Best Restaurants in New Smyrna Beach: A Local's Guide

New Smyrna Beach has a food scene that consistently surprises people who expect typical beach-town fare. Yes, there's excellent fried seafood and cold beer — but there's also housemade pasta, a genuine craft cocktail scene, farm-to-table sourcing, and spots that have been drawing devoted regulars for decades. This is the real shortlist.

• Third Wave Café & Wine Bar — consistently excellent. A 90-year-old cottage with a shaded garden courtyard, a resident rooster who may or may not appear, and a menu built around local sourcing. The shrimp and grits with chorizo is the standout. Happy hour runs 3–5 PM with half-price wine. Closed Tuesdays. Book ahead for weekends.
• Breakers on the Beach — right on the sand with ocean views. Solid food with the best location on the island.
• Ciao Bella — Italian on Flagler. Good pasta, good wine, good atmosphere.
• Café Verde — a Mediterranean-style café tucked behind Clancy's on Flagler. Globally inspired menu with excellent vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options alongside gyros and tortas. Recently renovated and one of the most beautiful dining rooms in NSB.
• Avanu — Polynesian-inspired rooftop dining on Flagler. Fresh poke, shellfish, and $1 oysters on weekdays. The rooftop views of NSB are hard to beat.
• Flagler Ave Pizza — quick, reliable, exactly what you want after a beach day.
• Go Juice — smoothies, açaí bowls, cold-pressed juice. The healthy stop on Flagler for before or after the beach.

• Third Wave Smokehouse — the BBQ sibling operation. Brisket, pulled pork, smoked wings, sides that don't embarrass the meat. More casual than the Café but just as intentional.
• Corkscrew Bar & Grill — consistent food, solid cocktails, always a good crowd. Reliable for a mid-week dinner without planning.
• Big Mike's Burgers — a walk-up smash burger window. Pretzel bun, Pimento Bacon Jam Burger, thick waffle fries. Perfect after a long morning on the water.
• Prima — pizza and garlic knots done right. Intimate room, simple menu, everything made fresh. Worth the visit.
• Sugar Works Distillery — small-batch spirits made in-house, excellent cocktails. If you drink well, this is your stop on Canal Street.
• The Spot — a speakeasy on Canal Street. Craft cocktails, dim lighting, and the kind of atmosphere that makes you feel like you discovered something. Ask around for the entrance.

• The Garlic — arguably the most beloved restaurant in NSB. No reservations, ever. String lights everywhere, vines climbing the walls, a complimentary roasted garlic bulb at every table. The Seafood Cannelloni and Shrimp and Scallop Scampi have regulars who plan their visits around them. Arrive before 5 PM or plan to wait.
• Merk's — wings are the reason people come, but the full menu holds up. Order the Frankenstein: wings tossed, then grilled, then retossed. The sports bar vibe is casual and reliable.
• Lost Lagoon — a local favorite worth finding. Great food, great vibe.
• Baker's Table — fresh-baked everything. If you appreciate good bread and pastries, this is your stop.
• SoNapa Grille — upscale casual with a solid wine list and refined American dishes. A good date night pick.
• Spanish River Grill — tapas-style plates and homemade sangria on the water. Always packed, always worth it. Reservations are taken and used.

• JB's Fish Camp — on the Indian River Lagoon at the south end of the island. Smoked fish dip, boil pots, cold draft beer. Picnic tables on the water.
• Boston's Fish House — solid seafood spot with a loyal local following. Fresh catch, good portions, no-frills atmosphere.
• Outriggers — waterfront seafood with cold drinks and good views. A reliable pick for a casual meal on the water.

• Third Wave Café — opens for brunch on weekends. The eggs benedict and pastries are worth the wait.
• Wake Up Café — casual, quick, solid. Good breakfast without a long wait.
• Manzano's — the closest thing to a New York bagel you'll find in NSB. If you know, you know.
• The Beacon — small, local, consistently good breakfast plates. The locals' choice for a quiet weekday morning.
• Mermaid Café — great breakfast spot. Get the beignets.

• Third Wave Café & Wine Bar: half-price wine, 3–5 PM, Tuesday excepted.
• Sugar Works Distillery: cocktail specials and their rotating spirits lineup. 4–6 PM weekdays.
• Corkscrew Bar & Grill: $5 margaritas every day, all day. That's not a typo.
• The Garlic: no happy hour deal, but arriving at 4 PM for an early table is essentially the strategy.

• The Garlic accepts no reservations under any circumstances. This is the rule.
• Spanish River Grill and Prima both take reservations and fill up on weekends — book 5–7 days out in season.
• JB's Fish Camp fills up fast on weekends — arrive early or expect a wait.
• Third Wave Café is closed Tuesdays. Don't show up Tuesday.
• Parking on Flagler Avenue is free but fills up fast in season — arrive early or walk.