Florida’s culinary scene is sizzling like never before, with Michelin stars and a melting pot of flavours drawing food lovers from all around the world. With chefs turning local ingredients into unforgettable plates and communities celebrating their unique flavours and food stories, Florida is truly an exciting foodie destination where visitors can enjoy a wide variety of food experiences. So, whether it’s a roadside pitstop, a heritage-rich food tour or a restaurant hand-picked from the Michelin Guide, the Sunshine State is made for feasting.

Food in Florida is never just about eating; it’s about the stories, the characters, and the experiences that come with every bite.

In Panama City Beach, visitors can live out the ultimate sea-to-table dream. After spending the day fishing on the Gulf, avid fishers can take their catch to a beloved local spot such as J. Michael’s, where
the chefs will cook it up just the way they like. After enjoying the fresh catch, customers are invited to sign a $1 bill and hang it on the wall, adding to the restaurant’s eclectic décor.

Seafood lovers should also make their way to the Bradenton Area, home to Cortez Fishing Village, the state’s oldest working waterfront. Here, generations of fishermen still haul in fresh catches each morning. Pair that authenticity with beach front dining on Anna Maria Island, or sample produce at Gamble Creek Farms, where organic fruits and vegetables go from farm to table within hours as the farm provides produce to three local restaurants: Sandbar, Beach House and Mar Vista.

In the heart of Pensacola’s historic Belmont-DeVilliers neighbourhood, Five Sisters Blues Café has become a beloved gathering spot where soulful food meets the rich cultural history of the area. Opened in 2010, the restaurant was created to honour family traditions and the recipes of owner Jeanette’s five sisters, blending classic Southern comfort dishes like fried chicken and collard greens with Creole and Caribbean influences. Housed on a site once alive with the sounds of blues and jazz legends, the café keeps that spirit alive today with live music, vibrant community energy, and walls that celebrate the neighbourhood’s musical legacy, offering a taste of Pensacola’s soul.

A little further south, Sarasota offers a completely different kind of tradition at Yoder’s Amish Village. Opened by Levi and Amanda Yoder in the 1970s, their handmade pies have become legendary - so much so that many locals insist no family gathering is complete without one. Fresh, simple, and bursting with flavour, these pies are a sweet slice of Sarasota’s heritage.

For something playful, head inland to The Old Sugar Mill Pancake House in De Leon Springs State Park, located in a 100-year-old replica of the original 1830s sugar mill, where each table comes with its own built-in griddle. Guests flip their own pancakes, piling them high with toppings, while the historic setting makes breakfast feel like an event.

We can’t discuss Florida’s cuisine without mentioning the world-famous Cuban Sandwich, a staple for cigar factory workers in the late 19th century. There has always been a little rivalry on who does it best - Miami or Tampa. Although both sandwiches are served on Cuban bread with roasted pork, ham, Swiss cheese, dill pickles, and mustard, Tampa’s version also adds salami. For those wanting to decide for themselves, Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City, Tampa, opened by Spanish-Cuban immigrant Casimiro Hernandez in 1905 and the oldest restaurant in Florida, offers what many would argue is the best Cuban sandwich in the Sunshine State.

Alternatively, down in Homestead and just outside Miami, Robert Is Here is far more than a fruit stand. Since 1959, Robert himself has been greeting visitors with tropical fruits, homemade milkshakes, and an aviary filled with colourful birds. Where else can people sip a famous Key Lime milkshake while sampling exotic fruits like guanabana, dragon fruit, and jackfruit? With live music on weekends, a laid-back farmyard atmosphere, and some would argue, the best Cuban sandwich in Miami, this spot is pure South Florida bliss.

