Where do locals go for waterfront dining in Palm Beach County?

Palm Beach County locals head to the Jupiter Inlet and Intracoastal Waterway for dining on the water. Local favorites include Guanabanas and U-Tiki Beach in Jupiter, the Waterway Cafe in Palm Beach Gardens, Sailfish Marina in Palm Beach Shores, and Deck 84 on the Intracoastal in Delray Beach. Many are accessible by boat as well as by car.

By Lisa Treu | July 18, 2026

One of my favorite things about living in Palm Beach County is that "dinner with a water view" isn't a special occasion here. It's a Tuesday.

Steve and I have been eating our way up and down this coastline for decades, and when relocating clients ask me what life here is really like, I usually answer with a restaurant recommendation. So here's my honest local list, the places we actually return to, roughly north to south.

Jupiter: the waterfront dining capital of the county

If I had to pick one town that does dining on the water best, it's Jupiter. The inlet and the Riverwalk give you options for every mood.

Guanabanas is the one everyone asks about, and it earns it. Open-air seating under massive banyan trees right on the water, live music most nights, and a menu built around fresh seafood. Go early or expect a wait on weekends. Worth it.

U-Tiki Beach sits right on the Jupiter Inlet with a straight-on view of the lighthouse. This is my pick for sunset. Watching the boats come through the inlet with the lighthouse glowing behind them never gets old, and I've lived here a long time.

Square Grouper Tiki Bar is the toes-in-the-sand option at the inlet, casual and unpolished in the best way. If it looks familiar, it has shown up in country music videos.

1000 North is Jupiter's upscale waterfront play, refined food and a polished setting on the Intracoastal. This is where we take clients celebrating a closing.

Palm Beach Gardens and the northern Intracoastal

Closer to home for us, the Waterway Cafe in Palm Beach Gardens is the reliable standby, right on the Intracoastal with a floating bar that's been a local fixture for decades. Boats pull up, paddleboarders drift by, and dinner turns into people-watching.

Just south in Palm Beach Shores, Sailfish Marina is an institution. Go on a Thursday evening for the sunset celebration with local artists along the dock, order the fresh catch, and watch the charter boats come in. Feeding the tarpon off the dock is a tradition around here, and yes, the grandkids think it's the best part of dinner.

Frigate's in North Palm Beach rounds out the northern stretch, a two-story spot on the water where the upstairs deck catches the breeze off the Intracoastal.

Delray Beach and points south

When we're in south county, Deck 84 in Delray Beach is the move. It sits right on the Intracoastal at the Atlantic Avenue bridge, so you get the boat parade and the Delray energy in one seat. Pair it with a stroll down the Avenue afterward and that's a complete Saturday.

In Boynton Beach, Two Georges and Prime Catch both sit on the water near the Boynton Inlet, and both are the kind of unfussy, fresh-seafood spots that locals quietly keep in rotation.

A few local tips before you go

• Arrive by boat if you can. Many of these spots have dock space, and there's nothing more Palm Beach County than pulling up to dinner. Dock space is first come, first served at most of them, so build in a cushion.
• Sunset is west-facing here. Because we're on Florida's east coast, the best sunset views are over the Intracoastal, not the ocean. That's why inlet and waterway restaurants own the golden hour.
• Summer pro tip: afternoon storms usually clear by early evening, and the post-storm skies are some of the best of the year. Don't let a 4 p.m. downpour cancel your 7 p.m. reservation.
• Season changes everything. From November through April, add wait time everywhere. Summer, honestly, is when locals get these places back.

This is the part of Palm beach County living that doesn't show up on a listing sheet: the everyday access to the water. It's a big part of why we moved to Palm Beach Gardens ourselves, and if you're visiting with the little ones in tow, I've also rounded up fun things to do in Palm Beach County before summer ends.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the best waterfront restaurant for sunset in Palm Beach County?

U-Tiki Beach on the Jupiter Inlet is a local favorite for sunset, with views of the Jupiter Lighthouse and the boat traffic through the inlet. Sailfish Marina in Palm Beach Shores also hosts a Thursday evening sunset celebration along its docks.

Can you get to Palm Beach County waterfront restaurants by boat?

Yes. Many local favorites, including Guanabanas, U-Tiki Beach, the Waterway Cafe, Sailfish Marina, and Two Georges, offer dockage for diners. Space is typically first come, first served, so arrive early on weekends.

Where do locals eat on the water in Jupiter?

Guanabanas, U-Tiki Beach, Square Grouper Tiki Bar, and 1000 North are the Jupiter waterfront staples. Guanabanas and Square Grouper are casual and lively, while 1000 North is the upscale option on the Intracoastal.

Is waterfront dining in Palm Beach County crowded in summer?

Summer is actually the locals' season. Waits are shorter from May through October than during the November-to-April season, and evening storms usually clear in time for dinner.

If you're thinking about making this lifestyle your everyday, I'd love to show you around, and I'll bring the restaurant list. Connect with us here and let's find the right spot on the water for you.

About Lisa Treu Lisa Treu is the CEO of Treu Group Real Estate and has been helping buyers and sellers in Palm Beach County since 1989, with a focus on Jupiter, Palm Beach Gardens, and Delray Beach. She specializes in luxury homes, waterfront properties, new construction, and residential resale, and her team has earned 107 Google reviews, 265 Zillow team reviews, 79 Realtor.com reviews, and 21 Yelp reviews.