The 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.

96 places

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Pensacola

The Sandbar Sunset Bar & Grill

Seafood on the deck at Sabine Marina

Dog friendly Happy hour Live music
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Pensacola

Cafe Bistro

Breakfast, lunch and espresso steps from the beach

Breakfast & brunch Coffee & Espresso Family friendly
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Miramar Beach

Kenny D’s Beach Bar & Grill

New Orleans flavor on Scenic Gulf Drive

Family friendly
$$$
Miramar Beach

Fat Clemenza’s

Old-world Italian with a Chicago accent

Reservations
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Miramar Beach

Aegean Greek Restaurant

Family-owned Greek, breakfast through dinner

Family owned Open daily
$$$$
Miramar Beach

Seagar’s Prime Steaks & Seafood

Four Diamond steaks and a 600-label wine list

Full bar Reservations
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Miramar Beach

The Whale’s Tail Beach Bar & Grill

Breakfast to sunset, right on the sand

Family friendly Waterfront
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Lower Grand Lagoon

Liza’s Kitchen

Scratch-made breakfast and sandwiches

Family friendly
$
Lower Grand Lagoon

FINNS Island Style Grub

Fish tacos and smoothie bowls on Thomas Drive

Outdoor seating
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Front Beach Road Corridor

The Wicked Wheel

Fried chicken and burgers with a biker bar twist

Family friendly Full bar
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Panama City Beach

Dee’s Hangout

Steam pots, po'boys and coastal comfort food

Family friendly Family owned
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Front Beach Road Corridor

Pineapple Willy’s

Ribs, frozen drinks and a pier on the Gulf

Family friendly Full bar Waterfront
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Panama City Beach

Firefly

Fine dining under a firefly-lit oak

Full bar Reservations
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Lower Grand Lagoon

Andy’s Flour Power Cafe & Bakery

We don't do fancy, we do fresh

Family friendly
$
Panama City Beach

Thomas’ Donut & Snack Shop

Fresh donuts by the beach since 1971

Family friendly Open daily
$
Pensacola

Tiffany’s Beachside

A 1968 beach stand, back in business

Family friendly Waterfront
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Pensacola

Fish Heads

Fish tacos on a deck above the Gulf

Family friendly Full bar Waterfront
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Pensacola

Sidelines Sports Bar & Restaurant

Wings, burgers and every game since 1992

Family friendly Full bar Open daily
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Pensacola

Salt

Coastal Mediterranean at the Hilton

Full bar Outdoor seating Reservations
$$$
Pensacola

DRIFT Modern Coastal Cuisine

Crudo, steaks and Gulf views above Casino Beach

Full bar Happy hour Reservations
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Pensacola

Café NOLA

Gumbo, po'boys and beignets on the sound

Full bar Outdoor seating Waterfront
$
Pensacola

Native Cafe

Locally owned breakfast and lunch, served all day

Family friendly Family owned Open daily
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Pensacola

Crabs We Got ‘Em

Crab legs and Gulf views on Casino Beach

Family friendly Fresh Gulf seafood Outdoor seating
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30A

Cuvée 30A

Chef Tim Creehan's casual fine dining at the east end of 30A

Extensive wine list Full bar Happy hour
$$$
Crystal Beach

Camille’s at Crystal Beach

Beachside cafe by day, seafood and sushi upstairs by night

Breakfast Live music lunch & dinner
$$$
Destin

Louisiana Lagniappe

Creole-style Gulf seafood and sunsets on Holiday Isle since 1984

Reservations Waterfront
$$$
Destin

Brotula’s Seafood House & Steamer

Steamed shellfish platters and cook-your-catch on the Destin Harbor

Full bar Live music Outdoor seating
$$$
Destin

Harbor Docks

Gulf seafood and sushi on the Destin Harbor since 1979

Fresh Gulf seafood Sushi bar Waterfront
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Miramar Beach

Sushimoto

Family-run sushi bar in Miramar Beach, walk-in only

Family owned Sushi bar
Historic St. Andrews

FINNS Island Style Grub in St. Andrews

Fresh tacos and seafood beside the Little Village shops

Historic St. Andrews

St. Andrews Slice House

Creative pizza by the slice on Beck Avenue

Historic St. Andrews

Alice’s on Bayview

Southern cooking and live music across from the marina

Waterfront
Historic St. Andrews

The Grocery Kitchen & Taproom

Southern and Cajun fare in a 1928 St. Andrews grocery

Historic St. Andrews

Hunt’s Oyster Bar & Seafood

Beck Avenue oyster bar serving St. Andrews since 1966

Historic St. Andrews

Uncle Ernie’s Bayfront Grill & Brew House

Bayfront seafood, sunsets and live music in St. Andrews

Waterfront
Downtown Pensacola

Carmen’s Lunch Bar & Tapas

Tiny Palafox lunch bar with Spanish-inspired plates

Downtown Pensacola

McGuire’s Irish Pub Pensacola

Irish pub and brewery in a 1927 firehouse

Downtown Pensacola

Jaco’s Bayfront Bar & Grille

Bayfront dining and sunsets at the foot of Palafox

Waterfront
Downtown Pensacola

The Fish House

Waterfront seafood and the home of Grits a Ya Ya

Waterfront
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
Navarre

Andy D’s Beachside Restaurant & Deck Bar

Beachside dining and live music on Navarre Beach

Breakfast, lunch & dinner Happy hour Live music
Navarre

Where Y’at Seafood Market & Restaurant

Louisiana-style seafood market and restaurant

Louisiana & Cajun food Seafood market Wholesale & retail
Navarre

Dewey Destin’s Navarre

Fast-casual Gulf seafood on the Navarre Sound

Fast-casual Full bar Order at window
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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
Navarre

