Emerald Coast Guide

Restaurants

The Emerald Coast is home to an exceptional dining scene anchored by the Gulf itself: fresh seafood, farm-to-table cooking, and kitchens run by people who genuinely love this place. Explore independent restaurants worth making a reservation for.

84 places

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30A

WaterColor Grill

Poolside Gulf-view dining at WaterColor Beach Club

Valparaiso

Doc’s Oyster Bar

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

30A

Pickle’s Burger & Shake

Seaside institution since 1993 serving breakfast

30A

Barefoot BBQ

Airstream Row food truck serving hormone-free

30A

The Shrimp Shack & Boardwalk Bar

Gulf seafood shack known for steamed shrimp

30A

Bud & Alley’s Taco Bar

South-of-the-border concept serving Baja fish tacos

30A

Bud & Alley’s Pizza Bar + Trattoria

Locally inspired pizzeria serving authentic Neapolitan wood-fired pizza

$$$
30A

Bud & Alley’s Waterfront Restaurant & Bar

Seaside's Gulf-front original since 1986

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

Great Southern Café

Home of the Grits a Ya Ya on Seaside's square

Central Square Chef Jim Shirley Southern cuisine
Miramar Beach

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar

Prime steaks and fine wine on Grand Boulevard

$$
Grand Boulevard

Vin’tij Food & Wine

Award-winning wine bar and seasonal cuisine

Locally owned Outdoor seating
Grand Boulevard

Another Broken Egg Cafe

Breakfast, brunch, and cocktails on Grand Boulevard

Sandestin

The Village Door

Dockside dining, BBQ, and nightly live music

30A

Playa Bowls

Acai and pitaya bowls, smoothies, and juices on Main Street

30A

Gallions

Upscale restaurant and cocktail lounge in Barrett Square

30A

Havana Beach Bar & Grill

Gulf Coast and Caribbean-inspired dining at The Pearl Hotel

Pensacola

The Crab Trap – Perdido Key

Waterfront fish-house with beach boardwalk

Boardwalk to Beach Kids Menu Playground
$$
Pensacola

Fisherman’s Corner

Creole-inspired seafood under the bridge

Casual Fine Dining Creole-Inspired
$$$
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)
30A

Edward’s Fine Food & Wine

Fine dining and award-winning wine list on Main Street

30A

La Crema Tapas and Chocolate

Spanish tapas and chocolate desserts in a courtyard setting

30A

Summer Kitchen Cafe

Breakfast and lunch cafe at the Rosemary Beach Inn

30A

Cowgirl Kitchen

Casual Tex-Mex and coastal fare with a lively bar

30A

Restaurant Paradis

Coastal New American fine dining on South Barret Square

Pensacola

Flora-Bama Ole River Grill

Waterfront burgers, seafood and sports

Family friendly Live music Waterfront Deck
Laguna Beach

Squidly’s Seafood

Takeout-only shrimp and crab boil market

Front Beach Road Corridor

Dusty’s Oyster Bar

Fresh Gulf oysters in a lively dive-bar setting

Back Beach Road Corridor

Boondocks Restaurant

Waterfront seafood on the Intracoastal in West Bay

$$$
Pensacola

The Grand Marlin

Waterfront seafood & oyster bar on Santa Rosa Sound

Locally owned Outdoor seating Reservations
Pensacola

Bonsai

Upscale sushi above the Hilton

Front Beach Road Corridor

Sharky’s Beachfront Restaurant & Tiki Bar

Beachfront Gulf seafood under the world's largest Tiki hut

Front Beach Road Corridor

Runaway Island Beach Bar and Grill

Two-story beachfront dining and live music

$$$
Lower Grand Lagoon

Capt. Anderson’s Restaurant

Gulf Coast seafood landmark since the 1960s

Locally owned Reservations Waterfront
Lower Grand Lagoon

The Grand Marlin of Panama City Beach

Daily-changing Gulf seafood on Grand Lagoon

Niceville

Basil & Baxter’s Kitchen & Cocktails

Chef-led American fare and craft cocktails

Mary Esther

J.C. Seafood House

Louisiana-style Cajun seafood boils and a full bar

Gulf Breeze

Aegean Breeze

A local corner of Greece in Gulf Breeze

Gulf Breeze

Lao Ocean

Authentic Thai cuisine in Gulf Breeze

Gulf Breeze

Shan Kishi Japanese Hibachi

Hibachi and sushi on Gulf Breeze Parkway

Gulf Breeze

Santino’s Pizza & Grinders

Made-to-order pizza and grinders

Mary Esther

El Paso Mexican Grill & Cantina

Family-run Mexican cantina known for 2-for-1 margaritas

Gulf Breeze

Lillo’s Tuscan Grille

Family Italian recipes since 1948

Gulf Breeze

Buenos Dias Cafe

Traditional Mexican breakfast and brunch

Gulf Breeze

Tacos Rock

Family-owned Mexican kitchen in Harbourtown Plaza

30A

Roux 30A

Michelin-recommended tasting menu in an intimate setting

30A

Grayton Seafood Co.

