Best Amelia Island Restaurants

Curious about the best Amelia Island restaurants?  This island might be small but it's packed with amazing restaurants any foodie will love.  Whether you are looking for fine dining or casual seafood dives Amelia Island Florida and Fernandina Beach are filled to the brim with delicious places to eat.

Planning a trip? Start with my Amelia Island Travel Guide, Downtown Fernandina Beach Travel Guide and What to Do with Kids in Amelia Island.

Best Amelia Island Restaurants

Look no further for the best Amelia Island Restaurants.  I discovered Amelia Island Florida many years ago and have been back many times, falling in love with this charming hidden gem a little more each time.  I love this less-developed beach town in Florida for scenes like this AND the fabulous food.   From chef-driven fine dining to cozy beach shacks, this island has the best food!  This restaurant guide has everything you need to plan your next trip.

Amelia Island isn't a big place but WOW does it have some great restaurants and food options.  Because of its smaller size, you could easily pick from restaurants on Amelia Island proper or drive into the charming historical downtown Fernandina Beach.  I found everything from amazing seafood eateries and beach eats to the less unexpected Italian food, fine dining, New Orleans food, and even some pretty awesome bagels for breakfast.

Good food can make or break a vacation for me and all the delicious choices on Amelia Island made it a place I want to visit again and again.

Today I'm sharing the best Amelia Island Restaurants including photos from many of the island's hot spots!  Get ready to get hungry because I've got some super yummy food photos to share with you.  Hopefully, this delicious list can help you plan your future trip to the island.

If you are just starting to plan your trip also check out my Amelia Island Travel Guide which includes many helpful articles to plan your trip including the best things to do, what to do with kids, and a guide to Downtown Fernandina Beach.

 

Best Amelia Island Restaurants

Pogo's Kitchen

Pogo's Kitchen many times and they never disappoint and has to make the list of Best Amelia Island Restaurants.  The food and flavors were unique and totally popped!  They have lovely service and I'd highly recommend them.  They are located on Amelia Island, in between the OMNI and the Ritz with plenty of parking.  They have a great dining experience.

We loved the Marinated Tuna with Taro Chip.  The food in some ways reminded us of some of our favorite restaurants in Hawaii.

Menu items also include the Salmon Poke which is  also unique and incredible.

Next time we will be ordering TWO of the Shrimp and Octopus Salad we loved it so much.

Finally, we shared the Sesame Crusted Mahi which was impeccably cooked and so tender.  Pogo's Kitchen is absolutely one of the best Amelia Island Restaurants and honestly one of our favorite restaurants ever.

 

 

Timoti's Seafood Shack

Timoti's Seafood Shack is known for being a best Amelia Island Restaurant and having great casual dining seafood at great prices and they totally delivered on that promise.  They have a charming location in downtown Fernandina Beach.  This is a great place for kids because they have a cute pirate ship playground on the outdoor patio.  They have quick counter service which is great for busy families.

We tried their Blackened Fish Sandwich which ended up being our favorite sandwich of the trip.

We also had their lobster rolls which were really tasty.  Also, try their hush puppies and PO'Boys.  For something lighter they also have a salad.  I loved the casual vibe and downtown location at Fernandina Beach.  You can order online or eat there and I can see why this place is well-loved by locals and tourists.

 

 

Cucina South

I love a good Italian restaurant that features lots of fresh seafood on the menu.  Cucina South fit that bill perfectly with classically cooked Italian food with a beach flare.  It's absolutely another top Amelia Island restaurant.  We enjoyed the Caprese salad.

We also really enjoyed the Sea Scallops with Risotto.

Our favorite dish of the evening though was the clams with pasta.  Good clams are hard to come by back at home so we love indulging in them at the beach.  Cucina South has a great location on Amelia Island with plenty of parking.  This is one of the best restaurants on the island!

 

Bar Zin

Bar Zin is actually a wine bar with delicious food options.  It's located in the small shopping plaza as Cucina South on Amelia Island.

We enjoyed our dinner although the takeout packaging left our food feeling a little smooshed the flavors were still really good.

This is the Halibut.

And here's the Swordfish.  Both were cooked impeccably and had lovely flavors.  The portions are a bit small though so order accordingly.

 

 

Lagniappe

Lagniappe is a delicious seafood restaurant with influences from New Orleans, Charleston, and Savannah.  It's located on Amelia Island and is another one of our favorite restaurants on the island.

We started off with the Cheese and Charcuterie Board.  It was fun and flavorful.  I loved the homemade pickles.

We also shared the Calamari which was tender.  The sauce served with it is delightful.

