French
DeutschBoca Raton is a city of 97,422 (2020) on the east coast of Florida about halfway between West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale. The name boca ratón translates literally as "mouse mouth" (not "rat mouth"), and is believed to derive from a Spanish nautical term for a shallow inlet filled with jagged rocks.
Understand
[edit | edit source]Boca, as it's known by locals, is a city that was started as the project of one man, the eclectic architect Addison Mizner, who is more than anyone responsible for South Florida's Spanish-inspired architecture. Little of his luxurious plans was built, as he went bankrupt during the Florida real estate collapse of the late 1920s. It was intended to surpass Palm Beach, 30 some miles north, some of whose key mansions were designed by Mizner. Much of downtown was (and is being) built in "Addison Mizner-style" architecture, using distinctive bright orange and more subdued pinks in its Old Spanish theme with a touch of Venice.
Boca's long history of catering to the well-to-do has given it a snobbish reputation, but looking deeper one can find many terrific features that can be enjoyed on any budget. The city is very safe and enjoys a much higher standard of living than many of its neighbors, giving it a well-manicured appearance with many amenities. Moreover, visitors can appreciate the limited nightlife and great beaches any time of year as the city consistently enjoys comfortable weather.
Get in
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By plane
[edit | edit source]- 1 Boca Raton Airport (BCT IATA), 903 NW 35th St (alongside Florida Atlantic University and Interstate 95), ☏ +1 561 391-2202, airportauthority@bocaairport.com. Mon-Fri 8AM-4:30PM. Boca Raton has a single-runway airport that mainly serves the general aviation community. It has no scheduled airline service. It has a Customs & Border Protection facility to process international flights, namely passengers returning from the Bahamas. Airstream Jets offers routes from Las Vegas and Toronto. Companies such as Jet Linx, Airstream Jets, and Journey Aviation offer access to planes based at BCT, ranging from economical single-and twin-engine aircraft to luxury Gulfstream and business jets. Commercial passengers will have to arrive via one of South Florida's three main airports:
- Fort Lauderdale International Airport (FLL IATA), A large airport 20 miles south of Boca, in Fort Lauderdale. This is often a better choice compared to Miami. Shuttles are usually available from airports, and taxis are common.
- President Donald J. Trump International Airport (DJT IATA), Large airport 20 miles north of Boca.
- Miami International Airport (MIA IATA), Large airport 45 miles south of Boca.
By car
[edit | edit source]- Interstate 95 - five exits to Boca Raton are Palmetto Park Road, Glades Road/Spanish River Blvd, Yamato Road, and Congress Avenue.
- Florida's Turnpike - toll road with lighter traffic and an exit for Boca Raton at Glades Road.
- US 1, also called Federal Highway, goes through Boca in a N-S direction, connecting it to other towns along the coast.
- A1A - also goes through Boca and other coastal towns, in a scenic route along the ocean.
By bus
[edit | edit source]- Palm Tran, Phone number: +1 561-841-4BUS (4287). Palm Beach County's public bus system runs between Palm Beach Gardens and the Camino Real Transit Center. Route 1 runs between Palm Beach Gardens and the Boca Raton Transit Center via West Palm Beach.
By rail
[edit | edit source]- 1 Amtrak, 1300 W. Hillsboro Blvd., ☏ +1 866-228-5890. 7:35AM-5:45PM daily. Amtrak has a station in nearby Deerfield Beach.
- 2 Brightline, 101 NW 4th St (in the downtown area next to the public library), ☏ +1 831-539-2901. High-speed trains go south to Fort Lauderdale and Miami, and north to West Palm Beach and Orlando. These trains are faster and more comfortable than TriRail's, but more expensive (though they sometimes offer special discounts, especially if you download their app).
- Tri-Rail, ☏ +1 800-874-7245, Tri-RailCustomerExperience@sfrta.fl.gov. South Florida's main rail service. Has stations at 1300 W Hillsboro Blvd in Deerfield Beach and 680 Yamato Road in Boca that go to airports in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach. You can catch the local Palm Tran bus 94 to go downtown. If you need to go to a hotel on the beachfront, you will need to change to the 92 bus at the Camino Real transit station next to South Federal Highway.
