13 Fun Things to Do in Delray Beach, Florida
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Looking for the best things to do in Delray Beach? Nestled between Miami and Palm Beach, this charming coastal town often gets overlooked in favor of its bigger South Florida neighbors, but that’s part of what makes it so special! While Miami is known for its nightlife and Fort Lauderdale for its busy beaches and boating scene, Delray Beach has a much more laid-back, small-town feel that instantly won me over.
If you are looking for a cute Florida beach town with a walkable downtown, great coffee, fun happy hours, and an easygoing coastal feel, you are going to love Delray Beach!
Whether you’re planning a beach day, looking for great food, or just want to explore one of Florida’s most charming coastal towns, there are plenty of fun things to do in Delray Beach. Here’s everything I recommend checking out during your visit!
Fun Things to Do in Delray Beach, Florida
1. Spend Time at Delray Beach
Of course, one of the best things to do in Delray Beach is go to the beach! This is a South Florida beach town after all, and the Atlantic coastline is a huge part of the appeal. On a good beach day, you can expect soft sand, bright blue water, and that classic East Coast Florida beach energy.
Keeping it real, when we visited in June the beach was covered in seaweed. That can happen seasonally in Florida, and while it did not totally ruin the trip, it definitely changed how much time we wanted to spend in the water. I was so grateful we were staying somewhere with a great pool, because when that summer heat hits, you need a backup plan!
If the beach conditions are good, make this your slow morning or afternoon plan. If they are not, use it as your excuse to enjoy the pool, stroll Atlantic Ave, or work through Delray’s very cute coffee scene.
2. Walk Atlantic Avenue
Atlantic Avenue is the heart of Delray Beach and one of the biggest reasons the town won me over! It is full of cute shops, great restaurants, bars, coffee shops, and little places to pop in and out of. It is the kind of area where you do not need a strict plan. Just park once, start walking, and see where the day takes you.
The downtown area felt very cute and very easy to enjoy. It is lively without feeling like Miami-level chaos, and it has enough going on that you can spend hours wandering without getting bored. If you only have one afternoon in Delray Beach, I would start here.
3. Shop Local at Delray Beach Kollective
One of my favorite stops on Atlantic Ave was Delray Beach Kollective, which is a collection of local vendors and artists all under one roof. It had such a fun mix of items, and I always love finding a shop that feels specific to the place I am visiting.
You can browse clothing, jewelry, coasters, wind chimes, home goods, and all sorts of other finds. It is a great stop if you want to bring home something a little more unique than the usual beach-town souvenir.
4. Grab a Cup of Coffee (or 10)
No, seriously, the coffee scene in Delray Beach was so cute that I was overwhelmed in the best way! There were so many options, and I feel like we barely scratched the surface.
My favorites from the trip ended up being my lemon pound cake matcha from The Seed, B’s Pink Drink from Beswick & Co., and a latte with Haus milk from Deke’s in Delray. Deke’s Haus milk is made fresh daily with sprouted cashews, coconut, and dates, and I love it when a coffee shop has something a little unique like that.
Glimmer Cafe is another popular spot, and the space was soooo cute. I wanted to love it because the vibe was adorable, but I thought my coffee from here was just okay.
5. Walk Wakodahatchee Wetlands
Wakodahatchee Wetlands was such a beautiful walk! It is a peaceful boardwalk trail with lots of wildlife, and the whole area felt very well-maintained. We really enjoyed our stroll here, and it was a nice change of pace from the beach and downtown scene.
The loop took us about 25 minutes to complete, so it is an easy add-on to your Delray Beach itinerary. Go earlier in the day if you are visiting during the summer, because the heat does not play around.
6. Check Out Delray Beach Happy Hours
Delray Beach has some pretty amazing happy hours, and we were honestly shocked by how good the options were! We checked out The Office, El Camino, and Beach Club, and each one had a little something different going for it.
At The Office, I would probably just do drinks next time. The food was okay, but not something I would personally save my appetite for. Save that appetite for El Camino instead, because their food was amazing and they had delicious flavors of $6 margaritas (I recommend the guava habanero!). Just go early, because it is a very popular happy hour spot. We went at 6 PM on a Tuesday and were put on a waitlist, but luckily got in with about 20 minutes to spare.
Another day, pop into Beach Club for happy hour. We randomly stopped in after seeing their sign, and wow, the drinks were good! Even better, they brought out free pizzas a couple of different times throughout happy hour, and it was genuinely some of the best pizza we have had!
