Boca Raton

Boca Raton is a city on the east coast of Florida, located about halfway between West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale. The name translates literally as "Rat Mouth", and is believed to derive from a Spanish nautical term for a shallow inlet filled with jagged rocks.

Understand

Boca, as it's known by locals, started growing in earnest in the 1920s, with the help of fanciful nouveau-riche architect Addison Mizner, who also helped design Palm Beach, 30 some miles north. 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

By air

• Fort Lauderdale International Airport (FLL ^IATA), 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.
• Palm Beach International Airport (PBI ^IATA), large airport 20 miles north of Boca.
• Private Jet (OneSky Jets )- this airport only caters to certain customers and is very exclusive.
• Miami International Airport (MIA ^IATA), Miami. (About 45 miles / 45 minutes non-rush hour.)

By car

• 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 at Glades Road.
• US 1 - goes through Boca in 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

• Palm Tran, Phone number: [phone]BUS (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

• Amtrak, 1300 W. Hillsboro Blvd., ☎ [phone]. Deerfield Beach. 
• TriRail (Stations at Hillsboro Blvd., Deerfield Beach and Yamato Road, Boca Raton) goes to Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach Airports. The TriRail station in Boca Raton is at 680 Yamato Road next to I-95. 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 Camio Real transit station next to South Federal Highway.

By water from the Atlantic Ocean

• via Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale. This is a port of entry for cruise ships and other commercial vessels.
• 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 recently 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 to the south and jetties 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 draw bridges 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.

Get around

• Tri-rail connects to Miami, Hollywood, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm. It is underused and thus runs relatively infrequently.
• Palm Tran buses serves Boca Raton as well as the rest of Palm Beach County are available. Phone number: [phone]BUS (4287). Buses run every 20–45 minutes, depending on the route. The cash fare is $2 per trip. A one-day unlimited pass is available for $5 from the bus. 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 TriRail station.
• Delray Scooter Rental, LLC, [phone], [phone]. Scooter rentals delivered and picked up for Downtown and Beach areas in Boca Raton and Delray Beach.
• Royal Airport Transportation Service & Taxi Cab Company - 1901 Dixie Hwy. [phone] is a 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 relatively recently into the city continue to use the county numbering system instead of the city one.

See

Art Deco building at intersection of Palmetto Park Rd and Mizner Blvd

• 🌍 Boca Raton Museum of Art. In the Mizner Park complex, most of which is an upscale mall. Some good items in the permanent collection, and often hosts some fine traveling exhibits.  
• 🌍 Morikami Museum, 4000 Morikami Park Road, Delray Beach, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Tuesday-Saturday: 10am-5pm each day. 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). (updated Feb 2018)
• 🌍 Boca Raton History Museum, 71 North Federal Highway (Take the 91 or 92 bus to South Federal Way and East Palmetto Park Road.), ☎ [phone]. Monday-Friday: 10am-4pm each day. A museum located in downtown Boca Raton allowing visitors to learn about the past culture of the town. $5. (updated Feb 2018)
• 🌍 Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, 1801 North Ocean Boulevard (between Atlantic Ocean and Intracoastal Waterway), ☎ [phone]. Tanks with marine life, nature trails, sea turtle rehabilitation. (updated Feb 2018)

Amphitheaters

• 🌍 Counte de Hoernle Amphitheater (Mizner Park Amphitheater), 590 Plaza Real, ☎ [phone]. 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 is run by local philanthropists who contribute significant amounts to local and regional causes. The Amphitheatre hosts quite a variety of cultural events throughout the year. It is located near the Boca Raton Museum of Art in Mizner Park. Guests over the last few years have included Lynyrd Skynyrd and Jack Johnson. Box Office Hours: Mon-Fri 12PM–5PM,Day of show: 12PM–9PM. 
• 🌍 Sunset Cove Amphitheater, 12551 Glades Rd, ☎ [phone]. Hosts concerts as well as community movies. Previous acts have included Tegan & Sara and Rise Against. 

