Guide to Cedar Key, Florida Restaurants (2026)
Cedar Key is a small, island community on Florida's Gulf Coast, with a history steeped in commercial fishing and pencil making, that has managed to retain all of its Old Florida charm. Its dining scene tells this island's story of resiliency as well as anything else does. After multiple hurricanes hit the island in 2023 & 2024, the iconic Dock Street, once the heart of the island, is still in the process of recovering and 2nd Street has stepped up as the new central hub of activity.
Despite the shift, what hasn't changed is the island's commitment to locally owned establishments serving local seafood. You won't find a single chain restaurant within an hour's drive and Cedar Key clams remain the dish to order no matter where you go for dinner.
We've been visiting Cedar Key at least once a year since 2016. Here's everywhere we ate on our latest visit, plus the spots we ran out of time for this year.
Island Hotel
The Island Hotel offers a true fine dining experience inside a historic hotel — one of the oldest buildings on the island, and a destination on its own even if you're not staying overnight.
The indoor dining room has a white-tablecloth feel, a step up from the casual spots that dominate the rest of the island. But the real character lives in the historic Neptune Lounge and a lively outdoor patio, which happened to be hosting karaoke the night we visited — a fun, unexpected contrast to the formal dining room just inside. We got a slice of key lime pie to-go on our most recent visit. It did not disappoint.
Prickly Palm
Prickly Palm is now operating as a food truck on 2nd Street, after losing its adorable original building to hurricane damage — one of several spots on this list pivoting their approach to business to better prepare for future storms.
It's our go-to breakfast stop on every visit to Cedar Key: fruit smoothies, acai bowls, coffee, and healthy sandwiches make it an easy, refreshing way to start the day before heading out on the water. Our go-to's are the Purple Pufferfish smoothie, Cedar Key Acai Bowl (add kiwi), Healthy Start sandwich and a latte with coconut milk.
Steamers Clam Bar & Grill
Steamers currently shares space with 2nd Street Cafe since losing their 2nd Street location to hurricane and fire damage. They have built a reputation on local seafood done well.
We started with the seafood platter appetizer — coconut shrimp, alligator bites and blue crab claws. From there we moved on to fried shrimp, blackened mahi, hush puppies and coleslaw all well executed and plenty for 2 people to share. If you love mollusks, be sure to try one of their clam pots featuring local clams.
Annie's Cafe
Annie's Cafe, located on 6th Street, is a cash-only spot with old Florida charm — the kind of low-key, eclectic character that only a shanty style cottage can give. They serve diner-style breakfast and lunch like french toast and eggs benedict.
Cedar Key Pizza
Cedar Key Pizza operates both as a small sit-down restaurant and a to-go-only storefront, giving you flexibility depending on how you want to eat.
The classic pepperoni pizza was delicious, and we also tried the spinach artichoke dip garlic knots — a fun, different spin on a traditional garlic knot dish.
Tipsy Cow Bar
Tipsy Cow is the spot for burgers, with a second floor deck overlooking the Gulf of Mexico that makes it worth the visit for the view alone. It's great alternative if you've had your fill of fresh seafood. We didn't have time to make it here on our most recent trip and it has been several years since we ate here so I don't have a current recommendation or favorite on the menu.
Low Key Hideaway Tiki Bar
Low Key Hideaway is a 21+, dog-friendly tiki bar with a rotating list of food trucks, live music on weekends, and some of the best sunset views over the salt marshes on the island. It's a clear favorite with locals, which says a lot in a town this small. Enjoying the marsh views with a mojito in-hand feels like the perfect way to slow down.
A complimentary Tiki Taxi is available if you're staying on the island and don't want to elect a designated driver for your group. For those visiting with a camper, Low Key Hideaway also offers a full-hookup campground.
Big Deck Bar
Big Deck Bar is still in the process of rebuilding following Hurricane Helene. Locals we spoke with speculated it could reopen by late summer 2026, though that timeline isn't guaranteed. Worth checking to see if they have reopened before you head down if this is at the top of your list.
Treasure Camp
This spot is about 20 minutes from Cedar Key, located on the banks of the Suwannee River. Treasure Camp is a true old school fish camp, with the addition of a full bar, and served some of the best seafood we've had anywhere in the area.
We ordered clam strips, fried shrimp, coconut shrimp, and the smoked mahi fish dip — all excellent. We topped it off with a fresh, made-in-house brownie that turned out to be massive; we ended up taking more than half of it to go.
There is a public boat ramp right next door if you want to explore the river before or after your meal — they even have a dedicated dock for patrons.