By boat
[edit | edit source]With your own boat, you can get to Boca Raton from the Atlantic Ocean on these routes:
- Via Boca Raton Inlet. Vessels can enter Boca Raton through its inlet that connects the Atlantic Ocean to the IntraCoastal Waterway (ICW). Local knowledge is required, as shoaling outside the inlet can limit access at low tide and swift moving currents cause pretty decent swells where the outflow meets the ocean.
- Via Hillsboro Inlet, south of Boca Raton, between the communities of Hillsboro Beach and Pompano Beach. This inlet was much improved by widening the channel outside the jetties. The widening was extensive and allows safer approaches into the inlet from more bearings. The inlet is well marked and has a dredge on site actively keeping the channel clear by dredging the sand that drifts into all East Coast inlets from the north. Local knowledge is suggested, as there are reefs and jetties to the south and lots of boat traffic.
- Via the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW), which stretches along the East Coast from Maine to Texas. The ICW flows through Boca Raton and has no fixed bridges across it, just 3 drawbridges that open on schedule and/or on demand. The bridges across the ICW from North to South are at Spanish River Boulevard, Palmetto Park Road, and Camino Real Drive.
- Via Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale. This is a port of entry for cruise ships and other commercial vessels.
Get around
[edit | edit source]- Tri-Rail connects to Miami, Hollywood, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. It is underused and thus runs relatively infrequently.
- Palm Tran, ☏ +1 561-841-4BUS (287) (4287), PT-CustomerService@pbc.gov. Buses run every 20–45 minutes, depending on the route. The 92 bus runs between downtown and the beach, between East Palmetto Park Road and Hillsboro Blvd. The 94 bus runs between downtown and the Boca Raton Tri-Rail station. A single one-way trip is $2, and an unlimited 1-Day Pass is $5. 3-Day ($12), 7-Day ($20), and 31-Day Passes ($70) are also available.
- Royal Airport Transportation Service & Taxi Cab Company, 1901 N Dixie Hwy, ☏ +1 561-809-8871. commonly used transportation service in Boca Raton.
Your best bet is to rent a car to get around. Boca Raton is friendly to bicycle traffic, but the public transportation serves a limited portion of the city, and overall it's not a very walkable city outside of the downtown area.
Streets are numbered in a grid with four quadrants (Northwest, Northeast, Southwest, and Southeast) centered on the intersection of Palmetto Park Road (which runs east-west) and Dixie Highway (running north-south). Streets run east-west while avenues run north-south. Addresses within the city generally correspond to the street numbers (the 1900 block of an avenue starts at 19th Street), but outside the city a different county-based numbering system is used which doesn't correspond to the Boca Raton street/avenue numbers (even though some of those numbered streets continue outside the city limits). To add to the confusion, some areas annexed into the city continue to use the county numbering system instead of the city one.
See
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- 1 Boca Raton History Museum (The Schmidt Boca Raton History Museum), 71 North Federal Highway (take the 91 or 92 bus to US 1 and East Palmetto Park Road), ☏ +1 561-395-6766, office@bocahistory.org. Wed-Sat 10AM-4PM. A museum in downtown Boca Raton that allows visitors to learn about the town's past. The building was Boca Raton's first city hall, library, and fire station. Adults: $12, Seniors & Youth: $8. Free museum admission is offered on the first Saturday of each month.
- 2 Boca Raton Museum of Art, 501 Plaza Real (in the Mizner Park complex, most of which is an upscale mall), ☏ +1 561-392-2500. Wed, Fri, Sat, Sun 10AM-5PM, Thu 10AM-PM. Some good items in the permanent collection and often hosts some fine traveling exhibits. Adults: $16.00, Seniors: $12.00, Groups: $10.00. Children and members have free admission.
- 3 Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, 1801 North Ocean Boulevard (between the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway), ☏ +1 561-544-8605. Mon 12PM-4PM, Tue-Sun 9AM-4PM. Tanks with marine life, nature trails, sea turtle rehabilitation.