Do

Birds like going to the beach, too - a yellow-crowned night heron on the beach in Boca Raton

Indoor Fun

• 🌍 Boomers!, 3100 Airport Road, ☎ [phone]. An indoor/outdoor entertainment center where families can enjoy activities like miniature golf, laser tag, bumper boats, go-karts and a full arcade. 
• Caldwell Theatre Company, 7901 North Federal Highway, ☎ [phone]. Located on the west side of Federal Highway of north Boca Raton, the Caldwell Theatre Company opened its doors in December 1975 at the suggestion of James R. Caldwell, inventor of the rubber dustpan and founder of the Rubbermaid Corporation. Over the course of 34 years and four different locations, including its now permanent location in the Count de Hoernle Theatre, the Caldwell has been called South Florida’s “Cinderella Theatre” and Boca Raton’s “Jewel in the Crown.” 
• Cinemark Palace 20, 3200 Airport Rd. Great movie theater open and closes very late. Shows all new movies including 3D, but no IMAX. The second floor is the Premier level including full bar and a restaurant. 
• Strikes @ Boca, 21046 Commercial Trl. 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. 
• 🌍 Living Room Theaters. An all-digital independent/art house movie theater on the campus of Florida Atlantic University, the only one of its kind on a college campus. Not only do they show movies neglected in the mainstream theaters, but they also have bar and food service delivered to you during the movie. Best day to go is Monday or Tuesday. 
• Spa Palazzo. This spa is known for its fantastic array of therapeutic massages and steams, open 6 days a week in the Boca Raton Resort and Hotel. 

Outdoor Fun

Sports in the area are college-based - no professional sports. Fortunately, 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. Boca Raton is not home to any professional sports teams although pro teams can be found within an hour's drive: Miami Dolphins football (36.9 mi), Florida Panthers hockey (30.5 mi), Miami Heat basketball (48.1 mi) and Florida 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.

• 🌍 Spanish River Beach. Easily the most popular beach, especially for younger crowds. Residents and tourists typically take Spanish River Blvd east towards A1A road and parallel park along NE Spanish River Blvd or at nearby Spanish River Park. 
• 🌍 Mizner Park, 433 Plaza Real, ☎ [phone]. Mizner Park has unique boutiques, sumptuous eateries, energizing music and inspiring art. It's an interesting place to walk around. This upscale shopping plaza is basically the crux of the otherwise dull Boca Raton downtown area. 
• 🌍 Coconut Cove Waterpark, 11200 Park Access Road, ☎ [phone]. 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. 
• 🌍 Boca Raton Resort & Club Amenities. Guests and members of this club can use their private golf courses and beaches as well as eat at the beautiful restaurants. 
• 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.

Notable Public Parks:

• 🌍 Patch Reef Park, 2000 Yamato Road. This park has great trails for bike riding and exercising. There are also tennis courts and basketball courts, in addition to open fields. There are classes taught at the recreational center, such as yoga and hip-hop. Also, the Boca Raton chapter of the World Adult Kickball Association holds games here on weekends. 
• 🌍 Sugar Sand Park. A great place to take the kids. It has an enormous fort/jungle gym, carousel, ball parks, etc. 
• 🌍 Red Reef Park. 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 off shore, 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. 
• Tim Huxhold Skate Park, 400 Crawford Boulevard. An all-cement skate park, mostly used by teens, and shuffleboard courts. 
• 🌍 South County Regional Park. Open from dawn-dusk with tennis courts, soccer fields, water park, and trails great for running. Arrangements can be made for picnic and private events. This park is very popular during the summer time as there are also camps available for children. 

