Find the best Jekyll Island Restaurants for every occasion! This is a comprehensive guide to the best places to eat on Jekyll Island.

Get fun ideas for ocean views, interior and exterior charm, and the best ice cream stops, too! There’s a little something for everyone, with romantic selections and family-friendly options as well.

The best restaurants on Jekyll Island
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One of my favorite things about visiting other areas is getting a taste of the local fare and the great ambience that comes with it. However, I’ve found that navigating the options can sometimes be cumbersome!

That’s because we would always prefer to spend time enjoying the beach or exploring an area over planning meals. That’s where this guide to Jekyll Island restaurants comes in handy!

Jekyll Island Restaurants

We recently spent the week on Jekyll Island, off the coast of Georgia. It’s such a quaint community, you’d think that finding where to eat would be easy.

However, I could find very little information in our search and thought I’d share in case someone vacationing in Jekyll stumbles across this little blog ‘o mine.

Jekyll Island offers an array of fun things to see and do – get the full Jekyll Island round-up here. Today we’re going to chat about Jekyll Island restaurants!

Where to eat on Jekyll Island with kids

The Best Restaurants on Jekyll Island for an Ocean View or On the Water

Tortuga Jacks

It’s no secret that we love Mexican, but when paired with an ocean view, well, that was a combo that led us to eat there three times during our stay. They had a fantastic guacamole and salad, the girls loved the kiddie cocktails and there were plenty of great views indoors and out.

TIP: If sitting outdoors, the best views are under the tiki hut and indoors to the right. You can find live music there on evenings and weekend.

The Reserve at The Westin 

You can catch a cool breeze while enjoying their extensive menu. To be totally honest, the food is nothing to write home about, but the ambiance more than compensated for it.

The girls played just below the patio and made several friends during our visit.

TIP: Website photos fail to show that you can dine outdoors not only at their upper level bar {which is uncovered}, but on a beautiful patio sitting just below the dunes.

Little girls in dresses holding hands in a circle

The Anchor at Holiday Inn 

This outdoor beach eatery is much more charming than you’d imagine. It’s poolside and ocean front at the Holiday Inn.

It boasts just a few tables, but plenty of ocean views and a beautiful breeze. The cheeseburger and mahi mahi were both great.

The Beach House + Tap Room

A newer dining option at the Holiday Inn that appears to be super kid-friendly. In fact, kids eat free here with a paying adult!

An outdoor dining table at a beach restaurant in Jekyll Island, georgia

Eighty Ocean Kitchen and Bar

This one is located in the Jekyll Ocean Club. It’s Mediterranean food, with pastas and artisan pizzas, and reservations are suggested. Oceanfront setting!

Wicker chairs and a glass railing at an oceanfront restaurant in Jekyll Island florida

The Wharf

Beautiful views and great music. We biked through the Historic District until we came across this fun little stop, which also happens to be where the Dolphin Cruises depart from.

TIP: This restaurant is first come, first serve unless you have a party of 6+.

Jekyll Island restaurant on a wharf, water and docks surrounding

Zachry’s River House

Seafood, burgers, sandwiches, waterfront.

A dock surrounding an ocean front restaurant on Jekyll Island

How to Picnic in Jekyll Island

What is surprising, yet charming to find are that some of the best Jekyll Island Restaurants aren’t on the water!

Of course, the best way to take in ocean views is directly on the beach. Grab a blanket or chairs, hit up a cute sandwich stop, and enjoy a day on the water!

Jekyll Island Market

Grab sandwiches at this gourmet market from the Boardwalk Deli menu and head to the beach to dine al fresco.

Love Shack Bbq Shrimp & Yard Bird

Also part of the Jekyll Island Market – we didn’t get to eat here but it has great reviews!

The Pantry

This little deli is inside the Jekyll Club and a great place to grab items to go. You’ll find yogurt, granola, sandwiches and salads – all the picnic fixings your heart desires.

Yellow Deli

Serving classic sandwiches and deli food, the Yellow Deli is tiny but might, with a handful of locations scattered all over the world! This spot is actually in Brunswick, not on Jekyll itself, so keep that in mind.

Jekyll Island restaurant with southern balconies and shutters.

Where to Eat in Jekyll Island on Land

jekyll-courtyard-restaurant

Grand Dining Room

Also at the Jekyll Island Club Hotel, this is fine dining in a historic setting.

Driftwood Bistro

We knew that Driftwood Bistro would be good when we arrived and saw an abundance of guests waiting to be seated. It was worth the wait.

TIP: I recommend trying a few of their sides and taking advantage of their inexpensive bottles of wine! After dinner, venture onto the beach for spectacular views of Driftwood Beach.

Wee Pub Beach

Neighborhood pub style fare.

Red Bug Motors Pizza

Scratch made pizzas.

A Jekyll Island restaurant pizza shop.

Sunrise Grill

Bar, breakfast, brunch. Great happy hour and live entertainment.

The Pool House

Jekyll Island Club Resort location, poolside of course!

Where to Get Ice Cream on Jekyll Island

Every vacation deserves daily ice cream shop visits… at least in our family!

Island Sweets Shoppe in Historic Jekyll

Dipped cones and so many delicious treats in the historic district.

A little girl eating an ice cream cone and smiling.
Where to eat on Jekyll Island with kids

Jekyll Market at Beachtown

They also offer great ice cream in their Sweet Shop Named Sprinkles section (try salted caramel or cotton candy complete with pop rocks).

Fuse Frozen Yogurt

jekyll-island-restaurants

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14 Comments

  1. I pinned your blog as weโ€™re driving on our way to JI. This will help us a lot on planning where to it. Thanks for sharing. BTW I love your blog also.

  2. Just FYI for anyone also researching good eats in JI, it looks like Latitude 31 is now closed. ๐Ÿ™

      1. There is a new restaurant in the same location (I believe itโ€™s just called The Wharf now) and is very good. ย It is now run by the hotel and I find the waiters and service to be much better. I wasnโ€™t actually looking for info about JI I am just a regular blog reader and my family happens to have a home here so thought I would update would update.ย 

        1. Thank you SO much for sharing, I truly appreciate you following along and updating so I can update the post as well. Have a beautiful weekend!

  3. So happy to have stumbled upon your post! We live aboard a small sailboat and just docked at one of the marinas. You’re right – I expected to find more info on eating here but came up empty handed. Thanks for the insight!

  4. Thank you for all the info. Much nicer than what I was finding online. I was wondering if you found places that you could take your dog to sit out and eat.

    1. I believe you can at the Mexican restaurant and the sandwich shop/market downtown. I don’t think the cute little restaurant at the holiday in with mind either but you may want to call first.

  5. This seems like a great place to visit in general, and it looks like they have some really nice dining spots! Thanks for sharing a bit of your adventure with us!