Favorite Destin Eats by two locals :)
Food scene
This one is a bit of a drive (light traffic is 20-25 minutes, heavy traffic who knows?), but WORTH IT! This is a small, family owned restaurant. It’s BYOB so make sure to grab a bottle of your fave on the way out. There’s only about six tables inside, and maybe six more outside. The name of the restaurant is misleading. While they do have baked goods, it is really a nice restaurant! The food is absolutely delicious - some of the best we’ve had in Destin. If you take a group, they offer a family style dining experience that’s really fun for celebrations. You need to call ahead for reservations and if it’s peak summer you need to call weeks in advance. I’ve totally seen kids there but I’d prefer this restaurant without kids because it tends to be slow dining, not quick in and out. Get the scallops, you will not regret it. Amazing seafood and pastas also!
9 penduduk tempatan mengesyorkan
Crust Artisan Bakery
4821 US-98This one is a bit of a drive (light traffic is 20-25 minutes, heavy traffic who knows?), but WORTH IT! This is a small, family owned restaurant. It’s BYOB so make sure to grab a bottle of your fave on the way out. There’s only about six tables inside, and maybe six more outside. The name of the restaurant is misleading. While they do have baked goods, it is really a nice restaurant! The food is absolutely delicious - some of the best we’ve had in Destin. If you take a group, they offer a family style dining experience that’s really fun for celebrations. You need to call ahead for reservations and if it’s peak summer you need to call weeks in advance. I’ve totally seen kids there but I’d prefer this restaurant without kids because it tends to be slow dining, not quick in and out. Get the scallops, you will not regret it. Amazing seafood and pastas also!
Delicous food!!! Waterfront dining. This is located at the edge of Henderson Beach State Park so the beach area is much less crowded. You can also go to the park beach during the day. Get a reservation for this place well ahead of time.
30 penduduk tempatan mengesyorkan
Beach Walk Cafe
2700 Scenic Hwy 98Delicous food!!! Waterfront dining. This is located at the edge of Henderson Beach State Park so the beach area is much less crowded. You can also go to the park beach during the day. Get a reservation for this place well ahead of time.
This is where we like to get sushi although they have a ton of things on the menu! There’s waterfront covered outdoor dining as well as indoor. The sushi is basic, but what makes it so good is how incredibly fresh the seafood is. It’s straight from the gulf. This is a larger touristy restaurant, just FYI!
125 penduduk tempatan mengesyorkan
Harbor Docks
538 Harbor BlvdThis is where we like to get sushi although they have a ton of things on the menu! There’s waterfront covered outdoor dining as well as indoor. The sushi is basic, but what makes it so good is how incredibly fresh the seafood is. It’s straight from the gulf. This is a larger touristy restaurant, just FYI!
The locals call it "Chan's Wine World" - This restaurant has a patio and indoor seating and it’s more of a locals spot. If you’re a cheese connoisseur, they have a cheese plate you can create yourself and the options for it are amazing. Their baguettes are delicious! Absolutely ask for a full baguette. Insider tip: You can also ask for a half baked baguette to take home and bake yourself. They freeze well! This is also our fave place to buy booze, beer, and wine. They have an incredible artisan cheese selection.
21 penduduk tempatan mengesyorkan
The Wine Bar - Destin
4424 Commons Dr EThe locals call it "Chan's Wine World" - This restaurant has a patio and indoor seating and it’s more of a locals spot. If you’re a cheese connoisseur, they have a cheese plate you can create yourself and the options for it are amazing. Their baguettes are delicious! Absolutely ask for a full baguette. Insider tip: You can also ask for a half baked baguette to take home and bake yourself. They freeze well! This is also our fave place to buy booze, beer, and wine. They have an incredible artisan cheese selection.
Right next to Chan’s wine world. They have great burgers and fun drinks :)
58 penduduk tempatan mengesyorkan
The Craft Bar - Destin
4424 Commons Dr ERight next to Chan’s wine world. They have great burgers and fun drinks :)
A smaller, lesser known restaurant. Near the beach, but not waterfront dining. Indoor dining. Also has amazing sushi, lots on the menu, AND our favorite dessert in Destin (the bread pudding!)
95 penduduk tempatan mengesyorkan
Camille's at Crystal Beach
2931 Scenic Hwy 98A smaller, lesser known restaurant. Near the beach, but not waterfront dining. Indoor dining. Also has amazing sushi, lots on the menu, AND our favorite dessert in Destin (the bread pudding!)
I had to throw La Crema in the mix. It’s in Rosemary Beach so it’s quite a drive from our condo but WORTH IT if you love chocolate. Great paella and tapas, and you have to end the meal with a chocolate fondue.
111 penduduk tempatan mengesyorkan
La Crema Tapas & Chocolate
38 Main StI had to throw La Crema in the mix. It’s in Rosemary Beach so it’s quite a drive from our condo but WORTH IT if you love chocolate. Great paella and tapas, and you have to end the meal with a chocolate fondue.
Okay this is the biggest restaurant we will recommend. The wait can be crazy but the food is so very good. There is a water front where the kids can play while you wait and there is a lot of outdoor and indoor dining. Get drinks at the bar and wait on the beach area catching hermit crabs. Try the Feta Dip! We also love getting their summer salad and adding fish on top. We like to get our fish here ‘ bronzed,’ which is lightly blackened.
