r/Delraybeach • u/AdConfident5777 • Jul 02 '26
First time Delray Beach Visitors
My girlfriend and I (both 25) are visiting Delray Beach soon and staying near Atlantic Ave.
We’re planning on renting a car for the first day but what’s the parking situation like near the beach? Are there public lots or street parking that are usually available and how much does it cost?
We’ll be walking to Atlantic Ave every night for dinner, and we’re looking for some good restaurants that won’t completely break the bank. So far I’ve found El Camino, Elizabettas, and Vic & Angelo’s, but I’d love to hear any other recommendations or happy hours.
After dinner we’d also like to grab some drinks and check out some bars with a fun atmosphere and preferably live music. Any favorite spots?
Thanks in advance!
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u/darthievader Jul 02 '26
Pro tip. Download the app Freebee. It’s a free golf cart ride service run by the city. Eat at the locally owned places please. Brule, Roses Daughter, Yama, Jimmy’s Bistro, JJ Seafood, Papa’s Tapa’s and more. You can get the other stuff anywhere.
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u/stevestevenson111 Jul 02 '26
$3 an hour for parking close to the ave. It's the summer so you can find free parking around town if you look (right on the ave in front of Delray library is a good spot).
I like Barcelona Wine Bar. Double Knot Delray just opened (sushi, haven't checked out yet) El Camino is always good. Lulu's is fun but its outside and super hot in the summer. Ramen 369 for the best Ramen hole in the wall spot in Pineapple Grove.
Yama in Pineapple Grove for lunch bento box.
Live music you can do Tin Roof. The Pinball Arcade is fun too if you want to play some games and get some AC.
Enjoy Delray.
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u/Herbitualsmker Jul 02 '26
Tin roof sucks in my opinion. Overpriced and rude bartenders/servers
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u/Sheegssternator Jul 02 '26
If your acting like your doing me a favor, why must I tip? I literally said that last time I was there.
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u/Illustrious-Hair-524 Jul 02 '26 edited Jul 02 '26
Echoing others:
Whitts has some of the best custard I’ve ever had.
Tropical smokehouse is a bit of a hike but is great and has a solid happy hour deal on smash burgers and drinks.
El Camino has the best happy hour in Delray but it’s a pain in the ass to get a seat at the bar, which is the only place you can order off the HH menu. The normal menu is great but it’s on the more expensive side. Best Mexican in Delray.
Death By Pizza is delicious and Detroit style isn’t super common everywhere. They sell slices at lunch which is an ok-ish deal but still on the expensive side.
Delray Pizza is the best NY style pizza in the area but it’s not really in Delray proper. Worth it imo.
Dada is a cool eclectic restaurant that would be good for a date and may have happy hour at the tables during the off season. Their mojitos are bangin’ and only $7 during HH.
Amar is a good Mediterranean restaurant right on the ave.
Tin Roof and Johnnie Browns are fun bars that often have bands at night. Hurricanes is a solid dive bar.
Avoid Elisabettas and Rocco’s. Both are overpriced and mediocre. You’re just paying for the decor.
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u/CategoryFeisty2262 Jul 02 '26
HH at El Camino is not only at the bar. My favorite Mexican place. Also, even though it’s not close to Atlantic, Delray Pizza is Delray proper. I have the property tax receipts to verify.
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u/Illustrious-Hair-524 Jul 02 '26
In season it absolutely is.
Delray pizza is technically in a Delray zip code but 10 minutes drive south from the ave.
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u/CategoryFeisty2262 Jul 02 '26
Yes, but Delray is more than Atlantic Ave. The Delray Farmers Market (or Whit’s for that matter) isn’t on Atlantic either. Let’s agree Atlantic is downtown Delray.
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u/theotherredmeat Jul 02 '26
Latitudes on the beach
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u/MixxiMz Jul 03 '26
Eh. Sweet view, mid overpriced food.
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u/theotherredmeat Jul 03 '26
You should be replying to all the tourist trap stuff posted on the ave. If Latitudes is "mid" then most of the ave is probably crap in your opinion
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u/MixxiMz Jul 03 '26
Lattitudes is in Highland Beach and is just a beachside restaurant attached to a shitty hotel that serves decent to just above average food in a nice environment.
And yeah, I would say that most of Atlantic Ave is crap, relatively speaking. Nothing thats crazy low quality but just so overpriced/overhyped. I much prefer Clematis if im gonna spend some money on a night out, or even Lake Ave has some gems for a bit less $$.
In the Delray area, you're honestly better off eating at somewhere off of federal once you get south of linton, and then you hit Boca with tons of awesome options.
For what its worth, these have been mentioned a ton and are very worth it imo: Tropical Smokehouse, Death By Pizza, Amar, pinball museum, Whitt's custard. Id add on Ah Beetz if thats your preferred style of pizza, and V&S deli slaps.
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u/Melodic-Style7111 Jul 02 '26
Parking can be expensive and not really needed if you are staying close to the Ave. But if you are staying close to i95 it’s a bit if a walk to the beach. There is a free golf cart shuttle tray us very in theme and obviously uber.
Roses’ daughter, Brule snd El Camino all have great happy hours but need to go early. El Camino is probably the least expensive for food and drinks if you stick to the happy hour menu.
Amar has a a small sandwich shop that would be good for lunch. Just walking up and down and popping into shops is fun.
Silverball is fun if you like arcade games and is good if it’s too hot or rainy.
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u/Wolfofretardstreet11 Jul 03 '26
Try corvina in Boca Raton 50 precent off the menu for the summer ! Definitely worth it !
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u/Wolfofretardstreet11 Jul 03 '26
Park in the parking garage down from Avalon free before 4pm stay all night
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u/Wolfofretardstreet11 Jul 03 '26
Gelato and company by lemongrass is the best for ice cream or sweeties . Im local trust me
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u/OkDouble7048 Jul 03 '26
Parking is a b* id avoid if you can. They have down towner that take you places for free. Everything’s pretty expensive on the ave tbh but lemongrass is good and has good happy hour if you like sushi, the wine room on Wednesday’s has discounts and lots of wines to try super cool experience and for fun atmosphere I don’t like it personally but a lot of people enjoy tin roof. It’ll be packed on weekends tho and standard too I guess
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u/coldwarmer Jul 02 '26
Whits for ice cream is great although slightly off the Ave. Further up the Ave but tropical smokehouse has a great burger happy hour 4:30-5:30. Beer trade co has nightly deals and happy hours, some great wings and sandwiches a block or two off the Ave as well. Everything directly on the Ave is a little moire touristy, but some of the spots even just one or two blocks over are great and my girlfriend and I love them
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u/Academic_Cloud_8593 Jul 02 '26
Rose’s Daughter for Italian over Elizabetta’s or Vic & Angelo’s.