Unearth The Voyage
Finding great food in a tourist town can feel like searching for treasure in the sand. Daytona Beach has plenty of places to eat, but not all of them deliver on quality, flavor, or value. This guide cuts through the noise to show you restaurants where locals actually spend their money and visitors leave truly satisfied. From romantic Italian hideaways to beachside seafood shacks, these spots prove that great dining exists beyond the typical tourist traps.
1. The Cellar Restaurant (Daytona Beach)
History and flavor blend beautifully at The Cellar, tucked inside what was once President Warren G. Harding’s winter home. Chef Sam Moggio runs this intimate spot in Daytona’s historic district, creating traditional Italian dishes with refined touches that keep diners coming back for anniversaries and milestone celebrations.
Recent guests can’t stop talking about the lamb shank, perfectly cooked snapper, and creamy risotto that melts on your tongue. The wine list impresses even serious wine lovers, and servers know their stuff when you need pairing suggestions. This Golden Spoon award winner consistently tops local “best of” lists for good reason.
Plan ahead because tables fill up fast, especially during race weeks and weekend evenings. Reservations aren’t just recommended here, they’re practically required if you want to snag a spot in this cozy dining room.
2. Don Vito’s Italian Restaurant (Daytona Beach)
Walk into Don Vito’s and you’ll immediately feel like you’ve stumbled into someone’s welcoming family kitchen. This downtown gem bakes bread fresh every single day in brick ovens using recipes passed down through generations, filling the dining room with aromas that make your stomach growl.
Thousands of Tripadvisor reviews place Don Vito’s at the very top of Daytona Beach restaurants, with diners praising the enormous portions and genuine hospitality. Chicken parmigiana arrives hot and bubbling, spaghetti and meatballs taste like Sunday dinner at Nonna’s house, and the fried jumbo ravioli make perfect shareable starters. Save room for limoncello cake if you possibly can.
The vibe stays casual and friendly throughout your meal. Come hungry, leave stuffed, and expect to take home leftovers in a to-go box.
3. Millie’s Restaurant & Catering (Daytona Beach Shores)
Never judge a restaurant by its strip-mall exterior, especially when it comes to Millie’s. Guy Fieri featured this unassuming spot on Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives, calling it a “dynamite spot, cooking up coastal for the locals,” and he wasn’t exaggerating even a little bit.
Hook-to-table seafood means the fish on your plate was swimming in local waters recently, bringing incredible freshness to every bite. Shrimp and grits arrive creamy and perfectly seasoned, while smoked alligator ribs offer adventurous eaters something truly unique. Local fish francaise and steak mushroom soup round out a menu that focuses on creative coastal dishes rather than boring fried platters.
The Daytona Beach tourism board calls Millie’s a “best-kept secret,” though it’s getting harder to keep quiet. Arrive early during busy season or prepare to wait for a table in this small space.
4. Chart House (Daytona Beach)
Floor-to-ceiling windows frame the Halifax River like a living painting at Chart House, where Marina Point sunsets compete with your dinner for attention. This classic surf-and-turf spot earned “Best Local Fine Dining” honors in local choice awards, cementing its reputation as one of Daytona’s most celebrated seafood restaurants.
Guests consistently rave about the salad bar, calling it “unique and excellent” with fresh, creative options you won’t find elsewhere. Prime rib arrives cooked exactly to your specifications, while seafood dishes like sea bass showcase quality ingredients and skilled preparation. The wine list complements the menu beautifully.
Request a window table when making reservations so you can watch boats drift lazily past while you eat. The marina views transform an already excellent meal into a memorable dining experience worth every dollar spent.
5. Azure Oceanfront American Kitchen (Daytona Beach Shores)
Waves crash just beyond your table at Azure, where The Shores Resort & Spa houses one of the few proper sit-down restaurants with direct ocean views. Modern American dishes get Florida coastal touches here, transforming familiar comfort food into something special enough for date night yet approachable enough for family brunch.
The kitchen serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner seven days weekly, with menus featuring coconut shrimp, grilled meats, and coastal-inspired entrées that highlight local seafood. The full bar pours craft cocktails, local beers, and wines that pair beautifully with ocean breezes drifting through the dining room and terrace.
You can actually eat steps from the sand without sacrificing quality or atmosphere. Morning coffee tastes better with sunrise views, while dinner under the stars creates vacation memories that stick around long after your tan fades.
