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Everything You Need to Know About Downtown Stuart, FL

By February 14, 2025No Comments

Many cities have a lovely downtown district, but few offer the combination of convenience, charm, and personality that downtown Stuart, Florida does. Home to our Riverwalk Retreat property, downtown Stuart is the perfect location for the Florida vacation of your dreams.

You can find just about every amenity you could want within downtown Stuart; apartments, grocery stores, barber shops, drug stores, and the Riverwalk Boardwalk are all within walking distance, making the area especially convenient for visitors. And of course, Stuart Beach and Sunset Bay Marina are only a short drive away, if you want to get in some fishing in the St. Lucie River or go for a swim in the Atlantic Ocean.

We’ll share some of the basic facts about downtown Stuart, Florida below, so you will be able to make the most of your visit.

Can’t-Miss Events in the Stuart Florida Downtown Area

Even though it's known as the sailfish capital of the world, the Stuart Florida Downtown area hosts a wonderful farmers market in the downtown area.

In keeping with the district’s fun and exciting vibe, downtown Stuart hosts a variety of events throughout the year. Some of the most notable examples include:

The Downtown Stuart Art Festival

The Downtown Stuart Art Festival is celebrating its 35th anniversary in 2025. Scheduled for February 22nd and 23rd, the event is free to attend and features more than 120 gallery-style booths showcasing a diverse array of fine art styles. The event takes place at 26 SW Osceola Street, which is within easy walking distance of Riverwalk Retreat. The festival opens at 10L00 AM both days and wraps up at 5:00 PM.

Market on Main

This weekly farmers’ market is open every Sunday from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM and gives visitors the chance to shop for fresh produced, baked goods, handcrafted candles, and more. Located in Flagler Park, you can walk to the market in about five minutes from Riverwalk Retreat. Do note that this is a plastic-free zone, so you’ll want to bring a reusable shopping bag with you to carry all of the neat and tasty items you purchase.

Spring Sidewalk Sale

Get ready for big savings at the Spring Sidewalk Sale. Don’t miss your chance to score some deep discounts at this annual event, which takes place on April 12th and 13th, from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Various downtown Stuart businesses take part in the sale, so you can simply stroll up and down the local streets to browse clothing, shoes, home goods, gifts, and more. Note that a similar sidewalk sale also occurs in July. 

Downtown Stuart Fall Craft Festival

Celebrating its 26th year, the Downtown Stuart Fall Craft Festival is your chance to check out some of the best crafts local artisans have to offer. Scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, October 4th and 5th, the festival takes place from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and it takes place on Osceola Street. See the Downtown Stuart, Florida website for more information. 

Local Restaurants and Eateries in Historic Downtown Stuart, Florida

What could be more fun that grabbing dinner and then following the Riverwalk Boardwalk winding along the St. Lucie River.

Stuart is home to a number of fantastic restaurants, and you should have no problem finding one that offers the kind of cuisine, atmosphere, and pricing you want. A few of the most noteworthy local eateries include:

  • Ellie’s Downtown Deli: Stuart, Florida’s most beloved deli, Ellie’s is a New-York-style deli, offering sandwiches, salads, pies, and baked goods. Strongly dedicated to the local community, Ellie’s tries to support other local businesses and purchases a number of their ingredients from other Martin County businesses.

  • Pepe & Sale: A fine-dining restaurant offering incredible Italian dishes, Pepe & Sale is the perfect date-night eatery for your Stuart, Florida vacation. Their branzino al sale (which is deboned and cleaned tableside) and Wagyu tagliata are two of their most popular dishes, but just about anything you order at this establishment is guaranteed to be amazing.

  • Duffy’s: Downtown Stuart, Florida’s local sports bar, Duffy’s is a great place to grab a beer, watch the game, and chow down on pub-grub favorites, like buttermilk chicken tenders, island tacos, and award-winning burgers. Duffy’s also offers more entrée-like meal options too, including steaks and grilled salmon.

  • Waterfront: A two-level restaurant and lounge, Waterfront offers incredible food in a chic setting. Enjoy diver scallops, crab cakes, miso prosciutto salmon, and other seafood treats while listening to live music upstairs, or venture downstairs for smaller bites and world-class cocktails.

  • Riverwalk Café and Oyster Bar: The perfect place to enjoy high-end menu items alongside a glass of wine (they offer more than 120 varieties), Riverwalk Café and Oyster Bar is a charming restaurant, situated in a lovely brick building. Be sure to try their caviar service as an appetizer but save plenty of room for their magnificent oven-roasted maple leaf duck.

