The Emerald Coast Guide

Bars & Nightlife

The Emerald Coast knows how to have a good time after the sun goes down. From laid-back dive bars to craft cocktail lounges, beachside bonfires to live music stages, these are the independently owned bars and nightlife spots worth finding.

93 places

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Destin

McGuire’s Irish Pub Destin

Irish pub, Prime steaks and a harbor-view deck

Family friendly Irish pub fare Live music
$$
Pensacola

The Sandbar Sunset Bar & Grill

Seafood on the deck at Sabine Marina

Dog friendly Happy hour Live music
Pensacola

Sneaky Tiki Bar

The tiki bar locals found first

Cabana rentals Full bar Outdoor seating
$$
Miramar Beach

Kenny D’s Beach Bar & Grill

New Orleans flavor on Scenic Gulf Drive

Family friendly
$$
Miramar Beach

The Whale’s Tail Beach Bar & Grill

Breakfast to sunset, right on the sand

Family friendly Waterfront
$$
Front Beach Road Corridor

The Wicked Wheel

Fried chicken and burgers with a biker bar twist

Family friendly Full bar
$$
Front Beach Road Corridor

Pineapple Willy’s

Ribs, frozen drinks and a pier on the Gulf

Family friendly Full bar Waterfront
$$
Pensacola

Fish Heads

Fish tacos on a deck above the Gulf

Family friendly Full bar Waterfront
$$
Pensacola

Sidelines Sports Bar & Restaurant

Wings, burgers and every game since 1992

Family friendly Full bar Open daily
$$
Pensacola

The Dock

A beach bar on the sand at Casino Beach

Happy hour Waterfront
$$
Pensacola

The Sandshaker

Home of the Bushwacker

Live music Open daily
Historic St. Andrews

The Grocery Kitchen & Taproom

Southern and Cajun fare in a 1928 St. Andrews grocery

Downtown Pensacola

Perfect Plain Brewing Co.

Downtown brewery and taproom with a dog-friendly patio

Downtown Pensacola

McGuire’s Irish Pub Pensacola

Irish pub and brewery in a 1927 firehouse

Downtown Pensacola

Seville Quarter

Seven bars and courtyards in a historic Pensacola complex

Cordova Park

The Craft Bar Pensacola

Craft beer gastropub inside Wine World on Bayou Boulevard

Craft beer Craft cocktails Gastropub fare
Fort Walton Beach

The Craft Bar Fort Walton Beach

Gastropub fare and 30 craft taps at Uptown Station

Craft beer Craft cocktails Gastropub fare
Destin

The Craft Bar Harbor

Craft beer and gastropub fare near Destin Harbor

Craft beer Craft cocktails Gastropub fare
Commons Drive Corridor

The Craft Bar Destin

The original Craft Bar gastropub near Destin Commons

Craft beer Craft cocktails Gastropub fare
Destin

Club LA

Destin's dedicated live concert venue for touring rock, country, and tribute acts

Navarre

Andy D’s Beachside Restaurant & Deck Bar

Beachside dining and live music on Navarre Beach

Breakfast, lunch & dinner Happy hour Live music
$$
Navarre

Juana’s Pagodas & Sailors’ Grill

Navarre Beach's oldest restaurant, since 1989

Beachfront Live music Watersports rentals
Navarre

Windjammers on the Pier

Seafood and Gulf views on the Navarre Beach Pier

Gulf Views Waterfront
Navarre

Emerald Waterfront Bar and Grill

Waterfront steaks and seafood on the Navarre Sound

Full bar Steaks & seafood Waterfront
Milton

Ace’s Hangar Southern Grill & Bar

Southern grill and full bar in Milton

Aviation-themed Full bar Southern cuisine
30A

Aja 30A: Elevated Asian Fusion and Sushi in Inlet Beach

Craft cocktails Sushi bar
30A

Scout Sports Tavern

A refined sports tavern serving elevated classics along Scenic Highway 30A.

