You made it to the Space Coast, now what?! If you’re like me, you want to know where all of the best food and drinks are! Having lived on and visited the Space Coast for years now, I have tons of experience!
A little background; Prior to the 1960’s, Cocoa Beach was a sleepy little surf town. Ron Jon had their store in a shack where the Cocoa Beach Pier sits today. In the 1960’s, the area exploded when NASA starting building up the Kennedy Space Center. Today it is an eclectic mix of small town surf culture, space junkies, and nature lovers. This translates into some great happy hours and varied food offerings!
I have compiled a list of my favorite Happy Hours in Cocoa Beach and Cape Canaveral that have food specials as well! Please take some time to explore these great local businesses while you’re on your Space Coast Adventure!
Best Views during Happy Hour: Squid Lips Overwater Grill
Located in South Cocoa Beach, Squid Lips Overwater Grill has a daily happy hour that features domestic drafts, wines, and wells. They also have a daily special, available after 4 p.m. We LOVE going for the Mountain of Shrimp on a Tuesday! It easily feeds 2 people. Pair this with a few happy hour beers, and it’s the perfect dinner on a budget! Sit on the back patio and enjoy the water lapping along the shoreline and the sunset over the Banana River!
Best Outdoor Space: 4th Street Fillin Station (M-F 3-6)
4th Street Fillin Station is located inside of an old gas station at the edge of downtown Cocoa Beach! They have a cool bar concept as well as a great “back yard” area. Happy hour here features some drafts and wells as well as a few “snacks”. We love the pretzel and popcorn, the great craft beers that they carry, as well as their crazy dessert menu! While dessert is not a part of the happy hour menu, it is worth checking out and indulging in!!! Their current happy hour menu can be found here!
Best Food and Wine: Florida’s Fresh Grill (Su-Th 4:30-6)
Florida’s Fresh Grill is consistently ranked among the top restaurants on the Space Coast! It is great for a date night or a nice family dinner. What many people may not realize is that they have an amazing happy hour here also! Specials are at the bar and the high top tables in the bar area only. Our go-to happy hour foods are the Smoked Fish Dip and the Corvina Dish. We also love the Grouper Bites and the Chicken Caesar Salad! Their Lobster Bisque (not a happy hour special) is one of the best I’ve had! For drinks, we usually go with a few tall glasses of the house Cabernet Sauvignon, but the bartenders also make great mixed drinks if you’re in the mood for that!
Best Laid-Back Location: Long Doggers (M-F 2-6)
Long Doggers Cocoa Beach embodies the chill vibe of the Space Coast! They have several locations, all with a tiki or porch area filled with picnic style tables, as well as an indoor, air conditioned section. They feature Hatteras Red Lager, a local brew, for $2.50 a glass, as well as daily specials on Loaded Chips, Boneless Wings, Shrimp, Fish Dip, and other items. Check here for their current happy hour menu!
Best Eclectic Food Options: Preacher Bar (M-F 3-6)
Preacher Bar is located in a small plaza on A1A between Cocoa Beach and Port Canaveral. It features community seating in a relaxed bar and dining area. Happy hour includes a selection of discounted appetizers and a buck off drinks. We love the Bang Bang Shrimp, and their Scotch Eggs are to die for!
Best Craft and Local Beer Options: Rising Tide Tap & Table (4-6 daily)
Rising Tide Tap & Table has a great happy hour! Located in Port Canaveral, it’s easy to get to, has ample parking, and has a ton of indoor and outdoor seating options. Sitting in the bar area or on the patio, you have a great view of Exploration Tower and the Florida Sunset! Happy hour includes a handful of plates, which change regularly. We currently love the Due South Pimento! Old favorites include the nachos and sliders! Their drink specials are great also; sangria, margaritas, and frozen drinks as well as beer, wine, and wells. This is a great spot to start your evening! Current happy hour menu can be found here.
Best Vacation Vibe: Ellie Mae’s Tiki Bar (W-F 2-5)
Ellie Mae’s is a vibe! Old biker bar turned into fun tiki hangout! Happy hour features $5 tiki drinks and a rotating $5 happy hour bite! Possibilities for the bites include potstickers, sliders, hot dogs, and other items. The best place to stay up to date with their offerings is their Facebook page!
Best BBQ & Drink Selection: Big Daddy J’s 5 Great Things Watering Station & Restaurant (Daily 3-6 & 9:30-close)
Quite possibly our new favorite local happy hour (and the longest restaurant name we’ve ever seen, lol!), Big Daddy J’s has great food and drink specials and an extended happy hour! A page of drinks, with something for everyone, for five bucks, as well as pork, chicken, or brisket sliders for under $5 each, make this a must visit happy hour on the Space Coast!
Best Domestic Draft Pricing: Fishlips Waterfront Bar & Grill (M-F 3-6)
Fishlips Waterfront Bar & Grill is on the water in Port Canaveral. Be sure to get there early for Happy Hour, as it fills up quickly due to their great happy hour specials! Fishlips has an extensive happy hour food menu featuring various dips, nachos, and mussles, all less than $10 a dish! They also have great discounts on drinks including domestic drafts for under $3! If you’re looking for somewhere to watch the port activity on the water, and have some great food and drinks, you can’t go wrong with an afternoon at Fishlips!
Those are our favorite happy hours with food in Cocoa Beach and Cape Canaveral, Florida! Have you tried any of them? Do you agree with our assessments?? Please head over to our Facebook page, like it, and follow along on our adventures, which will help you to plan your adventures!!!!
Are you looking for the best things to do on the Space Coast? Click here!