Not far from Robert Is Here, visitors will find Schnebly Redland’s Winery, a destination that has become renowned for its innovative use of Florida’s tropical produce. As the only winery in the United States to craft wine from avocados, Schnebly’s has created a distinctive varietal known as Avovino, celebrated for its smooth, subtly tropical flavour. Surrounded by waterfalls, koi ponds and lush gardens, the winery offers guests an elegant setting in which to sample its range of exotic fruit wines, from lychee and guava to mango and, of course, avocado. This unexpected twist on winemaking reflects Florida’s spirit of creativity and reinvention, offering a tasting experience that is as memorable as it is unique.

For visitors craving a culinary adventure without leaving Florida, World Food Trucks in Kissimmee is the nation’s first and largest permanent food truck park where more than 80 trucks dish out flavours from around the globe. Open every day until midnight and 4am on Fridays and Saturdays, it’s like stepping into a late-night festival of flavours with options such as Venezuelan arepas or authentic Korean BBQ. Not only that but the park runs on solar power, making this experience a little greener.

And for those feeling adventurous… how about some alligator bites? In Orlando, Fish on Fire serves them marinated in buttermilk and dusted with Everglades spice for a surprisingly tender bite. In Fort
Lauderdale, LuLu’s Bait Shack pairs gator with frozen daiquiris and sweeping beach views, adding a Mardi Gras flair to this Floridian classic.

For something wonderfully quirky, Fellsmere’s Frog Leg Festival is the perfect fit. Taking place on 15-18 January 2026, as the name suggests, this food festival focuses on frogs and frog legs served every way imaginable. With carnival rides, games, and a charming small-town atmosphere, it’s a slice of Florida fun travellers won’t find anywhere else.

MICHELIN Guide
The MICHELIN Guide Florida is shining brighter than ever. The full selection now spans 165 eateries across 39 cuisines, with Greater Fort Lauderdale, The Palm Beaches, and St. Pete-Clearwater
added as new MICHELIN destinations. Four new One Star restaurants joined the ranks while Orlando’s Sorekara earned the state’s newest Two MICHELIN Stars, joining L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon Miami at the top.

Named after a Japanese phrase meaning “and then”, Sorekara takes guests through a storytelling tasting menu of over twenty courses, each served across beautifully designed rooms. The menu changes seventy-two times a year, inspired by Japan’s ancient micro-seasons and adapted to Florida’s own fleeting seasonal shifts, offering an immersive experience. Guests can expect a playful mix of dishes, from one that mimics grabbing snacks at a convenience store to more refined creations like madai with a surprising twist or a rich, deeply savoury Hokkaido crab bowl.

Alongside the long-time culinary capitals of Orlando, Tampa and Miami, this expansion reflects Florida’s rise as a serious player on the global dining stage - where visitors can enjoy everything from elegant Japanese omakase to fresh-from-the-sea Floribbean seafood.

ENDS

For more information, including high-res images, please contact:
Hannah Mulvey: Hannah@goshpr.co.uk
Itziar Urra: Itzi@goshpr.co.uk
David Gray: David@goshpr.co.uk

About VISIT FLORIDA
VISIT FLORIDA is the Sunshine State’s official tourism marketing corporation and travel planning resource for visitors across the globe. As Florida's No. 1 industry, tourism was responsible for welcoming
a record-setting 142.9 million visitors in 2024, an increase of 1.6% from 2023. In 2023, the Florida tourism industry generated $127.7 billion in economic impact and supported 2.1 million Florida jobs, making tourism a key economic engine benefiting Florida families. The Florida Legislature’s independent Office of Economic and Demographic Research calculates VISIT FLORIDA’s ROI as delivering $3.3 in return to the state for every public dollar invested, making VISIT FLORIDA one of the best performing economic development programs in state history. VISIT FLORIDA promotes tourism through sales, advertising, promotions, public relations and visitor services programs, and works with travel industry partners throughout the state. To learn more about VISIT FLORIDA, follow @FloridaTourism on X, connect on LinkedIn, or go to visitflorida.org. For inspiration in the Sunshine State follow @VISITFLORIDA on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or visit www.visitflorida.com. For media resources, visit www.visitfloridamedia.com.