- 4 Morikami Museum, 4000 Morikami Park Road, Delray Beach, ☏ +1 561-495-0233, morikami@pbcgov.org. Tue-Sat 10AM-5PM. The Morikami complex in the western part of Boca includes a small but interesting museum of Japanese art and culture as well as extensive, beautiful Japanese gardens set around a lake. The museum restaurant overlooking the lake offers good Japanese food at a moderate price with a splendid view. The Morikami Museum also has events monthly where people can eat sushi and walk around the gardens at night. The Morikami's biggest event is the annual Bon Festival in August, drawing tens of thousands of people for taiko drumming, lantern ceremonies and a firework display. $15 entry fee (Adult).
Amphitheaters
[edit | edit source]- 5 Mizner Park Amphitheater, 590 Plaza Real (near the Boca Raton Museum of Art in Mizner Park.), ☏ +1 561-393-7890. Presents a minimum of 20 concerts and events annually from a wide range of musical genres, including country, jazz, and classic rock. The amphitheater can accommodate up to 4000 fans for general admission events. This amphitheater was initially named after local philanthropists Count and Countess de Hoernle, who contributed significantly to local and regional causes. The amphitheater hosts quite a variety of cultural events throughout the year.
- Sunset Cove Amphitheater, 20405 Amphitheater Circle (in Burt Aaronson South County Regional Park), ☏ +1 561-488-8069, pbcamphitheaters@pbc.gov. Hosts concerts and community movies. Previous acts have included Tegan & Sara and Rise Against.
Do
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Indoors
[edit | edit source]- 1 Boomers!, 3100 Airport Road, ☏ +1 561-347-1888. Mon-Fri 3PM–10PM, Sat 11AM–11PM, Sun 11AM–9PM. An indoor/outdoor entertainment center where families can enjoy activities like miniature golf, laser tag, bumper boats, go-karts and a full arcade.
- 2 Cinemark Palace 20, 3200 Airport Rd, ☏ +1 561-395-4695, 1048@cinemark.com. Great movie theater that opens and closes very late. Shows all new movies, including 3D, but no IMAX. The second floor is the Premier level, including a full bar and a restaurant. $10.75 for a matinee ticket, $10.25 for a senior or child ticket.
- 3 Lucky Strike, 21046 Commercial Trl, ☏ +1 561-237-0322. Mon 4PM-12AM, Tue-Thu 12PM-12AM, Fri 3PM-1AM, Sat 11AM-1AM, Sun 11AM-11PM. This bowling alley is a hotspot for the students in the area. It is located near the Town Center Mall, so people tend to look around the mall and then head to the bowling alley. $22.03 per person.
- Spa Palmera, 501 E Camino Real (in the Cloister at The Boca Raton.), ☏ +1 877-677-7347. 8:30AM–7:30PM daily. This spa is known for its fantastic array of therapeutic massages and steams. Open 6 days a week.
- 4 Wick Theatre & Museum Club, 7901 North Federal Highway (on the west side of Federal Highway in north Boca Raton), ☏ +1 561-995-2333. The Wick Theatre & Museum Club opened in the same building as the historic Caldwell Theater in April of 2013. It offers a dazzling array of musical productions, special events, and tours of the Costume Museum, containing iconic Broadway costumes.
Outdoors
[edit | edit source]Sports in the area are college-based: there are no professional sports. Boca Raton is home to a beautiful, beach-themed 30,000-seat college football stadium at Florida Atlantic University called FAU Stadium. FAU and nearby Lynn University also have college basketball arenas; FAU men's basketball is likely to be an especially tough ticket in the 2023–24 season, given that (1) its home of Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena seats less than 3,000 and (2) the Owls return all five starters from a team that made a surprising run to the Final Four (NCAA tournament semifinals) in 2023. Boca Raton is not home to any professional sports teams although pro teams can be found within an hour's drive: Inter Miami CF soccer (15.7 mi), Miami Dolphins football (36.9 mi), Florida Panthers hockey (30.5 mi), Miami Heat basketball (48.1 mi), Miami Marlins baseball (36.9 mi). Also consider the Royal Palm Polo Sports Complex (7.1 mi) where some of the world's top polo players play during the months of (Jan-Apr), as Boca Raton is known as the winter capital. Watching greyhound racing at the Palm Beach Kennel Club (24.4 mi) is also an option; as is the Dania Jai-Alai (29.6 mi) at Dania Beach.