6. Our Deck Down Under (Port Orange)
Literally sitting under the Dunlawton Bridge, Our Deck Down Under has welcomed hungry diners for roughly two decades with big portions and even bigger water views. The deck stretches out over the Intracoastal, giving you front-row seats to boat traffic and spectacular sunsets that paint the sky in orange and pink.
Seafood dominates the menu in the best possible way. Crab legs, shrimp and grits, fresh oysters, blackened tuna, and fried flounder all make regular appearances, alongside ribs and burgers for anyone not feeling fishy. Portions arrive generous enough to share or take home for tomorrow’s lunch.
The super casual “come as you are” vibe means sandy feet and beach clothes fit right in. It’s perfect after spending the day on the water or lounging in the sun, just ten to fifteen minutes from central Daytona Beach.
7. Chucherias Fine Dining (Holly Hill)
Hidden away in Holly Hill, Chucherias feels more like discovering a secret garden than finding a restaurant. Latin American and Caribbean flavors get polished, refined treatment here, creating fusion dishes that surprise and delight diners looking for something beyond typical beach-town Italian or American fare.
Quality ingredients shine in dishes like tender pork with rice, coconut seafood bowls bursting with tropical flavors, and octopus starters that convert even skeptical eaters. The small dining room and charming courtyard create an intimate atmosphere perfect for quiet conversations and romantic evenings. Multiple travel sites describe the space as warm and inviting, with garden touches that transport you somewhere far from Florida.
Tripadvisor ranks Chucherias as the number one restaurant in Holly Hill with very high ratings. It’s worth the short drive north of Daytona proper for anyone craving adventurous flavors in a low-key, beautiful setting.
8. The Oyster Pub (Daytona Beach)
Since 1979, The Oyster Pub has served as Daytona’s ultimate game-day headquarters and oyster destination. More than seventy TVs cover nearly every inch of wall space, ensuring you’ll never miss a play no matter where you sit in this massive Seabreeze Boulevard institution.
Don’t let the sports-bar atmosphere fool you into thinking it’s all about wings and beer. Sure, those are available and delicious, but the menu stretches far beyond basic bar food. Crab legs, shrimp tacos, fried seafood platters, and burgers all compete for your attention, with fresh oysters stealing the spotlight for many regulars who return weekly for their briny fix.
Thousands of Tripadvisor reviews give solid ratings for the lively atmosphere and reliable food. Arrive early during major sporting events, bike week, or race weekends unless you enjoy standing-room-only situations and long waits for tables.
9. Taste of Maharaja’s (Daytona Beach)
Craving curry instead of crab legs? Taste of Maharaja’s on Ridgewood Avenue delivers authentic Indian comfort food that breaks up the endless parade of seafood and burgers dominating Daytona dining. This top-rated spot earns consistent praise for rich flavors and genuine hospitality that makes first-timers feel welcome.
Classic dishes fill the menu with options for everyone. Dal shorba and mulligatawny soup warm you up, while paneer pakoras make excellent starters. Butter chicken and chicken tikka masala satisfy fans of creamy, mild curries, and fresh garlic naan arrives hot enough to steam when you tear it open. Vegetarian and non-vegetarian options ensure nobody leaves hungry.
Recent reviews highlight the warm service alongside the food quality. Buffet service appears at certain times, offering excellent value for anyone wanting to sample multiple dishes without committing to full entrées.
10. Siam Spice Thai Restaurant (Daytona Beach)
Bay Street’s longtime Thai mainstay invites you to step into authentic flavors without boarding a plane to Bangkok. Siam Spice keeps things simple, cozy, and unfussy, focusing energy on curries and stir-fries that taste like they should rather than watered-down versions for tourists who can’t handle spice.
Yellow curry earns frequent mentions in reviews, with its creamy coconut base and perfectly balanced heat. Pad thai, drunken noodles, and basil fried rice all appear on regular customers’ greatest hits lists, while golden dumplings and fresh spring rolls make light starters before heavier mains arrive. The kitchen handles spice levels well, so speak up if you want authentic heat or prefer milder versions.
Open for lunch and dinner most days, Siam Spice works equally well for dine-in meals or takeout when you’d rather eat in your hotel room. Check current hours before heading over to avoid disappointment.
