Are you looking for one of the best beach towns in Florida that has remained off the radar? A hidden gem with that old-school Fort Lauderdale feel?
:ocated just 14 miles south of Daytona Beach and roughly 60 miles north of the Cape Canaveral/Cocoa Beach area is one of the hidden gems of the Florida coast: New Smyrna Beach. At the Southern tip of the barrier island is the Cape Canaveral National Seashore, while at the northern tip is the Ponce de leon Inlet and the town of Ponce Inlet.
The Indian River divides the town into two areas, the barrier island side and the mainland side. With white sandy beaches, a lively downtown area, world class surfing and fishing, lots of great restaurants and bars (including several great beach bars), it is no wonder “Dr Beach” named New Smyrna Beach one of Florida’s Top 10 Beach Towns. The Huffington Post, Coastal Living Magazine, SmarterTravel.com, the Orlando Sentinel and more, have all named New Smyrna Beach a top 10 beach town in Florida. Southern Living had the Canaveral National Seashore ranked as the #3 beach on the east coast in 2020, while also listing New Smyrna Beach as one of the top 50 coastal towns in the U.S.
In 2013, Travel and Leisure Magazine named it one of the Coolest Surf Towns. National Geographic has named it one of the world top 20 surf towns, while Surfer Magazine ranked New Smyrna Beach as the 5th best surf town in 2017, ahead of the likes of Huntington Beach, Ventura, and Encinitas Ca. According to the Surfer Magazine write-up “
“the vibe is still fairly backwoods-blue-collar in this somewhat insular beach community. With a $10 beach pass (less for residents), you can drive up the beach, pass scores of Southern beauties in the sun or rednecks crushing beers in lawn chairs, or stay in town and get rowdy in the fun bars on Flagler Ave.”
Other accolades include Buzzfeed’s top 10 Beach Towns that Are So Much – More Than You’d Expect and a USA Today 10 best 3 years in a row. Some lifetime Florida residents have even referred to current day New Smyrna Beach as the Fort Lauderdale of the 60’s and 70’s.
Hidden Gems: History of one of the Best Beach Towns in Florida
New Smyrna Beach has a rich and interesting history. In 1768, Dr. Andrew Turnbull and roughly 1,300 followers established the colony of New Smyrna. The inspiration for the name Smyrna came from his wife’s birth city, Smyrna, Asia Minor, now present-day Izmir, Turkey. (They actually weren’t the first settlers, as Timucuan Native Americans are thought to have inhabited the area as early as 2,000 B.C.) After several surviving several hardships including famine, diseases, Indian attacks, and infighting, the colonists left New Smyrna and headed north to St. Augustine.
Throughout the late 1700 and early to mid-1800’s New Smyrna maintained a relatively low profile (aside from sugar plantations and some action in the Seminole and Civil Wars). New Smyrna soon became a shipping port, while citrus, cattle farms, and fishing began to support its growing economy. It was not until 1887 that New Smyrna became incorporated. Thanks to the efforts of the father of modern day Florida, Henry Flagler (Flagler Ave in New Smyrna Beach is dedicated to him), and his Florida East Coast Railway, New Smyrna began to flourish. With the Railway adding a station here, the population and economy began to flourish. New Smyrna was becoming an oceanside destination.
Next came the Prohibition Era, New when Smyrna became a popular hideout for rum runners and moonshine stills. Then in 1947, New Smyrna annexed Coronado Beach and became the town of New Smyrna Beach.
As the town’s popularity and economy grew, it still maintained its old Florida feel. From the maintenance of its old historical structures, limitations on high rise buildings and corporate franchises, to the creation of the NSB Historical Society and Museum, NSB brings you back to the Florida feel of the 60’s and 70s’.
Taking a walk down Historic Flagler Ave or the Canal Street Historic District “Loop”, there is a plethora of unique bars, restaurants, shops, and more. Special events in the area include surf contests, wine walks, food and wine festivals, Christmas (with fake snow) down Flagler Ave, music festivals, and much more.