American classics Sports on TV
Valparaiso

Doc’s Oyster Bar

New Orleans-style oysters and po'boys on Tom's Bayou

Craft beer Oyster bar Waterfront
30A

Pickle’s Sandbar

Toes-in-the-sand bar next to Pickle's serving handcrafted cocktails

Craft cocktails Toes-in-the-sand bar
30A

The Shrimp Shack & Boardwalk Bar

Gulf seafood shack known for steamed shrimp

Boardwalk Bar Lobster rolls Steamed shrimp
$$$
30A

Bud & Alley’s Waterfront Restaurant & Bar

Seaside's Gulf-front original since 1986

Established 1986 Gulf-to-table Rooftop Deck Bar
30A

87 Plaza

Open-air wine bar in Seaside's town center from Chef Jim Shirley

Open-air Small plates Wine bar
$$$
30A

Old Florida Fish House

Lakeside seafood and live music on Eastern Lake

Live music Reservations Waterfront
30A

Growler Garage

Craft beer bar with 40+ taps

40+ taps Craft beer Open daily
30A

Local Catch Bar & Grill

Casual seafood bar and grill on 30A

Casual dining Local seafood
30A

Shelby’s Beach Bar and Grill

Beach bar and grill at Gulf Place

Beach bar Casual dining
30A

Los Rancheros

Mexican cantina on US Hwy 98

Fajitas Margaritas Tacos
30A

Outcast Bar and Grill

Bar and grill on US Hwy 98

Full bar Open late
30A

Down Island

Island-inspired Gulf seafood on US-98

Happy hour Sunday brunch
30A

Shunk Gulley Oyster Bar

Oyster bar and Gulf seafood on Hwy 393

Fresh Gulf seafood Raw bar
Destin

Rum Runners

Dueling piano bar with tropical island vibes

Dueling pianos Nightly entertainment Outdoor seating
Sandestin

Marina Bar & Grill

Bay views and casual dining at Baytowne Marina

Bay views Casual dining
Destin

Poppy’s Seafood Factory

Steamed seafood buckets and live music nightly

Cajun & Creole Steamed seafood buckets
Grand Boulevard

Tommy Bahama Restaurant & Bar

Island-inspired dining on Grand Boulevard

Full bar Island-inspired
Grand Boulevard

The Craft Bar Grand Boulevard

Craft beer and burgers on Grand Boulevard

Craft beer Pub fare Rotating taps
$$
Grand Boulevard

Vin’tij Food & Wine

Award-winning wine bar and seasonal cuisine

Locally owned Outdoor seating
Sandestin

The Village Door

Dockside dining, BBQ, and nightly live music

Dockside dining In-house smoked BBQ Live music
Sandestin

Roberto’s Pizzeria & Sports Bar

Gourmet pizza and game-day sports bar

Full bar Sports on TV
Destin

Hammerhead’s Bar and Grille

Dockside seafood, burgers, and live music

Dockside dining Live music
30A

Gallions

Upscale restaurant and cocktail lounge in Barrett Square

Cocktail lounge Extensive wine list Small plates
30A

Cowgirl Kitchen

Casual Tex-Mex and coastal fare with a lively bar

Casual dining Full bar Tex-Mex
30A

Havana Beach Bar & Grill

Gulf Coast and Caribbean-inspired dining at The Pearl Hotel

Breakfast, lunch & dinner Hotel dining
$$$
30A

Pescado Seafood Grill & Rooftop Bar

Rooftop sunsets over Rosemary Beach

Rooftop bar; Gulf views; Sunday brunch; 18+ after 3PM (all ages Wed-Sun until 3PM)
Pensacola

