Rocco Smith
Marathon is one of the islands located near the middle of the Florida Keys and it’s essentially a little slice of tropical paradise.
Marathon is home to some of the world’s most gorgeous aquatic treasures that people flock from all over the world to see.
When you’re visiting Marathon, or even if you’re lucky enough to live here year-round, there’s never a shortage of fun things to do.
You’ll find aquariums, state parks, and other fun attractions everywhere you look, so you’re bound to work up an appetite having so much fun.
Best Restaurants in Marathon
- Hideaway Cafe
- Frank’s Grill
- Burdines Waterfront
- Castaway Waterfront Restaurant & Sushi Bar
- Food for Thought
- Fish Tales Market & Eatery
- Florida Keys Steak and Lobster House
- La Nina Restaurant
- S.S. Wreck & Galley Grill
- Herbie’s Bar & Chowder House
- Barracuda Grill
When that time comes, you’re going to want to know all the best places to go, probably. Luckily, I’ve got just the tool. I’ve put together this guide ranking all the best places to eat in Marathon for anyone spending time down here.
Check out all of the top-rated restaurants Marathon has to offer right down below!
Hideaway Cafe
57784 Overseas Hwy, Marathon, FL 33050
Phone: 305-289-1554
Visit Website
Taking the number-one spot on my list is the Hideaway Cafe. This continental restaurant is located off of Overseas Highway in the Rainbow Bend hotel, just south of the Grassy Flats Resort & Beach Club and the Yellowtail Inn.
You really don’t want to miss this one. The Hideaway Cafe is a fantastic spot to grab dinner on every night of the week, except for Twuesdays and Wednesdays when they are closed.
I highly recommend going for an order of the seafood puttanesca, but they have so many other delicious options that it’s can get hard to decide.
Frank’s Grill
11400 Overseas Hwy, Marathon, FL 33050
Phone: 305-289-7772
Visit Website
Next up, we have a fantastic Italian restaurant called Frank’s Grill located inside the Town Square Mall off of Overseas Highway, just around the corner from Florida Keys Aquarium Encounters.
What I love about this place is that they serve some of the old-fashioned Italian classics that I love the most. Pasta is really the greatest thing to order from Frank’s, but that’s certainly not al they have.
I highly recommend fried calamari to start things off with, but then you should try the shrimp fra diavolo. Of course, if you went fishing that day, you can actually bring your catch and they’ll cook it for you!
Burdines Waterfront
1200 Ocean View Ave, Marathon, FL 33050
Phone: 305-743-9204
Visit Website
If you want somewhere to eat with waterfront views while you’re here in Marathon, then Burdines Waterfront is one of the first places I’d recommend.
Not only do they have beautiful views of the water, but they also have boat docking as well for any hungry mariners who happen to be in the area and in need of some food and drinks.
It’s great because if you don’t catch anything while you’re out fishing, you can just order some here!
Check out Burdines off of the fittingly named Ocean View Avenue at the end of the marina. You’ll love this place.
Castaway Waterfront Restaurant & Sushi Bar
1406 Ocean View Ave, Marathon, FL 33050
Phone: 305-743-6247
Visit Website
Next up, we have Castaway Waterfront Restaurant & Sushi Bar. It might be surprising for some people to see a sushi joint here in Marathon, but with all of the fresh fish around, what better place to eat it raw?
Castaway Waterfront Restaurant & Sushi Bar is a fantastic place to come for delicious food and a few drinks to go with it.
This place is spacious and comfortable, so it’s a great place to relax and enjoy tap beer after a long day in the sun.
Definitely check out Castaway Waterfront Restaurant & Sushi Bar the next time you’re in Marathon.
Food for Thought
5800 Overseas Hwy STE 23, Marathon, FL 33050
Phone: 305-743-3297
Visit Website
Food for Thought will make you ponder why you didn’t come to Marathon sooner to try their delicious food.
This little natural goods store doubles as an organic cafe serving up all kinds of breakfast and lunch treats.
I always come to Food for Thought for breakfast because it’s really the best way to start your day down here in the Keys.
