Melbourne Beach is a small barrier island community on Florida’s Space Coast, and while the town itself has a tight but excellent dining scene, the surrounding communities of Indialantic, Melbourne, and Satellite Beach are just minutes away and add considerably more variety to the mix. This guide starts with the restaurants directly in Melbourne Beach, then works outward by distance so you know exactly how far you’re going.
In Melbourne Beach (0 miles)
1. Djon’s Steak & Lobster House
Djon’s is widely considered the finest restaurant in Melbourne Beach and one of the top fine-dining destinations on the entire Space Coast. Named for owner Djon Pepaj, the restaurant occupies a historic building on Ocean Avenue with both indoor and outdoor seating, elevated nightly by a live pianist or jazz ensemble. The menu centers on Certified Angus Beef steaks — Filet Mignon, Prime New York Strip, Lamb Chops, and Veal Chops — alongside fresh seafood and Steamed Lobster. An extensive wine list, craft beers, and specialty cocktails complete the experience. Happy hour runs daily from 4–6pm. Open Monday through Saturday from 4pm.
2. Café Coconut Cove
Café Coconut Cove has been serving authentic German cuisine on the banks of the Indian River Lagoon since 1987 — one of the most enduring restaurants on the Space Coast. The Himmeroeder family operates this historic riverside property (originally a 1951 river landing and dock), and the atmosphere is unlike anything else in the area: stone walls, wooden beams, water views from every table, and a private pier for pre-dinner strolls. The menu features classic German dishes including Sauerbraten, Béarnaise Schnitzel, Weisswurst Plate, Roasted Pork Shank, Goulash, and Spätzle, paired with imported German and European beers. The restaurant was even featured on Emeril Lagasse’s Florida highlights show on the Cooking Channel. Open for dinner Tuesday through Saturday.
3. Ocean 302 Bar & Grill
One block from the ocean, Ocean 302 is Melbourne Beach’s most popular casual dining spot and the first choice for locals on a Friday night. The farm-to-table menu focuses on local sourcing and rotates seasonally, centering on fresh seafood, Certified Angus Beef steaks, and wood-fired brick oven pizzas. Standout dishes include seared scallops over mushroom risotto, Yellowfin Tuna, fish and chips, and creative wood-fired pizzas. The cocktail program is notably strong. Happy hour runs Tuesday through Sunday from 4–6pm. Open Tuesday through Sunday from 3:30pm.
4. Sand on the Beach
Sand on the Beach is Melbourne Beach’s quintessential all-day beachfront restaurant and bar, with unobstructed Atlantic Ocean views from both the ground-floor deck and the second-floor bikini bar above. The menu runs from breakfast through late night — eggs and benedicts in the morning give way to fresh seafood, lobster bisque, peel-and-eat shrimp, seared Mahi, shrimp and grits, and a full range of tropical cocktails. Dog-friendly on the first level. Open daily from 7am on weekends and 8am on weekdays.
5. New England Eatery & Pub
Owned and operated by Walter and Rosemary Smith — who relocated from Massachusetts to Melbourne Beach in 1986 — the New England Eatery & Pub brings genuine New England coastal cooking to the Space Coast. The menu features Connecticut-style lobster rolls, steamed clams, full-belly fried clams, New England clam chowder, and pub favorites, all served on one of the best covered patios in the area. Open Wednesday through Sunday from 11am.
6. Sunnyside Cafe
Melbourne Beach’s go-to breakfast spot, Sunnyside Cafe is a straightforward American diner with a loyal local following. The menu leans into eggs, omelets, waffles, and pancakes with generous portions at fair prices. Arrive early on weekends — wait times build quickly. Open Tuesday through Sunday, 6am to 2pm.
7. Nautical Cafe
A small walk-up Cuban café near the Melbourne Beach pier that punches well above its size. The menu revolves around handmade empanadas — beef, chicken, guava and cheese, lentil and plantain — alongside Cuban sandwiches, tostones, and picadillo plates. The Cuban sandwich here draws particular praise: slow-roasted pork, smoked Gouda, ham, pickles, and a house sauce on perfectly pressed bread. Seating is limited and outdoor. Open Tuesday through Sunday for breakfast and lunch.
8. Oceanside Pizza
A casual neighborhood pizzeria on Ocean Avenue serving what many locals consider the best pizza on the Space Coast. The focus is pizza and hot sandwiches, with beer and wine available. Counter service, no reservations, closes at 9pm — ideal for a post-beach evening meal. Open daily.
In Indialantic (~2 miles north)
9. Isles Fish Grill
Isles Fish Grill is a laid-back seafood restaurant with vibrant Caribbean décor that sources its fish directly off the Florida coast. Chefs Jared and Nate typically offer 11 different species daily, each prepared with care and presented with fresh sides. It’s a small, lively spot that fills up quickly — arrive early or expect a wait. Open for dinner nightly, with craft beers, artisan cocktails, and casual wines.
In Downtown Melbourne (~5 miles)
10. Crush Eleven
Crush Eleven is an upmarket farm-to-table restaurant set in Melbourne’s historic Flatiron Building, with original brickwork and tin ceilings from the 1920s. The menu is designed for sharing and changes seasonally — expect creative dishes like Chicken Pot Pie with Black Truffles, Duck Fat Fries, Grilled Buffalo Hanger Steak, and Pierogies with Brown Butter. The cocktail program is award-winning, built from scratch daily. Open Tuesday through Sunday from 4pm, with Sunday brunch.
