Cape Canaveral’s Best Food & Drink: Top 5 Local Spots

Cape Canaveral, known so much for its rockets and space exploration, actually has a surprising, maybe even unexpected, culinary scene. You will find everything from really fresh seafood joints, right by the water, to places where you can just get a very decent burger and a beer. We’re gonna take a look at, well, the spots you really shouldn’t miss the next time you are in town. This list mixes some popular favorites with, arguably, maybe a bit more local secrets, so you get a taste of everything Cape Canaveral has to offer, gastronomically speaking.

1. Grills Seafood Deck & Tiki Bar: Seafood with a View

Grills Seafood Deck & Tiki Bar isn’t only just a restaurant; it’s really an experience. That, as a matter of fact, overlooks the Port Canaveral harbor, so you’re talking front-row seats to watch cruise ships heading out or even, apparently, catching a glimpse of the occasional rocket launch. You know, they focus a lot on freshly caught seafood, prepared in, I mean, very straightforward, Floridian styles. The atmosphere, I would say, is very relaxed and, naturally, family-friendly, so you will fit in wearing flip-flops just as much as you would, I don’t know, dress shoes.

Their menu is very expansive, but, to be honest, their coconut shrimp is just delicious. You get these big, juicy shrimp that they coat in coconut, and they’re always perfectly crispy. Likewise, you can’t go wrong with their catch of the day, it’s very simple: grilled, blackened, or fried, always fresh. I usually tend to go for the grilled option myself; that way, you get the full flavor of the fish without a lot of extra frills.

On the weekends, that is almost always a live band playing some tropical tunes, which, you know, creates this really nice backdrop while you’re eating and enjoying, well, the views. Plus, they do have a pretty decent happy hour with deals on drinks and appetizers, which actually makes it an ideal place to, possibly, just wind down after a long day of exploring the area. So too, it’s almost worth checking out. Read our full review: Grills Seafood Deck and Tiki Bar Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Grills Seafood Deck & Tiki Bar)

2. Fishlips Waterfront Bar & Grill: A Lively Hotspot

If you’re in the mood for something a little bit livelier, it might be, arguably, worth going to Fishlips Waterfront Bar & Grill. They are situated right on the water in Port Canaveral, I want to say with really big outdoor decks that have this, just truly, great view of the ships and the ocean. Basically, that one tends to be known for its party atmosphere and just having a solid, like, American bar food. Think burgers, wings, and, of course, a bunch of really good seafood.

I think they also serve, basically, something called “The Rocket Fuel” drink, and trust me, just a couple of those and you’ll definitely be feeling good. Their burgers actually are some of the better ones in the area, which just tends to be juicy and cooked to perfection, really what you want after a long day at the beach. They generally, that is, have live music most nights, or the occasional DJ spinning tunes, which definitely creates a very high energy crowd.

Just for some general advice: Try and get there kind of early if you would like to grab a good spot, very clearly, it gets super crowded, especially during the weekend, which I would imagine could be rather uncomfortable. Overall, it might be, maybe just one of the better places to just hang out with friends and soak in that Florida sunshine while having a beer, at least in my experience. Read our full review: Fishlips Waterfront Bar & Grill Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Fishlips Waterfront Bar & Grill)

3. Florida Beer Company: Taste Local Brews

So, if you happen to be more of a beer person, maybe consider, seemingly, making a stop at the Florida Beer Company. It’s one of Florida’s largest breweries, basically, and they’ve got a tasting room over in Cape Canaveral. What’s so great is you’re actually going to get to sample a lot of their beers, and, yes, even take a tour of the brewery to just see the whole process. I, myself, I’m not too huge of a beer person, but still think that seeing the inner workings of, you know, how beer gets made is fascinating.

That is more or less got a super wide selection of brews, really, ranging from light lagers to hoppy IPAs and some darker stouts, for example, so there’s going to be something for basically every taste, I’m assuming. They quite often are running different specials, like flights of beer so you can sample, potentially, a few different varieties without committing to a full pint. So too, they might be running food trucks onsite occasionally, as a matter of fact, so you will be able to grab something to eat as you enjoy the drinks.

There’s is more often than not live music, but also trivia nights, as well as cornhole tournaments, basically keeping the atmosphere light and, perhaps even, entertaining. So clearly, if you’re just after a more relaxed afternoon sampling a selection of very locally made beers, you might want to consider checking this one out. Read our full review: Florida Beer Company Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Florida Beer Company)

4. Dixie Crossroads: A Shrimp Lover’s Paradise

Dixie Crossroads may just be, perhaps, one of those Cape Canaveral institutions, and really, maybe if you just love shrimp, you might find that it’s heaven. The place really has been around, I want to say, for several decades and it has this massive, actually almost like legendary reputation for dishing out just portions of rock shrimp. The atmosphere has this kind of rustic, very straightforward, casual feel, which more or less makes it great for families.

You absolutely will want to try their rock shrimp, I’d assume, they do them up steamed, fried, or grilled, I do actually favor the fried ones myself. They also are almost always offering a big selection of sides, as a matter of fact, like coleslaw, hush puppies, and even cheese grits, which make it the ideal place for, maybe, a casual, family-style meal. I find it’s actually worth keeping in mind that it can be very, very popular, potentially especially during the peak tourist seasons and, of course, the weekends.

Therefore, be prepared to face maybe a small wait. On a good note: they usually do have a big waiting area where, perhaps, you will be able to sit back and take it easy as you eagerly await your table. But, I think if you are just genuinely looking for really solid seafood without any sort of pretense, give it a shot, maybe you like it too. Read our full review: Dixie Crossroads Restaurant Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Dixie Crossroads Restaurant)

5. Kelsey’s Pizza: For a Casual Bite

Maybe, and just maybe, sometimes you don’t have all the energy to want seafood and a fancy, maybe even dressed-up restaurant. Perhaps you just are hoping for something a little simpler, like pizza? Try going to Kelsey’s Pizza, they definitely tend to be a go-to spot for some local families and people wanting to grab a bite of something without it costing a ton of money. Kelsey’s pizza actually may just be one of those humble establishments, but it just gets its pizzas really perfect, it seems.

Kelsey’s also, so you know, can prepare a lot of different pizzas from some regular cheese to, for example, a pie fully loaded with toppings. Maybe consider checking out their specialty pizzas like, very clearly, they are seemingly known for this “Everything Pizza”. Which I guess does have, potentially, pretty much every single topping that they’ve got. Plus, they don’t only do pizza, but also wings, subs, and salads as well, maybe if pizza really is not your thing that night.

Kelsey’s seems to really be a nice spot if you wish to just get, very simply, a casual dinner with your friends, potentially maybe while just trying to avoid the fuss and hassle of a fancier establishment. Also: the prices will likely be very favorable and really reasonable too, comparatively. So if you’re not willing to drop all of your holiday money for a decent bite, give this a look, it seems pretty straightforward. Read our full review: Kelseys Pizza Cape Canaveral Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Kelseys Pizza)