I really like their protein breakfast bowl and the avocado toast, but the lunch menu has great options too.
Check them out on Overseas Highway near Crane Point Hammock, inside the Gulfside Village shopping mall.
Fish Tales Market & Eatery
11711 Overseas Hwy, Marathon, FL 33050
Phone: 305-743-9196
Visit Website
Fish Tales Market & Eatery is the next place I want to mention and it’s always a surefire spot to visit in Marathon for great food and good times.
They’re located off of Overseas Highway right next to Captain Hooks Marina and Dive Center and across the street from the Advance Auto Parts.
When you get here, seafood is the obvious thing to order. You won’t find fresher seafood anywhere else in town, if you ask me.
The grouper is always a solid choice, but if there’s hogfish on the menu, go with that because it’s my favorite.
Florida Keys Steak and Lobster House
3660 Overseas Hwy, Marathon, FL 33050
Phone: 305-743-5516
Visit Website
The next place you really need to pay a visit to when you’re in Marathon is called Florida Keys Steak and Lobster House. For me, when I heard steak and lobster in the name, that’s all it took to get me in the door.
This steakhouse is located on off of the Overseas Highway, right across the street from the beautiful Marathon Community Park, right next to Marathon Bait & Tackle.
What I recommend from this place is steak and lobster, of course. The lobster is as fresh as it gets and all the steaks are wet aged for 21 days.
La Nina Restaurant
1571 Overseas Hwy, Marathon, FL 33050
Phone: 305-517-6226
Now, it’s time for some Cuban flair. This next restaurant, La Nina Restaurant, is simply amazing and they serve the best Cuban food in the city, hands down.
I come to La Nina for a Cuban sandwich pretty much every day when I’m in Marathon. There’s just nowhere around that does it as good as they do. Of course, that’s just one of their delectable menu items.
I highly recommend trying the huevos rancheros for breakfast, and also you should definitely give the pescado frito a try as well. You really can’t go wrong with whatever you order here, honestly.
S.S. Wreck & Galley Grill
58835 Overseas Hwy, Marathon, FL 33050
Phone: 305-517-6484
Visit Website
Up next is the S.S. Wreck & Galley Grill. You can find this classic bar and grill off of Overseas Highway in between the Dolphin Research Center and the Grassy Key RV Park & Resort. It’s the perfect place to come for a bite to eat after enjoying a fun dolphin show.
I highly recommend starting things off with a drink or two to sip on while you peruse the menu. I usually go with something fruity and tropical so I can feel like I’m on vacation, even if I’m not.
For food, I recommend coming here on a Friday night for some prime rib.
Herbie’s Bar & Chowder House
6350 Overseas Hwy, Marathon, FL 33050
Phone: 305-743-6373
Visit Website
Next up is Herbie’s Bar & Chowder House and I really think you’re going to love this one as much as I do. Herbie’s is the ultimate destination for conch fritters and clam chowder in the area.
This restaurant is very old-school and casual which is just the way I like it. Not to mention, they’ve been around for a long time, so they must be doing something right.
It’s always tough to choose between the clam chowder and the conch chowder for me, so I usually end up getting an order of both.
Barracuda Grill
4290 Overseas Hwy, Mile Marker 49, 5, Marathon, FL 33050
Phone: 305-743-3314
Visit Website
Finally, I want to finish strong with Barracuda Grill. Barracuda Grill is located off of Florida State Road A1A, right across from The Home Depot, so it should be pretty easy to spot.
I love coming here because they have such great seafood and shellfish dishes. Of course, they also offer land-based food as well, but I usually prefer something from the ocean when I come here.
The oyster platter is always a winner here at Barracuda Grill, but they also have wraps, burgers, sandwiches, tacos, quesadillas, and so much more. There’s something for everyone here, so stop on by.
Final Thoughts
The clear water and sandy beaches are only part of the allure of Marathon down here in the Florida Keys.
The restaurants are really what shines the brightest, if you ask me. Hopefully, now you’ll have a great idea of where to eat the next time you’re in town after reading this handy guide.
Did we leave a restaurant out of this list? Make sure you leave us a comment and we’ll check it out!
