With 33 miles of pristine sandy shores, Melbourne Beach is a secluded, environmentally conscious community on the southern edge of Florida’s Space Coast. It’s the oldest beach town in Brevard County and part of a barrier island separated from the city of Melbourne by the Indian River Lagoon and the Atlantic Ocean. Primarily residential, Melbourne Beach has swapped the traditional touristy beach feel of towering hotels and densely packed high-rise condos for upscale oceanfront properties and cottages in a quiet, laid-back community. The beach town is home to hundreds of acres of nature preserves, nesting sea turtles, and a riverside and an oceanside, allowing for nearly endless fun on the water. “It has a certain culture you won’t find anywhere else along the Space Coast. It’s got that Pleasantville vibe,” says Victoria Stacy, a Realtor with One Sotheby’s International and a Melbourne Beach resident. “You go down to the beaches in the morning, and you’ll see the locals having coffee and talking about the weather. I don’t think you can replicate what they have here.” Melbourne Beach is lined with quaint, locally owned shops and restaurants. It’s also connected to the mainland by three bridges, providing access to Downtown Melbourne and the rest of the Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville Metro area.
Miles of sandy beach and aquatic recreation are the biggest draws of the community, where locals regularly fish, surf, boat and swim. “They have Sandbar Sundays, where people take their boats and gather with friends and family,” Stacy says. “We have brackish-water fishing and clear-water fishing. Surfing is a big thing because a lot of surfing’s big names are from this area. People like Kelly Slater grew up surfing on these beaches.” Ryckman Park is on the riverside and includes the historic Town Hall, the Melbourne Beach Community Center, a playground and bocce ball. The park also provides access to Melbourne Beach Pier, popular for fishing. On the ocean side is James H. Nance Park, which has sand volleyball, picnic pavilions and beach access. It’s also home to the Sea Turtle Preservation Society. Melbourne Beach is one of Florida’s top breeding grounds for sea turtles, and they can be seen nesting along the entire coastal area. “You find sea turtles on the beach, and they have drop boxes set up. They teach the kids from an early age,” says Stacy. “They also have night walks where you can watch turtles laying eggs.” The 37-acre beachside Coconut Point Park is also an official sea turtle nesting site and is a popular spot for swimming, hiking, fishing and surfing. Spessard Holland North and Spessard Holland South parks are also within the community, offering direct beach, three dune crossovers and boardwalks. In between these is the public 18-hole Spessard Holland Golf Course. Spanning 26 acres, Juan Ponce de León Landing is a historic and popular beach park, highlighting the 1513 nautical exploration and landing in Melbourne Beach. Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge is less than 5 miles away and features the country’s largest and most significant Loggerhead sea turtle nesting site. The refuge provides nesting habitats for one-fourth of sea turtles in the United States and habitats for other endangered species. The refuge has nature trails, kayak launches and the Barrier Island Sanctuary. The sanctuary provides educational exhibits about habitats and interactive displays.
Locally owned shops and restaurants sit along Atlantic Street and Ocean Avenue. The Original Bizzarro Famous New York Pizza has been an institution since 1990. Owned by Francesco Bizzarro, the unassuming eatery is known for its Sicilian-style slices and subs. Sand on the Beach is a low-key spot with a deck and tropical vibe popular for its crab cake sandwiches and Mahi tacos. On the weekends or early mornings, Sunnyside Café is packed with hungry patrons ordering pancakes and other breakfast classics. Dijon’s Steak and Lobster House is a fine dining spot on the water with steaks, upscale seafood dishes and quirky décor. Melbourne Beach Market is a quick stop for essentials, prepared foods and hot Greek and Italian dishes. Dijon’s Village Market sits 1 mile north and is a restaurant, market and rooftop bar combined. It has a bakery, spices and sauces, coffee bar, butcher shop, fish market and wine shop. Dijon's also offers an oyster and sushi bar, an in-house restaurant and tapas and cocktails on the roof. Anchored by Publix, Indialantic Shopping Center offers more options 2 miles away. Downtown Melbourne sits 4 miles west across the Melbourne Causeway, offering an eclectic selection of stores and eateries. “The boutique shops downtown create a hometown feel,” and Lauren Merrell, a Realtor for Dale Sorensen Real Estate l Beachside, who also grew up in the Melbourne area. “Melbourne has become a go-to destination for dining for residents in surrounding communities, as well, like Palm Bay.”
