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Family-Friendly Waterfront Dining in South Florida

Water views make a meal feel like an occasion. These family-friendly restaurants in Miami-Dade and Broward serve good food with the bay or the Intracoastal as the backdrop.

By Nanci Gilbert, PA September 28, 2026
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In South Florida, the water is part of the meal. A table by the bay turns an ordinary dinner into the kind of evening kids remember, and the region has enough family-friendly waterfront restaurants to make it a habit. These five, spread from Coconut Grove to Fort Lauderdale, are the ones families return to.

Monty's Raw Bar, Coconut Grove

Monty's sits right on the water in Coconut Grove, with a raw bar, a full menu, and a relaxed dockside feel that suits families. The outdoor seating puts the bay in view, and the casual pace means nobody minds a napkin on the floor. It is a classic first waterfront dinner for kids.

Rusty Pelican, Key Biscayne

On the Rickenbacker Causeway, the Rusty Pelican frames the Miami skyline across the bay. It is a more polished room, and the brunch and early dinner hours are the family-friendly windows. The drive over the causeway and the view at the table make it feel like a destination without leaving the county.

Billy's Stone Crab, Hollywood

On the Intracoastal in Hollywood, Billy's is famous for stone crab and steady with everything else. The waterfront deck, the boats sliding past, and a menu with plenty for younger eaters make it a Broward favorite. Stone crab season runs through spring, so the holidays are prime time.

GG's Waterfront, Hollywood

Also on the Intracoastal, GG's brings a breezy, open-air dining room with a kids' menu and a view of the water from nearly every table. The relaxed atmosphere and the easy parking keep it on the rotation for Hollywood families.

Boatyard, Fort Lauderdale

On the Seventeenth Street bridge in Fort Lauderdale, the Boatyard serves a broad menu with a wide deck over the Intracoastal. It is the kind of place where a family can watch the boats, split a few appetizers, and let the evening run long. Worth the drive north for a special night.

Nanci Gilbert, PA is a South Florida realtor who guides growing families, sellers, and buyers across Miami-Dade and Broward. Questions about this topic? She answers every message within one business day.