The Seared Scallops were cooked perfectly and so tender as well.

The highlight of the dinner for us though was the Blackened Redfish, which is one of our favorite dishes.  We really enjoyed Lagniappe and eat there almost every time we go to Amelia Island, making it one of our favorite Amelia Island restaurants.

 

 

Salt Life Food Shack

I love a classic beach eats restaurant and Salt Life Food Shack is just that!  They had all sorts of yummy seafood on the menu including everything from steam crab legs to poke bowls.  The have a great beachside location too. It's technically located on Fernandina Beach but not in the downtown area.

We loved our crab dip.

We also really enjoyed this poke bowl.

Our favorite part of the dinner was the Caribbean Shack Fish with teriyaki marinade, tropical rice, and fruit salsa.  I loved the diverse seafood menu at the Salt Life Food Shack and their tasty eats.

 

 

Shuckers

Shuckers is one of my favorite Amelia Island Restaurants.  It has a charming waterfront location overlooking the marshes with pretty views and a casual dining vibe.

The menu is filled with no surprise... oysters!  They also have this amazing bucket of steamed oysters you can order that seems like it has never ending oysters in it.  This is our favorite spot to dine right when we get into town because it sets a great vide for your vacation.

We also really enjoyed our Oyster Po-boy.

And this Blacked Fresh Catch Sandwich was delicious.  Shuckers is located in Fernandina Beach but not downtown.  They also have outdoor games and even a playground for the kids, making this a one our our absolute best Amelia Island restaurants.

 

 

Aloha Island Bagel

One of our favorite beach trip traditions is bagels!  We like to find a local bagel shop and get bagel sandwiches the first morning for breakfast a dozen to enjoy for the rest of the trip.  We did the same in Amelia Island and now Aloha Bagel  is one of our favorite Amelia Island restaurants for breakfast.

It's in an adorable building in Fernandina Beach and had the friendliest staff.

We loved our classic bagel sandwiches and bagels to go.  They had all sorts of other delicious bagel sandwiches and baked goods to order too.  Aloha Bagel is a great place for breakfast and lunch on the island!

 

 

Salt

Salt is located at the Ritz Carlton Resort and wow is it a special place with a gorgeous oceanfront dining room with views of the Atlantic Ocean.  This is the place to go on the island for special event dining and it does not disappoint.  It's a dress-up, white tablecloth kind of place with delicious food and gorgeous plating.  It's officially a AA 5-Diamond restaurant, which is special to have on a small island.

Their name comes from the salt they give you to try from around the world.

The highlights of our meal at Salt were this octopus.

Also, the butter Halibut was one of the most delightful dishes I've had in a long time.  Salt is definitely a splurge restaurant, but worth a visit in my opinion.  We ate seafood here, but it's also a great place to get a steak.  A lot of resort restaurants aren't really worth it, but this one is.  It is an exquisite dish.

 

 

Coast

Coast is also part of the Ritz Carlton Amelia Island resort.  We enjoyed their breakfast buffet and ate dinner there during our recent trip.  Their breakfast buffet was actually one of the best I've ever had!   It's a great option if you are staying at the resort or nearby condos and don't want to drive.  They were accommodating to the little kids, which is hard to find at a nicer restaurant.

We enjoyed the scallops.

The Mahi Mahi was also delicious.

And this Chocolate Dessert was really good too.

 

Coquina

Coquina is also part of the Ritz Carlton and where the restaurant their poolside dining comes from.  They have all the tropical drinks you could dream of!

I enjoyed their Poke Bowl very much and it was a great poolside lunch.  They also have delicious tacos for lunch.  It's not the best Amelia Island restaurant, but it's still very good for the resort poolside restaurant.  You will not be disappointed!

For dinner, we got Roasted Fish.  Again, it was good if you are staying at the resort and needed something to eat without going anywhere.  The pool and ocean views are also incredible.  It has a great vibe!

 

The Boat House

The Boat House is a newer restaurant on the edges of Downtown Fernandina Beach.  It's a fun Amelia Island restaurant I would highly recommend.

It has a fabulous space with a large patio and a stage for live music.  It's a great place for drinks, cocktails, and delicious food.

We loved everything we had at The Boat House, but a few standouts were the Seafood Nachos.  So crazy delish.

The Key West Grouper was also a winner.  This menu is fun and delicious and you can't beat the fabulous outdoor space with live music.

 

 

Espana Restaurant and Tapas

Espana is a Spanish Tapas restaurant in Downtown Fernandina Beach that is simply special.  It's super popular and for good reason!  The food and atmosphere are incredible.  I'd put this place on the top of my list of best Amelia Island restaurants.  You can't beat the flavors and fresh ingredients and I love their small bites plates.