Buy

• 🌍 Town Center Mall, 6000 Glades Rd. Is the well-known high-end retail mall on Glades Road, just west of I-95 and east of the Florida Turnpike. The mall includes tens of premier stores and restaurants.  
• 🌍 Mizner Park, 327 Plaza Real (Directly off of Federal Highway (US-1) north of Palmetto Park Rd), ☎ [phone]. Monday-Saturday: 10AM-9PM. Is a mixed-used new urbanism district in a revitalized part of downtown Boca with a movie theater and a number of restaurants and stores. (updated Mar 2018)
• 🌍 Royal Palm Place. Is a charming mixed-use development in the heart of downtown Boca. Featuring international restaurants, salons & spas, acclaimed shopping, specialties & services, Class A Office Space and 185 luxury rental residences. 
• Regency Court. Open 7 days a week. Offers an array of restaurant and shops for tourists or locals. 
• 🌍 University Commons Plaza, 1400 Glades Road Glades Road. This strip plaza is home to many different stores including Nordstrom Rack, Whole Foods Market, Bed, Bath, and Beyond, a two-story Barnes and Noble Boookstore, and Swoozies. Restaurants in the plaza including: PF Changs, J.Alexanders, Mario's, Jamba Juice and 16 Handles frozen yogurt. 

Eat

Though Boca Raton is probably better known for its Jewish community than its Muslim community, it features the Assalam Center, a beautiful mosque inspired by the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem

Boca has a deserved "ritzy" reputation, but good food can be found for a variety of budgets.

Budget

• Cannoli Kitchen, ☎ [phone]. Pizzas (whole or by the slice-- they often have up to 2 dozen different varieties of pizza available by the slice at any one time!), pastas, and other good Italian in addition to the namesake cannoli deserts. Mostly take out or delivery, but they have a small seating section if you want to eat there. 
• Lindburgers – West Boca, 9834 Glades Road, ☎ [phone], [phone]. Serves over 50 versions of their old-fashioned 7-ounce sirloin burgers. If you've ever tasted a hamburger fried in a cast-iron pan, you have a good idea of what goes on at Lindburgers. 
• Mississippi Sweets, 2399 N. Federal Hwy (Just north of 20th Street on US 1). Reasonably-priced BBQ joint with genuine Southern-style cooking. BBQ is St. Louis-style. 
• Salad Creations, 5250 Town Center Circle Ste. 129. You choose all the ingredients you want in your salad or wrap. 
• Sal's New York Grill, 200 S. Federal Highway, ☎ [phone]. New York Italian deli and similar dishes, breakfast, lunch, or diner. 
• Sieng House, 1001 S. W. 2nd Avenue, Suite 500 (Just off Camino Real west of Dixie Highway, next to the Walgreens). Good Chinese with extensive menu. 
• Tin Muffin, 364 E Palmetto Park Rd., ☎ [phone]. Sandwiches, quiches, soups, muffins and desserts served at this small breakfast and lunch restaurant. Outdoor tables as well as a few indoor tables. 
• Tomasso's Pizza & Italian Restaurant, 1229 West Palmetto Park Road, ☎ [phone]. A reasonably priced locally-owned pizza chain. Take-out, Delivery, and dine in available. Huge slices also! 
• Too Jay's, 2200 West Glades Road, ☎ [phone]. Old style New York type deli, good quality, generous servings. Original location in Palm Beach; now a small chain around south and central Florida. 
• Sonny's Gelato Cafe, 2151 North Federal Highway. Sonny's offers gelato at a great price and fun and friendly atmosphere. Also Italian cookies, cappuccino, etc. 

