Cocoa Beach is my favorite staycation destination. The friendly, walkable beach town vibe makes me feel like I'm worlds away from Orlando even though the drive takes less than an hour. Although I've only stayed overnight three times, I've taken countless day trips. Besides long walks on the beach spent gazing in wonder at the ocean, cocina shells and sand pipers, strolls through historic Cocoa Village and mini golf, a big draw is, of course, the food. Here are my favorite Cocoa Beach eateries:
Simply Delicious
Warning: It is impossible to leave this place and NOT be uncomfortably (but happily) full. The omelets at this funky, house-turned cafe are absolutely massive, but you can be sure the size isn't compensating for anything- they are also absolutely delicious.
If you prefer sweet over savory for your morning meal, try the crepes, and don't forget the whipped cream! The fresh fruit and light little pancakes are a perfect summer morning treat.
If you can stand to look at anymore food after finishing your meal, there is also a bakery case strategically placed near the cash register full of decadent cakes, cookies, and brownies.
Stepping into this mom and pop coffee shop feels like being a guest in the owner's home. Touted as the best coffee shop in Cocoa Beach, Wahoo Coffee makes everything from classic lattes to frozen blended frappes. My Wild Tribe Moka frappe tasted so much more natural than a Starbucks Frappuccino.
If you prefer an iced coffee, you can customize your drink with the array of syrups available on the counter.
The only reason my boyfriend, Kevin, and I ended up at this joint was because the website promised an array of lattes with unique flavors like gingerbread, and I can't resist a good flavored latte.
But when we got inside the dim, place that was reminiscient of a bar, there was not an espresso machine in sight. Instead, the barista offered us kava, which she explained was a root based drink from Hawaii. She slid two coconut bowls full of the murky brown liquid over to us and instructed us to raise our bowls along with the other patrons and shout "Bula!" a toast to happiness and good health. I wish I could say we discovered our new favorite drink, but it tasted like someone juiced lettuce and pickles. The stuff burned as it went down, as the barista had warned us it would. Kevin did order some French Press coffee, but he was a bit freaked out to say the least and wondered what I had gotten him into. We played it safe afterwards and headed to trusty ol' Starbucks. I kept waiting to feel a little loose or warm and fuzzy afterward, but we never felt any kind of effect.
So why am I even including Bula on the list then? For the experience, of course! I think everyone should at least try kava. I've seen kava bars popping up more and more. Who knows, it may become a staple, and it apparently is a healthier substitute for alcohol.
Cafe Surfinista
Every beach town has to have at least one restaurant decked out in surfing themed decor. This place is a health nut's paradise with refreshing acai bowls and protein-packed smoothies. They also have bagels, sandwiches, and soup if you want something a little more solid.
We had acai bowls and The Cocoa Beach Classic shake. The shake tasted just like blended Butterfingers. There is no other way to describe it. While it's hard for these smoothie shops to differentiate themselves, we thought the atmosphere and that candy flavored shake made Cafe Surfinista stand out from the crowd.
If you are looking for a date night spot, The Fat Snook won't disappoint. But, be prepared, this isn't your usual casual beachtown fare. I am actually surprised there isn't a dress code.
The restaurant prides itself on sourcing local ingredients and the menu items rotate frequently. The way the menu items were described to us was comically poetic and each time one of us left the table, a waitress would rush over and fold our napkins. I was honestly afraid to sneeze there.
Besides the upscaleness that my uncultured college kid self was ill-prepared for, the rest of the dining experience was pleasant. The decor said simple chic beach house with lots of browns and blues, and the food was almost worth the price.
My favorite part, admittedly, was the drop biscuit appetizer. Maybe I'm just not Southern enough to know a good biscuit, but I thought those things were the best carb I'd ever eaten. Served with guava butter, the baseball-sized, fluffy little scallion-filled snacks were moist and buttery in all the right ways.
As for our meal, the fish we ordered was encrusted with matcha, a creative but suprisingly complementary fish seasoning. But if anything, I'll mainly be going back just for the biscuits ;).
The first time we came here, we didn't know about the no tank top policy, and it being Cocoa BEACH, Kevin happened to be wearing one. We were asked to sit outside and the whole thing felt a little awkward.
The second visit allowed the place to redeem itself, and it's mainly all thanks to the grouper bites. As a pescatarian, there are really only two things I miss in terms of meat: teryaki and popcorn chicken. Those grouper bites were the answer to my popcorn chicken cravings. Fried, easy to pop in your mouth, and smothered in salty, slightly spicy soy sauce, I honestly could have just eaten the bites and the bread they served and called it a meal. I'm one of those people who forms opinions of restaurants based on the bread they serve, so in my book, this place is a 10/10 thanks to the bread alone.
Whether you order a classic cone, a milkshake, a cookie sandwich, or a dessert jar, you can't go wrong here. But, if you want to go super, super right, order the Mai Kai jar. This butterscotch, ice cream, chocolate, coconut cookie filled mason jar is honestly one of the best desserts I've had, and I've tried just about everything with sugar and chocolate in it.
An awesome bonus about this place is the gluten-free options (which include the Mai Kai jar). The first time I went, I got the cookie sandwich with the gluten-free coconut chocolate chip cookies (best flavor combo ever). While I am really good at "forgetting" I have a gluten intolerance when I see cookies and pizza and cereal, it was great to actually be able to make a smart AND delicious decision when ordering dessert. My only suggestion is that they use metal spoons to make the dessert jars a 100% zero-waste treat.
Next time you're planning a beach day, make a point to stop by one (or two) of these places for a meal, drink, or dessert.
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