You showed up for a rum runner, but the plates steal the spotlight before the garnish even hits the glass. Florida’s tiki scene is serving craveable coastal flavors that make you forget the drink menu exists. From beach shacks to legendary supper club stages, these spots prove tiki food can be fresh, inventive, and wildly satisfying. Bring an appetite and a sense of adventure, because your next favorite bite is waiting by the water.
Sandbar Seafood + Spirits – Anna Maria, Florida
Sea breezes drift across Sandbar Seafood + Spirits, carrying that briny promise only a true Gulffront spot can deliver. You come for umbrella drinks, but the menu takes over fast with crispy grouper sandwiches, citrusy ceviche, and stone crab when in season. The hushpuppies are lightly sweet and dangerously shareable.
Order the blackened fish tacos, stacked with slaw and a punchy key lime crema. If you want comfort, the shrimp and grits bring smoky heat over velvety corn. Portions are generous, but you will still pick at the last fries.
Sunsets paint the deck in tangerine light, and suddenly dessert feels mandatory. Try the key lime pie, tart and cool, and toast the tide.
Caddy’s Treasure Island – Treasure Island, Florida
At Caddy’s Treasure Island, toes hit the sand before you even crack a menu. You think drinks first, then a server drops coconut shrimp crisped perfectly and you pivot. The mahi tacos burst with fresh pico and lime, a simple combo that lands every time.
Flatbreads arrive bubbling, and beach burgers drip with island sauce that sneaks up with heat. Load fries with chili and cheese if you are leaning indulgent. There is a citrusy slaw that cuts through everything and keeps bites bright.
Live music adds the easy rhythm to inhale another plate. Grab a seat facing the water, chase a bite with sea air, and let the sunset season your meal better than any spice.
Ka’Tiki – Treasure Island, Florida
Ka’Tiki is that no-frills beach shack where the grill perfumes the night and bands keep the beat. You might order a bucket drink, but the burger sizzles louder than the speakers. Wings arrive lacquered in sticky heat, with charred edges you will fight over.
Blackened fish sandwiches are a sleeper hit, tucked into soft buns with crunchy lettuce. The fries stay crisp under a sprinkle of seasoning salt, made for dipping. Ask about daily seafood specials because boats nearby influence the board.
Everything tastes better under those twinkle lights as the Gulf hums nearby. Grab napkins, lean into the mess, and let good music plus salty air turn a simple plate into a memory.
MAI-KAI Restaurant and Polynesian Show – Fort Lauderdale, Florida
MAI-KAI is Florida tiki theater, where the gardens glow and the show pulses. Drinks may be legendary, but the food hits with nostalgic charm and precision. The pu pu platter turns into a tour, from tender ribs to crisp crab rangoons and skewers kissed by flame.
Order the roast duck or sizzling steak if you want drama delivered to the table. Sauces lean sweet, savory, and island spiced, made for sharing. Fried rice arrives fragrant with scallions and egg that soak up every glaze.
Performers swirl across the stage, and you forget time between bites. It feels timeless, transporting, and a little decadent, the kind of dinner that becomes a story you will retell.
Hogfish Bar & Grill – Stock Island, Florida
Hogfish Bar & Grill tastes like the Keys without filters. You come for a cold drink, then the namesake hogfish sandwich arrives, lightly blackened, topped with Swiss and onions on Cuban bread. It is flaky, buttery, and exactly what you wanted.
Conch fritters are peppery and tender inside, great with a squeeze of lime. If in season, grilled spiny lobster slathers in butter and garlic that perfume the dock. Sides stay simple, like island rice and crisp slaw.
The vibe is salty and unpretentious, the kind of place where fishermen swap stories. Order extra tartar sauce, watch the charter boats slide in, and let that sea breeze tell you to linger longer.
Schooner Wharf Bar – Key West, Florida
Schooner Wharf Bar is your salty porch over the harbor, where the music never hurries and plates show up honest. Peel and eat shrimp come steaming, dusted with spice and begging for cold beer nearby. The blackened mahi sandwich is smoky and juicy without fuss.
There is a tuna melt that surprises with real heft and melty comfort. Chowder bowls warm breezy nights, rich and briny. Fries are hot and sturdy, built to scoop every last drop.
Dogs nap under stools, boats creak, and you forget your schedule. Order another round of shrimp, wave at the sunset cruise, and let Key West rewrite your dinner plans mid-bite.
Sunset Grille & Raw Bar – Marathon, Florida
Sunset Grille & Raw Bar sits beside the Seven Mile Bridge like it knew the view would break you. The raw bar is a showstopper, with cold oysters, plump shrimp, and tuna poke you will finish too fast. Sushi rolls lean fun and fresh, not fussy.
Grilled dolphin platters arrive smoky with citrus butter and bright herbs. Macadamia crusted options bring crunch without heaviness. The poolside vibe makes sharing feel automatic and easy.
As the sky melts into fuchsia, the whole deck becomes a postcard. Order one more dozen oysters, chase them with crisp fries, and let that sunset turn dinner into an event you will crave again.