Mid-range

• Asian Grill Japanese and Chinese Restaurant, 10018 Spanish Isles Blvd. Bay A-2, ☎ [phone]. Japanese and Chinese takeout/free delivery. Family owned and operated in two different locations. 
• Augy's Pizza Board Restaurant, 1501 NW Boca Raton Blvd, ☎ [phone]. Dozens of daily specials. Local favorite for their stuffed artichoke, baked clams oreganata, along with the snapper Provencal, made with fresh tomatoes, garlic and white wine sauce. Located in East Boca North of Glades Rd on NW 2nd ave. 
• Bangkok in Boca, 500 Via De Palmas Ste 79, ☎ [phone]. Casual restaurant with live entertainment and outdoor seating, serving a menu full of rich authentic Thai curries with nearly fat free dishes, using the freshest ingredients in the area. Offering a wide selection of entrees with fresh seafood. Located south of Mizner Park off US1, in the Royal Palm Plaza. 
• Bullfish Raw Bar & Grill, 7036 W. Palmetto Park Road; Suite 64, ☎ [phone]. Casual, fun restaurant with a full bar & lounge and outdoor patio. Full menu for take out and delivery. Located in the Garden Shoppes of Boca Raton, there is a Large Secure Free Parking Lot across from Publix, available to all customers. Southwest corner of Palmetto & Powerline Rd in West Boca. 
• Coal Mine Pizza, 399 SE Mizner Blvd (Royal Palm Place), ☎ [phone]. There are 10 specialty pizzas, balsamic coal-baked chicken wings, the Far East Crispy Shrimp, as well as the Tuscan salad, and daily specials. 
• Curries & More, 217 East Palmetto Park Rd, ☎ [phone]. Indian food in South Florida. For those with nut allergies, selected dishes can be made without cashew sauce. 
• Gary Woo's Asian Bistro, ☎ [phone]. Unique Chinese restaurant that has real chefs from Chinatown in New York City. If you want authentic New York Chinese food in Boca Raton, you definitely need to check Gary Woo's. The food is fresh and traditional. 
• Houstans, 1900 NW Executive Center Cir. This restaurant offers burgers, salads, and a variety of entrees. It is priced a big higher, but the food and service are both exceptional. 
• Jasmine - Taste of Orient, 7860 Glades Rd, Ste 105, ☎ [phone]. Chinese restaurant with classic Pekingese specialties elegantly prepared and flavorful such as Peking Duck, lamb in garlic sauce, and honey-roasted ribs. 
• Kagura Japanese Restaurant, 5030 Champion Blvd, Ste D8 (Polo Shoppes), ☎ [phone], toll-free: [phone]. Specialties: Sushi Bar with full menu of Japanese Cuisine available for Dine in, Take out and Delivery. 
• Lilly's New Cuisine, 451 East Palmetto Park Rd, ☎ [phone]. Homemade pastas specialties including seafood and sausages for a one of a kind experience. 
• Mario's of Boca, 2200 Glades Rd, ☎ [phone]. Popular Italian Bistro with an extensive menu of Southern and Northern Italian Cuisine for both lunch and dinner with a daily Lunch buffet. Located next to the Holiday Inn by I-95, Glades Rd and Military Trail with convenient take-out and delivery service. 
• Outback Steakhouse, 6030 S.W. 18th St, ☎ [phone]. Australian steakhouse concept open for dinner only. Serves beef and steak items, for a good portion of the menu. As well as a variety of chicken, ribs, seafood, and pasta dishes. Located just west of military trail on Sw 18th st. Convenient curbside take-out and NEW delivery service. 
• Pizza Fusion, 196 N Federal Highway, ☎ [phone], toll-free: [phone]. The Pizza Fusion all-natural, gluten-free, organic pie is a slender 28” long and 9” wide and it’s crust is thin and crispy, using 100% all-natural “00” flour imported from Naples, Italy. Topped with locally grown, organic ingredients (when available), baking all ingredients in it’s soap-stone Roto-flex oven and delivering it’s delicious meals in Pizza Fusion’s earth-friendly Hybrid delivery vessels. 
• Punjab Indian Restaurant, 1801 N Federal Hwy, ☎ [phone]. Their lunch menu is extremely affordable and their dinner menu is on par. The lamb tandoori is excellent and can be served mild or spicy. Vegetarian Indian vegan options as well. Located next to the Boca Inn in East Boca just north of Glades Rd. 
• Red's Backwoods BBQ, 1345 W. Palmetto Park Rd (just east of I-95), ☎ [phone]. BBQ, Chicken, Ribs, Catfish, burgers, steaks and the sweet potato fries are a must. 
• La Rosa Nautica Restaurant, 515 N. E. 20th St (just off Federal Highway), ☎ [phone]. Authentic Peruvian cuisine. Lots of excellent seafood, along with tasty beef and chicken dishes. 7 days 11a - 10p. 
• Siam Sea - Japanese Sushi & Thai, 7860 Glades Rd, ☎ [phone]. Enjoy a tasty curry or fresh sushi at the sushi bar. 
• Steve's Wood Fired Pizza, 9180 Glades Rd, ☎ [phone]. West Boca Raton's Authentic Italian Neighborhood Pizzeria. "Steve's Pizza" has more than 50 types of freshly-prepared wood fired brick oven pizza, as well as salads, pasta entrees, salad wraps and desserts. One pizza is enough for one hungry adult. 
• Stir Crazy, 6000 Glades Rd (In Boca Town Center Mall). This restaurant offers Chinese, Japanese, Thai and Vietnamese food. People are given the option to stir fry food or order from the menu. 
• Sushi Masa Thai Cuisine, 2200 Glades Rd, ☎ [phone]. Sushi Masa is no mere sushi bar, specializing in Thai and Japanese cuisine. Impressive Thai menu includes Duck curry, seafood garlic, seafood curry, and fried fish with sauce choice, cooked rolls, Pad Thai, a delicious mix of stir fried rice noodles with egg, bean sprouts, ground roasted peanuts, and your choice of chicken, shrimp, beef, veggies, or a combination of your choice. Prices at Sushi Masa, are a nice bargain. 
• Sushi Thai Asian Bistro, 100 NE Second St, ☎ [phone]. The list of sushi covers just about anything you could want, including a large variety of cooked rolls, tamaki and complete sushi/sashimi dinners. Appetizers include deep-fried lemongrass rolls, duck noodle soup, green papaya, tomato and shrimp salad. Favorites include Pad Thai and Pad Woonsen, and a dish called deep blue sea, with scallops, shrimp, mussels, fish and veggies. Just south of Mizner Park in East Boca Raton. 
• Taverna Helios, 2997 East Palmetto Park Rd, ☎ [phone]. M-Sa Noon - 9PM. Good Greek in a casual atmosphere. 
• Watercolors, 999 East Camino Real (In the Boca Raton Bridge Hotel), ☎ [phone]. Nice restaurant and bar to visit when you want to relax, dance or just enjoy good food in a casual atmosphere. Overlooking Boca Raton inlet. 
• Yucatan Mexican Grill, 525 S Federal Hwy, ☎ [phone]. Great salsa, great food, good service. Karoke Night Thursdays, 2 for 1 Margaritas. 

