The Lighthouse Cafe at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park offers a delightful dining experience with its stunning location and delectable menu. Upon arrival, I was immediately captivated by the breathtaking views of Miami's native plants along the beach, which provided a serene and picturesque backdrop for my meal. The restaurant itself is spacious, with plenty of seating options that allow guests to fully enjoy the natural beauty surrounding them. I wasn't too hungry, so I ordered the Fish Croquetas, which were priced at $12. These croquetas were incredibly delicious and fresh, showcasing the high quality of ingredients used by the cafe. The fish was perfectly seasoned and cooked, with a crispy exterior that gave way to a tender and flavorful interior. Each bite was a delightful combination of textures and tastes, making it a standout appetizer on the menu. To complement my meal, I chose a media colada, which proved to be the perfect kick of energy. The drink was expertly crafted, with a refreshing blend of flavors that enhanced the overall dining experience. It was the ideal accompaniment to the savory croquetas, providing a balance of sweetness and tanginess that was both satisfying and invigorating. Despite the restaurant not being full, with only four tables occupied and six employees on duty, there was a wait for your food. This unexpected delay was somewhat surprising given the available seating and staff, but it did not detract from the overall enjoyment of my visit. The staff was attentive and friendly, ensuring that all guests felt welcome and well taken care of. In conclusion, the Lighthouse Cafe at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park is a must-visit destination for anyone looking to enjoy a delicious meal in a beautiful setting. With its fresh and flavorful dishes, stunning views, and welcoming atmosphere, it offers a memorable dining experience that is sure to impress. Entry to the park was $8. Lots of parking available. read more

Such a beautiful little spot located right near the beach! I will say...I went on an early Monday morning for breakfast and it was very quiet peaceful and relaxing. Many birds around and even a local raccoon that seems to be a local of the establishment lol. Good value breakfast and cafe style coffees. I have walked by before but have never tried it due to it usually being crazy busy during peak hours but on a quiet day it is great. Good service also and none of that included gratuity BS. Island vibes ..check it out read more

It's delicious place, amazing food Thank you for the friendly atmosphere and wonderful surroundings. I had a fantastic time. read more

Lighthouse Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Key Biscayne, Florida

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Restaurant was less than half full. Service was nonexistent. Server disappeared after giving us menus. We finally saw them, feeding the pigeons (although there was a sign to not feed the wildlife). We gestured them for service. They seemed to discuss who would serve our table and went back to feeding the pigeons. Got tired and left. read more

Staff does nothing to discourage people from feeding raccoons so they come up on the deck while you are eating. Not sanitary and potentially dangerous. Should be zero stars but can't post without at least 1 read more

Nice low-key cafe (covered outdoor deck) near a beach in the Billy Baggs Cape Florida State Park system. Stopped in for a late lunch at 2:30 (they were open till 5pm - January). Casual and relaxed vibe with background music playing. Decent Mahi sandwich and OK Cuban. Enjoyed those with a pitcher of sangria and finished off with decent key lime pie, flan and espressos. Friendly service. read more

Horrible service and food over priced and super fried - it is all bad food and old- servers disappear

We highly regretted our choice of stopping here, we were all hungry and needing a quick bite before heading to the beach. Upon walking up the folks working were on their phones, not friendly and seemed annoyed that we had arrived. My significant other even asked them "are you open?" And in an annoyed tone said they were. We ordered some basic items; a Cuban sandwich, burger and hot dog. The Cuban sandwich seemed premade & had hot/cold parts, the hotdog I assume was fine as no complaints from a toddler and the burger while it was fine tasted like something I could have gotten at McDonald's for cheaper. The prices are atrocious for the quality of food. I get it, steps from the beach they are trapping tourists and got us too . For the price we paid for a quick lunch that took almost 45 minutes for our order to be taken and the food was of poor quality I truly regret it and hope that this saves someone else. I honestly thought of asking for a manager for a complaint but the signs I saw when exiting that they can refuse service to anyone told me I made the better choice of just paying and chalking it up to a bad choice when we were all super hungry. The location and sign are great and could be something really great if it goes under new ownership. But the way it is now; I would not recommend. It's empty for a reason read more

