Amelia Island offers a small and refined coastal lifestyle that the locals support and love. It is a place where you can indulge in a small island town living in Florida without a beachfront dotted with tall condos and lined with cars. Its tranquility is its charm, and the many vacation homes on Amelia Island attract new visitors every year.
One thing Amelia Island residents and restaurant owners do spectacularly well is live music. The excitement of beachfront entertainment draws in people of all interests, giving them a chance to enjoy blissful tunes while taking in views of the beach and ocean.
Below are three Amelia Island restaurants with various dining styles that have live music on or near the water throughout the week.
Sliders Seaside Grill
Location: 1998 S Fletcher Ave, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034
On the eastern shore of Amelia Island sits a two-story restaurant that specializes in local seafood and shrimp. It’s right off Seaside Park, so guests can take a walk along the shore before or after a full meal of Lobster Mac and Cheese, local Peel and Eat Shrimp, Gulf Oysters and much more.
Just like the best of them, it is open late for late drinking and eating from 11 am to 11 pm every night. Regular live music includes singer-songwriters, folk, and country rock.
You can expect to find live music almost every day of the week starting around 1 pm to 2 pm and again from 6 pm to 8 pm. Schedules and times change periodically. Live shows throughout the week feature diverse acts and discounts on certain drinks.
Salty Pelican Bar & Grill
Location: 12 N Front St., Fernandina Beach, FL
Take a trip to Front Street in downtown Fernandina Beach to find the Salty Pelican Bar & Grill with live music all day, nearly every day. The website has details on specific artists throughout the week. The lineup includes many singer-songwriters and some three-piece bands, and the restaurant is known for the top tier musical talent that stops in.
The restaurant has both a covered patio and an indoor dining area and has many events, such as Taco Tuesdays, trivia nights, and nights dedicated to various football games. Harbor views round out the entertaining experience here, and it’s one that you’re sure to remember.
Coast at the Ritz-Carlton
Location: 4750 Amelia Island Pkwy, Fernandina Beach, FL
Amelia Island plays host to a number of high-end restaurants, but Coast may be the cream of the crop. The restaurant is open all day, and it is one of the only Ritz-Carlton restaurants that is. It is open to non-members, and reservations are highly recommended.
The Coast has a diverse menu, including many fantastic seafood options. The entire menu is seasonal, so returning guests should expect an entirely new menu as the chefs experiment with new ingredients each turn of the season.
Of course, the seafood is almost always local. Steaks, fresh pasta, and salads are excellent choices, and small plates are an option for guests who just can’t settle on one dish. The live music fits the luxury atmosphere. You can find jazz and soft rock staples many evenings.
The restaurant is open from 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, with distinct menus for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Small sampler plates are available from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m.
The island paradise of Amelia Island is quite unlike neighboring mainland cities. The laid-back elegance of the dining scene and cozy coastal atmosphere makes it appeal to both residents and visitors to the many vacation homes on Amelia Island. Food aside, it’s always a great place to sit back, relax, and relish some fantastic live music.