Niche ranks Melbourne Beach as the No.1 place to live in Brevard County. Dotted by palm trees and boat docks on the Indian River Lagoon, Melbourne Beach features winding sidewalks throughout and walkability to the water. The quiet community offers single-family homes, condos and townhouses. There is a mix of architectural styles, including coastal contemporary houses, cottages, Floridian-style bungalows and Mediterranean-inspired estates. There are also custom million-dollar builds. Most single-family properties were built in the mid-1970s, but some date to the ‘20s. There are also some newer ones constructed in 2022 and 2023. Prices range from the low-$300,000s for a two-bedroom to over $5 million for a four- or five-bedroom modern mansion directly on the beach. Property sizes average between 1,000 and 5,000 square feet. Many waterfront homes have private boat docks, grand private driveways and resort-style backyards. Million-dollar homes have additions like lounging decks, seaside balconies and guest houses. Lot sizes are average around 13,000 square feet, but some stretch more than a half-acre. Most dwellings have multicar garages, in-ground pools and fruit trees, including papaya, banana and mango. Harbor Island Beach Club offers upscale three-bedroom condos ranging from the high-$800,000s to over $1 million for a riverfront unit. Amenities include a clubhouse and pool. Townhouses are scattered across the community, ranging from the low-$400,000s for a two-bedroom to over $2 million for a waterfront three- or four-bedroom. Manufactured homes are available in The Waters, a 55-plus community with a pool, tiki picnic area, fitness center and private beach access. Prices range from the high-$60,000s for a two-bedroom to the low-$200,000s for a three-bedroom, depending on size. Outdoor Resorts is another manufactured home community that provides a boat launch, tennis and pickleball courts and pool. Prices range from the mid-$200,000s to the high $300,000s for a one- or two-bedroom depending on square footage. Despite various home styles in a small area, officials have gone to great lengths to maintain a small-town residential feel. “Melbourne Beach doesn’t allow a lot of development, and that includes height restrictions on the beach,” adds Stacy. Melbourne Beach has a CAP Index crime score of 2/10, lower than the national average of 4.
Brevard County Public Schools serves the area and has a B-plus Niche rating. Students can attend the A-minus-rated Gemini Elementary, followed by Herbert C. Hoover Middle, which has a B-plus Niche rating. “It’s one of the reasons I moved here,” says Stacy of the elementary school. “They have a gardening program and get the kids involved in ecological efforts.” Kids can finish their education at Melbourne Senior High School, which scores an A-minus and offers a robotics club and basketball and soccer teams. As part of a dual-enrollment initiative, top-performing high school students can enroll in tuition-free college courses at Eastern Florida State College and Florida Institute of Technology. A private, four-year university, Florida Institute of Technology is known for its engineering and science programs and is 6 miles west of the neighborhood.
The community hosts a variety of events for residents, including an annual Fall Festival in October, an Easter celebration, and a Tree Lighting in December, all held in Ryckman Park. The largest festival, Founder’s Day, is an annual tradition in May to celebrate Melbourne Beach’s origins with live music, food trucks and vendors. Spring Fest is another celebration held on Ocean Avenue in March, along with regular ecological and conservation events. Several churches are in Melbourne Beach, including Advent Lutheran Church, Rock Harbor Church FL, St. Sebastian’s By the Sea and Community Chapel of Melbourne Beach. Downtown Melbourne is also a hub for festivals and events. In March, the city hosts its annual IndiaFest, the Melbourne Arts Festival, which draws over 60,000 attendees, is held in April, Oktoberfest has been a tradition downtown since 1977, and in December, Melbourne hosts a tree lighting with Santa.
South Highway A1A runs along Melbourne Beach’s eastern edge, connecting to the Melbourne Causeway, three bridges that link the island with Melbourne and Indialantic across the Indian River. The bridges are part of U.S. Route 192, connecting to Highway 1, providing access to the rest of the region. Downtown Melbourne is 4 miles west, Melbourne Orlando International Airport is 6 miles away and Orlando is a 75-mile drive. Space Coast Area Transit provides public transportation, and bus stops are along 5th Avenue. There’s also a bus station at Nance Park along Highway A1A. Health First Holmes Regional Medical Center is the closest hospital, 5 miles west.
