Mayport Shrimp & Jacksonville Seafood
Mayport is one of the oldest fishing communities in the country, and its sweet local shrimp is the thing to eat in Jacksonville. Here is where to find it, plus the rest of the city’s best seafood.
Updated June 2026
What is Mayport shrimp?
Out at the mouth of the St. Johns River, where the water turns from brown to blue and the Navy ships slide past, sits Mayport — a working fishing village that has been hauling in seafood since long before there was a city around it. The prize is the shrimp: wild-caught in the local waters, landed right at the Mayport docks, and so sweet and plump that locals will happily argue it beats anything trucked in from the Gulf or imported frozen.
You will hear people talk about the "Shrimp Trail" — the loose run of markets and shacks clustered around the village and the nearby beaches where you can eat the catch within sight of the boats that brought it in. This page is your map to that trail, then a few river-view favorites once you have your shrimp fix. The rule of thumb is simple: if you want the real thing, ask for Mayport shrimp by name, and order it where the docks are close enough to smell the salt.
The Mayport classics
Two institutions anchor the village. Go to either and you are eating shrimp that came off a boat a few feet away.
At the Beaches
A short hop south, the Mayport catch turns up at two of the best spots in the Beaches towns — one casual oyster joint, one polished fish camp.
Seafood with a river view
Back downtown, two spots trade the dock smell for a wide-open St. Johns River and a dressier night out.
Keep exploring
Mayport shrimp is just one corner of the table. Here is where to wander next.
Waterfront Dining
More tables on the St. Johns and the Intracoastal — where to eat with the water right there.
Brewery Trail
Wash the shrimp down right. Jacksonville’s craft beer scene runs deep — here’s the trail.
Beaches & Outdoors
You’re already out at Mayport — make a day of the ferry, the jetties, and the sand.
Back to the full Where to Eat hub, or go find your next adventure in Things to Do.
Common questions
Where can I eat Mayport shrimp in Jacksonville?
Start in the fishing village of Mayport at Safe Harbor Seafood Market & Restaurant or Singleton's Seafood Shack, where the shrimp comes off the boat just a few feet away. A short hop south at the Beaches, you'll also find it at Sliders Oyster Bar and North Beach Fish Camp in Neptune Beach.
What is Mayport shrimp?
Mayport shrimp is wild-caught right in the local waters at the mouth of the St. Johns River and landed at the Mayport docks. It's known for being sweet and plump, and locals swear it beats anything trucked in from the Gulf or imported frozen. Ask for it by name.
Is Safe Harbor Seafood open on Mondays?
No, Safe Harbor is closed on Mondays, so plan your visit around it. Hours can change, so it's always worth confirming before you drive out.
What is the Mayport Shrimp Trail?
It's the loose run of markets and shacks clustered around the Mayport fishing village and the nearby beaches where you can eat the catch within sight of the boats that brought it in. Safe Harbor Seafood is considered the heart of it.
Where can I get seafood with a river view in Jacksonville?
Head downtown for a wide-open St. Johns River view: Chart House on the Southbank is the special-occasion seafood house with floor-to-ceiling river views, and River & Post in Riverside has a rooftop "Treehouse" bar with one of the prettiest sunset views in the city.