Splurge

• Abe & Louies, 2200 West Glades Road. This restaurant is known for its fresh seafood, steaks, and fine dining atmosphere. 
• Chops Lobster Bar, 101 Plaza Real S # H, Boca Raton, FL 33432-4855, ☎ [phone]. 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 
• Max's Grille in Mizner Park, 404 Plaza Real Mizner Park, ☎ [phone]. 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. 
• New York Prime. 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. 
• Ristorante Bova, 1450 N. Federal Highway (Just north of Glades Rd. on Federal Highway in East Boca.), ☎ [phone]. Contemporary Upscale Italian Nuovo Classico Cuisine. 
• Ruth's Chris, 225 Northeast Mizner Boulevard, ☎ [phone]. The dining room is fantastic and the food (served a la carte) is exquisite. From the filets to the seafood, everything is a must. The desserts are worth the price. 
• Seasons 52, 2300 N.W. Executive Center Drive, ☎ [phone]. Seasons 52 is a casually sophisticated grill and wine bar and a seasonally changing as well as health-conscious menu. 
• Uncle Tai's, 5250 Town Center Circle, ☎ [phone], [phone] (delivery). Uncle Tai's has excellent Authentic Hunan style Chinese food, not Thai. Monthly cooking classes (with advanced reservations) are taught by the restaurants head chef James Tai. 
• Butcher Block Grill, 7000 W. Camino Real, ☎ [phone]. Upscale steakhouse. Kosher certified. (updated Nov 2015)

Drink

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.