Scooter’s Fish House

Fast, fresh Gulf seafood in Navarre

Casual dining Fresh Gulf seafood
Milton

The Fishing Hole Milton Restaurant

Seafood and more at the Milton location

Casual dining Fresh Gulf seafood
Milton

Grover’s 2.0

Chicken fingers, wings, and breakfast in Milton

Family friendly Southern comfort food
Milton

Boomerang Pizza Kitchen

Retro-diner brick-oven pizza in downtown Milton

Family friendly Hand-tossed pizza Wings
Milton

Blackwater Bistro

Local flavors in a restored historic home

Breakfast & brunch Southern-inspired
Milton

Ace’s Hangar Southern Grill & Bar

Southern grill and full bar in Milton

Aviation-themed Full bar Southern cuisine
Milton

Ace’s Restaurant

Classic diner fare and daily specials since 2001

Breakfast & lunch Home cooking
30A

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

Craft cocktails Sushi bar
30A

Marco’s Pizza

Fresh, daily-made pizza dough for takeout and delivery.

Fresh dough daily Takeout
30A

Friends 30A Burger Bar

Fast-casual smash burgers and shakes next to Publix WaterSound.

Fast-casual Smash burgers
30A

Village Market at Watersound Town Center

Fresh local seafood and southern classics from the Hartley Restaurant Group.

Fresh local seafood Take-away market
30A

Scout Sports Tavern

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

American classics Sports on TV
30A

Ambrosia Prime Seafood & Steaks

Upscale Gulf seafood and prime steaks in the heart of WaterSound Town Center.

Fresh Gulf seafood Prime & wagyu steaks
30A

Pizza by the Sea

Coastal pizzeria at WaterColor Crossings

Family friendly Wood-fired pizza
30A

Scratch Biscuit Kitchen

Made-from-scratch biscuits in WaterColor Town Center

Family friendly Scratch-made biscuits
30A

WaterColor Grill

Poolside Gulf-view dining at WaterColor Beach Club

All-day menu Beach club dining
30A

Fish Out of Water

Gulf-view coastal dining at WaterColor Inn

Gulf Views Resort dining Southern coastal cuisine
Valparaiso

Doc’s Oyster Bar

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

Craft beer Oyster bar Waterfront
Valparaiso

The Boathouse Landing

Waterfront seafood and American fare on Boggy Bayou

Fresh Gulf seafood Waterfront
30A

Pickle’s Burger & Shake

Seaside institution since 1993 serving breakfast

Breakfast daily Burgers & shakes Established 1993
30A

Barefoot BBQ

Airstream Row food truck serving hormone-free

Airstream trailer Smoked BBQ
30A

The Shrimp Shack & Boardwalk Bar

Gulf seafood shack known for steamed shrimp

Boardwalk Bar Lobster rolls Steamed shrimp
30A

Bud & Alley’s Taco Bar

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

Baja Fish Tacos Margaritas
30A

Bud & Alley’s Pizza Bar + Trattoria

Locally inspired pizzeria serving authentic Neapolitan wood-fired pizza

Neapolitan pizza Wood-fired oven
$$$
30A

Bud & Alley’s Waterfront Restaurant & Bar

Seaside's Gulf-front original since 1986

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

Great Southern Café

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

Central Square Chef Jim Shirley Southern cuisine
30A

Coastal Steamer & Cafe

Seafood counter for lobster rolls and crab cakes

Crab cakes Lobster rolls Steamed seafood
30A

Taco 30A

Taco food truck in Santa Rosa Beach

Food truck Rotating locations
30A

Angelina’s Pizzeria & Pasta

Homestyle Italian on 30A since the 1990s

Family friendly Hand-tossed pizza
$$$
30A

Old Florida Fish House

Lakeside seafood and live music on Eastern Lake

Live music Reservations Waterfront
Santa Rosa Beach

Seagrove Village Market Cafe

Old Seagrove classic since 1949

Outdoor seating
$$$
30A

Café Thirty-A

Seagrove's white-tablecloth classic since 1995

Locally owned Reservations
30A

Surfing Deer

Upscale New American dining at 30A and Old Seagrove

Seafood-forward menu Upscale dining
30A

Los Rancheros

Mexican cantina on US Hwy 98

Fajitas Margaritas Tacos
30A

The Bay

Waterfront seafood by the Hwy 331 bridge

Open daily Waterfront
30A

Down Island

Island-inspired Gulf seafood on US-98

Happy hour Sunday brunch
30A

Bayou Bill’s Crab House

Crab house on US Hwy 98

Casual dining Crab specialties
30A

Outcast Bar and Grill

Bar and grill on US Hwy 98

Full bar Open late
30A

VKI Japanese Steak House & Sushi Bar

Japanese steakhouse and sushi bar

Hibachi Sushi bar
30A

Fat Daddy’s Pizza

Pizza shop on US Highway 98

Casual dining Pizza by the slice
30A

Shelby’s Beach Bar and Grill

Beach bar and grill at Gulf Place

Beach bar Casual dining
30A

The Perfect Pig

All-day dining at Gulf Place

Breakfast lunch & dinner Sunday brunch
30A

Pazzo Italiano

Italian restaurant on Hwy 393

Pasta Wood-fired dishes
30A

Local Catch Bar & Grill

Casual seafood bar and grill on 30A

Casual dining Local seafood
30A

Shunk Gulley Oyster Bar

Oyster bar and Gulf seafood on Hwy 393

Fresh Gulf seafood Raw bar
Destin

Hammerhead’s Bar and Grille

Dockside seafood, burgers, and live music

Dockside dining Live music