One of the quiet advantages of a canal or Intracoastal home in East Boca is dinner by boat. From the Royal Palm canals you can idle into Lake Boca in five minutes, run north through Delray to Boynton and Lantana in an hour, or south past the Hillsboro Inlet to Lighthouse Point and Pompano in half that. This is the working list: twelve restaurants with their own dockage, what the dock actually is, the bridges between you and each one with their opening schedules, and realistic cruising times from Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club. Updated October 17, 2026.
The twelve, at a glance
| Restaurant | Address | Food | Dock | From Royal Palm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boca Landing at Waterstone Resort & Marina Boca Raton · Lake Boca, inside the Boca Inlet | 999 E. Camino Real, Boca Raton 33432 · 561-368-9500 | Contemporary American and sushi (Kasumi) · $$$ | About 280 feet of dock with a dock master, room for roughly eight to ten boats; dock-and-dine for diners. Confirm the current policy by phone. | Five minutes · no bridges |
| Harbor House at The Boca Raton Boca Raton · the resort marina | 501 E. Camino Real, Boca Raton 33432 | Seafood and cocktails · $$$ | Resort marina; for resort guests and Club members, not public dock-and-dine. | Five minutes · no bridges |
| Deck 84 Delray Beach · Intracoastal, south of the Atlantic Avenue bridge | 840 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach 33483 · 561-665-8484 | Casual American and seafood · $$ | About 150 feet, roughly ten slips, first-come; they will cook your catch and there is a cleaning table on the dock. | 40 to 55 minutes north · Palmetto Park, Spanish River, Linton and Atlantic Avenue bridges |
| Two Georges Waterfront Grille Boynton Beach · Boynton Harbor Marina, Ocean Avenue bridge | 728 Casa Loma Blvd., Boynton Beach 33435 · 561-736-2717 | Old Florida seafood · $$ | Diner docks at the marina, first-come; call for availability on weekends. | About an hour north · add the George Bush and Ocean Avenue (Boynton) bridges |
| Banana Boat Boynton Beach · Boynton Harbor Marina | 739 E. Ocean Ave., Boynton Beach 33435 · 561-732-9400 | Seafood and bar food · $$ | About 250 feet of dockage, first-come; many diners arrive by boat. | About an hour north |
| Prime Catch Boynton Beach · Intracoastal at the Woolbright Road bridge | 700 E. Woolbright Rd., Boynton Beach 33435 · 561-737-8822 | Upscale seafood and steaks · $$$ | Advertised dock-and-dine with the bar out over the water; slip count and fee not published, call ahead. | About 55 minutes north |
| Old Key Lime House Lantana · Intracoastal at the Ocean Avenue (Lantana) bridge | 300 E. Ocean Ave., Lantana 33462 · 561-582-1889 | Florida seafood and the tiki bar · $$ | 300-foot floating dock, boats to 40 feet, first-come; they have been known to send a wave runner out to meet you. | About an hour and a quarter north |
| Two Georges at the Cove (The Cove) Deerfield Beach · Intracoastal just south of the Hillsboro Boulevard bridge | 1754 SE 3rd Ct., Deerfield Beach 33441 · 954-421-9272 | Casual seafood, tiki bar · $$ | 270-foot dock, first-come, overnight dockage available. | 20 to 25 minutes south · Camino Real and Hillsboro Boulevard bridges |
| Nauti Dawg Marina Cafe Lighthouse Point · PORT 32 Lighthouse Point Marina | 2841 Marina Cir., Lighthouse Point 33064 · 954-941-0246 | Seafood and fresh catch · $$ | Transient tie-up at PORT 32 (102 wet slips, 25 to 80 feet); call the marina for a diner slip. | 25 to 35 minutes south |
| Cap's Place Lighthouse Point · on an island, by the restaurant's own launch | 2980 NE 31st Ave., Lighthouse Point; launch from 2765 NE 28th Ct. | Fresh seafood, old Florida · $$$ | No seawall for private boats; you take the free 90-second launch from the shoreside lot. Dinner Wednesday to Sunday from 5:30, reservations recommended. | 25 to 35 minutes south to the launch |
| Rusty Hook Tavern at Sands Harbor Pompano Beach · Intracoastal just north of the Atlantic Boulevard bridge | 125 N. Riverside Dr., Pompano Beach 33062 | Seafood tavern · $$ | Slips at Sands Harbor Resort & Marina for diners; call for current policy. | 35 to 50 minutes south · add the NE 14th Street and Atlantic Boulevard bridges |
| Houston's (Hillstone) Pompano Beach Pompano Beach · Intracoastal at Atlantic Boulevard | 2821 E. Atlantic Blvd., Pompano Beach 33062 · 954-783-9499 | Upscale American · $$$ | A short first-come dock for diners on the Intracoastal; it fills early on weekends. | 35 to 50 minutes south |
Dock details are as published by the restaurants and local boating press in 2026 and change with the season and the manager; call before you count on a slip, especially Friday and Saturday evenings. Prices: $$ casual, $$$ upscale.
