Located in Martin County’s center, Stuart’s Historic Downtown is bustling to the brim with activities and fun. Whether you’re looking for a girls’ trip, a family getaway, or a cultural experience, downtown Stuart has something for everyone. We took a day to see it all. Here’s one of many reasons to plan your trip now:
Dining
From sweet treats to upscale meals, from home-cooked Italian to gourmet tacos, downtown Stuart has something that will satisfy all tastes.
To begin our downtown adventure, we sat down at Osceola Street Café for a quick and delicious traditional breakfast. Local art decks the wall, and it is the perfect place for a cozy morning meal. Homemade muffins and bagels fill their counters and cases, and their scrumptious menu has options for everyone, including gluten-free bagels. Pancakes made with any fruit they have and omelets overflowing with your choices of sautéed vegetables, cheese, and meat are staples at the Café, always served with warm hospitality.
For lunch, the Taco Shack stands out as a feisty and fun extravaganza of gourmet tacos, homemade tortilla chips, and loaded quesadillas. With their tacos available on white tortillas, corn tortillas, a bed of cabbage, or lettuce, their menu is sure to please all no matter their eating restrictions. We were thrilled with their many delicious and creative vegetarian options, such as the avocado and black bean taco, and our taste buds were mightily impressed with the pulled pork and seafood selections. A must try is the Shack’s “Three Amigos,” a selection of their very own Pico de Gallo, fresh guacamole, and creamy queso dip served with crunchy, warm, and homemade tortilla chips.
Whether you want to pick up a warm slice or treat yourself to Italian favorites, Luna Pizza in the heart of downtown Stuart is the place to be. With a warm and pleasing atmosphere that is reminiscent of old Italy with small-town charm, this local favorite is famous for their irresistible garlic knots. Located beside the historic Lyric Theater, Luna offers window service and outdoor seating in addition to indoor dining. Their special Luna Veggie pizza, available by the slice and whole, is loaded with all the veggies you can imagine, and it is just one of their many custom pies. Their eggplant and chicken parmigiana are hearty meals of classic Italian cuisine.
Historic downtown also offers fine dining options for all occasions. We sat down at family-owned eatery the Gafford and spoke to owner Rick Wilson about downtown and his casual-upscale restaurant. He described historic downtown Stuart as simply a “quaint, cool area” which had caught his attention when searching for a place to open. “Our thing is hospitality,” he emphasized. “We want people to come here for the food, enjoy it of course, but come back because we made them feel good. And I feel like we do that.” Personal touches and warm service abound throughout the dining experience, making the Gafford somewhere the owners come and talk to you at your table, learn your name, and share a laugh. With a southern and inspired menu of fresh, local food from across the Southeast and their farms listed down the side of the menu, the Gafford is downtown’s spot for the best bite. Mabel’s fried chicken, a recipe passed down through generations, and the Gafford, a dish inspired by Rick’s grandparents, whom the restaurant is named after, are standouts on the menu, but when we asked what he would recommend on the menu, Rick simply responded with a question: “Chicken, seafood, or steak?” Certainly, the Gafford offers delicious creations of all kinds served with Southern hospitality and comfortable friendliness.
Dessert in downtown is available all hours of the day. Importico Bakery and Café is a local bakery famous for half-pound eclairs and many other beautiful and decadent pastries. For a creamier treat, historic downtown is also home to two ice cream shops. For a dessert, a drink, and a good time, look no further than the quaint coffee shop of Blue Door. We went after our day of exploring and found a beautiful outdoor seating area, complete with twinkling lights overhead and ivy growing up the walls. We tried their house key lime pie and a paleo muffin from local bakery MoeMuffins while also enjoying tea and hot chocolate. The coffee bar also offers a menu of light fare and chef-made cuisine such as mac n’ cheese, escargot, and personal pizzas. With an eclectic vibe, friendly service, and creative, picture-perfect atmosphere, it is not uncommon to find the artists of Martin County getting their daily coffee, and the café hosts regular art shows and movie nights. For a full list of their events, visit their Facebook page as coffee bar Blue Door.