Dock and Dine: Melbourne, Florida Restaurants to Visit by Boat
Located along the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian River, between Cocoa Beach and Vero Beach in Brevard County, Melbourne, Florida is an excellent destination for boating, fishing, swimming and all sorts of water activities. And all that delicious seafood. Don’t forget the seafood.
If you’re navigating the ICW, boating in the Indian River or just out for the day from a private boat dock rental, you’re bound to get hungry at some point (it happens to the best of us). Who wants to worry with sailing or motoring all the way back to the dock? Not us! We prefer to pull right up to the restaurant. We’ve scoped out some dock and dine suggestions to add to your mental notebook for the next time you’re out. You can thank us later.
Bonefish Willy’s Riverfront Grille & Tiki Bar
Photo: Bonefish Willy's Riverfront Grille (via Facebook)
Family-owned and operated since 1999, Bonefish Willy’s Riverfront Grille is right on the Indian River near mile marker 101 on the ICW. Pull up to the 132-foot dock and dine among palm trees and river views. There’s indoor and outdoor dining and a dockside tiki bar. The outdoor area has heaters for the cold months. Enjoy conch fritters, crabcakes, coconut shrimp, tilapia, salmon Oscar and other local fish dishes. Not into the pescatarian lifestyle? Try jerk chicken, pulled pork and steak. The restaurant hosts Friday fish fries, Saturday seafood boils and live music.
Grills Riverside Seafood Deck & Tiki Bar
Photo: Sandy Allen
Grills Riverside Seafood Deck & Tiki Bar sits on the Indian River north of the Pineda Causeway. If you’re thinking it sounds familiar, there are a couple of other Grills locations around the area (in Port Canaveral and Orlando). This location opened in 2010. Watch dolphins and boats in the river while sipping hurricanes, daiquiris and mojitos and dining on seafood, steaks, chicken and ribs. They’ve recently added lionfish to the menu, so if you’ve ever wanted to try this prickly invader, now’s your chance. Grills is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We think it’s a great spot to visit from a boat lift for rent in Melbourne.
Squid Lips
Photo: Squid Lips (via Facebook)
Squid Lips, located on the west side of the Indian River at the Eau Gallie Causeway, has a deck and a cool beach area. They use an open oak wood fire to prepare grilled items such as fresh seafood, oysters, chicken, bacon-wrapped scallops and more as well as salads, Cuban sandwiches and burgers. Sail in for the food and stay for the weekly events and live music. It’s on Pineapple Ave. if you’re coming by car. There are two other locations, one in Sebastian and one in Cocoa Beach.
Ichabod’s Dockside Bar & Grill
Photo: Ichabod's Dockside Bar & Grill (via Facebook)
Located on the west side of the Melbourne Causeway, Ichabod’s Dockside Bar & Grill is on Front Street in downtown Melbourne. You’ll find it beside the Melbourne Harbor Marina on Crane Creek, which makes it convenient to dock and dine from a boat lift for rent on the Indian River. Choose from seafood selections like mahi, grouper and scallops or burgers, sandwiches, steaks and pasta while enjoying marina and waterfront views.
We hope you’ve discovered a few new eateries to visit from a private boat slip rental in Melbourne. Let us know your favorites!
