The Best Burger in Ponce Inlet (And 7 More Things Locals Order on Repeat)

If you’re searching for the best burgers in Ponce Inlet, let’s make it easy.

Come on out to Hidden Treasure Rum Bar & Grill and order the Rose Bay Burger.

It’s a mouthwatering, hand-patted half-pound Angus burger served in the laid-back Key West style atmosphere that makes this spot one of the most talked-about places to eat near the lighthouse. Add fresh toppings, a side of fries or house chips, and a cold drink from the rum bar. That’s a pretty good Ponce Inlet lunch or dinner right there.

But here’s the fun part. The burger is only the beginning.

Hidden Treasure is also a seafood restaurant near Ponce Inlet Lighthouse. Our menu is packed with fresh Florida seafood, grilled favorites, tacos, pasta, shareable starters, and tropical drinks. So whether you’re visiting after a beach day, finishing a lighthouse adventure, or looking for a casual local hangout, there’s plenty to order.

Here are eight repeat-worthy picks to try.

1. Rose Bay Burger: The Ponce Inlet Burger to Know

Let’s start with the star of the show.

The Rose Bay Burger is made with a hand-patted half-pound Angus beef patty. It’s hearty. It’s satisfying. And it fits right in at a waterfront rum bar where lunch is meant to be easy and dinner is meant to stretch into the evening.

Keep it classic with lettuce, tomato, onion, and pickles. Or make it your own with extras like applewood bacon, jalapeños, grilled onions, cheese, queso, or tropical coleslaw.

Want to take things up a notch? Try the HT’s Surf and Turf Burger. It starts with that half-pound Angus burger and adds a crab cake plus special sauce. Land and sea come together in one seriously fun handheld.

There’s also the Big Mac Daddy Burger with special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, and onions on a fresh sesame seed bun. It comes as a single or double patty, so bring your appetite.

Check the current Ponce Inlet menu before you visit. Menu items and prices can change.

2. Smoked Fish Dip: A Fresh Florida Favorite

A Florida seafood restaurant needs a great fish dip. Hidden Treasure delivers with its smoked fish dip made from mahi mahi.

It comes with house corn tortilla chips and crackers. Order it for the table. Share it with your crew. Or keep it all to yourself. We won’t judge.

This is the kind of starter that feels right by the water. It’s casual. It’s flavorful. And it gives you a taste of the local seafood side of the menu before your main course arrives.

Pair it with a cold beer or a tropical rum drink and settle in. You’re officially on island time.

3. Seafood Boil in Foil: Come Get Your Fill

Hungry enough to go all in?

Order Hidden Treasure’s Seafood Boil in Foil.

This signature dish brings together shrimp, scallops, clams, mussels, andouille sausage, baby red potatoes, and corn on the cob. Everything is seasoned and served in a casual foil presentation that makes the whole meal feel like a waterfront feast.

You can also ask about adding snow crab when available.

This is one of those meals that turns lunch into an event. Get your hands messy. Pass the napkins. Dig in. It’s sure to be a blast.

4. Grilled Key Lime Jerk Tacos: A Little Sweet, A Little Spicy

The Key Lime Jerk Tacos are a local-style favorite for good reason.

These grilled tacos come in soft flour tortillas with lettuce, pico de gallo, cheddar jack cheese, and cilantro sour cream. You can choose from options including shrimp, cod, mahi, ahi tuna, flounder, grouper, chicken, pork, or filet tips.

That means you can keep coming back and try a different version every time.

Go with grilled grouper for a true coastal bite. Choose shrimp for a classic seafood option. Or try the key lime jerk pork for something different. These tacos bring big island flavor without being fussy.

Come on out, grab a seat, and order a few for the table.

5. Shrimp and Grits: Comfort Food with a Coastal Twist

Hidden Treasure’s Shrimp and Grits puts a fun spin on a Southern classic.

