23 Best Restaurants in Palm Beach and the Treasure Coast, Florida

This cavernous spot at Cityplace brings NYC pizza to South Florida. At Adrienne’s you can choose from 12- or 16-inch round or square and 14-inch thin-crust pan pizzas. Preparations range from the basic, but never really basic, Margherita to toppings like ricotta, mushrooms, speck, and pork sausage. And if you’re not craving pizza, there are plenty of other options like carpaccio, wings, meatballs, lasagna, and ravioli.

Perched on the Lake Worth Pier, Benny's has a walk-up bar, a takeout window, and a full-service beach-themed restaurant serving casual fare at bargain prices. "Beach Bread" is a take on a waffle sandwich; the fresh seafood is from Florida waters. Eat-in diners come here for long afternoons of beer and cocktails, enjoying prolific alfresco seating and a spectacular view of the sun glistening on the water and the waves crashing directly below. There's no free parking here, just meters.

There are rooms with a view, and then there's this view: uninterrupted sea from a wraparound veranda at the southern end of Humiston Park. Even better, the food here is a straightforward, delicious celebration of fresh and fabulous. The emphasis is on Florida seafood (don't miss the fresh snapper), with organic and gluten-free touches. Sunset lovers (and bargain hunters) rejoice over the two-course prix-fixe menu Monday through Thursday from 5 to 6 pm. A kids' menu is available.

It's tucked away in a strip mall and has only 50 seats inside (counting the bar) and a handful out on the sidewalk, but everything down to the condiments is made in-house here. Rabbit sausage and noodles or lamb meatball risotto are examples on the seasonal one-page menus the chef puts together daily. When there's fish on the menu from local waters, go for it. At the open kitchen in the warm, modern space, you can banter with the chefs if you sit at the bar.

A sprawling cavern of wood-fired pizzas, pastas, and cocktails, this sibling to popular bûccan is a hit. Soaring ceilings, concrete floors, dark wood, and an open kitchen provide a buzzy backdrop to dishes of nicely charred pies (made with organic flour) and homemade pastas. Like chef--owner Clay Conley's other spots, the food here is hearty, unfussy yet sophisticated, and wonderfully balanced, from the curry cauliflower hummus to the hand-rolled macaroni with Florida rock shrimp and fennel. The popular weekend brunch (with a show-stopping breakfast pizza) fills up during the season, so make a reservation.

Sustainable seafood is the focus at this airy "sea-to-table" spot that dabbles in sushi rolls, grilled fish, and creative American cuisine. The namesake lionfish (an invasive species that wreaks havoc on the local marine ecosystem) shows up in a ceviche bathed in avocado, key lime, and coconut or can be ordered whole and grilled with lemons, capers, and charred greens. A full sushi menu along with larger mains of lamb chops, roasted chicken, and a grass-fed beef burger round out the eclectic menu. The craft cocktails are best enjoyed at the daily weekday happy hour from 4 to 6 pm and from 5 to 6 pm on Saturday and Sunday.

Housed inside the Norton Museum, this bright and spacious restaurant offers both indoor and outdoor seating and light, modern American fare with nods to coastal influence complemented by scenic garden views and a laid-back setting. “Snacks” like the salmon crudo and "ahi tuna bomb" pair nicely with more casual dishes like a classic chicken club and a quiche of the day. There's a full bar with wine and cocktails available as well. Dinner is offered only on Fridays.

Atop the glossy Restoration Hardware store adjacent to The Square is this regal, glass-enclosed atrium outfitted with white couches, crystal chandeliers, lush greenery, and a tinkling fountain. It's proven a hit with all walks of life; everyone basks in the sun-filled room and tucks into seasonal comfort food (prime rib French dip, truffle grilled cheese) and lingers on exceptionally comfortable couches. The food and drink services extend to the Barista Bar off the atrium on level four, which serves craft espresso, homemade pastries, and glasses of wine. You can even take the wine with you while exploring the rest of the showroom as you wait for your table; during the season the waits allow for plenty of perusal time.