Local Shops & Services in Downtown Stuart, FL

A Publix in Martin County, situated along Florida's Treasure Coast.

Photo courtesy of Kiplinger.

Life doesn’t stop when you’re on vacation, and you may find the need to stock up on groceries, get a haircut, or have a prescription refilled while staying in Stuart. Fortunately, that’s no problem — you can get all of these things and more in the area, and most are within walking distance of the downtown district.

  • Prescription Shop of Stuart: Pick up any prescriptions or over-the-counter medications you need at Prescription Shop of Stuart. Conveniently located within walking distance of downtown, this pharmacy offers instore pickup, as well as curbside pickup and delivery options.

  • The Place Barber Shop: Downtown Stuart Florida has a wonderful little barber shop, if you need a haircut, shave, or beard trim during your vacation. Combining a vintage vibe with modern style (and affordable prices), The Place is well-rated and popular with locals and visitors alike.

  • Publix: Downtown Stuart, Florida – like most cities in the state – has a Publix you can visit to stock up on groceries, toiletries, and medications (be sure to grab one of the chain’s famous sub sandwiches from the deli during your trip).
    • Address: 746 SW Federal Hwy, Stuart, FL 34994
    • Phone Number: 772-221-3922
    • Website: https://www.publix.com  

  • Peter’s Hardware Center: Offering “more than just nuts and bolts,” Peter’s Hardware Center stocks everything from building materials to pet supplies to appliances. They also provide a number of helpful services, including paint-matching, key duplication, and screen repair.

  • House of Blue Pet Store: Don’t worry if you forget something for Fido during your vacation – House of Blue Pet Store stocks just about anything you may need for your four-footed family members during your stay. Do note that this store is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Don’t forget that there are also plenty of retail establishments directly in the downtown area, including antique shops, clothing boutiques, gift stores, and more.

Live Music: Downtown Stuart, Florida’s Premier Music Venue

There's a thriving live music scene in America's happiest seaside town, especially along the Riverwalk Boardwalk.

While several of the bars and restaurants in the area feature live music, nothing can quite compete with Rock’n Riverwalk Concert Series. The concerts take place on the Stuart Riverwalk Stage and feature a different artist every Sunday. The concerts take place from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM every Sunday, and children and pets are both welcome to attend.

Best of all, you don’t even have to worry about parking – you can walk to the Stuart Riverwalk Stage from Riverwalk Retreat in a minute or two (however, a complimentary shuttle service is available and transports visitors to and from several local parks).

While visiting the venue, be sure to peruse the local vendor stands to help support local Stuart small businesses.

A Taste of History: The Stuart Heritage Museum

Walk on up the Feed Store Museum steps to see the inside of the Stuart Heritage Museum and learn about the history of Stuart and the rest of Martin County..

Image courtesy of the Stuart Heritage Museum.

If you want to really learn to appreciate the history of the downtown area, be sure to stop by the Stuart Heritage Museum. Home to a fascinating collection of historical artifacts from the town, the museum provides a way for visitors to learn while having a good time.

Admission to the museum is free, and it is open every day from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

Historic Downtown Stuart, Florida: Downtown Stuart Map

Getting around historic downtown Stuart is pretty easy, and there are many nearby attractions, including Sunset Bay Marina.

Image courtesy of the City of Stuart.

For the most part, getting around in downtown Stuart, Florida is pretty easy. There are really only a handful of streets in the downtown area, including Seminole Street, Osceola Street, Flagler Avenue, St. Lucie Avenue, and S. Colorado Avenue. All of these roads are all well-labeled and laid out in a relatively intuitive fashion.

Many of the key attractions are within walking distance of Riverwalk Retreat, but there are also a number of transportation options, including private rideshare platforms (Uber, Lyft, etc.) available, as well as a local bus service and free local tram. The tram operates seven days a week and has both scheduled and on-call stops. 

Enjoy Your Vacation in Downtown Stuart, Florida!

Coastal Living Magazine has called Stuart America's Happiest Seaside Town, and this couple sitting on the banks of the St. Lucie River certainly agrees!.

As you can see, downtown Stuart is a fantastic place to visit, and Riverwalk Retreat is ideally located for enjoying everything the town has to offer. Book it now and get ready to enjoy the vacation of a lifetime — historic downtown Stuart is waiting!

Jim

Jim

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