The Panhandle Restaurants

We’ve compiled the best of the best in The Panhandle - browse our top choices for Restaurants during your stay.

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  • 1. Flora-Bama Yacht Club

    $$

    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
    850-483–6272

    Known For

    • Gulf oysters, chargrilled or raw
    • Live music
    • Family-friendly vibe
  • 2. McGuire's Irish Pub

    $$

    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
    850-433–6789

    Known For

    • Large menu, including both meat and seafood
    • Extensive wine cellar and cocktail list
    • Home-brewed beer
  • 3. Ali's Bistro

    $$

    Formerly Ciao Bella of nearby Destin, this Italian bistro changed its name to match that of its matriarch when it moved down the coast. Expect traditional Italian dishes served in a casual, but elegant atmosphere. 

    171 Brooks St. SE, Fort Walton Beach, Florida, USA
    850-226–4708

    Known For

    • Fresh seafood and steaks
    • Brick-oven pizzas
    • Reservations are a good idea

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
  • 4. Angler's Beachside Bar & Grill

    $$

    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
    850-796–0260

    Known For

    • Sports bar fare plus fresh fish
    • Warm smoked tuna dip
    • Excellent Gulf views
  • 5. Another Broken Egg Café

    $$

    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
    850-279–4266

    Known For

    • Biscuit beignets
    • Great omelets
    • Modest prices

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No dinner
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  • 6. Apalachicola Seafood Grill

    $$

    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
    850-653–9510

    Known For

    • Fresh fish, prepared grilled, blackened, or fried
    • Lunch specials
    • Iconic diner vibes

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
  • 7. Billy's Oyster Bar and Crab House

    $$

    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
    850-235–2349

    Known For

    • No-frills local hangout
    • Fresh Gulf seafood
    • Billy's special spice blend

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Reservations not accepted
  • 8. Black Bear Bread Co.

    $$

    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
    850-213–4528

    Known For

    • Baked goods and coffee
    • Grab-and-go fare
    • Elevated breakfast and lunch
  • 9. Black Radish

    $$

    Vegetarian or vegan small plates meant for sharing and a wine list that tilts toward organic, sustainable, and biodynamic labels are among the highlights here. Graze on miso grit cakes and harissa honey-fried cauliflower, or opt for larger steak, chicken, and other dishes. Although there are a few traditional tables, most of the seating is out on a patio or at a food bar, including one where you can watch the chefs at work. Expect a wait.

    1304 N. Monroe St., Tallahassee, Florida, 32303, USA
    850-825–1973

    Known For

    • Selection of vegan and gluten-free options
    • Creative takes on sauces and seasonings
    • Friendly, helpful staff

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon., Reservations not accepted
  • 10. Dewey Destin's Seafood Restaurant

    $$

    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
    850-837–7575

    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
  • 11. Felix's Restaurant & Oyster Bar

    $$

    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
    850-934–4747

    Known For

    • Fresh-shucked oysters
    • New Orleans barbecue shrimp
    • Bloody Marys
  • 12. Fisherman's Corner

    $$

    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
    850-791–6914

    Known For

    • Local haunt
    • Charming nautical decor
    • Everything made from scratch
  • 13. Flounder's Chowder and Ale House

    $$

    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
    850-932–2003

    Known For

    • Flounder chowder
    • Live entertainment nightly in season
    • Gulf-inspired cocktails like the mighty Diesel Fuel, served in a giant Mason jar
  • 14. Indian Pass Raw Bar

    $$

    To feast on oysters that "slept in the bay last night," head 18 miles west of Apalachicola to this unique coastal seafood shack. The menu consists primarily of oysters, shrimp, and crab legs served raw, steamed, stuffed, or baked—nothing fried here—but there's also seafood gumbo, burgers, and hot dogs. Beer and other drinks are on the honor system, so grab what you need, and spend time on the porch listening to live music and making friends. Chances are you will have to wait, because this place is that popular.

    8391 CR 30-A, Apalachicola, Florida, 32456, USA
    850-227–1670

    Known For

    • Come-as-you-are dress code
    • Fresh oysters
    • Self-serve beer

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
  • 15. Lillian's Pizza

    $$

    “Rollin’ in the dough since 1989,” this is the spot to grab a delicious pie on the beach. Its award-winning recipes have been featured in several national culinary magazines, and its family-friendly vibe is loved by locals and visitors alike.

    14514 Perdido Key Dr., Florida, 32507, USA
    850-492–0131

    Known For

    • Pizza dough made fresh daily
    • Seafood pizza
    • Weekday lunch buffet
  • 16. Magnolia Grill

    $$

    Known affectionately as "a museum that serves food," this restaurant is set in a 1910 house that's filled with photos and steeped in local history. Dine on seafood, traditional Italian dishes, or fabulous steaks. 

    157 Brooks St., Fort Walton Beach, Florida, USA
    850-806–1892

    Known For

    • Off the beaten path
    • Quaint historical atmosphere
    • Surf and turf

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
  • 17. Neat Tasting Room & Bottle Shop

    $$

    Libations are the star here, but Neat has an intriguing, ever-changing menu of shareable small bites, too. The Tasting Room opens at 2 pm, so it's the perfect spot for an afternoon cocktail and nibbles while waiting for dinner reservations; the neighboring Bottle Shop sells artisanal spirits, wines, and craft beers as well as bar tools, and some of its offerings are from producers in and around 30A.

    11 N. Castle Harbour Dr., Rosemary Beach, Florida, 32413, USA
    850-213–5711

    Known For

    • Craft cocktails
    • Cheese and charcuterie boards
    • Predinner snacks

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon.
  • 18. Paddy's Raw Bar

    $$

    Paddy's is the place locals will tell you about if they like you. Tucked away on the bayside of St. George, it's got the casual vibe of a beach shack with lots of outdoor seating. Even the indoor bar and tables bring the outside in—dogs and swimsuits are welcome. Raw oysters are king here, but be sure to try one of the chef's creative specials, like Captain Clint's spicy Big Fish SGI: oysters steamed with jalapeño, Parmesan, and Old Bay seasoning.

    240 3rd St. E, St. George Island, Florida, 32328, USA
    850-927–2299

    Known For

    • Oysters, raw or creatively cooked
    • Dog-friendly
    • Live music
  • 19. Red Fish Blue Fish

    $$

    Known locally as “the best backyard on the beach,” this open-air establishment was built from sustainable materials including shipping containers and reclaimed wood from an old Coca-Cola warehouse. Bring the kids, bring the dog, and enjoy this grassy spot on the sound side of the beach.

    5B Via de Luna Dr., Pensacola Beach, Florida, USA
    850-677–8899

    Known For

    • Fresh-cut fries
    • Outdoor dining
    • Lawn games

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Reservations not accepted
  • 20. Schooners

    $$

    The food at this beachfront spot is far from fancy, but it’s good and fresh, the beer is cold, and sunsets are celebrated with a cannon blast. It's a good family place for lunch or an early dinner; kids can have burgers and play on the beach while Mom and Dad enjoy grown-up drinks and gumbo, steak, burgers, crab-stuffed shrimp, or fresh grouper.

    5121 Gulf Dr., Panama City Beach, Florida, 32408, USA
    850-235–3555

    Known For

    • Awesome views
    • Basic burgers and seafood menu
    • Lively but laid-back atmosphere

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