1842 Daily Grind
Located at the corner of historic 2nd Street and Highway 24, 1842 Daily Grind serves coffee, breakfast and sandwiches. The chicken salad croissant was a standout lunch order — simple, well made, with a surprise of strawberries and exactly what you want after a morning on the water.
Cedar Key Island Bakery
We tried an orange cranberry muffin and a classic glazed donut. We visited late on a Saturday afternoon, so the selection was fairly picked over by the time we arrived — worth keeping in mind if you want first pick of what's available. They also make their own key lime pie in-house, which is on our list for next time.
If you're visiting on Saturday, get there early for the best selection. Cedar Key Island Bakery is open Thursday through Saturday, so plan accordingly.
Cedar Key Fishing History
Fishing in Cedar Key dates back to before the islands had a formal name — the Timucua Indians, along with Apalachee and Creek tribes, used the Cedar Keys as seasonal fishing camps, harvesting scallops, oysters, and fish from the shallow seagrass flats. In modern times, Cedar Key has been one of Florida's top clam-producing regions for decades, and the local aquaculture industry is a big part of why the seafood here tastes the way it does. Unlike wild-caught clams, Cedar Key clams are farm-raised in the surrounding Gulf waters — a practice that took off on the island in the 1990s after the state phased out commercial net fishing and local fishing families pivoted to clam farming to survive. That shift is part of the reason clamming is so woven into the identity of the island today; it's not just a menu item, it's the industry that kept Cedar Key afloat. According to Cedar Key Everlasting, a joint venture between Cedar Key Aquaculture Association partnered with UF IFAS Shellfish Extension Program, clam farming adds an estimated $45 million a year into the area’s economy and supports over 500 jobs.
The clams themselves are prized for being clean-tasting, tender, and consistently fresh, since most are harvested just offshore and served within the same day. You'll find them prepared half a dozen ways around the island — steamed, in a clam pot, fried into strips, or worked into a chowder — my favorite way to have them is as fried clam strips at Treasure Camp or the clam chowder at Steamers.
About Cedar Key
Cedar Key sits on a small cluster of islands off Florida's Gulf Coast, about an hour and a half southwest of Gainesville, and it has built its identity around the water for well over a century. Long before tourism, this was a working fishing village — first for mullet and finfish, then, after the 1995 commercial net fishing ban forced many local families to find a new way to make a living, for clam aquaculture. That history is still visible everywhere: in the working docks, the seafood-forward menus, and the unhurried pace of a town that has continued to evade the commercial development typical of other coastal towns in Florida.
What makes Cedar Key visually distinct is the marsh. Unlike the sandy beaches and clear blue water found elsewhere on Florida's Gulf Coast, Cedar Key is ringed by salt marshes, tidal flats, and small uninhabited keys, which is exactly what makes the sunset views from spots like Low Key Hideaway so memorable. The surrounding waters are part of the Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge, making Cedar Key a perfect destination for bird watching, kayaking and vacationing among a more natural stretch of coastline.
Practical Tips for Eating Your Way Through Cedar Key
Bring cash. At least one spot on this list (Annie's Cafe) is cash-only — worth having some on hand before you start exploring. There are ATMs located at the convenience store on 2nd St as well as at 1842 Daily Grind.
Check hours before you go, especially for spots like Cedar Key Island Bakery that aren't open every day.
Expect some rebuilding in progress. Several restaurants on this list are operating out of temporary locations or are still rebuilding — part of the island's charm, but worth knowing before you go in expecting everything to be back to normal.
Getting Around: Most spots on this list are easily accessible by the popular golf cart transportation on the island. Notable exceptions are the Low Key Hideaway Tiki Bar and Treasure Camp. For those visiting Annie's Cafe, be sure to utilize E St & 6th St and don't drive your golf cart down Hwy 24.
Final Thoughts on Cedar Key
There's something about the charm of this island that feels like a reset for your nervous system — a sense of total peace surrounded by natural beauty that keeps us coming back every year. The food scene here has weathered more than its share of storms, literally, but it's never lost what makes it special: small, locally owned spots serving the seafood that's been pulled from these waters for generations. That's worth supporting, and worth the drive.
Have you eaten your way through Cedar Key? Drop your favorite spots in the comments — especially if you've found a new favorite since the hurricanes!
Want help planning a Cedar Key or Gulf Coast Florida getaway? I'd love to help.
Hi, I’m Jess
I’m here to help you plan epic adventures. If you’re looking for authentic travel guides that mix luxe lodging and incredible dining with out of this world hikes and adventures, you’re in the right place.
