Where to Find Fun, Food and Fashion In Delray Beach, Florida

By Tina Walsh

Photographs Courtesy Of Tina Walsh

Looking for fun in southeast Florida? Look no further than Delray Beach! With accolades like “Most Fun Small Town in the USA” and one of “America’s Happiest Seaside Towns”, Delray Beach is a small town that gives you a big-city experience. In the late 1800’s, Delray Beach was a haven for shipwreck victims. Today it is a haven for visitors looking for a vibrant South Florida experience. This walkable city starts at the sparkling, azure waters of the Atlantic Ocean and ends six miles inland at the fresh water Wakodahatchee Wetlands. In between, there are restaurants, shops and attractions that delight visitors and draw them back year after year.

Where To Stay

Start by staying at the most fun place in Delray Beach, Crane’s Beach House

This luxury tropical oasis has beautifully renovated rooms, suites, and villas, surrounded by verdant gardens, all with indulgent amenities and full kitchens. There are two swimming pools surrounded by lush foliage, and intimate conversation areas and colourful accents that invoke a Key West feel to the property.

Each room is equipped with thick beach towels and backpack beach chairs allowing you to enjoy the beautiful beach that is only one block to the east. Lively Atlantic Avenue, with its multiple art galleries, upscale boutiques, and vast array of restaurants, awaits you one block to the north. Crane’s Beach House is a relaxing sanctuary in the “Most Fun Small Town in the USA”.

Eat At Fun Restaurants

Choices on where to eat in Delray Beach can be overwhelming. Breakfast fans will enjoy the oceanfront Caffe Luna Rosa, or the covered patio at Over the Bridge Cafe. For the light breakfast eater, head to Amar Bakery for a luscious Mediterranean sweet and a cup of freshly brewed coffee. Late risers can get brunch at both Caffe Luna Rosa and Over the Bridge Cafe, daily, and at Deck 89 on the weekends. There are many choices for lunch in Downtown Delray Beach. A couple of favourites are El Camino, Lemongrass Asian Bistro and Papa’s Tapas. Stop in at Gelato & Go for a sweet pick-me-up in the afternoon or as a sugary nightcap.

The deliciousness continues in the evening. For dinner, try the eclectic DaDa located in one of the oldest historic houses in Delray Beach. They have an interesting menu that changes seasonally. Don’t miss the perennial DaDa Dates, an outstanding take on bacon wrapped dates, accented with chorizo, Manchego salsa and Marcona almonds. Fish lovers’ must-have is the fresh catch which is sourced weekly from local fisherman.

Lionfish and Chips at Lionfish

Another excellent choice for dinner is Lionfish on Atlanta Avenue. This is a sea-to-table restaurant with some tasty land options, too. Named for an invasive species of fish, Lionfish is doing its part to help save the ocean’s ecosystem by featuring its namesake on its menu. Lionfish are ravaging the ocean, particularly the Caribbean, by devouring fellow sea life and damaging coral reefs. The rare, delicious white flaky fish is available as fish and chips and a citrus-infused ceviche on the Lionfish menu. Every lionfish you enjoy from the ocean, you help preserve future generations of other types of fish.

Fun Abounds In Delray Beach

ADULT FUN

In the evening, Downtown Delray Beach comes alive with music, street performers, and a festive atmosphere. The streets are lined with open air cafes and restaurants. Shops stay open later to catch the post-beach crowds. It is not unusual to see couples dancing on the sidewalks, either!

Saltwater Brewery is Delray Beach’s first local production microbrewery. Created by Floridians with passions such as surfing, fishing, boating, and the ocean, in general, they perfect each batch of the beer, using only natural ingredients. Each style of handcrafted beer is given a name inspired by the ocean to reflect the lifestyle and passion of the founders.

From the beginning, their goal was to help maintain the world’s greatest wonder by giving to ocean-based charities such as Coastal Conservation Association, Surfrider, and Ocean Foundation. Saltwater Brewery is the first brewery to package and sell beer with the Eco Six Pack Rings. This eco-friendly six pack ring is made from by-product waste and other compostable materials. It was developed to replace plastic rings, which are truly damaging to the ocean and the animals who live in it.

The brewery is in an historic building that was once a feedstore. The atmosphere is lively and kid friendly. Grab a beer or canned cocktail and have a bite from their rotating food trucks. If Chicago Me Up is there, don’t miss their Italian beef sandwich. Enjoy this deliciousness while watching a sporting event on the big screen or playing a game of indoor shuffleboard.

Throw Social is a playful, open air, happy hour, evening, or late-night venue that combines backyard-style games with music, entertainment, delicious bites, and cocktails. Throw Social offers 11,000 square feet of a non-traditional bar scene. Live music starts at noon on weekends and at 7:00pm during the week, with a late-night DJ until 2:00am on weekends. There are light up ping pong tables, corn hole, a giant chess game as well as traditional size board games, all designed for adult fun. Honey and Tin Roof also offer live music, late-night DJs, and dancing. All are located near the corner of Atlantic Avenue and Second Street in Downtown Delray Beach.