Boca Raton has many golf courses.
- Coconut Cove Waterpark, 20130 Regional Park Dr (in Burt Aaronson South County Regional Park), ☏ +1 561-629-8840. Open seasonally, this small community waterpark in West Boca Raton is home to a lazy river, slides, and a water playground structure. A fun way to cool off, especially for kids and families, but not recommended for thrill-seekers. $18.00 for adults, $14.00 for seniors and military, and children; infants get in for free. There is a $2.00 discount on adult and children's admission after 3PM.
- Intracoastal - tour by boat, during the holidays or for special events, boat tours are available and captains will gladly drive you and your guests down the intercoastal. Tours are also available for sight seeing and a guided one to view celebrity houses from the water.
- 5 Spanish River Beach. Easily the most popular beach, especially for younger crowds. Residents and tourists typically take Spanish River Blvd east toward A1A road and parallel park along NE Spanish River Blvd or at nearby Spanish River Park.
Notable public parks
[edit | edit source]- 6 Burt Aaronson South County Regional Park, 400 Crawford Blvd. Sunrise–sunset daily. An 880.33-acre park with tennis courts, soccer fields, a water park, and trails great for running. Arrangements can be made for picnics and private events. This park is very popular during the summer, as there are also camps available for children.
- 7 Patch Reef Park, 2000 Yamato Road, ☏ +1 561-367-7035. Mon-Sat 7:30AM-11PM, Sun 8AM-6PM. This park has great trails for biking and exercising. There are also tennis and basketball courts, in addition to open fields. Classes are taught at the recreational center, such as yoga and hip-hop.
- 8 Red Reef Park, 1400 N Ocean Blvd, ☏ +1 561-393-7974. 8AM-10PM daily. A 67-acre oceanfront park including the 20-acre Gumbo Limbo Environmental Education Center. A fun and interesting feature of the beach is a rock outcropping and a series of small man-made reefs about 10 feet offshore, where even beginning snorkelers can enjoy swimming with small colorful tropical fish. The picnic area of the park is equipped with grills, tables, and restrooms.
- 9 Sugar Sand Park, 300 S Military Trail, ☏ +1 561-347-3900. Mon-Sat 8AM-11PM, Sun 8AM-6PM. A great place to take the kids. It has an enormous fort/jungle gym, carousel, ball parks, etc.
- 10 Tim Huxhold Skate Park, 400 Crawford Boulevard, ☏ 561-393-7818Country code missing. Mo Wed Fri 5PM-9PM, Tue and Thu 4PM-9PM, Sat 1PM-9PM, Sun 1PM-6PM. An all-cement skate park, mostly used by teens, and shuffleboard courts. Skate Park Pass: $3 for residents and $6 for non-residents. Shuffleboard Court Fees: $1 for residents and $3 for non-residents.
Buy
[edit | edit source]- 1 Town Center Mall, 6000 Glades Rd (just west of I-95 and east of the Florida Turnpike), ☏ +1 561-368-6000. The well-known high-end retail mall, which includes tens of premier stores and restaurants.
- 2 Mizner Park, 327 Plaza Real (off Federal Highway (US-1) north of E Palmetto Park Rd), ☏ +1 561-362-0606. Mon-Sat 10AM-9PM, Sun noon-6PM. A mixed-use new urbanism district in a revitalized part of downtown Boca with a movie theater and a number of restaurants and stores.
- 3 Royal Palm Place, 101 Plaza Real South (downtown Boca), ☏ +1 561-559-7059, info@royalpalmplace.com. A charming mixed-use development. Featuring international restaurants, salons & spas, shopping, specialties, and services.
- 4 Regency Court, 3013 Yamato Rd, ☏ +1 561-997-6294. Open 7 days a week. Offers an array of restaurants and shops.
