The Best Amelia Island Restaurants for a Girls' Weekend
Planning a girls' weekend on Amelia Island, Florida? Come hungry.
One of my favorite things about Amelia Island is that you can go from brunch under the oaks to cocktails overlooking the water and finish the day with an incredible dinner, all without losing that relaxed island feel.
Whether you're planning a birthday weekend, bachelorette trip, mother-daughter getaway, or simply an overdue weekend with your girlfriends, here are some of my favorite Amelia Island restaurants to add to your list.
Start With Brunch at Leddy's Porch
There's something about brunch with your girlfriends that just feels mandatory.
Leddy's Porch at the historic Florida House Inn is one of my personal favorites. The setting alone makes it worth visiting. You're right in Historic Downtown Fernandina Beach, surrounded by all the charm that makes this part of the island so special.
After brunch, you can walk to the boutiques along Centre Street and make an afternoon of it.
Lunch With a Water View at Salty Pelican
For something casual and very Amelia Island, head to Salty Pelican Bar & Grill.
It's one of my favorite local spots, especially when you can grab a table with a view of the Amelia River. Seafood, cocktails, friends, and a waterfront view are a pretty good recipe for vacation mode.
This is also an easy stop when you're spending the day exploring downtown Fernandina Beach.
Share Tapas at España
For a dinner that's made for lingering around the table, España Restaurant & Tapas is a great girls' night choice.
Spanish and Portuguese flavors, tapas, wine, seafood, and paella make this one especially fun for a group because everyone can order a little something and share.
And because you're downtown, you don't have to end the night when dinner does.
Make One Dinner a Splurge
Every girls' trip deserves one night where everybody gets a little dressed up.
For a special evening, Salt at The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island brings the luxury side of Amelia Island into your weekend.
It's also a great example of something I often tell people considering living on Amelia Island: having resorts like The Ritz-Carlton here elevates the entire island. Residents get to enjoy incredible dining, spas, golf, events, and resort experiences without having to leave home.
Don't Forget Cocktails
After dinner, make your way back downtown and stop at The Decantery for wine or cocktails. Amelia Island's downtown is compact enough that dinner, drinks, shopping, and exploring can easily become one whole evening.
That's part of what makes a weekend getaway to Amelia Island so easy. You can pack plenty into a few days without feeling like you're constantly driving somewhere.
Why Amelia Island Works So Well for a Girls' Trip
Great restaurants are only part of it.
Add beautiful beaches, spas, shopping, historic downtown Fernandina Beach, luxury resorts, boating, and plenty of places to simply sit with a cocktail and catch up, and you've got a pretty wonderful girls' getaway.
And here's the funny thing about Amelia Island: people often come here for a weekend and leave wondering what it would be like to own a place here.
I hear it all the time.
A vacation turns into looking at Amelia Island condos. Then comes the conversation about a second home on Amelia Island, an investment property, or maybe even moving here full-time.
That's just what this little island tends to do to people.
Thinking About Staying a Little Longer?
If your girls' weekend has you dreaming about having your own place to come back to, I'd love to help you explore Amelia Island real estate, from beachfront condos and investment properties to waterfront homes and luxury communities.
Sometimes finding your way home starts with a really good weekend.