On the north side visitors can find Smyrna Beach and Smyrna Dunes park with great boardwalks that lead out to different areas of the Peninsula. On the south side visitors can hit the beaches or trails at the Canaveral National Seashore. And in the middle, are lots of public beach access points, limited height condo buildings and hotels, over fifty bars, restaurants, and dining places, and a house and art studio that Bob Ross used to call home. (Okay now we’re going to take ourselves to a happy place and paint some Seagulls above our ocean picture).
Now that we are in our happy place, let’s take a look at the some of the beach bars and other hangouts around the barrier island.
Beach Bars
Chases on the Beach
3401 S Atlantic Ave, New Smyrna Beach, FL 32169
New Smyrna Beach’s largest beach bar, Chase’s on the Beach offers a very fun atmosphere, with multiple bar areas, a small concert stage, large back deck out over the ocean, and a large pool right in the middle of all the action.
From local band concerts and pool volleyball to bikini contests and a popular Happy Hour, Chase’s has engrained itself into the lore of New Smyrna Beach. Whether you want to walk in off the beach in your bathing suit or drive /Uber over for a bite to eat, Chase’s caters to everyone from families to partygoers, and everyone in between. Check out their events page here. The food and drink menus are extensive. Happy hour is Monday thru Friday 3-6:00 PM. Daily specials include:
Monday is Margarita day with $7.00 Don Julio Margaritas, $5.00 Jose Margaritas, and $4.00 House Margaritas.
Tuesday is $4.50 Corona day
Wednesday is 75 cent wings and $2.50 Bush Light Drafts from 5:00 PM to closing.
Thursday is $5.00 Rum Runner day
Appetizers include fried or blackened gator tail, calamari, seared ahi tuna, house-made fish dip, crab cakes and the Captains Choice, that comes with 1lb of shrimp, 1lb of crab, ½ dozen oysters, ½ lb of mussels, and marinara sauce or butter.
Wings come in 10, 20, 50, and 100 wing options, including mild, medium, hot, garlic, BBQ, Teriyaki, Beach Sauce, Jamaican Jerk, Lemon Pepper, Curry, Chimichurri, Honey Mustard, and naked. Pizza’s include Cheese, Meat Lovers (with pepperoni, hot Italian sausage, capicola, ham, and bacon), Chase-Waiian (Pineapple and ham), Buffalo, Veggie, Jerk, and Chicken Bacon Ranch. Gluten-free is available.
Sandwiches include Flounder, Authentic Philly, Chicken Parm, Island Chicken Sandwich, BLTA, Shrimp Po-Boy, Veggie Wrap and more. Tacos include gator tail, fish, steak, shrimp, beef, and chicken. Burgers include the Bourbon Burger, Quesadilla burger, Mahi Burger, Cheeseburger, Hot Italian Sausage Burger, and the NSB, a ½ lb Angus beef burger topped with bacon, American, avocado, aioli, lettuce, tomato, and onion.
Full plates include Jerk Chicken, Snow Crab Legs (1/2 or full pound), Fish-N-Chips, Filet Mignon Medallions, Blackened Tuna and more. Check out the full menu here.
Just up the beach heading toward Flagler Ave/Coronado is Toni and Joes Patio.
Toni and Joe’s Patio
309 Buenos Aires St. New Smyrna Beach, FL 32169
Located at the edge of the main beach parking lot right off Flagler, Toni and Joe’s Patio is another New Smyrna Beach staple. Opened in 1958, Toni and Joe’s is still owned by the original family, the Granieri’s.
Similar to Chase’s on the Beach, whether you want to drive over for some breakfast, lunch, or dinner, or walk up from the beach in your bathing suit and flip flops, Toni and Joe’s offers a fun, laid back atmosphere.
There is live music, every weekend a monthly Full Moon party, and one of the best steak hoagies around. Bestbeachbars.net is waiting for Guy Fieri to venture down and give one a try. For a full list of their events and activities check out their calendar and Facebook page.
Toni and Joe’s has a great selection of signature cocktails. These include the popular Toni and Joe’s Koolaid (Pineapple vodka, mango vodka, pineapple juice, mango puree, grenadine, and a splash of soda), Bahama Mama (Malibu, Myers Rum, pineapple juice, mango puree, grenadine, and a splash of soda), a Rum Runner, a Bloody Mary, Pusser’s Painkiller, the Sauza Margarita, a Mai Tai, Blueberry Lemonade (made with Blueberry vodka, fresh lemon, real blueberries, and lemonade), an Orange Crush, Pina Colada, the Miami Vice, and four different types of Daiquiris.