- 5 University Commons Plaza, 1400 Glades Road, ☏ +1 561-630-2300. This strip plaza is home to many different stores including Nordstrom Rack, Whole Foods Market, Michaels, a two-story Barnes and Noble Bookstore, and Etiquette Boutique. Restaurants in the plaza include PF Chang's, J.Alexander's, Mario's Osteria, and Jamba Juice.
Eat
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Boca has a deserved "ritzy" reputation, but good food can be found for a variety of budgets.
Budget
[edit | edit source]- 1 Camino Asian Bistro, 1001 S. W. 2nd Avenue, Suite 5000 (just off SW 2nd Avenue south of Camino Gardens Blvd), ☏ +1 561-418-6800. Mon-Thu 11AM-09:30PM, Fri-Sat 11AM-10:30PM. Chinese restaurant with an extensive menu.
- 2 Cannoli Kitchen, 2001 N Federal Hwy (in Winfield Plaza), ☏ +1 561-338-2929. Mon-Sat 10AM-10PM, Sunday 11AM-10PM. Serves pizzas (whole or by the slice; they often have up to 2 dozen varieties of pizza available by the slice at any one time), pasta, and other Italian food, in addition to the namesake cannoli desserts. Mostly take-out or delivery, but they have a small seating section if you want to eat there.
- 3 El Balcón de las Américas, 9834 Glades Road, ☏ +1 561-576-2305. Mon-Sat 7:30AM–9PM, Sun 8AM–8PM. Local restaurant chain serving Colombian food.
- 4 Mississippi Sweets BBQ, 2399 N. Federal Hwy (just north of 20th Street on US 1), ☏ +1 561-394-6779. Mon-Thu 11:30AM-9:30PM, Fri-Sat 11:30AM-10PM, Sun 11:30AM-9PM. BBQ joint with genuine Southern-style cooking. BBQ is St. Louis-style.
- 5 Tin Muffin Cafe, 364 E Palmetto Park Rd., ☏ +1 561-392-9446. Tue-Sat 11AM-4PM. Sandwiches, quiches, soups, muffins, and desserts are served at this small breakfast-and-lunch restaurant. Outdoor tables and a few indoor tables.
- 6 Tomasso's Pizza & Subs, 1229 West Palmetto Park Road, ☏ +1 561-392-8985, tomassospizza@gmail.com. Mon-Thu 10AM-9PM, Fri 10AM-10PM, Sat 10AM-9PM, Sun 12PM-9PM. A locally owned pizza chain. Take-out, delivery, and dine-in available. Huge slices also!
Mid-range
[edit | edit source]- 7 818 Heat Hot Pot & BBQ, 7860 Glades Rd #105, ☏ +1 561-419-8187. Mon-Thu 5 PM–1AM, Fri-Sat 5PM–2AM, Sun 2PM–11PM. A mix of Asian hotpot and tabletop BBQ in a modern dining setting. Outdoor setting available.
- 8 818 Shanghai, 7860 Glades Rd, Ste 105, ☏ +1 561-482-1291. 11AM–10PM daily. Chinese restaurant with classic specialties such as Peking Duck, Stir Fried Octopus, and honey-glazed ribs.
- 9 Cannoli Kitchen Pizza, 9180 Glades Rd, ☏ +1 561-872-4440. 11AM-10PM daily. Pick from 14 types of freshly prepared pizza, as well as salads, pasta entrees, subs, and Cannolis.
- 10 Gary Rack's Farmhouse (Gary Rack's Farmhouse- Boca Raton), 399 SE Mizner Blvd (in Royal Palm Place), ☏ +1 561-826-2625. Mon-Fri 11AM–9PM, Sat-Sun 10:30AM–9PM. An American restaurant concept with a homey atmosphere and ingredients sourced from local farms.
- 11 Gary Woo Express, 9874 Yamato Rd #126, ☏ +1 561-483-8889. Mon-Fri 11AM-9:30PM, Sat-Sun 2PM-9:30PM. Chinese restaurant serving authentic New York-style Chinese food.
