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Drive, boat, or paddleboard to this waterfront, open-air eatery that serves mainly seafood dishes, as well as a few salads, steaks, and sandwiches. Stay for the live music on the beach, or head over to the Flora-Bama bar if you’re in the mood for a wild night out.
17350 Perdido Key Dr., Florida, 32507, USA
Known For
- Gulf oysters, chargrilled or raw
- Live music
- Family-friendly vibe
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$$$ | |
Sleek but casual (covered-up swimsuits are allowed) and family-friendly, FOOW (which stands for Fish Out of Water) has exceptional food, service, and Gulf views. As the restaurant's name suggests, the menu is heavy on local seafood, and chefs work in an open kitchen creating the Southern specialties infused with international flavors.
34 Goldenrod Cir., Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, 32549, USA
Known For
- Small seasonal menus utilizing mostly local fish, meat, and produce
- Water views from every seat
- Balcony and outdoor bar and patio
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and winter
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Since 1977 this authentic Irish pub has promised its patrons "feasting, imbibery, and debauchery" seven nights a week. A sense of humor pervades the place, evidenced by the range of prices on hamburgers—$10–$100 depending on whether you want it topped with cheddar or served with caviar and champagne. As for the "richness" of the decor—on the walls and ceiling are nearly $1 million in bills signed and dated by "Irishmen of all nationalities."
600 E. Gregory St., Pensacola, Florida, 32501, USA
Known For
- Large menu, including both meat and seafood
- Extensive wine cellar and cocktail list
- Home-brewed beer
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Located in a behemoth clapboard building on a prime downtown corner, this charming, old-fashioned, first-come-first-served, lunch-and-dinner spot pleases modern palates in both the white-linen-elegant dining room and on the colorful garden terrace. Later in the evening, the mood shifts, and the place becomes more of a casual lounge with a full bar. If there's not enough of a liquor selection for you, check out options from the wine cellar, which has 3,000 bottles from around the world. Right next door, on Commerce Street, is the Owl Tap Room, with 16 beers on tap and a pub-grub menu of appetizers, burgers, and sandwiches.
15 Ave. D, Apalachicola, Florida, 32320, USA
Known For
- Varied menu, heavy on seafood
- Large wine selection
- Sunday brunch
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon., Reservations not accepted
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Unless you sit in the water, you can't dine any closer to the Gulf than at this casual beachside bar and grill next to the Gulfarium and at the entrance to the Okaloosa Island Pier. Inside are tons of TVs broadcasting sports events (even in the elevators and bathrooms); outside, a volleyball net tempts diners onto the sands. Snack on nachos and quesadillas, sample fresh-catch dishes such as king crab and prawns, or try the smoked tuna dip, a lightly smoked yellowfin tuna dip served with warm, crisp tortilla strips. Saturday is an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast.
1030 Miracle Strip Pkwy., Fort Walton Beach, Florida, 32548, USA
Known For
- Sports bar fare plus fresh fish
- Warm smoked tuna dip
- Excellent Gulf views
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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Follow the line to this local-favorite breakfast-and-lunch retreat, one of six locations in Northwest Florida. Morning starts with platters of pancakes, waffles, and French toast with special twists like blackberry grits. More than a dozen styles of omelet include the "Hey Lucy" a Spanish omelet with chorizo, green chilis, onions and avocado. It's crowded for a reason.
4289 Legendary Dr., Destin, Florida, 32541, USA
Known For
- Biscuit beignets
- Great omelets
- Modest prices
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner
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At the only traffic light in downtown Apalachicola you'll find a place serving a fish sandwich so massive that it's way too big for its bun. Established in 1903, this restaurant is where locals come for lunches and dinners of blue-crab cakes, seafood gumbo, grouper, or shrimp. The service is ultra casual (think Styrofoam box), and the decor is iconic diner with hints of seaside kitsch.
100 Market St., Apalachicola, Florida, 32320, USA
Known For
- Fresh fish, prepared grilled, blackened, or fried
- Lunch specials
- Iconic diner vibes
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
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Join the throng of locals who really know their seafood, roll up your sleeves, and dig into some of the Gulf's finest blue crabs or shrimp—all seasoned to perfection. Gumbo, crawfish, fish tacos, sandwiches, and burgers are also on the menu. Don’t be in a hurry, though; this is a beach experience to savor, and service is strictly first come, first served.
3000 Thomas Dr., Panama City Beach, Florida, 32408, USA
Known For
- No-frills local hangout
- Fresh Gulf seafood
- Billy's special spice blend
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations not accepted
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This simple beach shack near the bridge serves solid, if predictable, sandwiches, wraps, salads, and appetizers, but the pizza is the star of the menu. Try a specialty pie like Shrimp Pesto Pizza, or choose from 16 toppings to build-your-own personal pie. There's beer on tap, and wine is available, too.
105 W. Gulf Beach Dr., St. George Island, Florida, 32338, USA
Known For
- Good casual fare, and really good pizza
- Owned by the same family since 1990
- Family- and pet (on the porch)-friendly
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations not accepted
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The smell of coffee and freshly baked bread fills the air at this café, where breakfast and lunch menus are built around healthful, seasonal produce and naturally leavened bread. Dine in and linger over coffee, or be on your way with pastries and other to-go items that are a cut above. Black Bear has two other locations on the Emerald Coast in Seaside and Grand Boulevard near Sandestin.
