Here you’ll find white sandy beaches that are located next to equally charming watering holes. Plus, all of these beach bars are within driving distance from Orlando.
Bongo Beach Bar and Grille
Distance from Orlando: 1 hour and 57 minutes
Dig your toes into the sand as you bite down on some quick bites with shareable options, including coconut crusted shrimp or some chicken wings. Don’t forget to grab a 16-ounce supersize frozen drink before you head out to sunbathe on the white sandy beach.
5250 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach, FL 33706
Photo via Bongos Beach Bar and Grille/FacebookThe Breakers Restaurant
Distance from Orlando: 1 hour and 9 minutes
This burger joint is serving up variety in a quaint little pink building at the edge of the beach. Burgers range from a three cheese burger, chili burger and the Hawaiian burger for a tropical twist on an American classic.
518 Flagler Ave., New Smyrna Beach, FL 32169
Photo via stinamargaret/InstagramCrabby’s Bar and Grill
Distance from Orlando: 2 hours and 12 minutes
The atmosphere is everything but crabby, but the name will have your mouthwatering for some Alaskan Bairdi crab. Not a fan of crab? They also have cocktails by the bucket, literally, try their rum runner or margarita bucket for some tropical elixir, the cure to any long week.
333 S. Gulfview Blvd., Clearwater, FL 33767
Photo via landshark7/InstagramFrenchy’s Rockaway Grill
Distance from Orlando: 2 hours and 13 minutes
Although there are four other locations in Clearwater, you’ll want to be sure to come to Rockaway where you can stick your toes in the sand and have a drink in your hand at this beachside oasis.
7 Rockaway St., Clearwater, FL 33767
Photo via Frenchy’s Rockaway Grill/FacebookThe Golden Lion Cafe
Distance from Orlando: 1 hour and 16 minutes
With live music performed on the daily, The Golden Lion Cafe is a beachside destination that offers one of only two raw bars at Flagler Beach. Side note: there are specials during the happy hour, so come slurp down some delicious raw or steamed oysters.
501 N. Ocean Shore Blvd., Flagler Beach, FL 32136
Photo via photobuoy/InstagramGrills Seafood Deck and Tiki Bar
Distance from Orlando: 53 minutes
The Waterfront dining hole has an island feel located right in the port of Cape Canaveral. Sitting on the open patio you can take a glimpse at boats and cruise ships as they glide over the water and head out to sea.
505 Glen Cheek Dr., Cape Canaveral, FL 32920
Photo via hesofunky/InstagramHarry’s Beach Bar
Distance from Orlando: 2 hours
Tucked in between Sirata Beach Resort and the sugar white sandy shoreline of St. Pete Beach is Harry’s Beach Bar. Harry’s is designed for comfort with a pool to one side of you and the beach located on the other, at Harry’s Beach Bar the world is your oyster to explore.
5300 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach, FL 33706
Photo via Harry’s Beach Bar/FacebookCoconuts on the Beach
Distance from Orlando: 1 hour and 4 minutes
People watch as you take a seat on the deck at this beach bar. Sip on their popular Pain in the Ass cocktail that mixes a rum runner with a pina colada, then after take a stroll down Cocoa Beach, bask in the sunlight and taste the salty air on your lips.
2 Minutemen Causeway, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931
Photo via hasitha_vineeth/InstagramHula Bay Club & Duke’s Retired Surfer’s Island Bar
Distance from Orlando: 1 hour and 34 minutes
This dynamic duo is delivering Hawaiian fare right to the Gulf Coast. Skip the plane ride and try the Hula’s burgers that incorporate pacific polynesian cuisine. Tired of shredding the waves? Take some laps around one of the bar’s pools.
5210 W. Tyson Ave.,Tampa, FL 33611
Photo via todd_13___/InstagramJimmy B’s Beach Bar
Distance from Orlando: 1 hour and 58 minutes
This tiki hut is located behind the Beachcomber Beach Hotel where they’re serving classic beach bistro fare that is accompanied by musical acts every evening. The beach might bring you here, but the supersize cocktails and atmosphere will be pulling you to stay at this No. 1 “Best Florida Beach Bar” rated on Florida’s Beach Bar Top 10 list.
6200 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach, FL 33706
Photo via Jimmy B’s Beach Bar/FacebookMilliken’s Reef
Distance from Orlando: 52 minutes
Here a dance floor is substituted for sand, steps away from the restaurant rest a tiki bar with lawn chairs surrounding it, that creates an atmosphere that breeds conversations. Aside from the massive cruise ship departures, a stage lies next to the hut where musical acts perform occasionally.
683 Dave Nisbet Dr., Cape Canaveral, FL 32920
Photo via cocktailswithkristin/InstagramOcean Deck
Distance from Orlando: 1 hour and 7 minutes
Catch some waves and grub on some good seafood at Daytona’s very own Ocean Deck. Dating back to 1957, Ocean Deck was just a little hot dog shop that has since expanded to a two-story local favorite and tourist approved hotspot for chow, this place is sure to please any beachgoer.
127 S. Ocean Ave., Daytona Beach, FL 32118
Photo via ucfsam06/InstagramPalm Pavilion Beachside Grill and Bar
Distance from Orlando: 2 hours and 31 minutes
This family friendly shoreline eatery has been in the game of serving up seafood fare since 1926. If not the food that demands your visit then maybe the atmosphere will suffice with being rated number one for the “Best Beach Bar” in St. Pete and Clearwater.
