5 Reasons to buy in Delray

How does Delray continue to attract growing interest, whilst manifesting its best-kept-secret charms?

It’s been nearly a decade since Rand McNally and USA Today named Delray Beach the “Most Fun Small Town in America.” Since that recognition in 2012, the city of some 70,000 residents has experienced more than its share of growth. But despite the ongoing changes to its downtown skyline—some $1 billion in residential and commercial development was green-lighted in 2018 alone—Delray continues to attract more and more interest while somehow maintaining its best-kept-secret charms.

Here are five reasons why.

1) The Ave: Few signature streets in Florida check more boxes than Atlantic Avenue when it comes to attracting visitors. It’s walkable from downtown to the Intracoastal Waterway and all the way to the beach. The fine dining is off the charts. There’s nightlife that transforms the strip later in the evening. There are mom-and-pop boutiques, galleries and coffee shops. There’s even a place, just off the Ave, to play every old-school pinball machine imaginable (Silverball Museum).

2) The expansion: The ongoing construction of luxury condos and apartments, as well as the addition of hotels and office space, promises to bring further buzz to an already red-hot downtown scene. But the expansion also extends to the other end of town. Along with popular Delray Marketplace (think restaurants, shopping, a movie theater and more), the west Delray area is exploding with smaller mixed-use projects and shopping plazas that complement existing high-end residential communities.

3) The restaurants: Delray’s destination dining scene spans the culinary map when it comes to chef-driven cuisine. Elisabetta’s launched in 2019 and immediately captured an audience passionate about its authentic Italian offerings; Cut 432 is a steak lover’s paradise; El Camino and Rocco’s Tacos contribute original takes on Mexican fare; City Oyster offers seafood specialties and a raw bar; out west, Burt & Max’s (contemporary American) and Apiero (Mediterranean) draw raves.

4) The tennis: No less than the U.S. Tennis Association has recognized Delray as one of the leading tennis towns in the country—and for good reason. Not only does the Delray Beach Tennis Center sport 14 clay courts and six hard courts for public play, the facility also features an 8,200-seat stadium—center court for the annual Delray Beach Open, a 10-day tournament that features a men’s tour event for current professionals, along with a Champions Tour event.

5) The vibe: Whether its the famed 100-foot Christmas tree, the boat parade, fashion week, holiday celebrations, arts and foodie festivals, the Green Market, or free concerts at Old School Square, the city of Delray Beach never fails to fill the calendar with events that bring the community together.