Palm Beach County · Florida

Boca Raton City Guide

Real places, real neighborhoods and current market numbers, verified by broker Ryan C. Winslow.

OverviewNeighborhoodsFoodHangoutsShoppingParksAttractionsEventsSchoolsBuying tips

Life in Boca Raton, FL

Boca Raton is known for Addison Mizner's 1920s Mediterranean Revival style, a string of city beach parks on A1A, and Mizner Park in the heart of downtown. It is also the city where IBM built its first personal computer, introduced in August 1981.

The town first incorporated in 1924 as Boca Ratone and changed its name to Boca Raton in 1925. Architect Addison Mizner launched the Mizner Development Corporation in 1925, and the Ritz-Carlton Cloister Inn opened in February 1926 as the Florida land boom collapsed. IBM announced a 550 acre campus here in December 1966, and the IBM PC developed in Boca Raton launched in August 1981. Boca Raton mixes a walkable downtown of condos, shops and restaurants around Mizner Park with gated golf and country club communities to the west. Daily life centers on the beach parks, club life and dining along Federal Highway and Glades Road.

Boca Raton neighborhoods

Old Floresta Historic District

City designated historic district north of Palmetto Park Road between Paloma and Cardinal Avenues. It holds 1920s homes from Mizner's era, including the Aiken House and Lavender House, both built around 1926. (source)

Pearl City Historic District

One of Boca Raton's oldest neighborhoods, dating to about 1915. It runs from NE Tenth Street to north of Glades Road between Dixie and Federal Highways, a short drive from downtown. (source)

Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club

Waterfront area built around the private Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club, active since 1959. The club has a 60 slip marina and a renovated Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course, and sits minutes from Mizner Park and the beach. (source)

Boca West Country Club

Gated, member owned club community with 55 neighborhoods ranging from single family homes to luxury condominiums. It has four championship golf courses, a tennis center, spa and aquatics center, less than 10 minutes from downtown. (source)

Broken Sound Club

Private golf and social club community with two 18 hole championship courses, including The Old Course redesigned by Rees Jones. Amenities include the Moonstone Spa, tennis, pickleball and several dining venues. (source)

The Club at Boca Pointe

Private club community with an 18 hole championship golf course, 13 Har-Tru tennis courts, pickleball and padel courts, a 28,000 square foot sports center and an 80,000 square foot clubhouse. (source)

Where locals eat in Boca Raton

Contemporary American · 404 Plaza Real, Mizner Park

Max's Grille

A Mizner Park fixture since 1991, known for Max's Wings with mahogany glaze and maple ginger glazed salmon. (source)

Modern Asian fusion · 402 Plaza Real, Mizner Park

Kapow Noodle Bar

Sushi, noodle bowls and shareable plates with happy hour seven days a week and private karaoke rooms. (source)

Italian fine dining · 171 E Palmetto Park Road, downtown

Casa D'Angelo

Handcrafted pastas, seafood and premium meats, with a Wine Room and patio for private dinners. (source)

Italian · 1400 Glades Road

Mario's Osteria

Serving Boca since 1985, known for gnocchi, pizzas and seafood pastas, with all day happy hour. (source)

Modern American · 141 Via Naranjas, Royal Palm Place

Twenty Twenty Grille

Chef Ron Weisheit's small dining room at Royal Palm Place, known for dishes like Silver Oak brined New Zealand lamb rack. (source)

Farm to table · 1901 N Military Trail

Farmer's Table

Consciously sourced, chef driven menus built around clean ingredients, plus weekend brunch. (source)

Mexican · 5250 Town Center Circle, Shops at Boca Center

Rocco's Tacos & Tequila Bar

Tableside guacamole, handmade tacos and a list of 150 plus tequilas. (source)

Breakfast and lunch · 1759 NW Boca Raton Blvd

Tom Sawyer's

Homestyle breakfast since 1985 in a cabin style room, famous for its Breakfast in a Pot and fresh baked pastries. (source)

Coffee, drinks and hangouts

Mizner Park Amphitheater

City owned outdoor concert venue at 590 Plaza Real, at the north end of Mizner Park. (source)

Biergarten Boca

German and American beer garden at Royal Palm Plaza with 24 draft beers, over 50 bottled beers and live music on Friday and Saturday nights. (source)

Strike 10 Bowling Sports Lounge

Bowling and sports lounge inside Mizner Park, next to dining and shopping on Plaza Real. (source)

IPIC Boca Raton

Dine in movie theater at 301 Plaza Real in Mizner Park. (source)

Boca Green Market

The city's original downtown green market, with 65 plus local vendors, produce, baked goods and live music every Sunday from 9am to 1pm in season at the 5th Ave Shops. (source)

Shopping in Boca Raton

Town Center at Boca Raton

Enclosed mall at 6000 Glades Road with 190 plus stores and restaurants, anchored by Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom, Macy's and Bloomingdale's. (source)

Mizner Park

Open air downtown district on Plaza Real with shops like Lilly Pulitzer, Tommy Bahama, Sur La Table and RH Outlet alongside restaurants and the art museum. (source)

Royal Palm Place

Boca Raton's original downtown destination, a 14 acre mix of more than 20 eateries, boutiques and apartments and penthouses at 101 Plaza Real South. It marked its 60th anniversary in 2025. (source)