243 penduduk tempatan mengesyorkan
Boshamps Seafood and Oyster House
414 Harbor BlvdOkay this is the biggest restaurant we will recommend. The wait can be crazy but the food is so very good. There is a water front where the kids can play while you wait and there is a lot of outdoor and indoor dining. Get drinks at the bar and wait on the beach area catching hermit crabs. Try the Feta Dip! We also love getting their summer salad and adding fish on top. We like to get our fish here ‘ bronzed,’ which is lightly blackened.
Careful, there is a gigantic Dewey Destin on the Beach side - that’s not the one we’re recommending. Dewey Destin on the Bay is a small, bayfront dining experience. Low key, great place to watch the sunset. No fuss, good seafood. Wait in line to order (it goes fast) and sit on the dock. We’ve seen manatees here! If it’s raining, be mindful that there’s not much indoor seating here.
104 penduduk tempatan mengesyorkan
Dewey Destin's Seafood Restaurant
9 Calhoun AveCareful, there is a gigantic Dewey Destin on the Beach side - that’s not the one we’re recommending. Dewey Destin on the Bay is a small, bayfront dining experience. Low key, great place to watch the sunset. No fuss, good seafood. Wait in line to order (it goes fast) and sit on the dock. We’ve seen manatees here! If it’s raining, be mindful that there’s not much indoor seating here.
If you‘re looking for something close, Mimmos is right across the street. Good Italian food, usually a shorter wait. And super easy to call in for takeout.
76 penduduk tempatan mengesyorkan
Mimmo's Ristorante Italiano
979 U.S. 98If you‘re looking for something close, Mimmos is right across the street. Good Italian food, usually a shorter wait. And super easy to call in for takeout.
We love this little market! They have fresh made donuts usually in the morning and have a range of house made foods, smoothies, juices, speciality foods. It’s a fun stop for breakfast or lunch.
51 penduduk tempatan mengesyorkan
The Local Market
950 Gulf Shore DrWe love this little market! They have fresh made donuts usually in the morning and have a range of house made foods, smoothies, juices, speciality foods. It’s a fun stop for breakfast or lunch.
Their crepes are delicous! They have savory smoked meat crepes and sweet dessert crepes also. The owner is a local who is from Milan, so it’s legit. It’s a sweet spot to grab coffee or a meal. They have smoothies, too. There’s a fun little square right out the back door to let kids run around and play.
Capriccio Cafe
810 Harbor BoulevardTheir crepes are delicous! They have savory smoked meat crepes and sweet dessert crepes also. The owner is a local who is from Milan, so it’s legit. It’s a sweet spot to grab coffee or a meal. They have smoothies, too. There’s a fun little square right out the back door to let kids run around and play.
If you want something quick or some take out that you can walk to, this is a great spot. The wings are baked so it’s way lighter than your typical wing joint.
8 penduduk tempatan mengesyorkan
Island Wing Company
981 Palm StIf you want something quick or some take out that you can walk to, this is a great spot. The wings are baked so it’s way lighter than your typical wing joint.
Jet's Pizza
4418 Commons Dr EOur favorite takeout or delivery pizza in Destin :)
This used to be a little hole in the wall restaurant in a shopping strip! It was one of our favorite date night spots when we lived here (amazing wine, amazing desserts). Recently this restaurant moved into a bigger space at Grand Boulevard. Most places in Destin don’t take reservations but this place does!
33 penduduk tempatan mengesyorkan
Vintij Food & Wine
500 Grand BoulevardThis used to be a little hole in the wall restaurant in a shopping strip! It was one of our favorite date night spots when we lived here (amazing wine, amazing desserts). Recently this restaurant moved into a bigger space at Grand Boulevard. Most places in Destin don’t take reservations but this place does!
Hello! This is brand new as of early summer 2022! Locally owned. We haven’t tried it yet but we hear it’s delicious :) the best part is you can walk to it from our condo!
Lone Wolf Pizza Co
960 U.S. 98Hello! This is brand new as of early summer 2022! Locally owned. We haven’t tried it yet but we hear it’s delicious :) the best part is you can walk to it from our condo!
Delicious food. There’s no scenery but this is a hidden local gem. And they take reservations!! Moody interior. Fun vibe.
Bitterroot
Delicious food. There’s no scenery but this is a hidden local gem. And they take reservations!! Moody interior. Fun vibe.
Kid Friendly (place for kids to play - waterfront, sand)
A bit of a drive, but delicous! Waterfront dining. Kiddos can run around on the beach.
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The Bay
A bit of a drive, but delicous! Waterfront dining. Kiddos can run around on the beach.
The Gulf
1284 Marler AvenueHas a waterfront for kiddos to play while you wait!
This is a great place to take kids! Arrive early and wait in line to order, food brought out to your table. You can also order sushi or pizza from next door. Large bay front sand area for kids to place. Toys provided such as giant foam blocks, cornhole.
22 penduduk tempatan mengesyorkan
North Beach Social
24200 US-331This is a great place to take kids! Arrive early and wait in line to order, food brought out to your table. You can also order sushi or pizza from next door. Large bay front sand area for kids to place. Toys provided such as giant foam blocks, cornhole.