The Arts

Historically, Delray Beach is steeped in the arts. In the 1920’s, it became a seasonal artist’s and writer’s colony. The Arcade Tap Room was the gathering place for these creative minds. This distinct red building still stands on Atlantic Avenue. Delray Beach continued to be popular as a winter retreat for creative minds through the 1930’s and 1940’s. By strolling around town, you will see outdoor art installations, galleries, theatres, and wall murals all illustrating the community embracing their artist roots. You can pick up a map of galleries and art installations at the Visitor Center on the corner of Atlantic Avenue and A1A. If you are visiting during the first week of the month, don’t miss their First Friday Self-Guided Art Walk.

Old School Square is a hidden gem that is often overlooked by visitors. Located at the corner of Atlantic Avenue and Swinton Avenue, this campus was built in the early 1900’s as the Delray Elementary and Delray High Schools. Today, the building has been readapted into an arts centre, housing the Cornell Art Museum, the Crest Theatre, an amphitheatre, a vintage gym, and a Live Oak shaded park. The restored early 20th century school buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Live music performances and community events are frequently held in these spaces. Art lovers will also want to visit Arts Warehouse located on Artist Alley in the Pineapple Grove District, Arts Warehouse is a creative breeding ground for studio artists. There are gallery exhibitions, visual art workshops, professional development opportunities and special events.

No trip to Delray Beach is complete without spending some time shopping along Atlantic Avenue. This trendy, pedestrian-friendly street is shaded with mature palm trees and lined with shops, restaurants, and art galleries. Atlantic Avenue is walkable, which is perfect if you want to take your time window shopping and people watching. There are multiple upscale tropical boutiques for men and women as well as art galleries and surf shops. Don’t miss Blue Gallery, which encompasses an entire city block, Andrea Dupree for gently used and new designer handbags, Headache Trading Company for collectable sneakers and urban wear, the Delray Kollective for locally designed and crafted jewellery, apparel and home décor and A Blast from the Past for vintage clothing, accessories, and home décor.

Explore The Historical Roots Of Delray Beach

Delray Beach Historical Society was founded in 1964 with a mission to “collect, preserve and share materials from Delray Beach’s past, so that present and future generations can comprehend more fully their predecessors, their communities and themselves”. Through themed programs, events, and exhibits, they showcase Delray’s colourful history. Their lush, one-acre campus houses the city archive, three historic cottages, and a Florida-native heritage garden.

The cottages are home to several permanent exhibits, illustrating Delray Beach history from the first inhabitants to modern times. There is a new exhibit that explores Delray Beach history from the 1950’s to the 1970’s, covering post-war optimism, tourism and development, the civil rights movement, the transformational 60’s, the Haitian migration, politics, and counterculture themes. Call ahead to check for hours or to schedule a docent-led tour. For specific information on the history of people of African descent in Palm Beach County, visit Spady Cultural Heritage Museum. For specific information on the history of people of Japanese descent in Palm Beach County, visit Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens.

FAMILY-FRIENDLY FUN

Delray Beach and Atlantic Dunes Beach are named as some of the top beaches in the southeastern U.S. by Travel Holiday Magazine. Delray Municipal Beach is popular with people of all ages. You will see families enjoying a day in the waves, young people playing volleyball, and everyone basking in the warm sun. Visitors can rent chairs and umbrellas at Oceanside Beach Rental right on the sand at Atlantic Avenue and A1A. To rent skim, body, paddle, and surfboards, head to Island Water Sports, a half a block from the beach on Atlantic Avenue.

Silver Ball Arcade and Pub is a large museum featuring more than 150 video games and pinball machines dating as far back as the 1930s. Their goal is to “bring a bit of nostalgia to visitors, evoking childhood memories for adults while creating new memories for younger generations”. You can play classic video games such as Pac-Man on their two floors that contain pinball machines, arcade games and even the original Skee-Ball alleys from New York’s Coney Island, Eldorado Arcade. The best part about it is that all the games are free to play with your admission ticket. There is a casual dining restaurant that serves soft drinks and adult beverages on site.

To explore South Florida’s freshwater wetlands, head to Green Cay or Wakodahatchee Wetlands Parks. They offer over 100 acres of wetlands, accessible by elevated boardwalks. These verdant, tranquil parks offer opportunities to observe Florida’s wildlife in their natural habitat. At Green Cay Nature Center, you will find exhibits focused on the area’s natural ecosystem, live animals, a theatre, and a gift shop. In both parks, you will walk on a boardwalk system through Cypress swamps, Cabbage Palm wetlands and hardwood environments. The birdwatching and wildlife photography opportunities are outstanding. There is no charge to explore these treasures.

Visit Sandoway Discovery Center for a fun experience for the whole family. Found in an historic house directly on the Atlantic Ocean, this hands-on natural history museum offers educational programs, guided tours, and unique exhibits. On the lush grounds, you will find a butterfly garden and pollinator habitats. There are nurse shark feedings daily and sting rays to pet on the covered back patios. Inside, there are several intriguing displays, including a large collection of tropical shells, awaiting you on the upper floors. Sandoway Discovery Center endeavours to educate and enlighten visitors on the importance of conservation and protecting our environment. This is a fun activity for a rainy day or if you need a break from the beach.

Whether you are looking for fun, food or fashion; exploring the outdoors from a boardwalk; petting a stingray or playing 1980’s Pac-Man, Delray Beach offers something for all ages.

Atlantic Avenue will keep fashionistas and foodies busy for days. Music, arts, and history await you throughout the city. It is easy to see why they call Delray Beach “The Most Fun Small Town in the USA”. UA