Neighborhood seafood spot with a text-to-reserve tradition

30A

Chanticleer Eatery

Made-from-scratch comfort food, locals' favorite

30A

Chiringo

Beachside coastal fare steps from the Gulf

$$
30A

The Red Bar

Grayton's funky, jazz-filled landmark

Bohemian decor Full bar Historic
Freeport

At’s A Chicago Pizza

Chicago-style deep dish and Italian beef

$$
Freeport

Nick’s Seafood Restaurant

Family-run bayfront seafood since 1963

Locally owned Waterfront
Freeport

331 Noodles

Handmade noodles and dumplings on US-331

Freeport

Granny & Son Thai Restaurant

Homestyle Thai cooking in Freeport

Freeport

Bubba Jacks

Classic breakfast and lunch comfort food

Freeport

Taqueria Don Bigotes

Authentic Mexican taqueria on US-331

Freeport

The Oar House Pub & Oyster Bar

Oysters and pub fare on Black Creek

Downtown Fort Walton Beach

The Shack Restaurant & Marina

Waterfront seafood on Santa Rosa Sound since 1999

30A

Vue on 30A

Gulf-view coastal dining at Santa Rosa Golf & Beach Club

30A

Stinky’s Fish Camp

Fresh Gulf seafood on a coastal dune lake

Destin

Boathouse Oyster Bar

Destin Harbor oyster bar and live music since the 1990s

$$$
Destin

Boshamps Seafood & Oyster House

Gulf-to-table Southern seafood on the Destin Harbor

Dog friendly Locally owned Outdoor seating
$$$
Destin

Marina Cafe

Upscale harbor-view dining, steaks, and sushi

Locally owned Outdoor seating Reservations
Destin

Tailfins Waterfront Grill

Waterfront breakfast, lunch, and dinner on the harbor boardwalk

Destin

The Crab Trap

Casual Gulf-front seafood dining

Destin

Cafe Destin

All-day breakfast and brunch near the beach

$$
Destin

AJ’s Seafood and Oyster Bar

Gulf oysters and live music on Destin Harbor since 1984

Live music Locally owned Outdoor seating
Destin

Harry T’s Lighthouse

Harbor-view seafood and brunch at HarborWalk Village

DeFuniak Springs

Milly’s Cafe

Southern soul food breakfast and lunch on US-90

DeFuniak Springs

H&M Hot Dogs

Florida's oldest hot dog stand, serving since 1947

DeFuniak Springs

Cafe’ Nola

New Orleans flavor in historic downtown DeFuniak Springs

Airport Road Corridor

Stick & Rudder Pub

Breakfast and lunch pub at Bob Sikes Airport

Crestview

North 85 Diner

Southern-style scratch-made diner fare

Crestview

BC’s Southern Paradise BBQ & Catering

Southern BBQ and catering

Crestview

Laurel Hill Grill

Family-owned Southern comfort food, famous for cheesesteaks

Crestview

The Hub American Family Restaurant

Family restaurant with a 17-foot salad bar

DeFuniak Springs

Iron & Grape Italian Kitchen

Chef-driven scratch Italian kitchen on Baldwin Avenue

Crestview

The Wild Olive

Southern-leaning New American dining in downtown Crestview

Crestview

Samuel’s Roadhouse

Steaks, seafood and BBQ ribs since 1989

30A

Red Fish Taco

Beachy Mexican tacos and margaritas in Redfish Village

$$$
30A

The Citizen

Wood-fired coastal cooking in Alys Beach

Outdoor seating Raw bar Reservations
$$$
30A

George’s at Alys Beach

Behave or misbehave in Alys Beach

Locally owned Outdoor seating
30A

Basmati’s Asian Cuisine

Asian fusion and sushi overlooking Draper Lake

30A

Cowgirl Kitchen Market & Cafe

Kick-back breakfast, lunch, and dinner cafe

Destin

Pelican & Pine

Gulf-to-table dining on the harbor

Dog friendly Live music Locally owned