8 Best Things to Do in Madeira Beach, FL

By VI Staff on January 2, 2020

Madeira Beach is a charming Gulf of Mexico city located adjacent to St. Petersburg along Florida's western coastline. The city is known for its two-mile pristine white sand beach and lovely historic John's Pass Village, which is home to a visitor boardwalk and more than 100 shops and restaurants. The beautiful Intracoastal Waterway borders the city's shoreline, setting a great atmosphere for viewing stunning colorful sunsets.

1.John's Pass Village and Boardwalk

John's Pass Village and Boardwalk is a charming fishing village located just outside of the city of Madeira Beach, home to a stunning waterfront boardwalk overlooking the beautiful Intracoastal waterway and the pristine waters of Florida's Gulf of Mexico coastline. The village, which is located at Madeira Beach's southern edge within convenient driving distance of St. Petersburg, is known as one of the region's top shopping and dining destinations, home to more than 130 unique boutiques and restaurants. Visitors can enjoy a plethora of opportunities for watersports and eco-tourism, including chances to rent single-person and multi-person WaveRunners for use on the region's waters. Dolphin Quest tours get up close and personal with the region's marine life on Boca Ciega Bay. After a full day of adventures, visitors can dine at waterfront favorites like The Hut, Sculley's Restaurant, and Walt'z Fish Shak.

12901 Gulf Blvd, Madeira Beach, FL 33708, Phone: 727-238-3671

2.Alligator Attraction and Wildlife Learning Center

Alligator Attraction and Wildlife Learning Center showcases some of Florida's most unique native animal species, including more than 60 live American alligators rescued or surrendered throughout the Madeira Beach region. The hands-on learning center encourages up-close adventures with wildlife, offering tour experiences for the entire family to enjoy throughout the year. In addition to alligator populations, the center is also home to over 30 rescued reptiles of a variety of species, along with fish and marine life rescued from around the Gulf of Mexico area. Visitors can enjoy opportunities to "kiss a gator" and learn the answers to a variety of alligator pop culture trivia facts, from the names used for baby alligators to which United States President kept an alligator at the White house.

12973 Village Blvd A-D John's Pass Village Madeira Beach, FL 33078, Phone: 727-329-8751

3.R.O.C. Park

R.O.C. Park, formally known as Remember Our Children Park, is a lovely waterfront memorial park opened in Madeira Beach in 2015, showcasing a gorgeous public pier and landscaped areas for visitors to relax. The park was established in honor of area residents, family, and friends who have lost children to tragedy or illness, creating a setting to remember children and the joy they brought to the world. Three sports fields at the park host annual special events, including the Eastern Michigan Madeira Beach Invitational and softball tournaments hosted through the NSA. A public pier offers space for fishing and hosts the annual King of the Beach Fishing Tournament. Other popular events hosted at the park throughout the year include a Spring Break Rotary Carnival, offering activities for the whole family.

200 Rex Pl, Madeira Beach, FL 33708, Phone: 727-392-0665 ext. 503

4.The Florida Winery

The Florida Winery is a delicious small-batch winery located within John's Pass Village, known for its award-winning red and white classic varietals. The winery produces over 20 varieties of wine each year and has won more than 50 regional and international awards for its high-quality libations. Wines are produced in three jacket fermentation tanks and nine racking and aging tanks, with all bottling done by hand in house throughout the year. Visitors can stop in at the winery's tasting room throughout the week for samples of its most popular varietals, including free tastings of award-winning favorites. Fruit jellies and jams are also produced onsite and sold throughout the year alongside culinary items like hot sauces, salad dressings, marinades, and rub seasonings. A walk-in humidor sells the world's best premium hand-rolled cigars, imported from areas such as the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua.

12945 Village Blvd, Madeira Beach, FL 33708, Phone: 727-362-0008

5.Slyce Madeira Beach

Slyce Madeira Beach is a local favorite stone-baked artisanal pizza joint owned and operated by restaurateur Jack Bennett, known for its signature, whole wheat, and gluten-free pizza varieties. The contemporary-style restaurant serves up delicious pizzas, appetizers, and salads at its laid-back dining space, which also features a full bar serving craft beers, fine wines, and spirits. Specialty pizzas include the restaurant's Beach Bird, which pairs barbecue chicken with smoked gouda cheese, and Pear-a-Dice, which tops signature crusts with fresh sliced pears, gorgonzola cheese, and sliced prosciutto. Calzones are also served up throughout the day, along with strombolis, meatball subs, and Italian sandwiches. Shareables range from garlic knots and bruschetta to spinach artichoke wontons and brie wheels.

662 150th Ave, Madeira Beach, FL 33708, Phone: 727-308-7881

6.Mad Beach Craft Brewing Company

Mad Beach Craft Brewing Company is a unique brewpub founded by brewers Alex Garcia and Matthew Powers, co-operated by executive chef Tyson Williams. The full-service brewpub specializes in crafting beach-friendly session beers with quirky flavor profiles, including favorites like the company's Kalypso Key Lime Cider, Polyjuice Potion Fruited Milk Blonde, Banana Hammock Hefeweizen, Cinnamon Maple Toast Crunch Red Ale, and I Yam What I Yam Spiced Ale. Higher-gravity beers are also available by the pint or by the growler, perfect for pairing with the restaurant's delectable Caribbean and Southern-inspired brewpub eats. Menu offerings range from Cajun-inspired favorites like gumbo or alligator po'boys to artisanal burgers, sandwiches, and shareable appetizers.

12945 Village Blvd, Madeira Beach, FL 33708, Phone: 727-362-0008

7.Friendly Fisherman Restaurant

Friendly Fisherman Restaurant is the oldest operating seafood restaurant in John's Pass Village, founded in 1978 by local fisherman Captain Wilson Hubbard. The restaurant is known for its prime location on one of Florida's most famous waterfront stretches, home to an upstairs dining room and a downstairs bar showcasing live music performances each weekend. Old Florida-style cuisine served up throughout the day includes selections like Caribbean-style lobster tails, New England-style clam strips, Gulf fried shrimp and crab cakes, and Diamond Jim flounder topped in Rockefeller sauce and hollandaise. Seafood-tossed angel hair pasta dishes are also on the menu, along with shoreline platters and build-your-own surf-and-turf entrees. Shareables range from fried alligator bites to powdered sugar and honey-drenched corn fritters.

150 Boardwalk Place West, Madeira Beach, FL 33708, Phone: 727-391-6025

8.Mad Fish Beach House

Mad Fish Beach House is a delightful Old Florida-style restaurant offering from executive chef Joseph Stover, known for its delicious locally-caught seafood offerings served up at affordable prices. Diners can enjoy excellent entree selections throughout the week such as Gulf Boulevard fish tacos, lobster grilled cheese sandwiches, surf and turf burgers, and beer-battered drunken mussels. Local fish platters are also served up, along with scallop and shrimp platters, shrimp and grits plates, and blue crab-stuffed hogfish platters. Shareables range from fried lobster bites to crab-stuffed mushrooms. Live music performances are showcased on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings on the restaurant's lovely rooftop deck space.

13205 Gulf Blvd, Madeira Beach, FL 33708, Phone: 727-398-4103