Exploring Delray Beach
The Village by the Sea
Delray Beach is a small and intimate town with big-city sophistication. This beach town was voted Most Fun Small Town in America by USA Today and Rand McNally and surprises many newcomers with its artsy vibe and charm!
The Elam's have been proud residents for nearly 30 years and, as I'm sure you can tell by the overshare of information, are extremely excited to share our little paradise! We recommend staying longer than just the weekend - there's too much to do!
Affectionately referred to as “The Ave” by locals, Atlantic Avenue boasts over 70 restaurants and numerous boutiques and shops. During "season" (winter), most restaurants will require a reservation. See below for a few of our family favorites:
Elam Favorites
Below are a few of our favorites and we do mean a few. The Ave is home to countless restaurants making the below a short-list (all hyperlinked)!
Breakfast:
The Green Owl: Diner-style breakfast; cash only
Cafe Luna Rosa: Fabulous breakfast facing A1A and the Ocean
Pizza Rustica: Casual, come-and-go pizza (usually open late)
Lunch/Dinner/Everything:
Brûlée Bistro: Casual bistro in the heart of Pineapple Grove
Boston's on the Beach: Classic sports bar located on A1A and the Beach
Deck 84: Waterfront dining on the Intracoastal with a large outdoor bar
Delray Beach Market: Florida's largest food hall with over 30 vendors and 4 bars
Dinner:
J & J Seafood Grill: The Bride's favorite - fabulous seafood
Dada’s Lounge: Funky decor with an awesome tree-filled patio
City Oyster and Sushi Bar: Great seafood
el Camino: Another Bride favorite - maybe the best nachos of all time
Drink Time:
Sand Bar: Outdoor tiki bar on A1A across from the Beach
Johnny Brown’s: A Delray Institution, almost always with live music
Beer Trade Co.: Relaxed atmosphere and a big beer collection
The Wine Room Kitchen and Bar: An Elam family favorite - this combines a traditional restaurant with two full-service bars, gourmet food, and, most importantly, a massive wine selection and tastings!
The Tin Roof: Late-night spot always featuring live cover bands
The Blue Anchor: 19th century-style London pub with live music every weekend.
Silverball Museum: Drinking & classic arcade games. Not bad.
Something Sweet:
Kilwins: Ice cream and gourmet chocolates
Ben & Jerry's: Yes, THE Ben & Jerry's has its own shop
Come on, it's Florida. There's so much more than eating, drinking, and shopping.
The Beach: The Ave dead-ends into Delray's Public Beach. Grab a towel and go soak up some rays, body surf, search for treasure, or whatever your beach mode is! Along the beach there are services for rental umbrellas and chairs; just bring cash.
Fishing: Florida is home to some world-renowned deep-sea fishing (ask the Bride's brother, Ted, he'll talk your ears off). Fishing charters or drift boats are the easiest access. A fishing charter will be a more private excursion while drift boats are usually larger group boats. We recommend Chips Ahoy Charters, Lemieux Fishing Charters, or Southern Comfort Charters for charters.
Wakodahatchee Wetlands: We all know about the Florida beaches, but exploring our wetlands is also exciting. Just 15 minutes west of the Ave is Wakodahatchee which features a mile long boardwalk so you can see the 178+ species of birds and even a gator first hand.
Art: Pineapple Grove is home to numerous art galleries, from the ecletic to high-end.
Delray Beach Green Market: Every saturday during winter, there is an open-air farmer's market near Old School Square from 9-2.