7. Explore Pineapple Grove Arts District
Pineapple Grove Arts District is another cute area to explore while you are in Delray Beach. It is just off Atlantic Avenue and is known for its artsy feel, public art, galleries, restaurants, and creative energy.
This is a great area to wander if you like colorful corners, local businesses, and a slightly more arts-focused feel than the main Atlantic Ave stretch. Pair it with coffee, lunch, or a little shopping, and you have yourself a very easy Delray afternoon.
8. Check Out the Bar Scene
We had a lot of fun exploring Delray Beach’s bar scene. It has plenty of nightlife, but it feels much more laid-back than a big-city night out. Full disclosure: Remi and I are usually in bed by 8:30 PM, so we leaned more into the happy hour and day-drinking scene, which Delray also does very well!
Some of our favorite spots included:
- Radcliffe’s Speakeasy – One of our favorite stops. The atmosphere was incredible, the cocktails were fantastic, and the service was excellent. The restaurant attached to it looked amazing too, and I’d love to come back for dinner and one of their wine experiences.
- SaltWater Brewery – Located just outside downtown, but definitely worth the short drive. I loved their peach sour, while Remi was a fan of their blonde ales. They were also the first brewery to introduce edible six-pack rings made from spent grain, which helps protect marine life!
- Good Night John Boy – If you’re looking for something more energetic, this disco-themed bar is so much fun. It’s one of my favorite bars in St. Pete, so we had to check out the Delray location too.
- THRōW Social – A tropical-inspired bar with games, drinks, and a fun atmosphere. It was closed for a private event when we visited, but it looked like a great place to spend an evening!
Family-Friendly Things to Do in Delray Beach (That We Didn’t Get to Try)
We packed a lot into our weekend in Delray Beach, but there were still a few spots we didn’t have time to visit. If you’re traveling with kids or simply looking for a few more activities to add to your itinerary, you may want to check these out:
- Silverball Retro Arcade – A fun mix of classic pinball machines and arcade games that both kids and adults can enjoy.
- Sandoway Discovery Center – A small nature center near the beach with marine life exhibits and educational programs.
- The Girls Strawberry Patch – A family-friendly farm with a petting zoo, gem mining, train rides, an ice cream parlor, and Bambini’s Garden Pizzeria. It looks like a fun spot for families or anyone looking for a unique afternoon away from the beach!
- Cornell Art Museum – A local art museum featuring rotating exhibits from regional and contemporary artists. It’s free to visit, but donations are encouraged!
- Putt’n Around – A colorful mini golf course right in downtown Delray Beach that’s perfect for a casual afternoon or evening activity.
Where to Stay in Delray Beach
We stayed at Delray Sands Resort, and it was such a solid choice if you want to be right on the beach and do not mind being a little outside of the main Atlantic Avenue area. The pool was great, bikes were available, and the on-site restaurant, Latitude’s, was amazing. We had breakfast there both mornings, dinner was great too, and I loved the waterfront views!
If you want to be more in the mix, I would look at Opal Grand Oceanfront Resort & Spa. It is across the street from the beach and much closer to the action on Atlantic Avenue, so it is a better fit if your priority is being able to walk to restaurants, bars, shops, and coffee.
Basically, choose Delray Sands if you want a slightly quieter beachfront stay with a great pool and restaurant, and choose Opal Grand if you want to be closer to downtown Delray and Atlantic Ave!
For all available accommodation options for your dates, check here!
Getting Around Delray Beach
Getting around Delray Beach is pretty easy. If you’re staying near the beach, you’ll likely need to drive to many of the restaurants, breweries, and attractions mentioned on this list. The good news is that we never had any issues finding parking downtown.
If you plan on enjoying some of Delray’s bars and happy hours, please don’t drive. Instead, take advantage of Freebee, Delray Beach’s free on-demand ride service. It covers a large portion of downtown as well as parts of the beach area, making it a great way to get around safely without worrying about parking.
Freebee operates Sunday through Wednesday from 11 AM to 9 PM and Thursday through Saturday from 11 AM to 11 PM. Just be sure to request your ride at least 15 minutes before closing time.
Are you ready to experience some of the best things to do in Delray Beach?!
I love my cozy Florida beach towns, and Delray Beach ended up being such a cute little South Florida escape! If you are looking for a weekend Florida getaway that feels walkable, fun, and a little more relaxed, Delray Beach is absolutely worth adding to your list!
Before you go, be sure to follow me on Insta @guidedbydestiny and check out some of my other Florida blog posts:
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