Delray Beach boasts that the beach is just the beginning–and is that ever right! This laid-back, artsy town nestled on the Atlantic Ocean is part of The Palm Beaches of Florida.
Delray Beach is often referred to as the “Village by the Sea” due to its close proximity to both the beach and downtown.
Best of all, it is one of the most affordable spots in all of South Florida. Here is my guide to visiting Delray Beach, Florida.
The Entertainment Hub of Delray Beach
One of Delray Beach’s most popular hot spots is the Pineapple Grove Arts District. Just off of Atlantic Avenue, this is the town’s main thoroughfare and energy, with colorful murals, sculptures, galleries, boutiques, and local outdoor eateries.
Atlantic Avenue is not only the main artery for hanging out in Delray Beach but it is also the hub for commerce. The beautiful palm-tree lined scenery makes it hard to resist. Nearby, Artists Alley is a great place to take Instagram-worthy photos.
Dining in Delray
Vic and Angelo’s Delray is an award-winning restaurant with killer Italian eats; the “smell is so delicious it oughta be illegal“. The complimentary bread alone is enough reason to visit.
Vic and Angelo’s is slightly romantic, has professional waitstaff and serves mouth-watering Italian dishes, many classic plates and some with a noteworthy spin. The flavorful Orecchiette features fresh broccoli rabe and zesty fennel sausage while spaghetti lovers will want to sink their teeth into Spaghetti & Nonna’s Gigante Meatball with a decadent San Marzano tomato sauce. Yum!
Boston’s on the Beach is another hot spot you won’t want to miss in Delray Beach. It is one of three properties owned by Ocean Properties Ltd. that bring seafood dishes to another level. Start your meal with the Onion Dip paired with homemade chips dusted with onion powder. It is addictive!
For dinner, nothing beats a dish of Peel and Eat Shrimp or a Lobster Pot, perfectly steamed and accompanied by red bliss buttered potatoes and corn-on-the-cob. Don’t skip a fancy cocktail from the large drink menu; they are tasty!
Two other great choices for food in Delray Beach are Taverna Opa (try the eggplant-layered Moussaka) and Rocco’s Tacos (for Austin Queso and sizzling carne molcajetes).
Taverna Opa has all of your favorite Greek dishes at a reasonable price while Rocco’s Tacos & Tequila Bar is a lively and cool local chain restaurant with tasty cuisine and amazing margaritas. The nightlife at Rocco’s is pretty energetic; check it out.
Sweet Treats of Delray Beach
Sloan’s Ice Cream is a South Florida/Delray Beach staple. The sparkly decor, adorned with gaudy (but lovely) chandeliers makes you feel like royalty just walking in the door. Sloan’s isn’t only ice cream and everything that implies (think shakes, malts, sundaes, etc.), but also has a huge selection of various candy, and freshly-baked cookies. Have a Coffee and Doughnuts scoop—you’ll thank me later.
Other honorable mentions are Two Fat Cookies bakery and custom treats and Le Macaron French Pastries for, well, you know. 
Unique Attractions To Not Miss
I’d be lying if I didn’t tell you that the Silverball Pinball Museum is one of my favorite spots to visit in all of South Florida. This fantastic museum has a collection of retro 1930’s to 1980’s collectible pinball games. The thrilling game room is home to flashy video games from times past, pool tables, classic arcade games, and a full-service restaurant.
There is a separate bar area for unwinding after a hard day at work. This arcade screams Baby Boomer, Generation X’er, and Millennials surprisingly in the same manner—game lovers unite! 
A unique offering in Delray Beach is the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens. It is a lovely place to wander immaculate grounds, learn about Japanese culture, and see the impressive artwork.
Enjoy the South Florida weather and soak up the sun while observing birds, turtles, iguanas, and other wildlife from the boardwalk at Morikami’s Wakodahatchee Wetlands. You can also take in a tea ceremony or even learn calligraphy at this interesting museum.
Get a little exercise by renting a state-of-the-art Pedego E-bike on Atlantic Avenue. If you haven’t ridden one yet, you are in for a real treat. They are so much fun and you can pedal as much or a little as you like. Delray Beach is an appealing place for cycling.