Food is not good here. Menu has quite of few options to choose from but from the 2 items we ordered, both were bad. We ordered a Cuban sandwich, which came out half hot, half cold and the Mahi Mahi wrap which did not taste good. Service wasn't the best. Ambiance is nice if it's sunny out, but you don't have an ocean view. read more

Low reviews can be a deterrent and that would have you missing out on a true gem. Beachside dining with waves crashing a few hundred feet away already makes for a great dining experience. Laid back atmosphere with friendly staff and excellent food. The ceviche was loaded with fresh and tasty fish. Cafe dolce was excellent and my son was very happy with his hot dog and fries. The table next to us had the full fish and lobster platter and it looked superb. Next time we're in the area we will definitely be ordering one. Hidden gem at the state park. read more

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Besides being overpriced (fish sandwich with a small piece of mahi mahi) for approx $16-17, the staff was rude and only a few barely speak english. After they served my small sandwich that came with tomatoes and lettuce, I asked if I could replace my tomatoes as they gave me the ends of the tomato with a couple slices of the middle of the tomato. I put the ends on a plate and returned them. They finally brought out a couple slices about 10 minutes later. When I got the bill, they charged me for extra tomatoes. I told them I didn't order extra tomatoes as they were replacements of the end of the tomatoes. They continued to argue with me (how cheap) instead of just taking the $2.50 charge off. I was also there scouting locations for a future event as they have a few venue spots in the park. However, the way the staff handled that and the very unprofessional follow up made my decision easy to plan my event somewhere else. If they are arguing with me over something so easy, it shows you the lack of customer service and most probable issues and over charging for a private event. My friend who I was there with ended up just giving them $2.50 to get us out of there and to enjoy the rest of our day instead of dealing with this petty place and staff. My suggestion is to avoid and stay away from this place and their other venues at the park in Key Biscayne. read more

took way to long for some mediocre food Alfredo pasta was worse than decent cheeseburger was mid.

I don't know why this place has such low reviews cause the service is appropriate, the food tastes good and fresh, and on top of that you are eating by the ocean. A perfect spot for when you are going to hang out at the beach. I totally recommend the shrimp omelette; it had soo much shrimp and the bread it came with was crispy. read more

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Absolute worst shrimp ceviche. Had one bite. Someone else had recommended this dish as the best they've had on google. Better to pass this place up. read more

Lighthouse Cafe - Shrimp ceviche - Cafes Near Me - Key Biscayne, Florida

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What a cute little spot in the Bill Baggs National Park! Lighthouse cafe is a no thrills cook to order lunch location that is steps from the ocean. With ample parking, wheelchair access this place is a quick affordable place to grab a bite before, after, or during your adventures exploring the park. We made this our first stop and then decided to explore the park. You can find this place by following the signs to the lighthouse, passing by the first restaurant (boaters grill). Once you arrive you can order to go through the window, or grab a menu and have a seat. The menu has your typical sandwich's, fresh fish, fries, soups and salads. We chose the snapper filet sandwich that comes with fries for $15. We had iced teas and sat on the patio by the beach walkway to sneak a peak of the ocean total bill $37. Everything came out in record speed, the waitresses were friendly and accommodating and the food was surprisingly tasty. The fish was well seasoned and fresh, we had no leftovers! The only side note, the bathrooms are the public beach restrooms that can be a little soggy from the beach goers. Will definitely return with family! read more

Lighthouse Cafe - Fish filet (snapper sandwich) - Cafes Near Me - Key Biscayne, Florida

Incredibly rude service ! Service can be improved or make it self-service so it's better for everyone

A lovely place to relax with some good food and beer after a biking around the park! The food is really tasty, much better than I expected, and the covered pavilion has a really nice vibe. My favorite was the ceviche, which is a hefty portion for an appetizer (I used it as a light lunch for myself). read more

