Shop Local: Delray Beach's Atlantic Avenue is the ultimate for shopping, outdoor dining

Jasmine Fernández, Palm Beach Post
·3 min read

Whether you’re planning dinner with visiting family, in the mood for a quick scoop of ice cream at the pink-walled Sloan’s Ice Cream or searching for new surf shorts, Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach is the place to be.

Located about a mile west of the beach, the main shopping and restaurant area of the famous avenue is a five-minute drive and roughly 20-minute walk from the shore.

As the main street in Delray Beach, it boasts a wide range of restaurants, antique shops, clothing boutiques, art galleries and unique bars. Some spots to check out include retro gastropub The Office, Bolufé — a clothing boutique where shoppers can sip on champagne — and From Roehm With Love, a quintessential, European-style flower shop.

Delray Beach's Atlantic Avenue: Best days, hours to shop

Atlantic Avenue boasts a wide range of wide range of restaurants, clothing shops, art galleries and more. Located about a mile west of the beach, the famous avenue is a five-minute drive from the shore.
Atlantic Avenue boasts a wide range of wide range of restaurants, clothing shops, art galleries and more. Located about a mile west of the beach, the famous avenue is a five-minute drive from the shore.

Atlantic Avenue is its busiest on weekends. For smaller crowds and less-packed restaurants, visitors should go during the week. Shop and restaurant hours all vary, but can be found through the avenue’s directory. Visitors are encouraged to make reservations, especially in season, from November through April, to avoid long walk-in waits.

Delray Beach's Atlantic Avenue: Parking options

Atlantic Avenue visitors can choose from 12 free parking lots, metered parking along side streets, State Road A1A and East Atlantic Avenue, or in parking garages where rates start at $3.50 per hour.
Atlantic Avenue visitors can choose from 12 free parking lots, metered parking along side streets, State Road A1A and East Atlantic Avenue, or in parking garages where rates start at $3.50 per hour.

The best way to reach Atlantic Avenue is by car. Visitors can choose from 12 free parking lots, metered parking along side streets, State Road A1A and East Atlantic Avenue starting at $2 per hour, or in parking garages where rates start at $3.50 per hour.

Visitors can pay for parking by phone or plate and, for Delray Beach residents, parking permits are available.

Delray Beach's Atlantic Avenue: Best food and dining spots

Atlantic Avenue's Park Tavern features craft beers, seasonal cocktails, farm-fresh ingredients and a scratch kitchen.
Atlantic Avenue's Park Tavern features craft beers, seasonal cocktails, farm-fresh ingredients and a scratch kitchen.

Atlantic Avenue is home to a range of dining options, from high-end restaurants like Avalon Steak & Seafood and Lionfish Modern Coastal Cuisine, to more mainstream, laid-back locations, like Farmhouse Kitchen and Rocco’s Tacos and Tequila Bar.

Other spots to try are contemporary American restaurant Olio, City Oyster & Sushi Bar and Italian restaurant Elisabetta’s.

Delray Beach's Atlantic Avenue: Amenities for shoppers, kids and seniors

Delray's main hub, Atlantic Avenue was designed by an associate of Addison Mizner. The avenue was built in 1926 in the Mediterranean Revival style.
Delray's main hub, Atlantic Avenue was designed by an associate of Addison Mizner. The avenue was built in 1926 in the Mediterranean Revival style.

Visitors can enjoy live evening music at Johnnie Brown’s seven days a week, a late-night happy hour at Italian restaurant Vic & Angelo’s or live entertainment, ranging from open-mic nights to poetry, art and comedy shows at award-winning restaurant DADA. And of course, for kids, the sights inside Sloan's are as cool as the ice cream.

Delray Beach's Atlantic Avenue: Best Instagram / TikTok photo / video spots

Atlantic Avenue's vibrant pineapple mural on on NE 2nd Ave. was redone this spring by South Florida graffiti artist Marcus “Grabster” Borges.
Atlantic Avenue's vibrant pineapple mural on on NE 2nd Ave. was redone this spring by South Florida graffiti artist Marcus “Grabster” Borges.

Atlantic Avenue’s most Instagrammable spot is hard to miss: A blue, pink, yellow, green and purple pineapple-filled wall on Northeast 2nd Avenue. The vibrant mural was redone this spring by South Florida graffiti artist Marcus “Grabster” Borges.

Delray Beach's Atlantic Avenue: Holiday-themed events

On Tuesday, Nov. 28, the city will host its annual lighting for the 100-foot Christmas tree from 6-9 p.m., with its Yuletide Fair to follow at Old School Square. In the month after, a holiday village will be available to visitors until New Year’s Eve. About a week after the tree lighting, the Menorah lighting will take place, also at Old School Square, on Dec. 7, from 5-7 p.m.

Atlantic Avenue's Pineapple Grove Arts District is located just off of Atlantic Avenue on NE 2nd Avenue.
Atlantic Avenue's Pineapple Grove Arts District is located just off of Atlantic Avenue on NE 2nd Avenue.

There will be a holiday boat parade on Dec. 8 with watch locations at Deck 84, Del Fuego, Veterans Park and Knowles Park, and a holiday parade along East Atlantic Avenue from A1A to S.E. Fifth Avenue on Dec. 9. And on Dec. 23, the Delray Beach Jingle Bell Jog 5K will follow the A1A 5K trail from 7:30-9:30 a.m. A full list of events with more details can be found here.

Atlantic Avenue is located on E Atlantic Ave in Delray Beach

Jasmine Fernández is a journalist covering Delray Beach and Boca Raton for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach her at jfernandez@pbpost.com and follow her on X (formerly Twitter) at @jasminefernandz. Help support our work. Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Discover the best shops, restaurants and events along Delray Beach's Atlantic Avenue