Shops at Boca Center

Upscale center at 5150 Town Center Circle, off Military Trail, with boutiques, Total Wine, Morton's Steakhouse, Tap 42 and the Boca Raton Marriott. (source)

Parks, beaches and nature

in town

Red Reef Park

39.7 acre beach park on A1A with an artificial reef 100 to 270 feet offshore near Lifeguard Tower 8, popular for snorkeling. Beach parking requires a permit or daily fee. (source)

in town

Spanish River Park

94.4 acre beach park with a lagoon, bird observation area, 10 reservable pavilions and Intracoastal fishing. (source)

in town

Sugar Sand Park

Park on S Military Trail with a carousel, splash pad, playgrounds, the Willow Theatre and the free Children's Science Explorium for ages 5 to 12. (source)

in town

Lake Wyman Park

8.3 acre park with a canoe and kayak launch, nature trail, walking track and courts at 1500 NE 5th Avenue. (source)

west Boca Raton

Daggerwing Nature Center

Palm Beach County nature center in South County Regional Park with live animal exhibits and an elevated boardwalk through the swamp, open sunrise to sunset. (source)

about 20 miles

Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge (Boynton Beach)

145,188 acre refuge protecting northern Everglades habitat, with a visitor center and marsh trails. Check the refuge site for current trail closures. (source)

about 20 miles

Hugh Taylor Birch State Park (Fort Lauderdale)

Nearest state park, set between the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway, with beach access, paddling, biking, hiking and fishing. (source)

Attractions and landmarks

Boca Raton Museum of Art

Art museum founded in 1987 at 501 Plaza Real in Mizner Park, with an Art School on W Palmetto Park Road. (source)

The Wick Theatre & Costume Museum

Broadway musical theater with a costume archive from more than 35 Broadway productions. The 2026 to 2027 season opens with Young Frankenstein in October. (source)

Gumbo Limbo Nature Center

City run coastal and marine nature center at 1801 N Ocean Blvd, open daily. Parking is limited during construction. (source)

Schmidt Boca Raton History Museum

Boca Raton Historical Society museum inside Historic Town Hall at 71 N Federal Highway, with exhibits on Addison Mizner, World War II and IBM. (source)

Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens (Delray Beach)

Japanese cultural museum with the Roji-en gardens, a bonsai collection and a tea house, open Tuesday through Sunday. (source)

Annual events

March (March 5 to 14, 2027)

Festival of the Arts BOCA

Annual music, literature and performance festival started in 2007 and presented by The Centre for the Arts at Mizner Park. (source)

December (December 18, 2026)

Boca Raton Bowl

ESPN Events college football bowl game played at FAU Stadium. (source)

October

Boo-ca Boo Days

City Recreation Services Halloween programming at parks, libraries and community centers all month. (source)

Late September to early May, Sundays

Boca Green Market season

Weekly downtown farmers market with 65 plus vendors, running September 27, 2026 to May 2, 2027. (source)

School District of Palm Beach County

Elementary

Boca Raton Elementary School, J. C. Mitchell Elementary School, Blue Lake Elementary School, Del Prado Elementary School, Hammock Pointe Elementary School, Whispering Pines Elementary School, Sandpiper Shores Elementary School, Coral Sunset Elementary School, Waters Edge Elementary School, Addison Mizner School

Middle

Boca Raton Community Middle School, Don Estridge High Tech Middle School, Omni Middle School, Loggers' Run Community Middle School, Eagles Landing Middle School

High

Boca Raton Community High School, Spanish River Community High School, Olympic Heights Community High School

Private

Saint Andrew's School, Pine Crest School (Boca Raton campus), Boca Prep International School

Listed for reference, not ranked. Confirm school zoning for any address with the district. (source)

Buying in Boca Raton: what Ryan checks

  • Check flood zone and elevation for any home near the Intracoastal or east of Federal Highway. The city posts floodplain and hurricane resources on its site.
  • Many west Boca communities such as Boca West, Broken Sound and Boca Pointe are private club communities. Ask about club membership rules, dues and HOA fees before you make an offer.
  • Homes in the Old Floresta and Pearl City historic districts fall under city historic designation, so check review rules before planning exterior changes.
  • Confirm whether the address is inside Boca Raton city limits. Many homes with a Boca Raton mailing address are in unincorporated Palm Beach County, which changes resident beach permit and park pavilion eligibility.
Roads

I-95, Florida's Turnpike, US 1 (Federal Highway), A1A, Glades Road, Palmetto Park Road and Yamato Road. Tri-Rail stops at 680 Yamato Road and Brightline serves a Boca Raton station on its Miami to Orlando line.

Airports

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International (FLL), about 30 minutes; Palm Beach International (PBI), about 35 minutes; Boca Raton Airport (BCT) for private and corporate flights, in town.

Delray Beach: about 15 minFort Lauderdale: about 30 minWest Palm Beach: about 35 minMiami: about 60 min

Talk to Ryan about Boca Raton

Ryan C. Winslow, broker/owner of Winslow Homes. REALTOR® since 2009, 3,000+ homes sold, broker in FL, MA, CT and RI, U.S. Army Retired.

Researched and verified 2026-09-28. Businesses change; call ahead.