’s time as a Spanish territory. For more info, call the Ritz-Carlton, 904-277-1100.

Coquina, newest restaurant at Amelia Island's Ritz-Carlton, outdoor dining poolside. Photo by AmeliaIslandLiving.com
Coquina At The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island (Photo Nov. 28, 2020)

Or visit the Ritz Lobby Lounge Bar featuring a special daily bourbon presentation. Also available at the lobby’s bar, Ritz sushi chefs present the freshest seafood with house specialties including the “Amelia Roll.” Another dining option at the Ritz-Carlton is their restaurant, “Coast.”

Pizza & More
Townies Pizzeria vegetable garden, Fernandina Beach, Florida.
“Townies Pizza Farm,” adjacent to restaurant in Fernandina Beach

Townies Pizzeria — 819 TJ Courson Road, Fernandina Beach. Phone: 904-277-4755. Offering specialty pizza, wings, salads, sandwiches and more. Townies has a huge chef’s garden (pictured above) for fresh ingredients. We love their delicious veggie pizza (“Flaco’s Original). Learn more about “Townies Pizza Farm”.

Moon River Pizza — 925 South 14th Street, Fernandina Beach (near Jasmine St.). Phone: 904-321-3400. Pizza, salads (Gorgonzola salad is very popular), calzones, wine and beer.

Loop Pizza Grill — Sadler Road and South 14th Street, Fernandina Beach. Phone: 904-321-0093. Family-style eatery (order at counter then seat yourself). Burgers, pizza, salads, and great ice cream thick shakes.