Other fun things to do in Delray Beach include taking a Wicked Delray Ghost Tour, Taste History Culinary Tour, narrated Trolley tour, or a Yacht cruise on the Intracoastal Waterway.
Relax or Sunbathe: You Choose
Delray Beach is one of the lesser crowded South Florida beaches. Yippee, more room to move about and enjoy the gorgeous beach. You can partake in all of your favorite ocean and outdoor adventures via rentals on the beachfront. The sand is perfect for laying or playing on.
Whether you are soaking up the sun and working on a savage tan or sheltering yourself under a colorful umbrella and simply enjoying the ocean breeze, Delray beach is a little slice of heaven.
Many parts of Delray Beach are pet-friendly, but require your pet to be leashed.
Shopping in Ritzy Delray Beach
Shopping enthusiasts will love the one-of-a-kind boutiques that offer the latest fashions, home decor, art, and things you didn’t know you needed until you laid eyes on them. Check out Delray Beach’s GreenMarket every Saturday at Old School Square from 9 AM to 2PM for a large variety of seasonal fruits, vegetables, and other food vendors. The market even has live music, flowers, and plants, offering fun for the entire family.
Another fun spot for browsing is the Delray Marketplace outdoor mall for shopping, movies, and entertainment.
Historic and Budget-Friendly Accommodations
If you crave an authentic historic option to rest your head with the National Historic Register credo, the Colony Hotel & Cabana Club is for you. Located on Atlantic Avenue, this 70-room hotel features original furniture with tropical fabrics, a welcoming hotel lobby, and a private oceanfront beach club only two miles away.
A complimentary breakfast is served onsite in the hotel’s Sky Light Lobby, steps from the well-appointed hotel gift and sundries shop. As with most businesses in Delray Beach, the Colony Hotel is pet-friendly.
A budget-friendly option is to cash in your timeshare points. Bluegreen timeshare group has a casual resort, Gulf Stream Manor, that is clean, beachfront, and has free parking and WiFi. Most of the units are either one or two bedrooms, with a separate living room, dining area, and full kitchen. There is plenty of room for a small family. There are also washer and dryers in each unit, a lush courtyard, and a swimming pool to enjoy the outdoors.
Visiting Delray Beach: A Great Choice
The allure of current day Delray Beach won’t last long with people hearing about its wide-spread appeal from various platforms. This is one small city that already feels like a metropolitan big city and has the clout to back it up.
Expect big things in the future from this Florida hidden gem!
Delray Beach Photo Gallery:
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Read our other Florida posts:
Have you Visited Daytona Beach lately?
The Palm Beaches of Florida from A to Z
Marianna: Hiking, Swimming, and Caverns
You had me at the Burrata photo! Great post. I haven’t been to Delray Beach yet. On my list now.
Awesome! Oh girl, I’m a sucker for a good burrata. 🙂
You’ve done a great job outlining all the things to do (love the name of that Pineapple Grove arts district by the way) but let’s be honest…I’d totally go here just for the beach. That water!!
It is beautiful. Florida has several lovely beach views. I’m lucky to live here. 🙂
I have never been to Delray Beach but I love Florida Beaches in General. But I am definitely going to have to make it down there cause Delray Beach looks like a great spot. Love all the outdoor shops & restaurants in Pineapple Grove. Love all that food you found but most of all I want to go to the Pinball Museum. What a cool and fun place that has to be!
Haha. You think like I do. The pinball museum was my fave. 😉
I really want to go to Florida. Have been trying to set it up through Homeexchange a couple of times but have not been lucky enough to find a match yet. I went to Florida – The Keys – about 20 years ago and loved it. The sun, beach, food, nature – what´s not to like!
Oh, I wish you luck working it out. There are definitely some towns that are much cheaper to visit than the biggies, say Miami, Orlando, or Naples. Anywhere, in particular, you are looking?
I have never been. I absolutely want to go now though. Pineapple Grove looks pretty cool. I like all the palm trees around. Sloans is definitely gaudy looking and too overly pink for me, but I would love to try some ice cream from there. All the food in Delray looks delicious.
