Restaurants in Destin and Fort Walton Beach

AJ's is a Destin institution, located on the harbor docks, and a place where fishermen don't only unload their catches after a long day, but catch a sunset and a few beers, too. The party ambiance is emphasized by loud music and the club within the restaurant known as Club Bimini,…

Southern-style Gulf-to-table seafood is what’s on the menu at this multi-level, indoor/outdoor, handsome waterfront spot. As you enter, take a peek into their Lucky Dog Seafood Market, a new wholesale operation that sources fresh, wild seafood from local fishermen; you may be looking…

Named after a dog and a cat, Bud & Alley's is a Seaside sunset tradition, when the locals gather on the rooftop bar and ring the bell as the sun goes down. While we prefer that rooftop to the more formal first-floor dining room, downstairs has definite ambiance, too, with seating…

Despite the name, this restaurant has nothing to do with Argentina. Housed in a 60-something-year-old vine-covered red cottage, Café Tango is a tiny, very romantic, very intimate place, with just 8 tables. Its jalapeño shrimp scampi is an excellent, spicy take on a classic, but it…

This venerable fine dining spot prepares excellent, albeit fancy, fare for a mostly vacationing white-collar crowd. The menu changes daily, but usually available is the pan seared snapper with crawfish etouffee risotto, as well as a Cajun shrimp and grits, and grilled filet mignon…

The owner of this local breakfast and brunch hot spot is the founder of its former incarnation turned chain, Another Broken Egg Café. But this is no chain. The famous lobster gouda grits are a must, as are the mouthful “croisseignets,” a sweet hybrid of croissant and beignet served…

A good, down-home, breakfast, lunch, and bakery spot, there's a reason they call it the Donut Hole. The doughnuts are delicious here, not overly sweet, and miles above what you'd find at a drive-through. Creative flavors make for difficult decisions, but for doughnut purists, the…

The menu is all over the place at the Farm & Fire, and some of it has nothing to do with either of those things (hello sushi!). But since it’s all expertly prepared, and can be eaten in front of dazzling water views, nobody is complaining. And frankly having this many…

Critically acclaimed and Southern-inspired, Gulf-front Fish Out of Water in the WaterColor Inn really does use the locally sourced ingredients suggested by the name. The menus tell the story, highlighting Florida fish, meats, and freshly harvested and foraged organic fruits, veggies,…

Yes, seafood spots in Destin are a dime a dozen, but not all of them feature fresh-off-the-boat catches that even the fishermen can be seen eating. Chargrilling is the house specialty and I highly recommend the triggerfish when they have it. For fans of Andrew Zimmern of Travel…

Amidst the new-urbanism-meets-the-beach marvel that is Alys Beach is this casual café that prides itself on having the best burger on the entire 30A strip. The grouper sandwich, wood-grilled, is just as boast-worthy, as is the oyster po' boy. For some unknown reason, the dinner menu…

Chef/owner Jim Shirley, who cooks in his granny's cast-iron skillets, is founder and president of the Society of Great Southern Chefs, a position he takes very seriously when it comes to his charming, cracker-style Seaside hot spot. Not entirely old school, Shirley's menu focuses on…

To honor the memory of trapeze artist “Flying Harry T” Baben, his family opened this lively spot on the ground floor of Destin Harbor’s tallest building. Standing guard is the stuffed Stretch, Harry’s beloved giraffe. The decor includes circus memorabilia and relics from the luxury…

The menu choices at Destin's most upscale restaurant span the planet (tempura, Thai chicken, won tons, fried green tomatoes), but one thing is consistent—the views. Overlooking the harbor, Marina Café is an ideal spot to celebrate a special occasion or just bask in the candlelight.…

This tiny takeout and dine-in spot packs a lot of flavor into its affordable, fresh seafood—all locally bought and caught.  Oysters from Alabama are freshly shucked, and all dinners come with hush puppies and two sides—go for the cheese grits and slaw. There are also tacos, salads,…

There's nothing stinky about this stellar seafood spot except, perhaps, the wait for a table. This fun, lively, rustic restaurant is reminiscent of a shabby-chic, woodsy, waterfront cabin. It's where the locals hang out over a few glasses of excellent wines and the famous Stinky's…

This cedar-shingled seafood shack has eye candy beach- and Gulf-views from its long porch and beach chairs on the sand. They originated chargrilled amberjack, which you’ll now see on menus throughout Florida. Other fish and seafood, as well as chicken and juicy hamburgers, also come…

Located at the entrance of the photogenic Coleman Beach Pavilion, this Polynesian-inspired bar and restaurant features dishes such as Spam Musubi: two slabs of canned ham with oyster sauce, nori, and sushi rice. The Maui fries, a Don Ho-esque take on poutine, are smothered with black…

First things first about this funky former general store: It's not really about the food. Sure, you can get blackened grouper or shrimp and crawfish, but really, it's all about the vibe. Live jazz music and a buzzy cocktail scene, not to mention the occasional late-night celebrity…

Bored with the usual seafood shanties? The remedy is, yes, this surfside restaurant and pool bar serving coastal fare with a Cajun kick. The Creole gumbo, along with a spicy Bloody Mary, could be the ideal hair of the dog combo, while the spicy chili lime shrimp and smothered fries…