The Most Iconic Foods and Drinks That Originated in Florida
In the lively heart of Key West, just a few miles off the southern tip of Florida’s peninsula, visitors can indulge in a truly distinctive local creation: the Key lime pie. The Mangoes Restaurant, nestled near the historic Old Town district, serves up this tangy dessert, made with tiny, tart Key limes that grow abundantly in the nearby Florida Keys. This pie is a jewel of the region, featuring a creamy, slightly tart filling balanced by a graham cracker crust, chilled to perfection. The restaurant’s charming patio offers a breezy, island-style atmosphere that enhances the pie’s tropical character. For the best experience, plan your visit during the cooler winter months when the waterfront dining is most comfortable and the pie’s refreshing zest is especially satisfying.
Heading northwest toward Tampa, Ybor City stands out as a cultural hub known for its rich Cuban heritage and the birth of the Cuban sandwich. At La Segunda Central Bakery, established over a century ago, the sandwich is a local institution. Here, traditional Cuban bread, fresh from the wood-fired oven, cradles layers of roast pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles, and mustard. The bakery’s long-standing commitment to authentic preparation and fresh ingredients distinguishes the Tampa Cuban sandwich from other regional variations. Visitors can explore the historic neighborhood’s brick-lined streets before stopping in for a warm, pressed sandwich that tastes like a bite of local history. Early afternoons are ideal, as the bakery is bustling with activity and the sandwich is at its freshest.
Driving east to St. Augustine, the nation’s oldest city, one can savor Minorcan clam chowder, a spicy, tomato-based soup with roots tracing back to settlers from the Mediterranean. At the Columbia Restaurant in the historic district, diners experience an unbroken culinary tradition from 1905. The chowder here is rich with clams, potatoes, and a unique blend of spices including datil peppers—grown only in this region around St. Augustine. The restaurant’s elegant, Spanish-inspired decor complements the dish’s deep local heritage. Autumn is a particularly pleasant time to visit, with mild weather perfect for wandering the cobblestone streets before settling in for a bowl of this fiery soup.
In Miami’s Little Havana neighborhood, the iconic Cuban cafecito, or Cuban espresso, is an essential cultural and culinary experience. Versailles Restaurant, heralded as the “most famous Cuban restaurant in the world,” offers an energizing café cubano brewed strong and sweet. The café is a vibrant meeting place where locals gather around small tables to sip this concentrated coffee, a ritual that fuels Miami’s bustling streets. The atmosphere here is as much a part of the experience as the drink itself, with walls adorned by Cuban memorabilia and live Latin music on weekends. Visiting in the early morning reveals the authentic rhythm of the neighborhood, with the aroma of fresh coffee mingling with the sounds of daily life.
Traveling southwest toward Naples on Florida’s Gulf Coast, the city’s burgeoning culinary scene includes the creation of the grouper sandwich, a Floridian favorite. At The Dock at Crayton Cove, just a short drive from downtown Naples, you can enjoy a freshly caught grouper fillet, grilled or fried, served simply to highlight the fish’s delicate flavor. This spot offers picturesque views of Naples Bay, allowing diners to connect with the state’s coastal bounty. The grouper sandwich here exemplifies the freshness of Florida’s seafood and the laid-back charm of Gulf Coast dining. Late spring or early summer visits are ideal, when grouper is at its peak and the waterfront patio dining is most inviting.
Further north toward Gainesville, the Florida Gatorade story unfolds at the University of Florida, where this iconic sports drink originated in the mid-1960s. While you can’t sip the original formula on campus, a visit to the Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art provides context for the university’s innovation spirit alongside its cultural offerings. Sports fans and curious travelers can wander the campus grounds, home to the Gators football stadium, where Gatorade was designed to replenish student-athletes. Fall weekends here combine the excitement of college football with a chance to witness the birthplace of a globally recognized beverage, making it a unique stop for those interested in sports history and innovation.
On the Atlantic coast near Jacksonville, the city’s historic Riverside neighborhood boasts a flourishing craft beer scene that helped to popularize Florida’s distinctive use of citrus in brewing. Intuition Ale Works, located near downtown Jacksonville, offers a sampling bar where visitors can taste beers infused with local fruits like grapefruit and orange, paying homage to Florida’s vast citrus groves. The brewery’s commitment to blending traditional brewing techniques with regional flavors sets it apart in the state’s growing craft beer market. Late spring, when citrus is fresh and abundant, is the best time to visit and savor these bright, refreshing brews alongside the neighborhood’s vibrant street art and riverside parks.