10 Bay Esplanade, Clearwater Beach, FL 33767
Photo via Palm Pavilion Beachside Grill and BarRacing’s North Turn
Distance from Orlando: 1 hour and 12 minutes
This beach bar has been named on Florida’s Beach Bar Top 10 list for the best beach bar for the last seven years in a row. If that doesn’t get you out of your seat and on the road then I’m sure the history of the bar will; it’s located right next to the birthplace of racing in the Daytona Beach area.
4511 S. Atlantic Ave., Ponce Inlet, FL 32127
Photo via Racing’s North Turn/FacebookSharky’s on the Pier
Distance from Orlando: 2 hour and 26 minutes
Sharky’s on the Pier is located on arguably the best Florida coastal beachline, the Gulf Coast. A local favorite, Sharky’s is matching beautiful sunsets with lunch, dinner and coffee worth raving about.
1600 Harbor Dr. S., Venice, FL 34285
Photo via Sharky’s on the Pier/FacebookToni and Joe’s Patio
Distance from Orlando: 1 hour and 11 minutes
This family-owned restaurant is a great place to hangout from sunrise to sunset, opened from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Take a swim, eat, wait an hour, catch some waves and grub again at this shoreline eatery.
309 Buenos Aires St., New Smyrna Beach, FL 32169
Photo via Toni and Joe’s Patio/FacebookThe Getaway
Distance from Orlando: 1 hour and 39 minutes
Come by land or by sea, this tiki hut eatery was inspired from the laid back-style of the Florida Keys. Floribbean cuisine is a token here – Florida fare with a Caribbean flare – unleashes the best of both worlds for a holistic experience of down south Florida lifestyle.
13090 Gandy Blvd. N., St. Pete, FL 33702
Photo via The Getaway/InstagramShephard’s Beach Resort
Distance from Orlando: 2 hours and 15 minutes
Here you have options for how you want to partake in oceanic festivities. Chill out and vibe at the Tiki Beach Bar and Grill or if you’re feeling a bit more energetic, take a dip in the pool and sip on a cocktail from Soak, the pool bar.
619 S. Gulfview Blvd., Clearwater Beach, FL 33706
Photo via Shephard’s Beach Resort/FacebookSquid Lips
Distance from Orlando: 1 hour and 7 minutes
The bar’s name could spark some unwanted imagery but beyond its name this place is equally unique in the fact it’s not actually on a natural beach, but actually along a river bank that has been man made into a coastal hideaway. Be sure to dock your boat and pull up a seat to enjoy some conch fritters.
1477 Pineapple Ave., Melbourne, FL 32935
Photo via outothebox/InstagramRicks on the River
Distance from Orlando: 1 hour and 33 minutes
Dock your boat, pull up a seat and unwind at this mariana joint. They serve oysters a couple of different ways here at this oyster bar. Have ‘em raw, steamed, topped with pepper jack cheese and jalapeno rings or a twist to simple classic, the Rick-efellar way (bacon included).
2305 N. Willow Ave., Tampa, FL 33607
Photo via tampamagazine/InstagramThe Beach Bucket
Distance from Orlando: 1 hour and 16 minutes
All good things end and begin at Ormond Beach’s only beachside bar and grill. For a relaxing hideaway without all the fuss, The Beach Bucket is worth the trip. Pair up some fish tacos with their $2.50 bottled beer specials, kick up your feet and relax.
867 S. Atlantic Ave., Ormond, FL 32176
Photo via teamtayz/InstagramTropix Beach Bar
Distance from Orlando: 2 hours and 14 minutes
A reservation at the hotel is not required to enjoy what Tropix Beach Bar has to offer. Take a seat and relax at this shoreline bar where white sandy beaches are just a few steps away. Tropix includes massive menu items like the ¼ pound jumbo hot dog and the 32 ounce rum runner. Just be careful not to sip too fast, you wouldn’t want to get a brain freeze.
655 S. Gulfview Blvd., Clearwater Beach, FL 33706
Photo via Tropix Beach Bar/FacebookRusty’s Seafood and Oyster Bar
Distance from Orlando: 53 minutes
This waterfront eatery that sits along Port Canaveral is essential to what you think of when you hear “beachfront bar.” Relaxing and cozy ambience is what Rusty’s has to offer, along with freshly shucked oysters and 42-inch TVs for those football sundays.
628 Glen Cheek Dr., Cape Canaveral, FL 32920
Photo via blondeunderthesun/InstagramWhiskey Joe’s Bar and Grill
Distance from Orlando: 1 hour and 34 minutes
Seafood heaven, it’s only right that they are mastering aquatic cuisine and beachy cocktails. This destination is not only hashtag vacation goals but also foodie goals with their seafood tacos and a take home coconut goblet holding a mix of juices, fruit and Bacardi rum.
7720 W. Courtney Campbell Causeway, Tampa, FL 33607
Photo via Whiskey Joe’s Bar and Grill/FacebookJohnny D’s Beach Bar and Grill
Distance from Orlando: 1 hour and 16 minutes
With a kitchen that stays open until 1 a.m. and drinks that are served until 2 a.m., what better late night beach spot can you ask for? And the extensive drink menu ain’t too bad itself, you’ll want to check out the shot specials menu while you’re at it.
1005 N. Ocean Shore Blvd., New Flagler, FL 32136
Photo via rocknosalt1/Instagram