- 12 Gyromania Grill, 7036 W. Palmetto Park Road; Suite 54 (in Garden Shops At Boca Del Mar), ☏ +1 561-288-8737. 7AM-10PM daily. Healthy, Greek fast food.
- 13 Houstan's, 1900 NW Executive Center Cir, ☏ +1 561-998-0550. Sun–Thu 11:30AM–9:30PM, Fri–Sat 11:30AM–10PM. This restaurant offers burgers, salads, and a variety of entrees. It is priced a bit higher, but the food and service are higher quality.
- Indian Harvest Restaurant, 500 Via De Palmas (in Royal Palm Place), ☏ +1 561-465-3246. Mon 12PM-3PM, 5PM-9PM, Wed-Thu 12PM-3PM, 5PM-10PM, Fri-Sat Noon-3PM, 5PM-11PM, Sun Noon-3PM, 5PM - 9PM. Casual restaurant with a bar, serving a menu full of Indian cuisine such as tandoori, chicken tikka masala, and biryani.
- 14 Nori Thai, 217 East Palmetto Park Rd (in Palmetto Park Shoppes), ☏ +1 561-412-2330, noriboca@gmail.com. Mon-Tues Thu 11:30AM-3PM, 5PM-9PM, Wed 5PM-9PM, Friday 11:30AM-3PM, 5PM-10PM, Sat 4PM-10PM, Sun 4PM-9PM. Thai food in South Florida. Open for lunch and Dinner.
- 15 Outback Steakhouse, 8841 Glades Rd, ☏ +1 561-338-6283. Mon-Thu 3PM-10PM, Fri-Sat 11AM–11PM, Sun 11AM-10PM. Australian steakhouse concept open for dinner only. Serves beef and steak items for much of the menu, as well as a variety of chicken, ribs, seafood, and pasta dishes. Convenient curbside take-out and delivery service.
- 16 Ramen Lab Eatery, 100 NE Second St (in Mizner Plaza), ☏ +1 561-750-4448, info@ramenlabeatery.com. Sun 12PM-10PM, Mon Wed-Thu 11:30AM-10:30PM, Tue 11:30AM-10:15 PM, Fri 11:30AM-11:30PM, Sat 12PM-11:30PM. Restaurant serving Japanese dishes in Boca Raton such as Shoyu Ramen, Chicken Yaki Udon, and Chicken Katsu Red Curry, all made with fresh ingredients.
- SeaSpray Inlet Grill, 999 East Camino Real (in the Waterstone Resort & Marina), ☏ +1 561-226-3022. Breakfast: Mon-Sun 7:30AM-11AM, Lunch: Mon-Sun 11:30AM-4PM, Dinner: Wed-Sun 4PM-10PM. A restaurant and bar with a casual atmosphere. Overlooks the Boca Raton inlet.
- 17 Sovereign: Poke, Boba, Asian Kitchen, 1345 W. Palmetto Park Rd (just east of I-95 in Palmetto Park Square), ☏ +1 561-617-1253. Mon-Sat 11AM-9:30PM. Serves Asian food such as poke bowls, sushi, milk tea, and smoothies.
Splurge
[edit | edit source]- 18 Abe & Louie's, 2200 Glades Road (In Glades Plaza), ☏ +1 561-447-0024. Mon–Fri 11:30AM–10PM, Sat-Sun 11AM–10PM. This restaurant is known for its fresh seafood, steaks, and fine dining atmosphere.
- Chops Lobster Bar, 101 Plaza Real S (In Royal Palm Place), ☏ +1 561-395-2675. Sun–Thu 5PM–9PM Fri–Sat 5PM–10PM. This restaurant has exceptional food and service, and it consistently ranks as one of the top ten steakhouses in the country. Exquisite seafood flown in fresh daily and the very best USDA prime aged beef are served with style in the warm ambiance of the dark wood dining room. Whether you’re dining for business or pleasure, a meal at Chops is sure to make a lasting impression.
- 19 Il Mulino New York, 451 East Palmetto Park Rd, ☏ +1 561-338-8606. Lunch: Mon-Fri 12:00PM-3:00PM Dinner: Sun-Thu 4:30PM-10:00PM, Fri-Sat 4:30PM-11:00PM. New York-style Italian restaurant that serves Italian favorites with a sophisticated atmosphere.