Restaurant by restaurant
Boca Landing at Waterstone Resort & Marina
Boca Raton · Lake Boca, inside the Boca Inlet · 999 E. Camino Real, Boca Raton 33432 · 561-368-9500 · Contemporary American and sushi (Kasumi) · $$$
Across the water from Royal Palm with yachts coming through the inlet and sunset over Lake Boca; the only waterside dining in the city of Boca itself. Dock: About 280 feet of dock with a dock master, room for roughly eight to ten boats; dock-and-dine for diners. Confirm the current policy by phone. From Royal Palm: Five minutes · no bridges.
Harbor House at The Boca Raton
Boca Raton · the resort marina · 501 E. Camino Real, Boca Raton 33432 · Seafood and cocktails · $$$
For members, the easiest run of all: through the Camino Real bridge opening and into the marina. Dock: Resort marina; for resort guests and Club members, not public dock-and-dine. From Royal Palm: Five minutes · no bridges.
Deck 84
Delray Beach · Intracoastal, south of the Atlantic Avenue bridge · 840 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach 33483 · 561-665-8484 · Casual American and seafood · $$
Baja fish tacos, Taco Tuesday, a dog-friendly patio, weekend brunch and live music; an OpenTable Top 100 al fresco pick, and a two-minute walk to Atlantic Avenue. Dock: About 150 feet, roughly ten slips, first-come; they will cook your catch and there is a cleaning table on the dock. From Royal Palm: 40 to 55 minutes north · Palmetto Park, Spanish River, Linton and Atlantic Avenue bridges.
Two Georges Waterfront Grille
Boynton Beach · Boynton Harbor Marina, Ocean Avenue bridge · 728 Casa Loma Blvd., Boynton Beach 33435 · 561-736-2717 · Old Florida seafood · $$
Thatched roof, Maryland crab cakes and local fish, family-run since 1997, live music Saturday and Sunday afternoons, happy hour at the bar weekdays 3 to 7. Dock: Diner docks at the marina, first-come; call for availability on weekends. From Royal Palm: About an hour north · add the George Bush and Ocean Avenue (Boynton) bridges.
Banana Boat
Boynton Beach · Boynton Harbor Marina · 739 E. Ocean Ave., Boynton Beach 33435 · 561-732-9400 · Seafood and bar food · $$
Family-owned since 1978, frozen drinks, live music, and the bar stays open to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Dock: About 250 feet of dockage, first-come; many diners arrive by boat. From Royal Palm: About an hour north.
Prime Catch
Boynton Beach · Intracoastal at the Woolbright Road bridge · 700 E. Woolbright Rd., Boynton Beach 33435 · 561-737-8822 · Upscale seafood and steaks · $$$
The most polished of the Boynton trio: yellowtail snapper, Maine lobster, grouper, Sunday brunch 11 to 2. Dock: Advertised dock-and-dine with the bar out over the water; slip count and fee not published, call ahead. From Royal Palm: About 55 minutes north.
Old Key Lime House
Lantana · Intracoastal at the Ocean Avenue (Lantana) bridge · 300 E. Ocean Ave., Lantana 33462 · 561-582-1889 · Florida seafood and the tiki bar · $$
Florida's oldest waterfront restaurant (1889), the largest tiki bar in South Florida, award-winning Key lime pie and weekend live music. Dock: 300-foot floating dock, boats to 40 feet, first-come; they have been known to send a wave runner out to meet you. From Royal Palm: About an hour and a quarter north.
Two Georges at the Cove (The Cove)
Deerfield Beach · Intracoastal just south of the Hillsboro Boulevard bridge · 1754 SE 3rd Ct., Deerfield Beach 33441 · 954-421-9272 · Casual seafood, tiki bar · $$
The Seafood Pot, Friday happy hour with a buffet and DJ, and a view of the Hillsboro Inlet traffic. The name has gone back and forth between The Cove and Two Georges at the Cove; confirm before you go. Dock: 270-foot dock, first-come, overnight dockage available. From Royal Palm: 20 to 25 minutes south · Camino Real and Hillsboro Boulevard bridges.
Nauti Dawg Marina Cafe
Lighthouse Point · PORT 32 Lighthouse Point Marina · 2841 Marina Cir., Lighthouse Point 33064 · 954-941-0246 · Seafood and fresh catch · $$
Weekend brunch from 10, live music Wednesday through Sunday, a dog menu and kids-eat-free nights; closed Tuesdays. Dock: Transient tie-up at PORT 32 (102 wet slips, 25 to 80 feet); call the marina for a diner slip. From Royal Palm: 25 to 35 minutes south.
Cap's Place
Lighthouse Point · on an island, by the restaurant's own launch · 2980 NE 31st Ave., Lighthouse Point; launch from 2765 NE 28th Ct. · Fresh seafood, old Florida · $$$
Broward's oldest restaurant, a 1928 rum-runners' speakeasy and casino on the National Register, famous for its hearts-of-palm salad and crab cakes. Dock: No seawall for private boats; you take the free 90-second launch from the shoreside lot. Dinner Wednesday to Sunday from 5:30, reservations recommended. From Royal Palm: 25 to 35 minutes south to the launch.