Shooters include the Rock Lobster, Shark Bite, Green Tea, Washington Apple and more. They offer nearly thirty different beers, including Dogfish, Wakulla Hefeweizen, Kona Big Wave, Stella, Modelo, Landshark and more. Check out their full drink menu here.
When it comes to food, the most popular item is their famous Steak Hoagie. You can get your Steak Hoagie with cheese, grilled onions, sweet peppers, and Italian Sausage or Italian Cold Cuts. For sandwiches there is also a Grilled Spicy Shrimp Wrap, a Grilled Blackened Mahi-Mahi, a ½ lb Blackened Cajun Spice Burger, a Jerk Chicken Caesar Wrap, and more.
Other dishes include peel and eat shrimp, steamed clams or mussels, the Seafood Special, which comes with clams or mussels, 6oz piece of Mahi-Mahi, and 8 large shrimps, and more.
There is also a great breakfast menu. Breakfast includes a Breakfast Burrito, the NSB Slam (two eggs, bacon, sausage, and pancake), Omelets, Texas Style French Toast, Pancakes, and more. Check out the full food menu here.
Sea Vista Tiki Bar
1701 S Atlantic Ave, New Smyrna Beach, FL 32169
Located inside the Sea Vista Resort Motel, the Sea Vista Tiki Bar is a no frills, great beverage, throwback beach bar located on the beach a few blocks in either direction between Chase’s and Toni and Joe’s.
The motel is an old school beach motel, while the Tiki Bar is an open area beachside bar that puts the emphasis on fun. Walk in off the beach, enjoy a drink special and bite to eat while you kick back and listen to some live music.
Mondays are Margarita day, Tuesdays are Tito’s Tuesdays, Wednesday is Coronas, Thursday is Rum Runners, and Saturdays are PBR specials. Check out their facebook page here for upcoming events
For bites they have breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Breakfast options include Smothered Hash Browns, Bacon (or Ham, Sausage, or meat), eggs and cheese Hash Browns, and more. For lunch there is the popular Grilled Chicken Breast, burger options, Grilled Grouper or Mahi, Crab Cakes, a Philly Cheese Steak, Grilled Chicken, Mahi Mahi, or Grouper Salads, an assortment of fried baskets, Quesadillas, Grilled Tiger Shrimp, Alaskan Snow Crabs, Little Neck Clams, and a great Seafood Sampler that includes a dozen shrimp, one pound of littleneck clams, and ½ lb of Alaskan Snow crab. Dinner items include a Ribeye steak, Grilled Chicken, Grilled Ahi Tuna, Grilled Grouper and more.
Ocean Breeze Tiki Bar and Grille
521 Flagler Ave, New Smyrna Beach, FL 32169
Another great place, this one right at the corner of Flagler and the Beach Parking lot, the Ocean Breeze Tiki Bar and Grille is the area’s largest Tiki-themed Rooftop Bar and Grille. They have a great rooftop view of the ocean, especially in the evening. Sundays are Bloody Mary and Mimosa Day, Mondays are MANday with beer specials, Tuesdays are Taco Tuesday, and Thursdays are Ladies Night Out (it’s actually all day).
They have a great specialty drink selection with great bartenders who aren’t shy about a “quality” pour. Specialty cocktails include Ocean’s Top Shelf Margarita (Don Julio Blanco, Rose’s lime juice, Agave nectar, splash of OJ, topped with Grand Marnier – great drink -highly recommend), Captain! We Got A Runner! (Captain Morgan White, Captain Morgan Spiced, Blackberry Brandy, Banana Liqueur, OJ, splash of Grenadine, topped with Filthy Black Cherries), Tropical Sunburn (Malibu Mango, Captain Morgan Coconut, Mango Puree, Pina Colada, blended and layered over Strawberry Daiquiri), The Floridian (Smirnoff Peach, Smirnoff Orange, Triple Sec, OJ, Cranberry Juice, and splash of sour), NSB Shandy (Key Lime Seasonal Cider, Smirnoff Vanilla, Splash of Club Soda), The Attitude Adjuster (Captain Morgan White, Tanqueray, Don Julio Blanco, Ketel, Sour Mix, Sprite, and splash of Cranberry juice), the Dirty Banini (Baileys Irish Cream, Captain Morgan White, Banana Liqueur, Pina Colada Mix, served frozen) and more.
