The Best Burgers In Vero Beach: A Local’s List

Overview of the best burgers in Vero Beach

• Ask in any Vero Beach neighborhood group where to get the best burger and one name comes up before all the others: Casey’s Place on Azalea Lane.
• The rest of the list splits into clear lanes: casual outdoor joints, waterfront bar-and-grills, a family spot with a one-pound monster, an oceanfront restaurant doing a Wagyu burger, and a couple of smash burger options.
• Your “best burger” depends on what you actually want that day, a quick lunch outside, a waterfront beer, or a sit-down dinner with a view.
• I’m not a food critic, but I eat at these places and I ask every client where they landed, so this list is built on real local consensus.

First off, I’m a real estate agent, not a food writer. However, one of the first questions people ask once the boxes are unpacked aren’t about cap rates or comps. They’re “where are the best burgers in Vero Beach,” “who has the best coffee,” and “where do the locals actually eat.” So when someone in a Vero Beach neighborhood group asked where to find the absolute best burger in town recently, I paid attention to the answers. Then I went and checked them against my own plate.

Here’s the rundown.

Casey’s Place: the one everyone says first

If you ask ten locals where to get a burger and don’t tell them it’s a contest, Casey’s Place wins going away. It’s the name that shows up again and again, and for good reason.

Casey’s sits on Azalea Lane, a half block off Ocean Drive on the island. The whole setup is outdoors, picnic tables under big shade trees, condiments already on the table, order at the window. It’s a burger-and-hot-dog joint in the best old-Florida sense, casual and cash-reasonable, and it’s been a Vero institution for decades. The burgers and the seasoned fries are what people come back for, and plenty of families have been eating there across three generations.

Two practical notes. It’s closed on Sundays, and because it’s open-air and beloved, there’s often a line at peak times. The line moves fast. Worth it.

The waterfront and bar-and-grill options

A burger tastes better next to the water, and Vero gives you choices.

Riverside Cafe sits right under the Barber Bridge on the island side, with deck seating over the water and boats pulling up to the dock. It’s a big, lively, full-bar spot with thousands of regulars, and the burger holds up next to the fish tacos and the people-watching. Good landing spot for a group that can’t agree on one cuisine.

Bobby’s Restaurant & Lounge on Ocean Drive is more of a sit-down restaurant and lounge than a burger shack, but the burger and the fries earn their spot, and you’re steps from the beach and the shops. It runs later than most, so it’s a decent option if you want a burger and a drink after everything else has closed.

Green Marlin on US-1 is known first as a seafood and raw bar spot, but locals will tell you to ask for the burger menu. It’s a solid call when half your table wants oysters and the other half wants a cheeseburger.

The upscale pick: Citrus Grillhouse

If “best burger” to you means a proper night out, Citrus Grillhouse is the move. It’s oceanfront on Easter Lily Lane with a covered veranda looking at the water, and it’s a higher-end, white-tablecloth experience. The Wagyu burger is the one to order here. It’s a different category from Casey’s, and that’s the point. This is the burger you get when you’re celebrating something, not the one you grab in flip-flops.

Reservations are smart, and it’s closed on Sundays.

The family favorite: Nick’s

Nick’s Family Restaurant over on 20th Place is the kind of place locals keep to themselves. It’s a casual family spot that does subs, pizza, and wings, but the burgers are the sleeper hit, including a one-pound burger that’s exactly as serious as it sounds, plus a pizza burger for the kids. Friendly, unfussy, fair prices.

Heads up: Nick’s is closed Saturdays and Sundays, so it’s a weekday play.

If you want a smash burger

Smash burgers have taken over, and Vero has them too.

Chive on 21st Street is a counter-order, build-your-own spot with a wide menu, and regulars point straight at the smash burger as the thing to get. Big shaded patio, good for a casual weeknight or happy hour.

Pepper & Salt at Hogan Yards is the local BBQ outfit operating inside the Hogan Yards food hall on St Lucie Avenue. It’s newer and worth a look if you like your burger smashed and your sides leaning barbecue.

And if you spot the Fin & Field food truck parked somewhere on a weekend, locals rate it. Food trucks move around, so follow them on social before you drive over.

What about the chains?

When that neighborhood thread went around, a few people answered with Sonic, Wendy’s, and Burger King, half seriously. They’re here, they’re fine, and you already know what they are. But if you just moved to a coastal town with this many genuinely good independent spots, it’d be a shame to spend your first month in a drive-through. Save those for the road trip.

How to think about the best burgers in Vero Beach

There’s no single best burger in Vero Beach, there’s a best burger for the moment you’re in. Casual lunch outside with sand still on your feet, that’s Casey’s. Waterfront beer with friends, Riverside or Bobby’s. A real dinner, Citrus Grillhouse. A no-frills family meal, Nick’s. Smash burger craving, Chive. That range is part of what makes living here easy, and it’s the same small-town-with-options feeling that shows up everywhere from the dining scene to the things to do in Vero Beach on a weekend.

It’s also a small example of a bigger point I make with everyone considering a move. Vero is compact enough that you’ll have your spots figured out within a few weeks, but it has enough going on that you won’t run out of new ones. If you’re still getting your bearings on the area itself, I break down exactly where Vero Beach is and what surrounds it, and the full relocation guide to moving to Vero Beach covers the practical side of actually landing here.

Thinking about making Vero home?

I help people relocate to Vero Beach for a living, and yes, I’ll absolutely tell you where to eat once you’re here (whether you’re looking for the best burgers in Vero Beach, or something else). If you’re weighing a move and want a straight conversation about neighborhoods, prices, and what life actually looks like on the Treasure Coast, get in touch here or call (772) 999-4457. No pressure and no spam, just the local version from someone who lives it. You can also start at jonsterling.com to see how I work.

Related reading

• Things To Do In Vero Beach: A Local’s Guide
• Where Is Vero Beach, Florida?
• Moving To Vero Beach, Florida: The Complete Relocation Guide