The dish features shrimp and a golden fried grit cake, all smothered in the restaurant’s Cajun sauce. It’s creamy, savory, and full of flavor. The fried grit cake gives it a tasty texture that makes this more than your standard shrimp-and-grits plate.

This is a great pick when you want something warm and filling but still want to stay close to the seafood side of the menu.

It’s comfort food with a little Florida attitude. Very entertaining. Very satisfying. And definitely worth ordering again.

6. Grouper Sandwich: The Classic Ponce Inlet Order

Ask around about the best restaurant in Ponce Inlet and you’ll hear plenty of recommendations. But when you want a true Florida favorite, the grouper sandwich is hard to beat.

At Hidden Treasure, the fish sandwich can be prepared blackened, grilled, or fried. It comes with tartar sauce and fresh house chips, with fries or sweet potato fries available as a substitute.

Blackened grouper brings bold seasoning. Grilled grouper keeps things light and fresh. Fried grouper gives you that crispy, beach-town crunch.

Not sure which way to go? Ask your server. That’s what they’re there for.

7. Coconut Shrimp: Crispy, Sweet, and Easy to Share

Coconut shrimp is one of those orders that disappears fast.

At Hidden Treasure, the shrimp is hand-breaded and rolled in coconut, then served with sweet Thai chili sauce. The outside is crispy. The inside stays tender. The sauce adds just the right sweet-and-spicy finish.

Order it as a starter or make it part of a seafood-heavy meal. It’s also a great choice for groups because everyone can grab one: or two: before the basket is gone.

Come get your fill. And maybe order an extra side of sauce.

8. Buried Treasure Nachos: The Table Favorite

When your group can’t agree on what to order, start with the Buried Treasure Nachos.

These aren’t shy nachos. They’re piled with queso, cheddar jack cheese, lettuce, pico de gallo, corn, black beans, jalapeños, and applewood bacon. They’re finished with cilantro sour cream and can be topped with buffalo chicken dip, chili, or half and half.

They’re crunchy, cheesy, hearty, and made for sharing.

Order them before your burgers, tacos, or seafood plates arrive. Add a few cold drinks. Turn up the conversation. If there’s live music on the schedule, you’ve got the makings of a very entertaining night out.

Don’t Skip the Rum Bar

Hidden Treasure is more than a grill. It’s also home to one of Florida’s largest collections of unique rum vintages.

That means your meal can come with a proper tropical drink. Try a rum-based specialty, a frozen cocktail, a local craft beer, or something from the current drink menu.

The Rose Bay Smash, made with Bacardi and coconut rums plus pineapple and orange juices, is a natural fit for the setting. The Treasure Chest combines key lime pie rum with piña colada mix. And the Ponce Sunset brings together coconut rum, banana rum, strawberry, peach, and mango.

In other words, the drinks are part of the experience. Take your time.

A Pet-Friendly Deck by the Lighthouse

Looking for a restaurant near Ponce Inlet Lighthouse where the whole crew can relax? Hidden Treasure has a pet-friendly outdoor dining deck and even a Paws Menu for four-legged guests.

You can enjoy your meal beside the twisted ancient oak that grows right up through the deck. It’s one of the restaurant’s favorite photo spots. Bring your camera. Bring your best friend. Bring your appetite.

Pets must follow the restaurant’s polite pup policy, including leash and seating rules. With that covered, everyone can enjoy a comfortable waterfront meal.

Come See Why Locals Keep Coming Back

The best burger in Ponce Inlet might be the Rose Bay Burger. Or maybe the Surf and Turf Burger wins you over. Maybe you’re here for the grouper sandwich, the seafood boil, or a stack of Buried Treasure Nachos.

That’s the beauty of Hidden Treasure. You can come for the burger and find a full seafood restaurant, rum bar, outdoor deck, local hangout, and Key West-style escape waiting for you.

We’re located at 4940 S. Peninsula Drive in Ponce Inlet, right by the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse. View directions and contact details, browse the full menu, or order online.

Come on out. Order the burger. Try something from the sea. Grab a rum drink. Enjoy the deck.

See you there!