French and American influences are clear in the Swiss chef's dishes, from rack of lamb with Dijon mustard to grilled filet mignon stuffed with Roquefort and fresh spinach. The formal dining room has subtle, elegant touches, such as votive candlelight and white tablecloths. A more casual menu is available at the bar.

In downtown West Palm Beach's waterfront district, this hot spot is an alternative to the bar food, tacos, and burgers more common in the area. "Green" cuisine—seasonal salads, vegetarian dishes, and sustainably produced meats and seafood—is making waves at the avocado-theme restaurant. Small plates of stuffed zucchini blossoms, octopus with chorizo and fingerling potatoes, or a mushroom fricassee with grits and truffle oil are examples of plates designed for sharing. A raw bar, specialty sushi, a vegetarian list, and inspired sandwiches are included among the pastas, salads, meats, and fish also listed. A brunch here with an extensive menu is popular. Craft cocktails, a nice wine selection, and beers are served at the long bar in the bistrolike eatery with casual-chic decor. Dine inside or out.

Yes, this pub was actually shipped from England, where it had stood for 150 years in London's historic Chancery Lane. There it was a watering hole for famed English residents, including Winston Churchill; here you may hear stories of lingering ghosts told over some suds. Chow down on a ploughman's lunch (a chunk of Stilton cheese, a piece of bread, a slice of English pork pie, and pickled onions), fish-and-chips, and bangers and mash (sausages with mashed potatoes). This is a pub's pub—nothing fancy, very hearty. English beers and ales are on tap and by the bottle. It's also a late-night place and has live music on weekends.

With a contemporary farm-to-table menu and spacious dining rooms and bars, this spot in PGA Commons has plenty of local fans. Happy-hour crowds fill the patio bar–lounge area to sip the craft cocktails and nibble from a cheese or salumi board. The fare includes such contemporary farm-fresh dishes as a double-cut Duroc pork chop and chophouse steaks, including a daily butcher's cut. Comfort dishes like Jerry's bacon-wrapped meat loaf satisfy those missing their mom's cooking. A separate children's menu is available.

Farm-fresh foods with a Southern accent are served at this chef-owned restaurant with a theater kitchen, where comfort foods are taken to new levels. (Slow Food, a group that celebrates local foods and artisans, has given the restaurant a "Snail of Approval.") The vibe is both hipster and rustic melded into an open (and often noisy) space; the chefs provide entertainment, and the bar is lively. On an ever-changing menu (check the website for the current list), find homemade condiments and jams served with crab hush puppies, sweet-tea fried chicken, or blackened Gulf shrimp. Look for unusual meat dishes as well: a U.S. Prime teres major is a seldom-seen shoulder cut served here with asparagus, warm potato salad, and garlic butter—creative fare in a convivial setting. If listed, don't miss the Grand Marnier soufflé for dessert.

Palm Beach's window on Asia has a sleek sushi bar and floor-to-ceiling glass doors separating the interior from the popular terrace dining area. Chinese, Japanese, Thai, and Vietnamese selections are neatly categorized: Wind (small plates starting your journey), Water (seafood mains), Fire (open-flame wok creations), Earth (meat dishes), and Flavor (desserts, sweets). Pick from dim sum to sashimi, pad Thai to Szechuan beef, steamed sea bass to shrimp lo mein. On weekdays, come for the early shift (5–6 pm) for half-price sushi and cocktails in the restaurant's Dragonfly Lounge.

Taking up the local-food mantle, the menu here includes inventive dishes following the seasons using locally sourced meats, seafood, and vegetables. Whenever possible, the foods are organic or sustainable. Bison meat loaf, a Buddha bowl, and "spasta" (pasta made from squash) with chicken meatballs are some of the popular entrées. Dishes such as the chicken chop tagine or za'atar-spiced salmon are preparations that let foods work with flavors rather than be disguised by them. Vegan and vegetarian dishes, including juices, "mocktails," and desserts, are on the menu, and dietary requests are accommodated with the same creativity. The wine list includes many organic and sustainable varietals. Mixologists apply the same philosophy of fresh, local foods to their craft cocktails.