11. El Ambia Cubano
El Ambia Cubano is a lively Cuban café in Historic Downtown Melbourne with an origin story as colorful as its décor: owner Alfredo Hernandez defected from Cuba by piloting a commercial airliner to freedom before eventually settling in Melbourne in 2008. The space is pre-Castro Havana inside — plain wooden tables, conga drum bar stools, Cuban film footage on the TV — and live music plays throughout every service. The menu covers Cuban dishes from pork plates and fresh seafood to gourmet sandwiches, with rum-inspired cocktails and artisan beers. Open daily for breakfast and lunch service.
12. La Crepe de France
La Crepe de France brings a genuine French café experience to Historic Downtown Melbourne with a menu of sweet and savory crepes, galettes, handmade soups, quiches, gourmet sandwiches, and fresh salads. Freshly squeezed juices and locally roasted coffees round out the drinks. The bright outdoor terrace is particularly pleasant for a relaxed daytime meal. Open daily for breakfast and lunch.
13. Estampa Gaucha Brazilian Steakhouse
Located near Melbourne Square, Estampa Gaucha is a traditional Brazilian churrascaria serving meat in the authentic Gaúcho style — hand-carved tableside from skewers by roving servers called passadores. The restaurant offers an extensive salad bar alongside 27 different meat cuts including Alcatra, bottom sirloin, chicken, pork, and lamb. Sunday brunch is also available. Open Tuesday through Sunday for lunch and dinner.
In Melbourne (~5–8 miles)
14. Makoto’s Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi
Makoto’s is a well-established Melbourne hibachi and teppanyaki restaurant, popular for group dining and special occasions. Chefs cook directly at the table in the classic teppanyaki style. A separate sushi bar runs alongside, offering specialized rolls and sashimi. Open daily for lunch and dinner.
15. Rustic Restaurant — Hilton Melbourne Rialto Place
The restaurant inside the Hilton Melbourne Rialto Place offers a casual yet polished dining experience anchored in Florida seafood and modern American cooking. The space includes a contemporary dining room, a covered atrium, and garden seating. Signature dishes include Corn and Crab Bisque, Garlic and Herb Crusted Grouper Pasta, Chicken Martinique, and Shrimp Etouffee. The adjoining Bar 9 offers wines by the glass, craft beers, and handmade cocktails. Open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
16. Salt and Sweet Restaurant
A family-run Polish restaurant at Lake Washington Crossing with a warm, boutique atmosphere and a menu of traditional Polish cooking — beet borscht, potato pancakes, pierogi, Wiener schnitzel, Golabki, and cutlet de Volaille. Paired with imported Polish beers and light wines. Open Monday through Saturday for lunch and dinner.
17. Skewers Mediterranean Grille
Skewers Mediterranean Grille brings Mediterranean fusion food with a Middle Eastern emphasis to Melbourne. The menu features lamb, beefsteak, and garlic chicken kabobs alongside specialty dishes like stuffed kibbeh, yogurt kafta kabob, and mousakhan. Belly dance performances occasionally take place during the week. Open Monday through Saturday for lunch and dinner, with dinner-only on Sunday.
In Satellite Beach (~8 miles north)
18. CuiZine Restaurant & Lounge
CuiZine is a fine-dining restaurant owned and operated by brothers Zoran and Marjan Stanojkovski, with an atmosphere that channels a vintage jazz piano bar — dark wood, leather accents, private dining booths, and soft lighting. The Mediterranean-influenced menu includes Herb Lump Crab Cakes, Grilled Lamb Chops, Pork Osso Bucco, and three cuts of Certified Angus steak. Live music on weekends. Open for dinner Monday through Saturday.
In North Melbourne (~12 miles)
19. Bacco Wine Cafe
Bacco Wine Cafe is a family-run Italian trattoria that has built a loyal following since owners Loris and Raffaella Barsiola — natives of the Liguria region of the Italian Riviera — opened it in 2000. Despite a strip-mall exterior, the interior is warm and intimate, and the cooking is the real deal: handmade pasta, fresh seafood, robust beef and veal dishes, and antipasti prepared from old family recipes with locally sourced ingredients. Loris curates an extensive wine list and is deeply knowledgeable about the cellar. Reservation-only and reliably busy. Open Tuesday through Saturday for dinner only.
Planning Your Visit
Melbourne Beach sits on Florida’s Space Coast roughly 75 miles southeast of Orlando. The town’s own dining hub is Ocean Avenue, where Ocean 302, Sunnyside Cafe, Oceanside Pizza, and Nautical Cafe are all within walking distance of each other. Djon’s is three blocks west toward the Indian River, while Café Coconut Cove and the New England Eatery are a short drive south on A1A. All restaurants beyond Melbourne Beach are a straightforward drive north up A1A — Indialantic is 3 minutes, downtown Melbourne about 10 minutes, and Satellite Beach roughly 15 minutes.
If you’re planning a broader Florida coastal road trip, our guide to Kiawah Island restaurants covers another top coastal dining destination further up the Southeast coast, and our Amelia Island beaches guide is worth a read for another beautiful Florida barrier island. For packing tips before your trip, our beach vacation packing guide covers everything you need. Traveling with the family? Our Florida beach rental homes guide covers popular spots up and down the coast.
Have a Melbourne Beach area restaurant worth adding? Share your recommendation in the comments below!
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