This is GRILLED calamari and it was incredible.  I'm literally still dreaming about it.

We also really loved these scallop tapas.

These pimento peppers were crazy good.

And we rounded out our meal with the fresh catch, which was incredible.  They are also known for their homemade sangria and fine wine.

I'd put Espana at the very top of my list of best Amelia Island Restaurants AND one of my favorite restaurants anywhere.

 

The Salty Pelican Bar & Sports Grill

The Salta Pelican is one of the more iconic Amelia Island Restaurants.  It's located in downtown Fernandina Beach is has water views of the harbor along the Amelia River with a sunset view.  It has a fun atmosphere, laid-back vibe, and is a great beach restaurant.  Go there for the drinks and the food.

We loved their crab dip.

Their Tuna Nachos were also a hit.

This is another great restaurant I'd have at the top of my list.

 

Nana Teresa's Bake Shop

I'm saving the best Amelia Island Restaurant for last... Nana Teresa's Bake Shop.  This place is more of a bake shop than a traditional restaurant but WOW if you want dessert on the island this is where to go.  They are filled to the brim with all sorts of goodies including pastries, cupcakes, pies, macaroons, and even ice cream.

Just look at this gorgeous plate!

We got some to-go and loved them so much!  I would definitely make this part of your food tour of Amelia Island.

And don't forget these dreamy macaroons.  Not exactly an Amelia Island restaurant, but this spot must be part of your foodie tour of the island.

 

 

Other Best Amelia Island Restaurants

I'm so excited to share the best Amelia Island restaurants with you!  Here are some additional ones that you can't miss. If I missed your favorite above please feel free to share it in the comments.

• Burlingame Restaurant - An American-style restaurant and wine bar with classic dishes and elevated dining.  Lots of made from scratch items.
• The Patio at 5th and Ash - A charming outdoor spot with fresh seafood and live music.  Located downtown.
• Wicked Bao - Asian street-food restaurant in downtown Fernandina Beach.  Known for their steamed Taiwanese Bao Buns.  They even have a fried shrimp one!  You can also get pork, beef or chicken if that's your jam.
• Down Under Restaurants - Fresh seafood in a unique location on the inter-coastal waterway with gorgeous waterfront seating.
• Sliders Seaside Grill - An iconic beachside Amelia Island restaurant located just off Fernandina Beach.  Fun, charming beach bar vibe and you can eat in the sand.  It has a playground for kids in the outside dining area.  Also home to Tortuga Jacks which is a favorite for oceanfront breakfast dining.
• Cafe Karibo - A cute downtown cafe that's great for lunch.  A favorite of locals and guests because of its great lunch sandwiches and charming tree canopy patio.  Great for a casual dining experience.
• T-Rays - A fun and casual spot for burgers.
• Cantina Louie - A festive location for Mexican street food.
• Coastal Pizza - A great non-chain place to get pizza on Amelia Island.
• Natural Slice - Another local surf-inspired pizza joint with hand-tossed dough.
• Arte Pizza- Another pizza option that's not a chain.  Known for their wood-fired pizza, but they also have a large menu with pasta, chicken, salads, and seafood.  Try their Shrimp Mac & Cheese.
• Ciao Italian Eatery - A traditional Italian eatery with pizza and pasta dishes.
• Bob's Steak and Chop House- Bob's steak is your best bet for a classic steakhouse experience on Amelia Island.  Located within the Omni Amelia Island resort they have prime steaks.
• David's Restaurant & Lounge - An elegant, upscale steak and seafood spot located in Downtown Fernandina Beach.
• Marche Burette - A casual dining spot that is connected to a gourmet shop market.

I love visiting Amelia Island for many reasons, but the food has to top the list.  These really are the best Amelia Island restaurants!

 

If you've visited Amelia Island please feel free to add your favorite restaurants in the comments below.  Planning your trip? Don't forget my Amelia Island Travel Guide plus all my Amelia Island travel resources below.  I have everything you need to plan your trip to this lovely Florida beach spot.

More Amelia Island Resources:

• Amelia Island Travel Guide
• Best Things to Do in Amelia Island
• Things to Do in Amelia Island with Kids
• Historic Downtown Fernandina Beach Travel Guide
• Boneyard Beach Florida - Big Talbot Island State Park
• Top 12 Favorite Moments from Amelia Island 2022
• Top 12 Favorite Moments from Amelia Island 2021
• Top 15 Favorite Moments from Amelia Island 2020

 

 

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