Expect a wait for dinner, which is not necessarily a bad thing at this island paradise of a waterfront restaurant and bar. Take the wait time to explore the bridges and trails of the open-air tropical oasis, or grab a chair by the river to watch the sunset, listen to the live band, or nibble on some conch fritters at the large tiki bar until your table is ready. Try the lemon-butter hogfish for dinner, and stick around for the live music (a full concert calendar is on the website). Breakfast, offered only on weekends, is good, too. That said, it's more about the view and vibe than the food here.  There's only valet parking on-site; a free lot is about a block away but fills up fast in season.

Decorated with vintage travel posters of its namesake city, this two-level restaurant serves authentic Cuban specialties on the cheap, including great cubanos (pressed roast pork sandwiches), arroz con pollo, and ropa vieja. The friendly place attracts a late-night crowd at its popular walk-up window. Get strong Cuban coffee (often awarded the best in Palm Beach County), sugary fried churros, and fruit juices in exotic flavors like mamey, mango, papaya, guava, and guanabana.

Since 1950, this diner's eat-in counter and "cooked in sight, it must be right" motto have made it a congenial setting for meeting old friends and making new ones. Nowadays, Howley's prides itself on its kitsch factor and old-school eats like turkey potpie and a traditional Thanksgiving feast, as well as its retro-redux dishes like a potato-and-brisket burrito. Forgo the counter for the retro tables or sit out on the covered patio. The café attracts a loyal clientele into the wee hours (it's open weekdays until midnight and weekends until 2 am and has a full bar).

The pick of the lake, this lodge-style restaurant started at the Okee-Tantie campground as a fish place with four tables in a corner. Now the taxidermy-filled joint beckons bikers and tourists for fresh catfish (the signature dish) as well as frogs' legs, alligator tenderloin, and oysters on the half shell. You can also order a selection of ocean fish like mahimahi and snapper. Not feeling like fruits of the Everglades and Lake Okeechobee? There's steak and other land-spun delights. They'll cook your catch, too.

This local favorite is not much to look at and a bit tricky to find, but well worth the search. The fried-food standards you might expect at such a casual, small place that uses plastic utensils are not found on the menu; instead there are fried tuna rolls with basil and panko-crusted fried oysters with spicy fruit salad. A variety of beers are fun to pair with the creatively prepared seafood dishes that include wahoo, mahimahi, and snapper, all of which are locally sourced. Wait for your table next door at Maxi's Lineup—also under Moir's ownership—during the busy winter season when lines are long.

The hidden-garden setting is the secret to the success of this European-style pizzeria, where you can dine under a canopy of century-old banyans in an intimate courtyard. Specialties are 12-inch hand-tossed brick-oven pizzas with toppings such as prosciutto, arugula, and caviar. There's even a carbonara breakfast pizza (part of a small morning menu) and a Nutella dessert pizza. Piping-hot calzones, salads, and baked pastas round out the choices. Next to the patio, look for the grave markers of Addison Mizner's beloved pet monkey, Johnnie Brown, and Rose Sachs's dog, Laddie (she and husband Morton bought Mizner's villa and lived there for 47 years). Delivery is available at night.

West Palm Beach's Rhythm Cafe is anything but Palm Beach formal (the decor includes a feathered pink flamingo perched on the terrazzo floor). Fun, funky, cheesy, campy, and cool all at once, the former 1950s-era drugstore-cum-restaurant on West Palm Beach's Antique Row features an ever-changing creative menu of homemade items with Italian, Greek, American, and Creole influences. Favorites include "tapas-tizers" like the lemon-doused saganaki (flaming cheese) and the goat-cheese-onion pie and main courses like the graham-cracker-crusted chicken in Key lime sauce and fish of the day.

The tropical incarnation of the fabled Upper East Side boîte frequented by New York’s chicest set, this pop-up takes residency at The Colony hotel during the fall and winter season. Known as “a club without dues,” the restaurant attracts a devoted clientele of socialites and aristocratic types (names like Lauder and Kennedy are on the guest list), who come for straightforward American and European cuisine ("designer" meat loaf, crab cakes, curried chicken salad) with friendly and impeccable service in a sophisticated yet relaxed environment. Alfresco dining is available at Swifty’s POOL, bringing the classic spirit of Swifty’s outdoors, serving lunch and dinner daily.