The best waterfront restaurants and bars in the Daytona Beach area

Enjoy the waterfront views at these places in Volusia County while enjoying a burger and beer or perhaps fresh grouper and a cocktail.

Living near Daytona and the World's Most Famous Beach is definitely one of the best perks of my job, but my absolute favorite part is dining at restaurants overlooking our Atlantic coastline and nearby waterways. Being able to enjoy the waterfront landscape at sunset while enjoying anything from a burger and beer to fresh grouper and a cocktail is one of those experiences I can't get enough of. So when it's time to pick a restaurant, and you know you want views alongside your dish, refer back to this list. Here are the best waterfront restaurants in Volusia County.

Aunt Catfish's on the River

 

4009 Halifax Drive, Port Orange; 386-767- 4768

Aunt Catfish's on the River is a Southern treat many locals love. While dining, one can enjoy a view of the Halifax River, crispy catfish bites and fries, and classic Southern sides at the all-you-can-eat "fish camp fixins" bar such as potato salad, baked beans, cheesy grits and cinnamon rolls fresh out the oven. Aunt Catfish's staff is welcoming and sweet just like your Southern grandma. There is a play area for small children and beer and wine for the adults.

Breakers Restaurant

 

518 Flagler Ave., New Smyrna Beach; 386-428-2019; facebook.com/breakersnsb

If you want a tasty burger to pair with your waterfront views, Breakers Restaurant is the perfect place for you. Breakers is located right on the beach at the end of Flagler Avenue in New Smyrna Beach. The floors are sandy, the music is good and you feel like you're living on island time. The large bar almost fills the entire restaurant, and there is seating alongside the big sliding windows that open and let the beach breeze in. The eatery is known for its great burgers and upbeat vibes so Breakers really does create a "cheeseburger in paradise" experience.

Caribbean Jack's

 

721 Ballough Road Daytona Beach; 386-523-3000, caribbeanjacks.com

Caribbean Jack's offers happy hour, live music and great company with views of the Halifax River in Daytona Beach. The menu has many sharable items to enjoy with your crew, my favorites being the Caribbean nachos and sesame-crusted tuna. Jack's also has a large selection of libations such as buckets of beer, frozen cocktails and specialty drinks to enjoy during their daily happy hour deals.

Fysh Bar and Grill

 

3633 S. Ridgewood Ave., Port Orange; 386-492-5252, facebook.com/fyshbarandgrill 

Fysh Bar and Grill in Port Orange opened in October with waterfront views of the Halifax River and live music most days. The large eatery can accommodate more than 600 guests and has four kitchens, three full bars, a raw bar, gelato station and a rooftop bar. The two-in-one casual and fine dining restaurant offers American, Japanese and Italian dishes with options such as sushi, pasta, pizza, high-end steak, lobster and local seafood. 

Hidden Treasure Tiki Bar and Grill

 

5993 S. Ridgewood Ave., Port Orange; 386-756-9565, facebook.com/HiddenTreasure

Hidden Treasure in Port Orange has fun for everyone. Whether you want to enjoy live music with views of Rose Bay or get your feet wet in the bay, this Tiki Bar and Grill has got you covered. Rosebay Watersports is located at the restaurant and offers paddle boarding, kayaks, pedal boats and more. For those just wanting to dine-in, Hidden Treasure has happy hour on food and drinks every day and weekly events such as ladies' night and kids' night. The restaurant is also pet friendly and has a menu just for your furry friend.

The Grille at Riverview

 

101 Flagler Ave., New Smyrna Beach; 386-428-1865, thegrilleatriverside.com

For those wanting a slightly more elevated dining experience with a waterfront view, The Grille at Riverview is a great place to switch out the bathing suit for some casual evening attire. Enjoy views of the Indian River North alongside your filet mignon, linguine and clams, or shrimp scampi paired with a cocktail or selection from their lengthy wine list.

Mama Foo Foo

 

125 Basin Street, Daytona Beach; 386-287-0180, facebook.com/mffdaytona

Located on the Halifax River, Mama Foo Foo's is a fun spot for sipping craft cocktails with your crew (especially my crew!) while gazing at the waterfront views and boats and perhaps enjoying live music. The captivating design of the restaurant is mysterious yet lively with dark tones but lots of vibrant plants. The craft cocktails are some of the best in Daytona Beach and the beer and wine menu has something for everyone. The food menu offers main courses and shareable plates, my favorite being the truffle arancini, which is arborio rice, black truffle, oyster mushroom and parmesan fried to perfection. The restaurant also serves brunch on the weekends.

Ocean Deck

 

127 S. Ocean Ave. Daytona Beach; 386-253-5224, facebook.com/OceanDeck

Opened in 1957, Ocean Deck offers happy hour on drinks and food, live entertainment and of course front row views of the Atlantic Ocean to enjoy with your toes in the sand. It has sandy floors and fun energy ("Deck shots!") for those wanting to hang loose at one of the most iconic beach bars in Florida.

Outriggers Tiki Bar and Grille

 

200 Boat Yard St. New Smyrna Beach; 386-428-6888, facebook.com/outrigger

Located on the Indian River North, the boat-friendly Outriggers has views, live music, happy hour deals on food and drinks and a pet-friendly patio. The restaurant's menu features peel-and-eat shrimp, tacos, steak, burgers and a large drink list including signature specials and frozen beverages. Outriggers also offers a "paws menu" for our four-legged best friends.

Racing's North Turn

 

4511 S. Atlantic Ave., Ponce Inlet; 386-322- 3258, racingsnorthturn.com

Another one of Florida's most famous beach bars, Racing's North Turn on the shoreline in Ponce Inlet is filled with NASCAR memorabilia and also serves delicious Key lime pie. This waterfront eatery is exactly what you picture when you think of a beachside restaurant: awesome views, live music and good food. The menu has many seafood dishes as well as burgers and such but my go-to is the pulled pork nachos that could feed a family of four.

RiverGrille on the Tomoka

 

950 N. U.S.-1 Ormond Beach, FL 32174; 386-615-2004, facebook.com/rivergrille

RiverGrille on the Tomoka River, a causal Cajun-inspired eatery offers rustic views and relaxing vibes in Ormond Beach. The menu has many seafood options including boils with shrimp and crab, platters with your choice of seafood with two sides, and for those wanting meat, RiverGrille smokes chicken wings, pork and ribs. The restaurant offers a full bar menu with seasonal cocktails, as well.

Top of Daytona

 

2625 S. Atlantic Ave., Daytona Beach; 386-310-7849, topofdaytona29.com

If you're looking for a restaurant with an elevated waterfront view to celebrate a special occasion or just need a reason to get dressed up (as in changing out of your flip-flops) Top of Daytona has a spectacular view from the 29th floor of Peck Plaza in Daytona Beach. The restaurant offers land and sea dishes with favorites being the oven-roasted half duckling that has crunchy skin and an orange glaze sauce, and the Chilean sea bass drizzled with a leek and tomato sauce. I'm also a fan of their complimentary fresh bread and the live music acts that add to the ambience.