Dade City is an Old Florida paradise for book lovers, antique hunters, foodies

Looking for Old Florida charm? You’ll find it — and much more — among the rolling hills of Dade City.

The Pasco County spot is home to the state’s annual kumquat festival in January, but it’s also worth a visit any time of the year. At around 45 minutes from Tampa, or about 90 minutes from Clearwater or St. Petersburg, Dade City makes for a fun day trip.

While the city has a tradition of vintage activities like antiquing and drive-in movies, it’s also become a hotspot for young creatives with new business ideas. Literature-themed craft beer, anyone? Here are some of our favorite ways to spend a day in Dade City.

Things to see and do

• Catch a drive-in movie: The Joy-Lan Drive-In Theatre & Swap Shop has been a Dade City staple for over 70 years, and it makes for an affordable night out with the family or a nostalgic date night. joylandrivein.com.
• Discover Florida history: Florida’s past comes alive at the Pioneer Florida Museum and Village. Event offerings range from an Old Time Music Championship and the fall Scarecrow Festival to battle reenactments and alligator-handling demonstrations. This is also a great place to pick up a “Dade City-opoly” board game. pioneerfloridamuseum.org.
• Learn a new craft: Find a creative community downtown. The Lark’s Nest offers classes on jewelry-making, printmaking, welding and more. thelarksnest.org. Treehouse Mercantile, a boutique and espresso bar, also offers craft lessons on candle-making and pottery. treehousemercantile.com.

• Scream and shout: Scream-A-Geddon Horror Park, open from the end of August to the beginning of November, offers a plethora of frightful experiences. Test your wits inside their haunted houses, and don’t forget to visit Bonzo’s Beer Garden and the Monster Midway. screamageddon.com.
• Hunt for kumquats: Dade City is home to the annual kumquat festival, which celebrates the “little gold gems of the citrus industry” on the last weekend in January. Visitors can find kumquat-based merchandise, jellies, jams, sauces and desserts around town throughout the year.

Shopping

• Find your new favorite book: Dade City is the place for bibliophiles. Check out rare texts at Lighthouse Books and roam the stacks of used treasures at The Book Shack. When you get thirsty, grab a Stephen King-themed beer at the Athenaeum Brew Lounge, a library-themed craft microbrewery that also boasts a collection of antique books.

• Stock up on shortbread: Try a batch of award-winning Scottish biscuits from Lanky Lassie’s Shortbread. Owner Mary Katherine Mason uses a family recipe as her base, offering an original shortbread as well as flavors like guava, snickerdoodle and savory rosemary with Himalayan salt. llshortbread.com.
• Go antiquing: There’s no shortage of antique shops around Dade City, from Two Krazy Chicks Antiques & More to American Eagle Antique Mall. Visit Florida even published a guide of shops to check out.

Eat and drink

• Kafe Kokopelli: Dining at this taxidermy-filled restaurant is as much a literal feast as it is a feast for the eyes. Throughout the cozy, heavily decorated space hangs everything from taxidermied otters and mountain goats, elk and bison heads to nostalgic old Florida tchotkes, antique chandeliers and glowing paper star lanterns. Named for a Native American deity, the restaurant’s menu of “modern comfort cuisine” includes a long list of crowdpleasers, from fried gator bites served with horseradish sauce to the “Short Horse” short rib tacos, almond-crusted fried Brie and a seared salmon salad. kafekokopelli.com.
• The Black Eyed Pea: A hole-in-the-wall spot with checkered tablecloths and an all-you-can-eat fish fry on Fridays. Don’t forget an order of the homemade banana pudding.
• Olga’s Bakery & Cafe: Get the “breadsticks” at this quaint bakery and doughnut shop, which are essentially fried strips of dough with a ribbon of sugary frosting on top. There are all the regular favorites here, too: cinnamon rolls, Bavarian cream-filled doughnuts, guava and cheese turnovers and glazed twists, along with a short menu of Cuban sandwiches, salads and cheese-topped grits. But the breadsticks are an absolute must. olgasbakerycafe.com.

• Steph’s Southern Soul Restaurant: If you’re hankering for a good soul food hit, this is the place to go. The no-frills dining room gets packed with fans of the restaurant’s Southern staples and combination plates, including the spot’s signature Steph’s Plate, featuring a choice of four sides with bread, ranging from traditional greens to mac and cheese, okra and tomatoes, and sweet potato casserole. Pair that with an order of hush puppies or cornbread and wash it all down with a watermelon lemonade. stephssouthernsoul.com.
• Green Door on 8th: Every downtown deserves a cozy neighborhood bistro, and Green Door on 8th fills that niche perfectly, with comfort food and New American fare, a creative cocktail menu and a short but sweet list of wine and craft beer. Signature dishes include the Cigar City chicken and smoked sausage gumbo, crawfish etouffee and Gulf shrimp over smoked gouda grits and andouille sausage. gdo8.com.
• Del Carmen Mexican Store & Restaurant: On one side of the colorful building, a general store sports rows of Latin staples, from Mexican pastries, assorted spices and chiles to piñatas, wide-brimmed hats, cowboy boots and soccer jerseys. Cross over to the other side, however, and a colorful, brightly decorated full-service restaurant features solid Mexican cuisine with traditional specialties like mole poblano, shrimp aguachile, carne asada and barbacoa tacos. facebook.com/DelCarmenStore.

• Florida Cracker Lunch on Limoges: Since 1981, this charming lunch spot within a department store has been drawing loyal crowds for their creative comfort food and decadent layer cakes. In 2021, the business partnered with Florida Cracker Kitchen, and though some of the store’s merchandise changed, longtime favorites on the restaurant’s menu have remained. Standouts include the chicken salad croissant sandwich, pecan grouper and fluffy, creamy coconut cake. flacracker.com/lunchonlimoges.
• Angel Tea Room and Heavenly Treasures Gift Shop: Take a trip across the pond without leaving town at this quaint little tea room and gift shop outfitted with ivy garlands, antique trinkets and plenty of white lace. Sit down for a cup of tea and a scone or book ahead to experience a full English tea service with cucumber tea sandwiches, biscuits, fruit and other sweet treats.
• Dade City Brewhouse: Located at a 1920s-era car dealership off the Hardy Trail, Dade City Brewhouse is now a popular destination for creative beers and events like live music. dadecitybrewhouse.com.
• The Wine Library: Cozy up with a glass — or bottle — of wine at this downtown wine bar and tasting room, which has amassed a solid following of local oenophiles. The spot hosts frequent tastings, which feature several wines, charcuterie, snacks and desserts. Though the bar doesn’t serve liquor, there are several wine-based cocktails on the menu, including sangria, spritzers and even a wine-based negroni.