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Deerfield beach restaurants are located along the main thoroughfare in the city’s downtown, just a quick walk from the Deerfield Pier and some of the best beachfront hotels in town. Here you can find plenty of choices from classic American dishes to seafood and Mexican fares.
For those who have a sweet tooth, there are several places in Deerfield Beach that sell desserts, pastries, and ice cream.
✅ Read: Best beachfront restaurants in Fort Lauderdale
In this guide, I will cover the best Deerfield Beach restaurants on the water, in the city’s downtown and a bit further away.
Where’s Deerfield Beach?
Deerfield Beach sits along the southeastern coast of Florida, just north of Fort Lauderdale and south of Boca Raton. The city is known for its beautiful beaches and waterfront areas, making it a popular destination for tourists and residents alike.
Travel resources for your trip to Florida
- Accommodations in Fort Lauderdale – I use Booking
- Flights to Florida – I use CheapAir
- Travel insurance in Florida – I use SafetyWing
- Guided tours in Fort Lauderdale and other popular destinations in Florida – I use Viator
- Car rentals in Florida – I use DiscoverCars
1. Pukara Peruvian Cuisine on the Beach
South Florida has many great Peruvian restaurants in popular destinations like Hollywood Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, and Deerfield Beach.
Named after the town in Southern Peru, Pukara is one of the best Deerfield Beach restaurants on the water, that offers traditional Peruvian dishes like causes, and ceviches, as well as soups and salads, perfect if you are looking for a break from the typical seafood and American cuisine on the beach.
Aside from the classic Peruvian staples, they have a few vegetarian dishes like mushroom ceviche and sautéed mushrooms. Their menu desserts include flan cakes, chocolate cakes, passion fruit cheesecake, and four leches cake, which makes for a nice finish to your meal.
If you want to try great Peruvian food in the beach setting, this place is a must.
Address: 241b N Ocean Dr, Deerfield Beach, FL 33441, United States
2. Whale’s Rib
Located right across from the beach, Whale’s Rib is one of the staples of the Deerfield Beach food scene that offers a nice laid-back atmosphere with rustic and se-inspired sea decors.
The restaurant offers plentiful seafood options, reasonable prices, and hearty portions. I highly recommend their potato skins and Key Lime Pie. Popular menu items include rock shrimp, mahi mahi fish, and scallops.
➡️ Read: Best things to do in Dania Beach
The restaurant doesn’t have a big parking area available, but if it is full, you can find a parking space in the parking structure about a block away.
It’s a busy spot in the heart of Deerfield Beach, so if you are visiting in the afternoon or on a weekend, it’s not uncommon to have to wait outside. If you need to kill some time, there are some cute shops across the street, where you can buy swimsuits, souvenirs, and light snacks.
Address: 2031 NE 2nd St, Deerfield Beach, FL 33441, United States
3. Amante Italian Cuisine
If you are looking for some delicious pizza in Deerfield Beach, don’t miss this popular casual restaurant. Although I didn’t have a chance to try their food, my friends told me that their appetizers, especially the mozzarella sticks, eggplant parmesan, and crab cake appetizers are pretty good.
➡️ Check my guide to the best restaurants in Las Olas
The restaurant has good music and boasts a chill and cozy ambiance. Their shrimp alfredo, garlic bread, and espresso martinis are very popular with customers. While some restaurants in Deerfield Beach are popular tourist spots, Amante has plenty of local clientele that loved this place and keeps coming back!
Address: 2068 NE 2nd St, Deerfield Beach, FL 33441, United States
4. Casa Maya Grill
Casa Maya is my go-to spot for delicious Mexican food in Deerfield Beach. This Yucatan-inspired eatery offers a combination of dishes from the southern region of Mexico and also has delicious vegan soup, vegetarian enchiladas, and burritos for lunch.
➡️ Read: Best hotels in Delray Beach
They have hand-made corn tortillas stuffed with black refried beans, that come with many toppings. One of the things you have to try t this place is their tacos which come in many types and flavors like Mayan, Campechanos, Pot Chuc, and crispy Tuna.