Rusty Hook Tavern at Sands Harbor
Pompano Beach · Intracoastal just north of the Atlantic Boulevard bridge · 125 N. Riverside Dr., Pompano Beach 33062 · Seafood tavern · $$
Live music, a marina crowd and the Hillsboro Inlet a few minutes away. Dock: Slips at Sands Harbor Resort & Marina for diners; call for current policy. From Royal Palm: 35 to 50 minutes south · add the NE 14th Street and Atlantic Boulevard bridges.
Houston's (Hillstone) Pompano Beach
Pompano Beach · Intracoastal at Atlantic Boulevard · 2821 E. Atlantic Blvd., Pompano Beach 33062 · 954-783-9499 · Upscale American · $$$
The ribs, the French dip and the spinach dip, and the best-dressed dock on this list. Dock: A short first-come dock for diners on the Intracoastal; it fills early on weekends. From Royal Palm: 35 to 50 minutes south.
The bridges between you and dinner
Every run from Royal Palm starts with the Camino Real bridge at the mouth of Lake Boca, which opens on the hour, at twenty past and at twenty to. The Boca Inlet (A1A) bridge opens on demand. From there, per the Coast Guard's 2026 schedule and the city of Boca Raton:
| Heading north | Opens |
|---|---|
| Palmetto Park Road, Boca Raton | Hour and half hour |
| Spanish River Boulevard, Boca Raton | Hour and half hour |
| Linton Boulevard, Delray Beach | Hour and half hour |
| Atlantic Avenue, Delray Beach | Quarter past and quarter to |
| George Bush Boulevard (NE 8th St.), Delray Beach | Hour and half hour (confirm) |
| Woolbright Road, Boynton Beach | Fixed high-level bridge, no opening (confirm clearance) |
| Ocean Avenue, Boynton Beach | Hour and half hour |
| Ocean Avenue, Lantana | Hour and half hour |
| Heading south | Opens |
|---|---|
| Hillsboro Boulevard, Deerfield Beach | Hour and half hour |
| NE 14th Street, Pompano Beach | Hour and half hour (confirm) |
| Atlantic Boulevard, Pompano Beach | Hour and half hour |
Schedules from the U.S. Coast Guard Federal Register rule of January 2026 and the City of Boca Raton marine information page; bridges hold for scheduled openings only during the posted hours and may open on demand at night. Always confirm with the bridge tender on VHF 09.
How long it takes
Distances are Intracoastal mile markers from Royal Palm (about mile 1048.5). "Idle" assumes no-wake speed the whole way, which is what the manatee-zone signs require on long stretches in season; "realistic" is the usual mix of slow zones, open water and one or two bridge waits.
| Destination | Distance | All idle | Realistic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boca Landing, Lake Boca | under 1 mile | 5 to 10 minutes | 5 minutes |
| Deck 84, Delray (Atlantic Ave.) | about 9 miles | about 1 hour 30 | 40 to 55 minutes |
| Two Georges / Banana Boat, Boynton | about 13.5 miles | about 2 hours 15 | 1 hour to 1 hour 15 |
| Old Key Lime House, Lantana | about 17.5 miles | about 3 hours | 1 hour 15 to 1 hour 30 |
| Nauti Dawg / Cap's Place, Lighthouse Point | 4 to 5 miles | 45 to 60 minutes | 25 to 35 minutes |
| Rusty Hook / Houston's, Pompano | about 8 miles | about 1 hour 30 | 35 to 50 minutes |
A few things regulars know
- Call the dock, not the host stand. Most of these places have a dock master or a manager who knows what is tied up tonight; the host stand often does not.
- Go early on weekends. The first-come docks at Deck 84 and Houston's are full by 6 on a Saturday in season. Lunch and weekday dinners are easy.
- Watch the tide at Lake Boca and the inlet. The outgoing tide against an east wind stacks up at the Boca Inlet; the run to Lake Boca itself is protected.
- Know your air draft. The Camino Real bridge closed clearance is low; if you need openings, the twenty-minute cycle at Camino Real and the fifteen-minute cycle at Atlantic Avenue decide your departure time more than anything else.
- Manatee season is November 15 to March 31. Slow zones expand in the Boca and Delray stretches; the "realistic" times above get longer.
- Overnight. The Cove in Deerfield and PORT 32 in Lighthouse Point take overnight transient boats; the Boynton Harbor Marina and Sands Harbor do as well. Boca Landing's dock is for diners.
Where the boat lives
All of this starts with a dock behind the house. In Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club the canal and Intracoastal lots reach the inlet with no fixed bridges and seawalls built for yachts; the same is true of the deep-water streets in Boca Harbour, Bel Marra, Por La Mar and The Sanctuary, each of which has its own page and 3D map on this site. If you are deciding between a canal lot and an Intracoastal lot, the Royal Palm complete guide explains which streets are which and what each kind of lot sold for over the last 24 months. Ricky lives in the area, keeps a boat, and will tell you which dock fits which boat before you offer.
Restaurant details, dock policies, bridge schedules and times are as published or reported in 2026 and change; confirm before you go. Nothing here is navigational advice; use current charts and local notices to mariners.