- Max's Grille, 404 Plaza Real Mizner Park (in Mizner Park), ☏ +1 561-368-0080. Mon-Thu 11:30AM-9PM, Fri 11:30AM-10PM, Sat 11:00AM-10PM, Sun 11:00AM-9PM. Offers everything from steak to salmon and other great foods. This restaurant offers both indoor and outdoor eating, which is nice for nights when bands perform outside.
- 20 New York Prime, 2350 NW Executive Center Dr, ☏ +1 561-998-3881. Sun-Thu 5PM-9:15PM, Fri-Sat 5PM-10PM. This hot steakhouse features high-quality beef, fresh seafood, vegetables, and fine wine selections. The high-class ambiance and well-trained staff ensure your dining experience is top notch. Not a good choice for dining with children.
- 21 Rocco's Tacos & Tequila Bar, 5250 Town Center Circle (in the Shops at Boca Center), ☏ +1 561-416-2131. Mon, Wed-Thu 11:30AM-10PM, Tue, Fri 11:30-11PM, Sat 11AM-11PM, Sun 11AM-10PM. Mexican with a buzz.
- 22 Seasons 52, 2300 N.W. Executive Center Drive, ☏ +1 561-998-9952. Mon-Thu 11:30AM–10PM, Fri-Sat 11:30AM–11PM, Sun 11:30AM-9PM. Seasons 52 is a casually sophisticated grill and wine bar and a seasonally changing as well as health-conscious menu.
- 23 Traditions South of Boca Raton, 7000 W. Camino Real, ☏ +1 561-409-3035, zeke@traditionseatery.com. Mon-Thu Lunch 12PM–3 PM Dinner 4PM–10 PM, Sun 4–10 PM. A classic deli with beautiful outdoor and indoor dining options. Kosher certified.
Drink
[edit | edit source]Boca Raton doesn't have a very lively downtown area but interspersed throughout the city are some great bars, from local faves to upscale chains.
A slappy dappy clapper is a really great drink after a long day of golfing. The more a drink in Boca sounds like only a dad on vacation would order it, the better it is.
Bars
[edit | edit source]- 1 Biergarten, 309 Via De Palmas #90 (in Royal Palm Place), ☏ +1 561-395-7462. Mon-Thurs: 11:30AM-12AM, Fri-Sat: 11:30AM-2AM, Sun: 12PM-12AM. A German-American themed bar and restaurant serving beers and steins to complement foods like potato pancakes, bratwurst tacos and different kinds of schnitzel.
- 2 Packy's Sports Grill, 11379 W Palmetto Park Rd, Suite F (in the Shoppes at Loggers Run), ☏ +1 561-482-0052, +1 561-488-9665 (delivery). Sun 11AM–10PM, Mon-Wed 11AM–12AM, Thu-Sat 11AM–1AM. A warm, family friendly bar that welcomes all NY Jets and NY Giants fans as well as other sports enthusiasts. Plenty to watch with 17 TVs, including 7 satellites. Nightly beer specials including All Day, All Night $2 Pints of Heineken. Karaoke night Thursdays. Tuesday Night kids special, free kids meal with purchase of adult entree. Located in the southeast corner of the Loggers Run Plaza in West Boca Raton.
- Patio Tapas and Beer, 504 Via de Palmas (in Royal Palm Place shopping center, East Boca Raton), ☏ +1 561-786-0766, patiotapasandbeernet@gmail.com. Mon-Thu 12PM-9PM, Fri-Sat 12PM-10PM, Sun 12PM-8PM. A Spanish bar with a warm, inviting atmosphere that serves craft beers, tapas, and handcrafted cocktails. Outdoor patio seating is available.
College Bars
[edit | edit source]- 3 Herb’n Roots, 140 Northwest 20th Street, ☏ +1 561-395-9888. Sun 10AM–1AM, Mon-Fri 8AM-2AM, Sat 10AM-2AM. Botanical and exotic tea bar near Florida Atlantic University.