Address: Cove Shopping Center, 301 SE 15th Terrace, Deerfield Beach, FL 33441, United States
5. Burrito Social
Burrito Social is a Puerto Rican chain that has several stores in South Florida, including Deerfield Beach.
The restaurant bills itself as Margarita Bar and Taqueria with coastal views. Here you can try burritos, fajitas, tacos, and other Mexican-inspired dishes with a seafood twist. Their menu includes options like guacamole, quest dips, stuffed jalapeños, nachos, and quesadillas. Oh, and their mojitos are fabulous.
The staff was very friendly and accommodating, the service is very prompt. If you are looking for a casual lunch in a fun and social atmosphere, you simply can’t go wrong with this place.
Although they mostly have regular meat and seafood dishes, some of their plates can also be “veganized” upon request. As a vegan, I enjoyed their veggie tacos with rice and beans on the side.
Address: 2060 NE 2nd St, Deerfield Beach, FL 33441, United States
6. Le Rendez Vous
A quaint shop in downtown Delray Beach, Le Rendez Vous is a perfect spot to grab quality coffee, pastries like an apple cinnamon tart, and ice cream. The owners of this place are from France, so you know they have incredible gelato!
Their espresso is also delicious and together with the gelato makes the perfect affogato! And make sure to try their Nutella crepes, they are mouthwatering.
If you are visiting this spot during the busy winter months when many people come to South Florida to escape winter months, you might have to wait in line, as there are always plenty of customers at this spot. But the wait is well worth it – you will be able to enjoy amazing sweet treats.
Address: 2066 N Ocean Dr, Deerfield Beach, FL 33441, United States
7. Crepe Cafe
Crepe Cafe is a casual eatery that offers sweet & savory crepes with an American twist. Their menu includes breakfast crepes, entree crepes, and salads like palm salad, Mediterranean salad, and Caesar salad.
Many visitors come here multiple times during their trip, because this is a perfect spot for breakfast and lunch, and with tons of options on the menu, there’s always something new to try. The ones are super friendly and servers go above and beyond, so you have a great experience at this place.
Address: 123 NE 20th Ave, Deerfield Beach, FL 33441, United States
8. Playa Bowls
Playa Bowls is a New Jersey-based smoothie and juice cafe with locations in Deerfield Beach, Delray Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and Lauderdale by the Sea.
If you want a quick refresher on a hot sunny day, this place is a must! Stop at Playa Bowls for frozen treats like smoothie bowls, freshly squeezed juices, or classic smoothies.
You can choose from different bowls that come with various bases, like acai, pitaya (dragon fruit), banana, oatmeal, chia pudding, and green.
I tried their Electric Mermaid which comes with pineapples, kiwis, granola, and pitaya base, and loved it! Playa Bowls’ products have a gorgeous presentation, and the store is gorgeous inside and out with funky decors and artsy murals.
Don’t forget o try their cold-pressed juices, cold brews, and smoothies like mango Pina colada smoothie, Aloha, summered smoothie, and pink pitaya.
Address: 1134 E Atlantic Ave, Delray Beach, FL 33483
9. Nick’s Pizza
Often called one of the best pizza spots in the Miami area, Nick’s Pizza is a can’t-miss spot in Deerfield Beach.
This hole-in-the-wall place gets a lot of praise from locals and visitors, with many saying that thin-sliced pizza here rivals that of New York.
Their menu has options like veggie pizza, eggplant pizza, and margarita pizza, as well as varieties of Sicilian pizza like focaccia, cheese Sicilian pizza, and ultimate Sicilian pizza. They also have calzones, Strombolis, and different types of rolls.
Lunch specials are available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and include Penne Marinara Lunch, Spaghetti Marinara Lunch, and Spaghetti and Garlic Oil Lunch. Another option for lunch is one of their cold or hot subs.
Popular pasta dinner choices include baked Ziti with mozzarella and tomato sauce baked in the oven, classic ravioli and lasagna, as well as spaghetti with garlic oil.