Lighthouse Cafe - Ceviche - Cafes Near Me - Key Biscayne, Florida

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Outdoor seating. Plenty of wait staff who were attentive enough. Clams appetizer was good, but the cubano was just ok. The hamburger was also just ok (and $14). Seafood paella was good, but was $40. Not worth it. In general, it seems like a place that charges more than it should for mediocre food because it's in a good location/is the only option around. read more

Lighthouse Cafe - Clams in Tomato Sauce - Cafes Near Me - Key Biscayne, Florida

If you're looking for a good meal on the beach this place is a must! The palomilla steak was truly amazing, perfectly cooked and full of flavor. I also ordered a colada, and let me tell you, it hit the spot! To top it off, I tried the flan for dessert, and it was AMAZING. They were very welcoming and the service was great. This spot is perfect for anyone wanting to spend a day at the beach but also craving a quick and satisfying bite. Highly recommend! read more

Lighthouse Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Key Biscayne, Florida

If I could give 0 stars.... Spent the day at Key Biscayne and figured we'd stop in at the Lighthouse Cafe. We expected a bit of a wait and decided to stick it out. We got to the front of the line and the hostess started seating people who were in line BEHIND us. Please note that it was a clear line, everyone was standing in place, absolutely no confusion ... at least 4 parties were sat ahead of us. We tried to get the hostess's attention and we're ignored. We left. From menu review/what we saw: The prices were very high, the establishment was at best what you'd expect. Parking available. "Margaritas" were small in size; food portions about the same. - absolutely not worth going. read more

The service was terrible. We sat ourselves and were not handed any menus or acknowledged. I had to walk up to the register and ask for a server. Unbelievable. read more

Opened in 1995, the Lighthouse Cafe is a small open air cafe inside Bill Baggs State Park. It is named for the Cape Florida Lighthouse that you can see from the patio while you dine. After climbing the lighthouse I was hungry so I stopped in for lunch. I was expecting a hamburger, hot dog, chicken sandwich kind of place and was pleasantly surprised at their vast menu of seafood with a Latin flair. The menu had appetizers, soups and salads, sandwiches, Latin dishes, chicken, sides, pasta, and desserts. They even serve beer and wine. Most beaches have a snack shack but this is a full restaurant serving ceviche, paella, and whole fried fish. For lunch I chose a shrimp basket that came with fries and a fresh squeezed pineapple juice for $15. I ordered at the counter but I saw other people getting table service so I'm not sure which is correct. The shrimp was fine but served with a tomato sauce instead of cocktail sauce which was strange. The juice was so refreshing. Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the Lighthouse Cafe is open 7 days a week from 9 AM to 7 PM. It far exceeded my expectations and I would definitely stop in again. read more

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A friend of my mom's, Lili, treated my mom, my son, another friend and me to lunch at this beach restaurant. Arelys was our waitress and she was cheerful and helpful. I had the steak and salad. My son had a fish sandwich as did my mother's other friend. My mom had the fried sardines and fries plus calamari. Lili had a fish sandwich and fries as well as rice and beans. We all shared the key lime pie. Everything was tasty plus there was a nice view of the beach. read more

While the Lighthouse Cafe is definitely a convenient spot located inside of Bill Bags state park, I found the menu pretty scarce and the food over priced for the quality. The calamari were pretty bland and rubbery ($15) and the shrimp basket ($12.99) which brings a side of fries seemed like the kind of little shrimps you get in the freezer section and were just flash fried. With a very limited drink selection, just standard beer choices and some wines I was left underwhelmed and thirsty for yummier drink choices. The staff was okay... not very friendly and I had to keep looking around trying to make eye contact with the servers just to get our order in. Overall Lighthouse Cafe is a pass for me. read more

Lighthouse Cafe - Calamari & Shrimp Basket - Cafes Near Me - Key Biscayne, Florida