26 Logan La., Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, 32459, USA
Known For
- Baked goods and coffee
- Grab-and-go fare
- Elevated breakfast and lunch
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Named for a pet cat and dog, this down-to-earth, beachside restaurant has been a local favorite for Gulf seafood and Southern classics since 1987, when Seaside had only 12 houses. You can also grab a quick bite at the taco and pizza bars, or head for the Roof Deck Bar to settle in with a cocktail and toast the sunset.
2236 E. County Rd. 30A, Seaside, Florida, 32459, USA
Known For
- Seafood specialties like gumbo and barbecued head-on shrimp
- Fresh, seasonal ingredients
- Sunset views
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Tallahassee has its fair share of popular pizza emporiums, but many put Midtown's Decent Pizza at the top of their favorites list. A couple of Florida State University grads opened this simple pizzeria, which became an instant hit with those on an undergraduate budget: slices and salads start at $5.95 and $4.95, respectively. Choose from 35 toppings for red-sauce, pesto, or white pies. Bring your patience; lunchtime lines are out the door.
1026 N. Monroe St., Tallahassee, Florida, 32303, USA
Known For
- Superb pizza
- Cheap drinks
- Lunch specials (and lines out the door)
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations not accepted
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Reaching this beloved eatery run by descendants of Destin's original fishing families is a bit of an adventure, but the seafood and the setting—in a shack that juts over the water and has excellent Choctawhatchee Bay views—are well worth the trip along a gravel road and through an industrial area. If you prefer a larger, more traditional restaurant, Dewey Destin's Harborside, which has a longer menu and serves both lunch and dinner, is less than a mile away.
9 Calhoun Ave., Destin, Florida, 32541, USA
Known For
- Casual atmosphere (wait staff sometimes goes barefoot)
- Fresh, simple seafood—steamed, grilled, or fried
- Over-the-water location
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner
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With its bright, airy atmosphere and seafood-heavy menu, Felix's brings New Orleans directly to Pensacola Beach. A large covered patio overlooks the Santa Rosa Sound.
400 Quietwater Beach Dr., Pensacola Beach, Florida, USA
Known For
- Fresh-shucked oysters
- New Orleans barbecue shrimp
- Bloody Marys
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Come one, come all, come hungry, and come at 11 am to witness the calm before the lunch storm. The wide-ranging menu of fish dishes is the bait, and each can be served in a variety of ways—ginger-crusted, grilled, blackened, pecan-crusted, or Pacific-grilled, which puts any dish over the top. Sushi also is on the menu, and be sure to save room for their selection of homemade desserts.
600 S. Barracks St., Pensacola, Florida, 32505, USA
Known For
- "Grits a Ya-Ya" (shrimp and cheese grits)
- Large wine list
- Great water views
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No reservations
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This little hole-in-the-wall serves up big flavor, mostly in the form of fresh Gulf seafood with Creole flair (think: gumbo, shrimp and grits, étoufée, and po’boys). If you're not into seafood, try a gourmet burger, juicy steak, or creamy pasta. Nautical decor lends to the charm of this local haunt.
13486 Perdido Key Dr., Florida, 32507, USA
Known For
- Local haunt
- Charming nautical decor
- Everything made from scratch
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The wide and peaceful sound-side spreads out before you at this casual restaurant where, armed with a fruity libation, you're all set for a night of "floundering" at its best. Funkiness comes courtesy of an eclectic collection of objets d'art; tastiness is served in specialties such as seafood nachos and the shrimp-boat platter.
800 Quietwater Beach Blvd., Pensacola Beach, Florida, 32561, USA
Known For
- Flounder chowder
- Live entertainment nightly in season
- Gulf-inspired cocktails like the mighty Diesel Fuel, served in a giant Mason jar
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Chef George and wife Luba want you to feel like family at their chic bistro, where they say “South of France meets The South.” The menu features recipes from their travels, including super coffees and cocktails, as well as standout salads and sandwiches.
6205 N. 9th Ave., Pensacola, Florida, 32504, USA
Known For
- Truffle fries
- Weekend brunch
- Date-night dining
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$$$$ | |
George's has a well-deserved reputation for serving elegantly plated food in a casual setting. There's plenty of patio space for outdoor dining as well as an upstairs deck where you can enjoy a beer or wine while waiting to be seated. For ease in ordering, the menus have both lighter "behave" and more indulgent "misbehave" sections. Takes on fresh seafood are the stars, although steak and burgers are on the menu, too.
30 Castle Harbour Dr., Rosemary Beach, Florida, 32461, USA
Known For
- Fresh seafood, steaks, and burgers
- Pretty presentations
- Comfortable outdoor dining
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No reservations
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$$$$ | |
This restaurant offers unforgettable views of Santa Rosa Sound and Pensacola Bay along with mouthwatering fresh local cuisine. Top-notch seafood shares the menu—printed daily—with specials.
400 Pensacola Beach Blvd., Pensacola Beach, Florida, 32561, USA
Known For
- Fresh seafood and local oysters
- Breathtaking views
- Sophisticated atmosphere
