Situated on the Atlantic coast, this seafront city has pretty much everything going for it, from a great late-night clubbing scene to plenty of family entertainment places for you to check out.
And, of course, that isn’t even touching on the gorgeous seafront that goes out into the Atlantic Ocean. Those deep blue waters, coupled with a tropical beachfront, are about as picturesque as you can get on the East Coast!
However, fun games are only part of a good seaside city visit. Just as much can be said about the many, MANY, restaurants and food vendors that you’ll find along pretty much every street. Too many to try of them out, that’s for sure!
So, if you’re looking to pick out the best of the best places to grab a bite to eat in Daytona (see also “Amazing Places To Eat In Tallahassee“), this is going to be the list for you!
We’re starting this list with one of our favorite restaurants/cafés in the city, Red Bud Cafe!
Located in the heart of the Seabreeze Historic District of the city, this is a café and restaurant that has a little bit of everything, when it comes to cuisines and flavors.
The owners of this fine little establishment always dreamed of setting up a restaurant that could be filled with delicacies acquired and inspired by world flavors.
And with classic American, Caribbean, French, and even Latin American flavors on the menu, we’d say that they’ve achieved their dream!
You can order your food from Red Bud Cafe to take out or deliver to your doorstep. But if you did that, you may also miss out on a comfy little café that is full of all the furnishings of a home, without coming across as cluttered or unprofessional.
This is easily one of the best food places to check out if you’re visiting, especially if you and your group can’t decide on a single cuisine or kind of restaurant!
When it comes to the best places in a given city to eat, almost every list of this kind will point to the best restaurants or delicatessens in the area (see also “Amazing Places To Eat In Pensacola“).
Which is fine, they get their amazing reputations for a reason. But it does mean that you’ll often miss out on the places that residents love to eat at, you know? The places that speak to the character of a city as a place to live, rather than visit.
Well, as luck would have it, Daytona Beach has a restaurant diner that manages to balance that fine line between must-see food spots in the city, while also being a place that the folks of Daytona regularly stop by.
This is arguably THE place to go when it comes to southern soul food and has stayed in the hearts (and bellies) of customers long after they’ve left, with classic ribs, fries, rice, beans, and so much more.
Add to that the fact that this is also a very reasonable place when it comes to price (a full breakfast can be as little as $5), it’s no wonder that locals and visitors looking to eat on the cheap love it here!
Of course, pretty much every city on the East Coast has at least one or two great Italian restaurants to try out. And very often, there’s always at least one that residents and tourists will point you towards when asked.
For Daytona Beach, that place is Don Vito’s Italian restaurant! First opened in 2010, this restaurant has taken the city by storm, and has claimed the title of THE Italian restaurant!
From the classic Italian dishes that everyone knows and loves, like lasagnas and pizzas, to the staple classic that every authentic Italian restaurant has, like their incredible Stromboli (our recommendation, if you’re looking for some pointers).
This is a restaurant that can please pretty much anyone’s palette, and is an easy recommendation from us!
Being a coastal city, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Daytona Beach has some of the best seafood foods and restaurants in the country, even in the competitive ring that is the East Coast.
And, of these amazing seafood restaurants, we just had to go with Bay Street Seafood as our personal favorite!
Don’t worry, you don’t have to take a trip to London to get to this place!
Located inside the Daytona Hilton Hotel, this steakhouse might just be one of the best in the state, never mind the city!
If you’re an enjoyer of both classic rib-eye steaks, as well as the supremely delicate wagyu beef that has taken the world by storm in the last few years, this is THE place to go. It caters to pretty much any kind of steak taste that you could hope for, and then some!
Plus, depending on what you have planned, this venue caters to both public dining and private events. So, if you’ve got a big occasion coming up on your calendar, you know where you should be looking!
Who doesn’t love a good Irish pub? With such a strong Irish American presence (especially on the East Coast), it should be no surprise that there are quite a few in Daytona Beach.
However, for our money, in terms of food and overall atmosphere, Houligan’s Irish Sports Pub takes the crown as the best of them.
Houligan’s is famed for its trademark ‘Wally wings’, but they do a massive range of amazing foods too, from mouthwatering burgers, superb salads, and mouthwatering sandwiches.
This is an Irish pub with families in mind too, so it’s totally fine to bring along the kids for a hearty helping of wings for them to enjoy too!
There are quite a few Houligan’s Irish bars that have cropped up across the city, and pretty much all of them are winners in our books. Still, we’d recommend checking out Houligan’s Original Irish sports pub, if you’re looking for the best experience!
All the restaurants, bars, and cafés that we’ve covered are great in their way, but if you’re looking for a dining experience that is both charming and professionally exquisite, then Chucherias restaurant, located in the Marketplace building, is the place for your fine-dining experiences.
From the moment you step in, you know that this place means serious business, from the professional waiter and bar staff to the well decorated, but well arranged. The vibes are on-point here!
And, of course, that isn’t even mentioning the amazing food that you’ll find here. Chucherias specializes in Latin American, Iberian, and Caribbean cuisine, so there’s plenty on offer for all flavor palettes here.
If you don’t know what to pick here, and you’re looking for food recommendations, we would wholeheartedly recommend the roasted pork, in pretty much any form that you can find it in!
Now, if you’re looking for a classic American dining experience, you can’t go wrong with Starlite Diner!
From the moment that you step through the entrance, pretty much everything in this faithfully recreated diner screams classic Americana. Whether it’s the chrome barstool seats, to the simple yet still amazing foods on offer here.
From French toast to waffles, and good coffee to milkshakes, this is the perfect place to grab a breakfast-inspired meal, whether you’re on your own after a long day or part of a party.
While they may have fallen out of fashion a little in the past few years, Tiki bars still have something of a cult following and appeal, especially in and around the tropics.
Daytona is lucky enough to have one of the best Tiki lounges on the East Coast, the Trader’s Restaurant!
Found on South Atlantic Avenue, the vibes of this place are on full display the moment you walk through the door. The drinks are amazing, as you would expect from any good tiki bar, but it was the food that blew us away!
From the burgers that we just couldn’t get enough of, to the seafood and rice dishes.
We are by the sea in Daytona so that probably shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, but it’s still amazing!
Finally, if you’re looking for the best BBQ shack in the city, there’s only one place that you can turn to.
Hog Heaven is exactly what it sounds like: The succulent taste of heavenly grilled and BBQed meat, perfected and distilled in this single restaurant on the corner of Atlantic Avenue.
Whether it’s succulent pork, the perfect beef steaks, or the best buffalo wings that you could ever taste, there’s something for every kind of meat lover in this independently run and owned restaurant!
Final Notes
So, both visitors and residents of Daytona City are spoiled for choice when it comes to fine dining here!
From local delicacies to far-flung flavors from across the world, there’s something for everyone in this little Atlantic coast city.
So, which of these places will you try on your next visit?
Hello, it’s great to have you here. My name is Julia and I am a travel blogger! I have been writing all of my life, and previously worked for a travel agency where I would recommend the best places to visit in the states.
If you are ready to take on the world, explore the sights, and see some of the most incredible places on offer, then take a look at some of my articles!