- 4 The Irishmen, 1745 Northwest Boca Raton Boulevard, ☏ +1 561-368-1129. Mon-Fri 11AM-2AM, Sat-Sun 10AM-2AM. Bills itself as a "neighborhood Irish sports pub" for all but frequented by college students, especially on Mondays for College Night. Occasionally has live entertainment and beer pong tournaments.
Sleep
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- Waterstone Resort & Marina, 999, East Camino Real, toll-free: +1 866-909-BOCA ext 2622 (2622). Overlooking the Boca Raton Inlet by A1A, originally known as the Bridge Hotel, this property is Boca's second-oldest, albeit, fully renovated hotel. Upscale and pet-friendly, offers resort-style accommodations and amenities a short distance from the beach.
- 1 Boca Resort and Spa, 501 East Camino Real, toll-free: +1 888-491-2622. Spa resort includes the tallest building in the city (and pink stucco, too), world class dining, as well as providing beachfront and intercoastal access with professional golf course. What is now a side wing was Addison Mizner's original 1928 hotel.
- Embassy Suites - Deerfield Beach, 950 Ocean Drive, ☏ +1 954-426-0478.
- Renaissance Boca Raton Hotel, 2000 NW 19th St, ☏ +1 561-368-5252.
- Boca Raton Marriot at Boca Center, 5150 Town Center Circle, ☏ +1 561-392-4600.
- 2 TownePlace Suites Boca Raton, 5110 NW 8th Avenue (exit at the Yamato Road exit off of I-95 and head west until you reach NW 8th Ave), ☏ +1 561-994-7232, toll-free: +1 888-236-2427. This hotel offers many amenities including high-speed internet access, a fitness center, and included breakfast served at the adjacent SpringHill Suites Marriott hotel. The extended-stay rooms make this hotel a great choice for any guest needing to stay for a few days or months.
- Hilton Suites Boca, 7920 Glades Road, ☏ +1 561-483-3600. All-suite hotel, several miles inland from the beach and downtown. [dead link]
- 3 Ocean Lodge, 531 N. Ocean Blvd, ☏ +1 561-395-7772, info@oceanlodgeflorida.com. This small, beach-themed hotel offers guests a comfortable location to rest, with dedicated parking spaces, flatscreen televisions, included breakfast, and full kitchenettes. Found directly on the beach, the location and style may be enjoyable to people seeking out a relaxing Florida vacation.
- 4 Sonesta Select Boca Raton, 2000 NW Executive Center Circle (right off the Glades Road exit of I-95), ☏ +1 561-241-7070, toll-free: +1 888-236-2427. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. The hotel's contemporary style offers amenities such as high-speed WiFi, a fitness center, a pool, and meeting space.
- 5 Hyatt Place Boca Raton, 100 East Palmetto Park Rd (exit I-95 at Palmetto Park Rd and head east), ☏ +1 561-672-7819, fllzb-rfp@hyatt.com. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. Modern hotel. Features a fitness center with ample equipment, and a pool overlooking the streets multiple stories below. [dead link]
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[edit | edit source]- Deerfield Beach is just to the south.
- Delray Beach, just north of Boca Raton is a sleepy beachfront town with beautiful beaches and a hip inland downtown district with good restaurants.
- Miami for sports events, fine dining, people watching and more.
- West Palm Beach is not far away and has its own venues for entertainment.
- Palm Beach is Boca Raton's predecessor, a half hour's drive up the coast. Great for window-shopping and ogling the spectacular, palatial mansions on the waterfront.
| Routes through Boca Raton |
| West Palm Beach ← Delray Beach ← | N  S | → Deerfield Beach → Fort Lauderdale |
| West Palm Beach ← Delray Beach ← | N  S | → Deerfield Beach → Miami |
| West Palm Beach ← Delray Beach ← | N  S | → Deerfield Beach → Fort Lauderdale |
| West Palm Beach ← Delray Beach ← | N  S | → Deerfield Beach → Fort Lauderdale |
| West Palm Beach ← Delray Beach ← | N  S | → Deerfield Beach → Miami |