Bars

• Biergarten, 309 Via De Palmas #90, ☎ [phone]. A German-American themed bar and restaurant serving beers and steins to complement foods like potato pancakes, bratwurst tacos and different kinds of schnitzel. 
• Blue Martini,, 6000 Glades Road, Suite C-1380. This trendy upscale bar sells appetizers in addition to fabulous martinis. Attached to the Boca Raton Town Center Mall. 
• Brewzzi Boca Raton, 2222 Glades Rd, ☎ [phone]. An Italian American Bistro and Microbrewery in central Boca. Winning both gold and silver medals at the Great American Beer Fest 2000-2003, Brewzzi is the most honored brewery in Florida. In addition to the 2 for 1 Happy Hour (3PM-6:30PM, M-Th) serving the award winning beers as well as cocktails, there are also 2 for 1 drinks 9:30PM-Close daily. A good place to eat and drink. 
• Bullfish Sports Bar, 11379 W Palmetto Park Rd, Suite F, ☎ [phone], [phone] (delivery). Formally known as Packy's of Boca Raton, still 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. 
• Dubliner Irish Bar, 435 Plaza Real. Located in Mizner Park, the Dubliner is one of the most popular bars in downtown Boca Raton. However, it's in a somewhat small space so the place is almost always packed. 
• Holloway's Pub, 504 Via de Palmas (In Royal Palm Place shopping center in East Boca Raton), ☎ [phone]. Fun place, very laid back, friendly atmosphere. Live music from Walt Rooney every Friday night, starting at 9PM. Karaoke every Saturday night at 9PM. Lunch served daily, prime rib special on Fridays. Closes at 2AM every night. 
• College Bars
  • The Funky Buddha Lounge and Brewery, 2621 North Federal Highway, ☎ [phone]. A college student hotspot, the Funky Buddah has won local awards for both Best Beer Bar and Best Hookah Bar. It often hosts Open Mic, comedy shows and local bands. 
  • Hooligans, 36 SE 3rd St, ☎ [phone]. A "venue, bar, lounge" known for tapas-style cuisine and live music, particularly in the reggae and rock genres. 
  • The Irishmen, 1745 Northwest Boca Raton Boulevard, ☎ [phone]. 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. 
  • Nakava Kava Bar, 140 Northwest 20th Street, ☎ [phone]. Authentic kava bar near Florida Atlantic University.  

Clubs

• Club Boca. Located on Palmetto Park Road, this nightclub is the primary spot for dancing in the area. There are certain nights where ladies drink free or are free of charge. (updated Jul 2017)
• New York Comedy Club, 8221 Glades Road. Chelsea Lately, Flo Hernandez, and other famous comedians have been known to visit the comedy club. 
• Spin Ultralounge, 346 Plaza Real, ☎ [phone]. Upscale nightclub in the Mizner Park complex. Best after 10PM. 

Sleep

Boca Raton Resort, originally opened in 1926 as the Ritz-Carlton Cloister Inn

• Boca Raton Bridge Hotel, 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, Boca's second-oldest, albeit, fully renovated hotel. Pet-friendly, offers resort-style accommodations close to the beach. 
• 🌍 Boca Resort and Spa, 501 East Camino Real, toll-free: [phone]. 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. 
• Embassy Suites - Deerfield Beach, 950 Ocean Drive, ☎ [phone]. 
• Renaissance Boca Raton Hotel, 2000 NW 19th St, ☎ [phone]. 
• Boca Raton Marriot at Boca Center, 5150 Town Center Circle, ☎ [phone]. 
• 🌍 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.), ☎ [phone], toll-free: [phone]. 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. (updated Feb 2018)
• Hilton Suites Boca, 7920 Glades Road, ☎ [phone]. All suite hotel 
• 🌍 Ocean Lodge, 531 N. Ocean Blvd, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. 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. (updated Feb 2018)
• 🌍 Courtyard Boca Raton, 2000 NW Executive Center Circle (right off the Glades Road exit of I-95), ☎ [phone], toll-free: [phone]. Check-in: 3:00 PM, check-out: 12:00 PM. The hotel's contemporary style offers amenities such as high-speed WiFi, a fitness center, a pool, and meeting space. (updated Feb 2018)
• 🌍 Hyatt Place Boca Raton, 100 East Palmetto Park Rd (Exit I-95 at Palmetto Park Rd and head eastbound, located in downtown), ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Check-in: 3:00 PM, check-out: 12:00 PM. Modern hotel. Fitness center featuring multiple machines, pool overlooking the streets multiple stories below. Breakfast serving different entrees each morning. (updated Feb 2018)

Go next

• 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