There are over a dozen quality beers on tap, with local breweries including Deland Beach Hippie, NSB Shark Attack, and NSB seasonal cider. Bottled beers include Daytona Dirty Blonde, Dos Equis and Dos Equis Amber, Stella, Kona Lonboar and Kona Hanaelipa, Corna, Corona Light, Mich Ultra, White Claw and more. For wines there is 14 Hands Cabernet, Chardonnay, and Merlot, Stemari Pinot, Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc, Seaglass Pinot and more.
If you feeling adventurous, they offer Rum Buckets that include the Mambo (Malibu Mango and Pineapple Rum, Orange Juice, Triple Sec, and Grenadine), The Blue Lagoon (Malibu Pineapple and Passion Fruit Rums, Blue Curacao, Pineapple Juice, topped with lemon juice and club soda),and Caribbean Punch (Malibu Coconut, Pineapple, Passion Fruit, Tropical Banana Rums, Pineapple and Cranberry Juices). Check out their drink menu here.
For bites, apps include Hummus, Chicken Tenders, Falafel, Fire Cracker Shrimp, Wildside Wings, Fish Dip, Sesame Crusted Ahi Tuna, and more. The Tiki Specialties include the Kabab Pita, Falafal Pita, and Ob’s Tiki Poke Bowl. The Taco selection is excellent with Steak Tacos, Pork Tacos, Tupats Poke Tacos, Southwestern Chicken Tacos, Firecracker Shrimp Tacos, and Fish Tacos. There is also a quality selection of burgers and salads (recommend the Signature Hanger Steak Salad). Entrees include the Signature Hanger Steak, Blackened Ahi Tuna, Pineapple Teriyaki Chicken. Check out the full menu here.
Now let’s venture off the Ocean side beaches and over to the lagoon side, for a classic, “Old Florida” feel establishment called JB’s Fish Camp.
JB’s Fish Camp
859 Pompano Ave, New Smyrna Beach, FL 32169
“Southern Seafood with an Attitude!” That is the motto at JB’s Fish Camp. It is not only the seafood that has a great “attitude”, it is the entire place, from the vibe when you walk in the door for Happy Hour, to the excellent staff, outdoor dining and dock areas, live music, beverages, food, and more. When we asked where the locals and “snowbirds” go, one of the most common answers was JB’s.
JB is Captain John A. Bollman III. Here is his greeting, description, and history of JB’s (from the website):
“My restaurant is dedicated to the finest seafood available. Quality and Consistency is our motto. Our river produces the sweetest seafood anywhere. I depend on professional fishermen for the best fish and shellfish because I think people should be as proud of their catch as we are to prepare it and serve it. Catching, cooking and serving all takes time – but here, there is no hurry. Relax and enjoy the best!
I bought the Fishcamp property in the late 70’s from the Goldman’s. Back in those days, it was just a screened-in building, with no real kitchen and more of a place to service fisherman with bait and beer. On the weekends, the Goldman’s used their 55 gallon drum charcoal grill to roast oysters and clams. I continued that tradition but didn’t continue the part where they would close up the whole store at 1:00 to watch John Wayne Theatre on TV!
I renamed it the ‘TurtleMound Raw Bar’ with a handpainted sign and stored clams, oysters, and crabs in tanks around the back. We kept live shrimp in the building where the restrooms now are. We used our only microwave to heat up sandwiches for the fisherman and sometimes for fun we put live shrimp, crabs and clams in it for snacks. One weekend, a couple approached me and said that they wanted to have a party on the following Wednesday. Their offer was to buy the party beer from me and in turn I would supply all the oysters and clams they could eat. Well, that Wednesday night I made more money than renting boats and selling bait on my best day!