11. Martini’s Organic Restaurant (South Daytona)
Seasonal New American cuisine meets organic philosophy at Martini’s, where grass-fed beef, wild-caught fish, and locally sourced ingredients form the foundation of every dish. Located just south of Daytona Beach proper, this upscale spot takes a chef-driven approach that changes with what’s fresh and available.
Expect menus that shift with the seasons, featuring dishes like perfectly cooked filet mignon, creative seafood specials, and inventive starters that showcase in-house signature seasonings. The extensive drink lineup includes organic vodkas, local craft beers, and wines carefully selected to complement the food rather than just fill a wine list.
When you want refined dining rooted in local ingredients rather than corporate chain mediocrity, Martini’s delivers. The commitment to organic sourcing and seasonal cooking creates meals that taste distinctly better than restaurants cutting corners with frozen, shipped-in ingredients.
12. Ocean Deck Restaurant & Beach Club (Daytona Beach)
USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards named Ocean Deck the number one beach bar in America for 2025, and one visit explains why. This iconic spot sits directly on the sand with an open-air downstairs area that runs daily from eleven in the morning until two in the morning, with the kitchen slinging food until one a.m.
Live music fills the air while you dig into mahi-mahi, crab legs, ribs, or wings slathered in their famous “Rasta Sauce.” Big burgers satisfy simpler cravings, and everything tastes better with your toes in the sand and salt air mixing with grilled seafood aromas. The island bar atmosphere keeps energy high throughout the day and well into the night.
This isn’t just a beach bar serving mediocre food as an afterthought. Ocean Deck takes its menu seriously while maintaining the laid-back vibe that makes beach bars special in the first place.
13. Caribbean Jack’s (Daytona Beach)
Nightly live bands and rum drinks flow freely at Caribbean Jack’s, where Loggerhead Marina provides the backdrop for what many call Daytona’s favorite waterfront restaurant. The huge deck stretches out over the Halifax River, giving diners and drinkers alike stunning water views in every direction.
Seafood, burgers, and American-Caribbean bar food dominate a menu built for sharing with friends over cold beers. Recent listings show the restaurant open daily for lunch and dinner, typically from eleven-thirty in the morning until nine at night, with strong ratings and tons of recent reviews backing up the quality. The marina setting means you can arrive by boat or car equally easily.
Live music creates a lively, party-friendly atmosphere that picks up as the sun goes down. It’s perfect for groups wanting good food, decent drinks, and entertainment all in one waterfront location without stuffiness or pretension.
14. Hull’s Seafood Market & Restaurant (Ormond Beach)
“From our boat to your table” isn’t just a catchy slogan at Hull’s. This Ormond Beach institution serves seafood from their own boats and local fleet, bringing super-fresh catch to diners for over thirty years with no frills, just quality fish cooked right.
The dual market and restaurant setup means you can buy fresh seafood to cook at home or let their kitchen handle it for you. Fried platters remain crowd favorites, crispy and golden with sides that complement rather than overwhelm the star of the show. The Daytona Beach tourism blog calls it “no-frills, just fresh,” which perfectly captures the straightforward approach that keeps locals and visitors coming back.
Nearly two thousand Tripadvisor reviews and a Travelers’ Choice badge confirm what regulars already know. Hull’s delivers beloved local seafood shack vibes with quality that rivals fancier spots charging double the price.
15. Ronin Sushi and Bar (Daytona Beach)
Sitting at the counter watching skilled chefs slice, roll, and plate beautiful sushi feels more big city than beach strip at Ronin. This chef-driven sushi and sake bar on West International Speedway Boulevard brings sophistication to Daytona dining without the stuffiness that sometimes accompanies upscale Japanese restaurants.
Current hours run from five until nine-thirty Sunday through Thursday, extending to ten on Friday and Saturday nights. Specialty plates showcase creativity alongside traditional favorites, with a full bar offering sake selections that impress enthusiasts. The Daytona Beach CVB lists Ronin as a go-to sushi spot, and Travelers’ Choice recognition on Tripadvisor backs up the quality with strong review scores.
When you need a break from fried seafood and want date-night atmosphere away from rowdy beach bars, Ronin delivers. Fresh fish, skilled preparation, and trendy vibes create meals worth remembering long after vacation ends.
