The Eau Gallie Arts District: 15 Reasons To Visit
The Eau Gallie Arts District, known as EGAD, is one of my favorite parts of the Space Coast. This area is dedicated to celebrating the arts and throws monthly events in their village square. If you are looking for a place to walk around and explore, then EGAD is just the place. They recently commissioned over a dozen murals which colorfully adorn the local businesses. In addition to this, there are multiple art galleries and furniture and thrift shops where there always seems to be something that catches your eye. It also has an excellent selection of bars for whatever type of mood you are in.
If you have visited or lived on the Space Coast, you probably have heard about the various downtowns here. There are three distinct downtowns in Brevard County that all have a bunch of restaurants, bars, shops and more in a small walk able area. We live closest to Downtown Melbourne home to Crush Eleven and Hell and Blazes. North of us is Cocoa Village, a spot on the river with some excellent foodie spots and the Village Idiot Pub. However, I would say the Eau Gallie Art District has the most unique offerings. Here are our favorite businesses in EGAD that I highly recommend visiting.
Bars, Restaurants and More of EGAD
Intracoastal Brewing Company – I’ve raved about this brewery before and I can’t say it enough about what a great part of the community Intra is. This is a great spot to drink a beer and relax on their turf lawn. They also have weekly trivia, fun runs and yoga and so many more fun events.
FM Pizza Oven – One of the best pizza restaurants in Brevard is FM Pizza Oven, which is on the corner of the downtown in an exquisite building. We have enjoyed their pizza and appetizers in the past. The dining room inside is fun hang out spot, and there is even a speakeasy called the Oleander Club next door!
Traditionals Cuts, Shaves, and Brews – This spot is another fun bar, and also a barber. It’s such a cool punk rock spot with a selection of over 20+ craft beers. We like it so much that Andrew now gets his hair cut here and they do a great job! He says having a craft beer while he’s getting a haircut is his ideal “spa” day.
Anaya Coffee – This is the local coffee shop that makes top notch handcrafted beverages. I especially love the cold brew! They also offer a small rotating menu of light breakfast and lunches.
The Salty Fox -This pub is a fun place for drinks and snacks. They host all sorts of events, from karaoke to a Christmas in July party. They have started serving a variety of food including sandwiches, tacos and brunch, and it’s all pretty affordable too. There’s always something new going on at this bar!
Cottage Irish Pub – The Cottage is a newer spot on the edge of downtown. We love the big porch with a tree growing through the middle and the selection of traditional Irish dishes. This is the perfect spot for a cozy meal and a black and tan.
Joan’s Perfect Pies – Joan’s is an adorable bakery that sells a variety of fresh pies. Andrew and I prefer pies to cake, so we like to stop here and pick up one on special occasions. The fruit ones like Apple Cranberry are my favorite, but they have many different flavors in 10 inch, 9 inch or 3 inch sizes
Squid Lips – Squid Lips is one of the first restaurants I visited in Brevard County eight years ago. They have been a community staple with their delicious seafood menu and on the water eating area. They even have a little beach to sip a cold drink on. The brunch here is especially popular with an $18 brunch buffet and a 50+ item Bloody Mary bar!!
The Yoga Garden – This is such a peaceful spot for a yoga sesh. I have taken a bunch of classes here, and had a relaxing and invigorating experience every time. You can buy a monthly membership, a class pass or just drop in every now and then. The best part is that there is an actual garden here and they host all sorts of events focused on well being. They have had a garden party and brought together some healthy living businesses and artisans in the community. There has also been massage practice classes and crafting events where you make our own succulents or hanging plants. This is another example of these organizations being such a great part of the community.
Derek Gores Gallery – Derek Gores is a contemporary artist with a renowned gallery in the arts district. There are a lot of galleries in the Eau Gallie Arts District, but his is a must-visit. I love checking out his new pieces from paintings to sculptures and photography. Between this gallery and the murals, it feels like you are in a such bigger city than Melbourne.
Events Hosted by EGAD
Whiskey in the District – Whiskey fans will love this event where dozens of different whiskeys are available for tasting. A ticket to this event every February includes unlimited whiskey samples, delicious food and live music. Even if you don’t buy a ticket, you can still go and enjoy the cash bar and the atmosphere there.
An Evening in Paris – I LOVE this annual event. Every April, they have a little street festival celebrating all things French. The details that go into it really make it for me. They have mimes and other street entertainment as well as tons of adorable Parisian entertainment. There are usually at least five different food stand options that have some sort of French theme. This year we stopped at La Femme du Fromage for wine, a cheese plate and truffle mac and cheese. There is usually a crepe stand, a macaron shop and a Cajun food truck as well.
My only complaint is that the lines for the food can get extremely long. I haven’t been able to get a sweet crepe the past couple years because of that! They conclude the evening by playing a French film, although we usually don’t stay for that. The atmosphere of this event is so much fun and I highly recommend checking it out next April!
Rocky Water Brew Fest – This is definitely Andrews favorite event because it is a craft beer festival hosted by Intracoastal Brewing. It’s funny because the Evening in Paris always takes place the weekend before my birthday whereas the Rocky Water Brew Fest tends to be the weekend after Andrews birthday in October. This year it’s October 20th and we are excited to go back and try some craft beer.
For $35 per person, you can get all the beer you can drink in four hours. They have over thirty Florida breweries there and they always have their best brews to sample! This event is super fun, but it can be really hot so keep that in mind. I plan to put a cooler with water in the car and bring some pretzels to snack on this year. It’s only a month away and I hope to see some of you there!
Space Coast Pride – This event takes place next weekend actually on September 29 and is a fun event for all. It’s a festival that celebrates LBGTQ+ pride with a parade and much more! Similar to the Evening in Paris event, they have lots of food and beverage vendors, as well as live music and games. There’s also a 5K the day before and a lot of the bars are having themed nights to celebrate during the week leading up to it. I love that the Eau Gallie Arts District supports this community and gets everyone involved in this inclusive event.
Dog Days of Summer – If you love dogs, this is a great event to check out, although there have been some difficulties lately. It’s always been an issue to have it scheduled in the summer as it usually storms and a lot of the dogs can’t be out on the hot pavement for long. We went to check it out in August and by the time we got there, it had been cancelled due to storms.
It is now rescheduled for October 5th and hopefully it stays in the fall from here on out. It’s a fun time to bring your dog if they are social as they have lots of cute dog activities going on. There’s a dog show where they give out tons of prizes in categories like best dressed and best kisser. Again there are vendors and live music, so it’s a fun place to go with your pup on a weekend afternoon.
First Friday – on the First Friday of every month, they have a generic version of the festivals described above. It’s a great way to start the weekend as you can come check out some food trucks and local art on display. The other downtown’s stopped doing their first Fridays, so this is where community comes together. If you happen to be around on a Friday evening, come check it out and I’m sure you’ll find something new to you.
This doesn’t even cover all the things there are to do in the Eau Gallie Arts District, as they have been adding a lot of new businesses and events. I will be sure to post updates regarding future events over on my Instagram, so follow me on there if you like!
Have you ever been to EGAD before? I think it is a can’t miss spot! For more ideas for exploring the area, check out my Melbourne Things To Do Guide, and my Space Coast Travel Guide!