Food - We ordered 1 chicken sandwich , 1 chicken fingers and 1 can of soda. Chicken sandwich $14, chicken fingers $13, can $2.5. Food was good . But this review is for Server rather manager - the manager was so rude. She claimed that she is the manager I am not sure. But I had ordered the food for take out. When the food was getting ready it started to rain out of nowhere. I told her team that I am going to get my family from the beach and we will eat here. Once I arrived with my 2 year old toddler and my 60+ year old parents she refused to let us sit there. She said you ordered food for take out so you can't sit here. The restaurant had atleast 5-6 empty tables. I asked her if the price is different for take out and seating but she said it's the same. She was so uncooperative and when me and my husband requested multiple times she allowed us to sit. And went back ; literally threw our food on the table and asked 1 of the waiter to take it out on a plate and serve us. This is not how you treat your customers or for that matter the food. Even though the food was not bad ; I am not going back. Very bad behavior and very bad customer service. read more

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I always wanted to go to this place and I had high expectations. Lighthouse Cafe is not what I expected. SERVICE Terrible. The waitress look at me when I arrive and asked me: "do you need something?". Well, I guess a table -I thought-. The waitress was not friendly and attentive. She never came to me during the mealtime to ask me if I need something else. I actually needed more water. I asked her to please bring first the appetizer, then the main dish. She brought everything at the same time. QUALITY The appetizer was Lobster Bisque with a lot of salt. Not meat and little pieces of lobster at all, very greasy. The main dish was mahi mahi and rice with beans. She told me there were only one side and it came with two sides, so could pick my second choice of side. The other side was a salad: a lot of onion and lettuce and olive oil, that's it! The fish was tremendously salty and it terrible, not fresh. It was like a piece of rubber. The rice was ok. PRICE Well, considering that the restaurant is located by the beach and it must be expensive to transport all the food, the price should be ok. But, for this quality and the terrible service it doesn't worth a penny. LOCATION The restaurant is located at the end of Key Biscayne, you need to drive a lot from the beginning of the bridge. It's behind the beach, so you can walk from the sand to this restaurant. SUGGESTION I ate long time ago in a restaurant by the marina that is close to this place. It was good and nice. If you are really hungry you have this option near to the beach. It's a long walk, you might want to take the car. There is not view to the ocean from this place. read more

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Food AMAZING. The fish was so fresh and well seasoned we ate a medium fish between two people and had the fish croquettes and lobster bisque. A little slow but worth the wait! read more

Lighthouse Cafe - Fried medium Snapper - Cafes Near Me - Key Biscayne, Florida

Convenient having the restaurant right on the beach. The food is pricy & just okay. Wish they had more options on their menu. It's a pretty view but other than that, nothing too special. read more

Lighthouse Cafe - Fried calamari and shrimp basket - Cafes Near Me - Key Biscayne, Florida

Food is okay but service was terrible. Inattentive and rude staff. The cafe is conveniently located steps from the beach and they do have an extensive menu to suit everyone's taste. Four fish croquetas came with a side of cocktail sauce and a side of lettuce. Croquetas were fresh and a decent size. The calamari was sad. Not the worst I've ever had but I'd recommend saving yourself the $12.50. Snapper fish sandwich was excellent! Snapper was fresh and the sandwich was a sharable portion with the side of fries. Definitely well worth $14. I was informed that there is an additional charge to dine-in on the patio so I took my order to-go and ate on the beach. Perhaps the lack of service was due to the Labor Day holiday weekend. If you're hungry, give this place a try while visiting Bill Baggs. read more

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Bien servicios por las chicas que nos atendieron, la comida espectacular, en especial el marisco. A pesar de los adolescentes haciendo un mal día de las chicas que atienden, todo 10/10. Amazing. Highly recommended. read more

Lighthouse Cafe - Seafood - Cafes Near Me - Key Biscayne, Florida

HORRIBLE SERVICE we were refused seating because we ordered from the window first time there had no idea The food was stale fries were cold had no salt Manager was the rudest person ever we explained we couldn't eat at the picnic tables BECAUSE IT WAS RAINING and we got kicked out. I told her bring me plates. She should get fired do not support this business. read more

Lighthouse Cafe - Fries - Cafes Near Me - Key Biscayne, Florida

Large portions. Great ambience. Selections based on availability. Great local history. Danisleis was very nice - our server. read more

