4.5 million.
In a typical year, that’s how many people travel through Port Canaveral on a cruise each year, making it the second-busiest port in the world!
Many of those tourists will visit the Cocoa Beach-Cocoa Village area while passing through. But as a local, have you ever enjoyed this area in your own backyard?
Our family loves to play in charming Cocoa Village – where there’s over 150 small businesses in just a few blocks of the historic downtown area.
Enjoy our informal guide to Cocoa Village from a locals’ perspective full of our favorite sights (and most importantly, eats!) for you to enjoy as you explore its endearing streets:
First things first, let’s talk food. There are dozens of eateries in the area, and we even took a legit food tour (details here) to get better acquainted with the food scene here.
Here’s some spots we personally recommend you don’t miss when in Cocoa Village :
Ossorio Bakery & Cafe
To-die-for pastries, fresh sandwiches, oven-roasted pizzas, and the best homemade ice cream in Cocoa Village. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, or dessert…you cannot go wrong at this inviting cafe.
Pub Americana
Buffalo Mac n Cheese
Hearty American dishes with flair. Stop here for lunch or dinner to experience a satisfying meal in a cozy pub setting. You won’t leave hungry!
Murdock’s Southern Bistro
Located in a historic used-to-be-hotel, Murdock’s has some of the best Southern food in the area. Don’t skip their amazing selection of gourmet mac n’ cheese!
River Road Coffee and Popsicles
Key Lime Pie & Chocolate Dipped Creamy Coconut 
Cozy coffee shop + homemade popsicles at this homey hangout. They have a small kids area, plenty of couches for relaxing, and goods from local vendors here. Our fav so far is their Key Lime Pie popsicle!
Rec 225
A modern pool hall with plenty of games to entertain your group, plus a fun menu with simple but delicious bites. Kid-friendly until 8pm!
Others to Consider…
There are still a few other restaurants in the area we’ve been eyeing that look great. Ryan’s Pizza, The Snug Pub (Irish Food), and the all-new Tacos & Tapas all look fantastic. If you check these out before we do, connect with us on Instagram @spacecoastfoodies and let us know what you think!
Also, a food tour is a really fun way to try a lot in Cocoa Village. We loved our experience with Halim at Village Food Tours. He knows everyone in the area and kept us entertained with stories (even a ghost one!) about the history of the area.
Sightseeing & Shops
Sightseeing in 2020 – the Porcher House (1916) 
“Candy Affair” sweets boutique
Perusing the local shops is a fun way to pass the time when in Cocoa Village There’s Antilles Trading Company (a quaint pirate museum), fashion boutiques like Cindy Lee (where we also enjoyed samples of our fav Chocolate Key Lime Pie), Handmade soaps from The Soap Lady, unique pet goods from Tails at the Barkery… lots to exlore!
Recreation
You can experience ax-throwing at Stumpy’s Hatchet House, create a work of art at Painting with a Twist, rent a bike from Village Cycle Shoppe and ride along the river…
Or our kids’ personal fav – play at the park + splashpad + watch the boats sailing in at the Riverfront Park. It’s a simple and beautiful way to enjoy our little slice of Floridian heaven!
There really isn’t anywhere else on the Space Coast that matches the historic charm and beauty of Cocoa Village. Spend a day of your own exploring here and let us know what you think (or just what you ate) over on our Instagram, @spacecoastfoodies.
The creation of this blog post was sponsored by Historic Cocoa Village Main Street. All experiences , photos, and opinions are our own.
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