Address: 137 NE 2nd Ave, Deerfield Beach, FL 33441, United States
10. Umberto’s Deerfield Beach
Officially called Umberto’s of Long Island Pizza, this place sits right next to Pukara Peruvian Cuisine and offers a variety of great food, including chicken wings, pizzas, brownies, and various meal combos. Umberto’s is often called one of the best pizza spots in the Boca Raton area, with many locals coming here to grab a slice of pizza.
The place also sells beer and wine, and you can get beer to go, which is very convenient if you are ordering a to-go meal. Umberto’s prices are also very reasonable.
Address: 233 NE 21st Ave, Deerfield Beach, FL 33441, United States
11. Ocean’s 234 Deerfield Beach
If you are looking for a fine-dining spot, don’t miss out on Oceans 234.
Oceans 234 is an award-winning, oceanfront bistro that boasts classic seafood dishes with plenty of outdoor seating. The staff is very attentive and the menu options are excellent with plenty of flavor. Key Lime pie dessert was a bonus.
The restaurant has several menus including an all-day menu, lunch sandwiches, and signature cocktails and desserts.
Address: 234 N Ocean Dr, Deerfield Beach, FL 33441, United States
12. Baja Cafe Deerfield Beach
Baja Cafe is the top spot for Mexican food in Deerfield Beach which serves incredibly flavorful traditional Mexican dishes in a lively atmosphere. They also have over 300 types of tequila.
The menu at Baja Cafe includes classic options like queso, guacamole, nachos, fajita salad, burritos, enchiladas, quesadillas and jalapeños.
Address: 1310 S Federal Hwy, Deerfield Beach, FL 33441, United States
13. Golden Wok
If you are looking for good Chinese food in Deerfield Beach, look no further than Golden Wok, an authentic Asian restaurant that has plenty of classic staples from Asian cuisines.
They have a variety of fried rice, lo mein, chow main, low main, Thai specials, and dinner combos.
Golden Wok offers authentic and delicious-tasting Chinese cuisine in Deerfield Beach, that offers options for dine-in and take-out meals. The restaurant is known for its variety of tastes and high-quality fresh ingredients.
Address: 3712 W Hillsboro Blvd, Deerfield Beach, FL 33442, United States
14. JB’s on the Beach
JB’s is one of the top-rated beach restaurants in Deerfield Beach that has delicious food and excellent customer service including valet parking, and attentive staff that is ready to accommodate your requests.
They have great paellas, lobster flatbreads, and other seafood dishes, so if you are looking to dine on a fresh catch, this spot is for you.
Address: 300 NE 21st Ave, Deerfield Beach, FL 33441, United States
Where to stay in Deerfield Beach Florida
Deerfield Beach has plenty of places to stay from luxurious beachfront stays to small motels and bed and breakfasts tucked in the city’s residential area.
Here are some of the best options for your stay in Deerfield Beach:
➡️ Vistalmar Beach Resort: A gorgeous hotel in Deerfield Beach, Vistalmar Beach Resort comes with an outdoor swimming pool and free Wi-Fi throughout the property, free private parking, as well as perfect city views.
If you want to treat yourself and have a nice and relaxing getaway in Deerfield Beach, this is the place to do it.
➡️ Florida Holiday – One of the newer hotels in Deerfield Beach, Florida Holiday is a holiday home that has a private pool, a garden, free Wi-Fi throughout the property, and free private parking.
➡️ Avalon Resort of Deerfield Beach – Located a few blocks away from the beach, Avalon Resort is a great budget stay with wonderful amenities like a big pool, private parking, and a terrace.
Read: Fort Lauderdale in December
How to get to Deerfield Beach?
Deerfield Beach boasts a convenient location along the coast in South Florida, so you can quickly get here from most places.
The best way to get to the area is by renting a car, but you can also catch a quick Uber ride from anywhere in the area. If you want a convenient way to get around the area, you should rent a car, which will give you more flexibility to visit other places outside of Deerfield Beach.
I always use DiscoverCars for my trips and have always had a great experience with them. Unlike other car rental companies, DiscoverCars have no hidden fees or surcharges, so you always pay what you see online.