Haha. Sloan’s reminds me of my Barbie collecting days. 😉 Holly, a place you haven’t been. I can’t believe it. Stop and say hello to me in Vero Beach, too.
The Silverball Pinball Museum sounds like my kind of place to hang out. We love the beaches of Florida and are always on the look out for a less crowded one. Delray looks like a great place to spend some time.
Awesome! I hope you get to check it out. I thought about 5 years ago that it would take off and be another Fort Lauderdale or something, but so far it is still a bit undiscovered. 😉
I really like the iguana shots. Florida is such a surprising place with a variety of offerings even though it is somehow always associated with the concept of beach time undermining its other natural wonders.
You are so correct. I’ve found so many places of interest in the state outside of Disney and beaches, though I still love both. We have amazing state parks and lots of unique attractions that never get the recognition they deserve. 😉
I have never been to Delray Beach. One to add to my Florida list. I would definitely eat at Vic and Angelo’s Delray. Italian is my favourite food to eat out. But then I saw your seafood pics. That is always a close second. I like the fact that you can rent e-bikes. We have them at home and find it hard to get them when we travel. Certainly increases our range to visit this beach town!
Oh yeah! Another e-bike fan. I’m so addicted to them. I hope you get to visit. Do you like Segways, too?
There really is so much more going on than just the beach (although, for me, the beach takes the cake). The food looks incredible as well. I always like going for quiet walks, so I’m enchanted by the Japanese garden (with iguanas even!).
Love to have this option as an alternative to some of the larger beaches in South Florida. The Silverball Pinball Museum looks too fun, and the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens looks like such a relaxing place to visit. Boston’s on the Beach and Rocco’s Tacos have my mouth watering. So much to do and see in Delray Beach.
I’m glad you liked it. I was all about that pinball museum. 😉
DelRay sounds like a lot of fun and Vic and Angelo’s looks delish! My favorite place in Florida is Destin, on the Gulf side, but I may have to venture south. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for reading. 😉 I love the Gulf Coast, too.
Delray beach seems like a perfect holiday destination for me. I too love the Italian food -pasta, pizza – like crazy! When there is choice of food I just love the place. The beach waves seemed gentle to me. I would love to soak my feet there.
Delray Beach looks like a lovely hidden gem. I love historic accommodations. The story behind them are so interesting. I would want to visit Delray just for the food. Greek food is my favourite! Your pictures are making my mouth water.
Oh nice! I hope you get to visit. If you like Greek food, you should check out Tarpon Springs across the state. Second largest Greek population outside of Greece and amazing restaurants!
I really like the look of the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens. I would love to check that out as well as the Pineapple Grove District. I feel like those are two places you could really take your time and enjoy, finding lots of interesting things by just slowing down and taking it all in.
I used to go to Daytona Beach, Florida every year but I have never been to Delray! I have to visit!
Awesome! Always nice to have new places to check out. 😉
Hmmm…looking at all the food, I am convinced Delray Beach must be a very popular destination! Along with nature and those lovely beaches…I too would love to spend a weekend there. It’s a bit sad that I haven’t had the chance to visit Florida yet…hopefully that will change soon 🙂
No way, say it isn’t so! I hope you will remedy that real soon. So many awesome places to visit, including plenty with no beaches or theme parks. 😉
Nice pick for a laid-back weekend doing nothing but enjoying the beach and good food. Loving the look of the Moussaka and the Tex-Mex dishes. The accommodation seems great too. My cousin stays in Florida and I will ask her if she’s been here ever.
Awesome! I hope she ends up visiting. 😉
Sounds like Delray Beach is a great place to visit and has lots of things I’d enjoy doing with lots of great restaurants. I love that they have a historic hotel and that it is pet-friendly too.
Yes, that is always important for me and Hazel. 😉
It’s nice that it’s close to the beach and downtown. The Morikami museum and Japanese gardens would definitely be a draw for me. Something unique in Florida
You’ve got that right. 😉 Thanks for reading.