Now, I should say that growing up my passion was catching crabs. In fact, I still like to do that today. The crabbing was spectacular back then and to think that I could catch crabs and make money doing it was a dream- come- true. We caught so many crabs that I hired a woman to pick them for crab cakes. Now we were talking some volume. About that same time, I heard of a restaurant going out of business and I traded my car for an exhaust hood and some commercial cooking equipment. Now we could make crab cakes and fry seafood. We were not high production as we peeled the shrimp to order but everything was fresh and we did it all “southern style”.
In the years before I bought the property, I spent quite a bit of time surfing in California. As air travel was out of reach, we drove between Florida and California in our old cars and would pass each other in the desert; each car bearing surfboards. Looking back, that was a unique time of peace and love and camaraderie. You’d be surprised how many times you recognized the people in a passing car from a previous trip! Always on a budget, we ate mostly vegetarian. The steamer we used was for restaurants steaming large amounts of vegetables, so I had a jump on what you could do with a steamer. It is the purest form of cooking. I became somewhat of an expert steamer and we still use those vegetable recipes and seasonings today.
By now, the idea of the Fishcamp is beginning to gel. We still had the tanks out back and added some ice chests to store fresh fish and shrimp that we bought on credit from Miss Emma Feger. We still didn’t have much business but I noticed that we were constantly low on shrimp. I figured someone was ‘helping themselves’. One night I went to put some fish back in the ice chest and found the biggest raccoon I’ve ever seen powering down on my shrimp! They are clever animals but he was a real masked bandit! We still have raccoons today around the Fishcamp (as well as bobcats, porpoise, manatees; but that’s part of the ‘real’ Florida that gets lost in the Theme Parks and Condominiums – they don’t often come to eat the restaurant!).
Fast forward to 1987. By now the restaurant is called ‘JB’s Fish Camp’. Business is good and we decide to expand. We built a new kitchen, expanded seating and decks and brought the building up to code. Our employees became construction workers! I am proud to say that many of our employees have stayed with us and shared the dream for the last 20+ years. Couldn’t do it without them. We are one big extended family – the Rolling Stones of the restaurant business!
Today, we are proud to offer a slice of old Florida to our guests. You can sit on the dock and enjoy a beer while the sun slips below the horizon. You can dock your boat in one of our slips and order a great meal in a casual setting. Kids are always welcome. They are our future. If you are lucky, you can see porpoise and manatees playing in the river. Fresh oysters and clams are always available and seasonally you can enjoy the sweetest white shrimp in the world, delicate rock shrimp, Florida lobsters, and Florida stone crab. You can fish with a local guide who will tell you all kinds of stories or take a kayak tour on your own. You may even run into me……”
There is a large stage on the beach where you can watch live concerts from the outdoor seating areas or out on the docks. They also offer Kayak and Paddleboard rentals to venture out onto Mosquito Lagoon. You may see a dolphin or two, manatees, as well as a pufferfish that likes to hang out by the dock.
Happy hour is 4:00 to 6:00 Pm Monday through Friday. If you want a seat outside on the back patio, make sure to get there before 5:00.
The menu is loaded with great apps, baskets, burgers, salads, and more. The seafood options are quite extensive, including platters, kababs, and more. The Southern Style Clam Chowder and Bethune Spiced Seafood Gumbo are excellent (both Award Winners). There is also JB’s Original Oyster Stew. Grilled Grouper entrée and Peel and Eat Shrimp app are recommended. We cannot do this awesome menu justice in this blog post, so please feel free to check it out for yourself here.
If you need a break from the beach bar scene, New Smyrna Beach has plenty of other bars and restaurants to choose from.
Non-Beach Bars and Restaurants
Norwood’s
400 E 2nd Ave, New Smyrna Beach, FL 32169
New Smyrna Beach’s only, come to think of it, one of the only beach town establishments we have seen that is built around a giant tree. The upstairs 21 and over bar is an actual giant tree house with a small stage, large bar, lots of seating, and a seating area out on one of the giant tree limbs. This place is a must visit in NSB.
Established in 1946, Norwood’s is NSB’s oldest restaurant. It is also one of the most award-winning. It has been ranked by Florida Trend magazine as one of the best for more than a dozen years. It has also earned Wine Spectator’s Best of Award of Excellence. The Orlando Sentinel wrote a great article on the history – check it out here.
