Vero Beach, an exquisite but relaxed beach town on Florida’s eastern central coast, is known for its stunning expanses of surf and sand, water sports, and intriguing natural ecosystems.
Vero Beach, with its great Atlantic Ocean location, is also noted for its sustainable fishing, which results in extremely fresh seafood. Farmers markets in Vero Beach showcase fresh food that is utilized as frequently as possible in the area’s outstanding restaurants.
Several restaurants provide premium American, Continental, and international cuisine, but the area also has plenty of informal seaside diners selling cheap burgers and delicious seafood feasts. The bottom line is that whatever diners are searching for, they will find it in this beautiful coastal city.
These are some of our favorite restaurants in Vero Beach, whose dinners delighted our taste buds during our recent visit.
Visiting other places in Florida? See our other guides:
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Contents
- 1 The Top 9 Vero Beach Restaurants
- 1.1 Vero Beach Heatons
- 1.2 The Waves
- 1.3 Captain Hirams Resort’s Blackfins Riverfront Grill
- 1.4 Brewery of American Icon
- 1.5 The Wave Restaurant and Bar
- 1.6 Riverside Restaurant
- 1.7 Michaels on 7th Avenue
- 1.8 Vine & Post
- 1.9 Cobalt
- 1.10 Which of these Vero Beach restaurants are you most interested in trying first? Let us know in the comments section below!
The Top 9 Vero Beach Restaurants
Vero Beach Heatons
Ocean Drive (772) 469-44443500
If being only feet from the beach, pleasant sea breezes flowing through your hair, and breathtaking ocean views are important factors in your ideal lunch or dinner eating experience, Heatons is the place to be.
Whilst the restaurant’s decor and atmosphere are wonderful, the beachside location definitely sets the tone. We chose the Blue Crab Cakes as our supper appetizer. They were cooked to perfection and served with creamed corn, a chef’s special sauce, and crisp fennel slaw. I don’t usually trust crabcakes outside of the Chesapeake Bay area, but these were a pleasant surprise.
I genuinely think I could eat lobster until it became extinct, so when I saw it on the menu, I couldn’t pass it up. The 1.5-pound Main Lobster Dinner included a scrumptious entire roasted lobster served with a baked potato and fresh broccolini.
Make space in your stomach for dessert, since Heatons’ sweets are delectable, particularly the Key Lime Trifle and Cheesecake with Mango Coulis and Macerated Strawberries.
The Waves
+1772234396630103 Cardinal Dr, Vero Beach, FL 32963, USA
The Tides is Vero Beach’s premiere fine dining establishment. The Tides, with its pleasant environment and countless gastronomic pleasures, is a favorite with residents, tourists, and businesspeople alike, with a reputation for exceptional service, a menu that changes regularly, and a setting that never loses its luster.
The meal and service were both excellent. That was one of the greatest meals we’ve ever had, on par with some of the top places we’ve visited around the nation.
We started with an onion flatbread and conch fritters. The conch fritters were among the best I’ve ever tasted. After that, the pear salad was shared. It was also rather delicious. I wish I had the dressing recipe.
For entrees, my companion had the peppercorn steak with green beans and mashed potatoes. He said the steak was the best he’d ever had, and the potatoes were delicious.
Popano is a sort of fish that I tried. It turned out to be flaky white fish. It was also rather delicious. Dessert was a flourless chocolate cake and a brownie. Both were delicious, but the brownie was the clear winner. The brownie was wonderful, despite its strange appearance.
Everything came up nicely, and the waitress did an excellent job of ensuring our visit went well and responding to all of our needs without ever being pushy or staying too long. Such an outstanding example of customer service! This location comes highly recommended by me!
Captain Hirams Resort’s Blackfins Riverfront Grill
1606 Indian River Dr (772) 388-8588
Capt. Hirams, located on the gorgeous Indian River, is a true throwback to simpler Florida beach town days. This encounter is enhanced even more by the lively and joyful Bahamas environment.
Blackfins, which serves breakfast, lunch, and supper, is a favorite for wonderful island-style staples like conch fritters, shrimp and grits, and fresh-shucked oysters. Sure youll find a lot of the locals hanging out here. With good cause.