Lighthouse Cafe - Large portions. Tasty. Ambience very Miami. Would recommend. Danisleis was our server. - Cafes Near Me - Key Biscayne, Florida

Very disappointed with the service and food but it is a convenient location if your already at the beach. I would not recommend though or go back. Next time I'll just bring my own food. They took 30min to attend us, brought us a chicken breast that was hard as a rock after an hour of ordering it, never checked up on us and took another hour to bring us the check and wouldn't let us pay at the front when we tried to since we wanted to leave. & we ordered takeout food which they never put in the order so it was a 40min wait to get that food afterwards. We were there for about 4hrs and all my ordered was 2 meals for dine-in and 2 for take-out. Keep in mind this place was not even full. My friends couldn't even believe I was there that long. I didn't even get to enough the beach cause my whole day went in waiting for food at this rest. Save yourself the bad trip and do not go . read more

Location, location, location! That is definitely Lighthouse Cafe's best feature. I came with my son, 2 nieces & a nephew for lunch recently & although the children LOVED it, I was a bit put off by the choices. Before I get to the food want to reiterate that the set-up IS glorious! You feel like you are in a treehouse by the sea and the staff is super friendly and accommodating. They are also very good about sanitizing tables as soon as a party leaves. Back to the food... I was hoping for healthier options but instead, my only option was a Chicken Caesar Salad. My son had the Chicken Caesar Wrap & the girls had Chicken Fingers while the boy chose a Cheeseburger. We also ordered Mozzarella Sticks to share. My salad was pretty uninspired. Nothing necessarily wrong with it but it was super MEH... My son agreed with his wrap. The babies however LOVED their food and ate it all up. If you're looking for a quick bite that's ok, then this is a good spot... Just don't expect anything delicious. read more

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Service was absolutely horrible and they don't appear to want your business. Bathrooms are full of mosquitoes and the staff is too busy laughing with each other in the back to help. read more

Went earlier today with a friend for lunch. It was my second time here. Service was absolutely terrible and even for Miami standards. Had to ask for simple requests like water at least 3 times. Our waitress would disappear for long stretches of time. When I would ask other waitress to please call her she would look at me and just pretend she didn't notice I was calling for her. The place wasn't even that busy. Just a sad excuse of service honestly. I'm the type to rarely if ever complain at a restaurant. That gives you an idea how bad the service was. It shouldn't take half an hour to bring water one time! lol It's a shame because both times i've enjoyed the food but I won't be back. Good or even decent service is always appreciated and nice to receive. These waitresses just didn't have that unfortunately read more

Oh man... if you come make sure you eat in the designated area. My family and I tried to eat under the pavilion and was chased down by a family of raccoons. While it's definitely a lunch experience I will never forget. Eating an amazing meal in the parking lot isn't something I would recommend That being said I was pleasantly surprised by how good the lobster bisque and Cuban sandwiches were. My parents enjoyed the chicken sandwich and wrap as well!The lighthouse is gorgeous! Overall, it was worth the visit read more

The only place beat the beach if you're hungry! Shrimp avocado salad is actually not bad if you don't have a high expectation in this place. I made a quick stop here before going to a fancier place because I'm starving lol. read more

Lighthouse Cafe - Avocado salad with shrimp - Cafes Near Me - Key Biscayne, Florida

Food isn't bad considering it's the only option in the park. The steak and conch fritters were good. Chicken fingers, fish sticks, fries were okay. great location with a bit of a view after an afternoon at the beach. Service was painfully slow though. Felt bad because the waiter was nice and receptive, but it just took forever for anything to come out with pretty simple orders. I would return if we were visiting the lighthouse and beach again. But probably mainly because it's the only option. read more

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First time coming didn't know how the seating worked a girl gave us a menu and left we stood there like .... Ok I asked someone if we just seat ourselves waiter came food came out fast our it was VERY bland and dry honestly customer service and food needs to improve. Just being your food if your coming to the beach read more