Have you ever wandered into a grocery store on vacation? The simple act is more popular than you think. In fact, Hilton’s 2026 trend report says that 77% of travelers enjoy going down the aisles of local grocery stores to get a taste of local food and drink, plus bring some souvenirs home with them. Even more interesting, nearly half of travelers cook their own meals while away, making grocery store runs a necessity. 

If your travels bring you to Florida, you’re in luck because there are a host of unique grocery and specialty food stores around the state. Whether you’re looking for the perfect pickle to add to a picnic or an Italian feast to cook at your hotel or vacation rental, these five grocery stores are worth the detour to gather everything from dinner essentials to take-home treats. 

The Pickle Factory

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Courtesy of The Pickle Factory

Jacksonville

One of the most unique specialty stores in Florida is The Pickle Factory in Jacksonville. The entire store is dedicated to the love of all kinds of pickles. The store has its own line of pickled products, Olive My Pickle, specializing in live-fermented pickles and other fermented foods. I love the brand’s garlic pickles and the traditional dill pickles. Additionally, the smoked black pepper and garlic sauerkraut is great on sausages and Reuben sandwiches. Along with the huge variety of pickles, the store has nearly every pickle-flavored snack available, from chips and pork rinds to popcorn and candy. 

thepicklefact.com; 5913 St. Augustine Road, Jacksonville, FL 32207

Mazzaro’s Italian Market

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Courtesy of Mazzaro’s, Photo by Rodrigo Mendez

St. Petersburg

If you’re heading to the west coast of Florida near St. Petersburg, a trip to Mazzaro’s Italian Market is a must. You’ll easily be able to spend an hour or two wandering through the store’s themed rooms. You’ll find rooms with prepared meals, a deli counter where meats and fresh pasta are packaged to order, and even a wine and cheese room. Adjacent to the deli counter is a small coffee bar surrounded by barstools, so you can sip your fresh brew before finishing your shopping. And don’t forget to stop at the dessert counter, where cookies, cannolis, cakes, and stuffed pastries beckon you to take a few treats home with you. If all of the shopping made you hungry, order one of the deli sandwiches and take it out to the patio to enjoy al fresco. The classic mortadella pistachio sandwich, which piles thinly shaved mortadella, pistachio spread, burrata, parmigiano, arugula, and lemon oil on a freshly baked ciabatta roll, is a must-try. 

mazzarosmarket.com; 2909 22nd Avenue N, St Petersburg, FL 33713

Seed to Table

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Courtesy of Seed to Table, Photo by Sharon Mammano

Naples

Seed to Table is a grocery store wonderland with a 75,000-square-foot footprint inspired by farmers’ markets. The store has everything from fresh produce and meats to house-made pasta and locally-made products. Besides the massive grocery selection, Seed to Table hosts six restaurants specializing in everything from smash burgers and salads to vegan dishes and sushi. Four bars serve drinks like fresh juices and local beers. As if this doesn’t make Seed to Table enough of a destination, the grocery store hosts live music every evening, plus a selection of happy hours like $2 Buck Tuesday, where bottles and cans of craft beer are $2 off. And don’t worry about a limited selection, the beer bar has over 100 craft beers from around the country. On Friday and Saturday nights, late-night dance parties take over the store, complete with a DJ blasting favorite tunes. 

Credit:

Courtesy of Seed to Table, Photo by Sharon Mammano

seedtotablemarket.com; 4835 Immokalee Road, Naples, FL 34110

The Amish Country Store
Largo

Since 1997, The Amish Country Store has been selling Amish and Pennsylvania Dutch foods to the folks in South Florida. The bright yellow building beckons people inside, where northeastern delights like ring and Lebanon bologna, scrapple, ham loaves, and pickled eggs are all available. If you’re looking for something sweet, apple butter, whoopie pies, shoofly pies, and more are also in stock throughout the year, and make for great souvenirs to take home and share with family and friends. Don’t leave without getting some of the heat-and-eat shepherd’s pie and cabbage rolls, which are the store’s specialty. 

206 13th Street SW, Largo, FL 33770

H Mart

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Getty Images

Orlando

I love going to my local Asian grocery store for unique snacks and my Asian cooking essentials, but when I go to Orlando for the theme parks, one store I never miss is H Mart. The Central Florida location of the popular Asian grocery store chain is one of the largest in the world, with more than 100,000 square feet of space for groceries and food stalls. Of course, you’ll find fresh produce and seafood, but the snack and frozen treats aisle is where I tend to hang out, finding chips of every flavor imaginable and those viral fruit ice creams that look identical to the produce the flavor represents. You can also enjoy little pop-ups, like the Japanese-style claw machine games and a Korean-founded photo studio. After all of the shopping, you’ll likely be hungry, and there’s no shortage of dining options at H Mart. You’ll find Korean cold noodles at U Chun, Korean BBQ at Myung Ga, and Korean corn dogs at Oh K-Dog & Egg Toast.  

hmart.com; 7501 W Colonial Drive, Orlando, FL 32818