We were sitting on a riverside terrace viewing the water for lunch with a bunch of friends. Pelicans swooped in looking for fish, while happy dolphins frolicked close off shore, putting on quite a display.
The menu includes appetizers, raw bar classics, soups, salads, and major meals. The menu also includes a selection of daily specials. My pasta special had large shrimp, fresh scallops, lump crab meat, and cherry tomatoes in a vodka sauce over penne. A companion ordered the crab filled flounder, a house specialty. This flaky fish was stuffed with crab, then folded and grilled to perfection and topped with a tangy and flavorful key lime beurre Blanc sauce.
While the restaurant is rustic and easygoing, with an old-Florida beach ambiance, it unapologetically portrays local culture. And the meal is simply delicious!
Brewery of American Icon
19th Place (772) 934-42661133
They say it’s all about the beer here, but I’d argue it’s about a lot more! Let us begin with history.
When a brewer uncovered and totally converted the old 1926 Vero Beach Diesel Plant building, it was absolutely vacant. The inside of the building, with its towering ceilings, is particularly interesting since it still retains the original generator and equipment, so drinkers and diners are actually steeped in history. The walls are covered with old images of the power plant, adding to the atmosphere.
The beer selection, which featured cider, captivated us completely. While I enjoy some craft beers, I opted right for the coconut cider and it was a wonderful callunique and incredibly excellent. My beer-obsessed pals praised the inventive and wide beer selection, which included both seasonal and popular craft options.
The gastropub menu includes appetizers, burgers and handhelds, stone pizzas, and salads. The Primo Cheesesteak is a recent offering that has shaved certified Angus beef ribeye, drunk onions and peppers, and melted provolone on a fresh hoagie bread with truffle fries. The Black and Blue Cheeseburger, a gourmet blackened chuck brisket and short rib burger topped with a black and blueberry merlot sauce, is another definite favorite. It’s served on a brioche bun with crumbled bleu cheese, lettuce, and tomato.
The Wave Restaurant and Bar
Ocean Drive (772) 562-99193244
Enjoy the wave is the ideal tagline for this gorgeous seaside eatery. The Wave, located at the Costa d Este Beach Resort & Spa, serves locally produced seafood and vegetables, as well as select Cuban delicacies created by Costa’s famed owners, Emilio and Gloria Estefan.
On a Sunday, this trendy, premium restaurant overlooking the pool and beach was serving brunch with Endless Mimosas and Bloody Marys, as well as a menu of choice platters, eggs, sandwiches, and mains. Fortunately for me, my waiter suggested a house specialty, Fried Calamari & Shrimp. That was a wise decision. The meal was a one-of-a-kind and delicious dish made with crispy peppers, Creole sauce, cherry pepper relish, and Reggiano cheese.
My companion had the Cuban Sandwich with Mojo roasted pork, Swiss cheese, pickles, mustard, and ham on Cuban bread, which was delicious. It’s no surprise that the Estefans know how to make a good Cuban sandwich!
We really loved our leisurely meal at this beach paradise. The cuisine, beverages, atmosphere, and service were all fantastic.
Riverside Restaurant
3341 Bridge Plaza Drive (772) 234-5550
This traditional local diner on Indian River Lagoon is an amazing treat to dine at. For starters, it’s just the kind of pub and restaurant you’d expect to find in a nice coastal Florida town. Second, it is well-liked by the locals. We had a great time watching them land their boat at the wharf and then come inside to eat and drink. Visitors are also invited to feed the catfish that live right next to the dock, which draws hundreds of these voracious eaters.
I’ve gone to a few bars. If your favorite concoction isn’t on the menu, no worries. They’ll figure it out! The 35-inch high-definition TV displays will delight sports aficionados. The bartenders here are polite and entertaining, and they serve beverages quicker than any other establishment.
Riverside’s lunch and dinner menus are packed with appetizers, sandwiches, and main courses. Sunday brunch has an all-you-can-eat buffet with prime rib, shrimp, oysters, and a variety of other Coastal Florida-inspired dishes.