Happy Hour is 11:30am to 6:00 PM Monday through Friday. Specialty cocktails include All Men are Rye Babies (Rye, Poblano, Citrus, Bitters), Berried Treasure (Lemon Vodka, Blueberry Vodka, Lemon), Let That Man-Go! (Tequila, Tarragon, Mango, and Lime), Naked in a Tree (Rum, Cilantro, Mint, Lime, Pineapple), Tiki Treehouse (Coconut Rum, Banana Puree, Lemon), This is My Swamp (Pineapple Rum, Coconut, Pineapple), Samsula Sunset (Tequila, Passion Fruit, Orange, and Hibiscus), and more.
Check out the full food menu here. The Bacon Wrapped Scallops, Escargot, and Admiral’s Platter (Lobster tail, grilled mahi, broiled sea, scallops and shrimp) are worth the visit.
The Flagler Tavern
414 Flagler Ave, New Smyrna Beach, FL 32169
For one of the best environments, day, evening, or nightlife, in New Smyrna Beach, check out the Flagler Tavern. Located right in the heart of Flagler Ave, the Flagler Tavern offers two awesome decks overlooking Flagler Ave, dance floors, multiple bars, live music, and some of the best food and drinks in NSB.
Be sure to check out the upstairs speakeasy known as the Bounty. The food is great and the drinks are some of the best in NSB. The Bounty Happy Hours are Monday through Friday 4:00-7:00PM, with $1.00 off all beverages and $5.00 off Wine bottles. On Saturdays and Sundays from 3:00-7:00PM they offer 20% off all beverages.
Specialty, hand-crafted cocktails include (from the website):
Smoked Maple Old Fashioned: Flagler Tavern’s own Distillers hand selected, single barrel Buffalo Trace Bourbon, pure maple syrup, Angostura & Peychaud’s bitters, smoke infused with whiskey barrel chips & served over an ice sphere, finished off with a rich filthy cherry and orange twist
Coastal Mule: Banyan Reserve Florida Vodka, fresh lime & Gosling’s Ginger Beer, garnished with candied ginger, caramelized lime wheel and freshly picked mint
Fiesta On Deck: Corazon Blanco Tequila, fresh lime, agave, jalapeno, strawberry & cilantro poured over crushed ice in a chilled tall Pilsner glass
Landlocked Lavender Drop: Russian Standard Gold Vodka, house made lavender honey syrup & fresh lemon. Presented in a chilled martini glass rimmed with honey and lavender sugar
Calypso Blues: Wheatley Vodka (from Buffalo Trace Master Distiller Harlan Wheatley), blueberry puree, lemon, green Chartreuse & sage. Served with fresh blueberries and fresh sage leaf
Monkey Business: Bumbu Rum, demerara sugar & black walnut bitters. Taken overboard with a bruleed Banana slice
Southern Sailor: 1792 Small Batch Bourbon, lemon, sugar, fresh blackberries & mint. Finished with a spritz of lemon lime soda, a smacked mint leaf & sliced berries
Main Sail Margarita: Olmeca Altos Silver Tequila, agave nectar & house-made sour. Served with house made Bauchant Orange Cognac Liqueur foam and topped off with a brûléed & candied lime wheel
Bee Arthur On The Beach: St. George Terrior Gin, absinthe, fresh raspberries, lemon juice & local honey. Topped with a honey-drenched honey dipper
Espresso Martini: Smirnoff Whipped Vodka, Bailey’s Irish Cream, Grind Espresso Liqueur & freshly brewed espresso decorated with three espresso beans
Hot American Summer: St. George Rye Gin, house-made hot pepper tincture, fresh cucumber, mint, citrus & agave, finished with a slice of cool cucumber & Peychaud’s bitters.
If you are looking to dance the night away to live music or DJ, a fun place is Trader’s Lounge. Check out their Facebook page here for a full rundown of activities and events. A few other great restaurants worth checking out are the Garlic (was featured on The Travel Channel), the Third Wave (2019 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence Winner), Casa Verde, Off the Hook Bar and Grille, the award-winning Grille at the Riverview, and more.
Cheers!