Paradise Bar & Grill

Open-air waterfront bar on Santa Rosa Sound

Live entertainment Open-air Waterfront
Pensacola

Bamboo Willie’s

Live music beach bar on Quietwater Beach

Beachfront Full bar Live music
Pensacola

Flora-Bama Lounge, Package & Oyster Bar

World-famous beach bar since 1964

Beachfront Historic Live music
Pensacola

The Jellyfish Restaurant & Bar

Sushi, oysters and seafood on the Key

Happy hour Oyster bar Sushi bar
Pensacola

Salty Pearl Raw Bar

Gulf-fresh oysters at Theo Baars Bridge

Gulf-to-table Live music Raw bar
Pensacola

Casino Beach Bar & Grille

Beachfront American fare with Gulf views

Beachfront Gulf Views
Pensacola

Shaggy’s Pensacola Beach

Island-style seafood & burgers on Little Sabine Bay

Casual dining Island-style Waterfront
$$
Pensacola

Peg Leg Pete’s

Pirate-themed seafood & raw bar institution

Kid friendly Locally owned Outdoor seating
Pensacola

Red Fish Blue Fish

Casual seafood with the best backyard on the beach

Beach cocktails Casual dining Waterfront
$$$
Pensacola

The Grand Marlin

Waterfront seafood & oyster bar on Santa Rosa Sound

Locally owned Outdoor seating Reservations
Front Beach Road Corridor

Dusty’s Oyster Bar

Fresh Gulf oysters in a lively dive-bar setting

Established 2012 Fresh Gulf oysters Lively atmosphere
Front Beach Road Corridor

Sharky’s Beachfront Restaurant & Tiki Bar

Beachfront Gulf seafood under the world's largest Tiki hut

Beachfront Established 1986 Tiki bar
$$
Panama City Beach

Schooners Last Local Beach Club

PCB's beach club famous for its sunset cannon

Live music Locally owned Outdoor seating
Front Beach Road Corridor

Runaway Island Beach Bar and Grill

Two-story beachfront dining and live music

Beachfront Boardwalk to Beach
Front Beach Road Corridor

Salty Goat Saloon

Live music every night, no cover charge

Live music Locally owned No cover charge
Front Beach Road Corridor

McGuire’s Irish Pub – Panama City Beach

Gulf-view outpost of the Florida Irish pub chain

Gulf Views Irish pub fare
Front Beach Road Corridor

Coyote Ugly Saloon Panama City Beach

Late-night bar chain on Front Beach Road

Late-night hours Live entertainment
Panama City Beach

The Craft Bar – Panama City Beach

Craft beer gastropub in Pier Park North

Craft beer Craft cocktails Rotating taps
Front Beach Road Corridor

Harpoon Harry’s

Beachfront seafood and the World Famous Seafood Bucket

Beachfront Tropical cocktails
Niceville

The Craft Bar Niceville

Gastropub burgers, shareables, and craft beer

Craft beer Gastropub fare Sports on TV
Niceville

Basil & Baxter’s Kitchen & Cocktails

Chef-led American fare and craft cocktails

Craft cocktails Locally owned Wood-fired pizza
Mary Esther

J.C. Seafood House

Louisiana-style Cajun seafood boils and a full bar

Casual dining Fresh Gulf seafood
Niceville

3rd Planet Brewing

Niceville's first craft brewery

Food trucks Live music Veteran-owned
30A

Black Bear Bar Room

Natural wine, oysters and charcuterie in the Shops of Grayton

Craft cocktails Locally owned
$$
30A

Hurricane Oyster Bar & Grill

Grayton's dollar-bill dive for cold oysters

Casual dining No Reservations Takeout
30A

AJ’s Grayton Beach

Seafood, sushi and nightly live music at the gateway to Grayton

Family friendly Full bar Live music
$$
30A

The Red Bar

Grayton's funky, jazz-filled landmark

Bohemian decor Full bar Historic
Freeport

The Oar House Pub & Oyster Bar

Oysters and pub fare on Black Creek

Oyster bar Pub fare Waterfront
Downtown Fort Walton Beach

Coasters

Downtown dive bar and live music venue

Craft cocktails Live music
Downtown Fort Walton Beach

Papa Joe’s Hideaway

Downtown pub known for its crispy wings

Pool tables Sports on TV Wings
Fort Walton Beach

Rockin’ Tacos Grill & Tequila Bar

Gulf-front tacos and tequila on Okaloosa Island

House-infused margaritas Waterfront
Fort Walton Beach

The Remedy

Coastal kitchen and pool bar at Beal House

Cajun-inspired Pool bar
30A

Stinky’s Bait Shack

Bait, tackle, and cold drinks on the water

Coffee Full bar Live Bait & Tackle
Destin

Boathouse Oyster Bar

Destin Harbor oyster bar and live music since the 1990s

Live music Oyster bar Waterfront
$$
Destin

AJ’s Seafood and Oyster Bar

Gulf oysters and live music on Destin Harbor since 1984

Live music Locally owned Outdoor seating
DeFuniak Springs

Sweet Southern Comfort

Southern comfort food and full bar on Baldwin Avenue

Breakfast Locally owned lunch & dinner
Bonifay

Cancun Mexican Grill

Mexican restaurant and bar in Bonifay

Full bar Open daily
30A

Johnny McTighe’s Irish Pub

30A's only Irish pub and family restaurant

Full bar Game room Pub fare
30A

NEAT Bottle Shop

Bottle shop and tasting room in Alys Beach

Craft beer Outdoor seating Small-batch spirits
30A

Fonville Press Market & Café

Market, café, and cocktail bar in Alys Beach Town Center

Baked goods Cocktails Coffee