My supper entree was a superbly cooked blackened Mahi-Mahi catch of the day topped with lemon cream and served with yellow rice and grilled veggies. Others in my party enjoyed the Grilled Skirt Steak with onions and mushrooms, as well as the Grouper Piccata, which was egg battered and pan fried golden brown with a lemon, wine, and caper sauce.
This is another spot where you should save space for dessert. I skipped the hors d’oeuvres and forewent eating my savory dinner in favor of my favorite sweet treata piece of decadently excellent handmade Key Lime pie. Well, that was culinary bliss.
Michaels on 7th Avenue
7th Avenue (772) 213-85542217
This delightful down-to-earth casual cafe is concerned about sourcing high-quality, safely produced fresh foods. It is a must-see attraction for anybody visiting Vero Beach. The food is very delicious!
Breakfast and lunch menus, predictably, vary seasonally to reflect what’s fresh from Indian River County’s farms and rivers. Michaels also has daily specials.
The Potted Pimento Cheese with Aunt Jane’s delicious pickle slices and crackers is a must-order beginning. We’re delighted we got two for our table since it’s difficult to stop eating this delicious gourmet delicacy once you’ve tried it.
I couldn’t pass up the Spinach Salad with roasted mushrooms, goat cheese, and grilled fish. Every mouthful was tasty and tingly on the tongue. An MR BLT & A, cooked with thick cut bacon, crunchy lettuce, tomato, sliced avocado, and spiked mayo on griddled country bread, was another pleasure. It’s worth noting that the dishes are substantial and may be shared (but only if you really want to) since the cuisine here is really superb.
Vine & Post
14th Avenue (772) 907-51591919
I’m not sure about you, but I like eating surprises when I travel, and Vero Beach’s Post & Vine did not disappoint.
The downtown dinner-only open-air restaurant is varied, vibrant, and hospitable, with a contemporary Manhattan ambiance. Yet, if the weather changes, visitors may quickly relocate to a more covered location. String lights, palm palms, bougainvillea, and open firepit seating make the covered patio great for resting and drinking a favorite cocktail or bottle of wine.
A local food writer suggested that our group of friends begin our dinner with some shared appetizers. We followed his recommendation and got the Cheese Goddess Portabella and the Filet Tips. Stuffed portabella with cream cheese, shredded provolone, Swiss, parmesan sour cream, sweet onions, scallions, and parsley. That surely received an A+ from all of us.
Seared tenderloin tips were served on a bed of rosemary and thyme mushrooms coated in caramelized onions and drizzled with bordelaise. It doesn’t get much better than this.
Since the appetizers were so full, I settled for a bowl of Lobster Bisque. It was the ideal complement to the delectable start, served with a glass of chilled and creamy Chardonnay. My dining companions raved about the Duroc Pork Chop, Blackened Snapper Tacos, and Soft-Shell Crab Po Boy. You just can’t go wrong with this amazing menu, cuisine, and service.
Cobalt
Ocean Drive (772) 469-10603500
If eating with a view is your thing, as it is mine, then Cobalt in Vero Beach is the place to be. The restaurant, which is open for breakfast, lunch, brunch, and dinner, is only feet from the shore and has panoramic ocean views, amazing surf action, and a wonderful outdoor terrace with firepits. Even the indoor dining room has stunning views.
On our final day in Vero Beach, we joined our group of travelers for breakfast, and what a terrific way to round off our eating adventures at this innovative café.
I was searching for something light since I am not a huge breakfast eater. Let me just express how refreshing the Orange Blossom Yogurt Parfait was. A crispy house-made granola tops grapefruit supremes, strawberries, blueberries, and honey. That was the ideal decision.
My tablemates oohed and aahed over the Crab Benedict, Cobalt’s hallmark brunch offering. A toasted English muffin is topped with a lump crab cake, poached egg, hollandaise sauce, and a field green salad in this rich and delicious delicacy. My buddy approached us and asked if we wanted a sample. I totally plan to order my own the next time I’m here.
There is no love more real than the love of food, according to an anonymous author.
A trip to Vero Beach will undoubtedly bring enough of wonderful meals to fall in love with!