44 Best Restaurants to Eat in Panama City Beach
Last updated January 2, 2025
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From relaxed seaside restaurants to top dining experiences, there is something for everybody to savor in Panama City Beach.
Picture enjoying fresh seafood as you hear the waves crashing or savoring a delicious burger after a fun day soaking up the sun.
As I explored the culinary landscape of Panama City Beach, I couldn’t resist feeling thrilled about the blend of cherished places and hidden treasures ready to be found.
So gather your friends and family, bring your hunger, and prepare to discover the finest restaurants this coastal town has for you.
Here are the 44 best restaurants to eat in Panama City Beach!
1. Los Rancheros
This is a Mexican restaurant that is very suitable for families.
It offers tasty cuisine and a wide variety of margaritas.
This restaurant is vividly painted and also offers excellent beach access, rendering it an ideal place to unwind after a full day at the beachside.
2. Gulf Coast Burger Company
This is a vibrant restaurant that offers a selection of tasty burgers, comfort dishes, and shakes.
This restaurant provides both booths and seating at the bar for its guests.
Moreover, it’s famous for its nice Cat5 Milkshakes offered in five distinct flavors, ideal for social media sharing.
Situated in PCB, this restaurant is favored by tourists looking for dolphin experiences and beautiful shores.
Families usually visit the region here to experience different attractions while some others choose romantic retreats
3. Gypsea Crepes
This is a lively and laid-back counter-service restaurant in PCB, Florida, that focuses on creating an extensive selection of French crêpes.
Their menu includes a variety of choices, ranging from delicious breakfast crepes packed with bacon, turkey, ham, eggs, and vegetables to more delightful ones such as fruit-packed and cheesecake-filled desserts.
This well-known location provides a budget-friendly dining adventure where guests can enjoy affordable options for both savory and sweet tastes.
4. Jesse's Place
Located in Thomas Drive, Jesse's Place stands as a charming family-run restaurant that offers a friendly and down-to-earth atmosphere.
This daytime restaurant is famous for its traditional American comfort cuisine, presenting a simple menu packed with Southern meals.
Whether you're longing for classic breakfast dishes such as pancakes, omelets, and gravy with biscuits, or you're craving substantial lunch choices like sandwiches and burgers, the restaurant has a dish to please every taste.
5. Zollo's Pizza
This is an inviting pizza spot where you can choose any kind of pizza you're craving.
Their toppings are of high quality and their service is excellent.
The environment is very welcoming, and their delivery speed is quite quick.
In fact, I would certainly suggest this spot to anyone seeking a great pizza adventure.
Zollo's Pizza genuinely shines as a lovely culinary treasure, securing its status as the top pizza spot in the region.
As soon as you enter, the welcoming ambiance and pleasant staff make one feel immediately at ease.
6. Liza's Kitchen
This is a delightful gourmet sandwich spot that takes pride in making anything from scratch, even their exquisite Focaccia loaves, broths, and salad sauces.
Their menu showcases a variety of enticing choices, including grilled cheese and a vegetarian sandwich with components such as portobello and pesto mushrooms.
These are alongside a brunch highlight - Chicken and Bacon Stuffed Waffles adorned with fresh fruits and confectioners' sugar.
7. Buffalo Wild Wings
This is a well-liked chain recognized for offering tasty wings, burgers, and tenders with an assortment of sauces that range from extremely hot to sweet.
The restaurant also features a diverse range of beers. It serves as an excellent place to watch your favorite game on the many large screen displays.
Buffalo Wild Wings’ relaxed vibe makes it an ideal spot for a leisurely evening with friends and family.
8. Bayou onthe Beach
This is a nice New Orleans-inspired oyster bar and restaurant that has continued to offer traditional seafood and sandwiches in a comfortable atmosphere since 1999.
This restaurant embodies the Gulf Coast tastes’ spirit, serving items such as po'boys, gumbo, and freshly sourced seafood made with gastronomic skills.
Also, along with dining in, visitors have the option to savor offerings from the restaurant's oyster bar or order seafood for takeout.
9. Capt. Anderson Restaurant and Waterfront Market
This is a famous seafood destination in PCB that offers fresh, locally caught Gulf seafood.
The lively restaurant provides options for all with its quick service and varied menu, although there could be a line because of its popularity.
Guests can also take in sights of the lovely fishing boats delivering the day's haul while relishing tasty meals such as the popular grouper and shrimp paired with the meat of lump crab.
10. Harpoon Harry's
This is a relaxed restaurant providing breathtaking ocean vistas and al fresco patio seating.
This restaurant also features windows of 16 feet that offer stunning Gulf of Mexico’s 180-degree vistas, forming a remarkable setting for savoring a meal.
Visitors can even enjoy frozen tasty drinks while watching the sunset directly from the elevated outdoor dining space that overlooks the white sandy beaches.
11. Kilwin’s Ice Cream
This is a charming treasure located in the lively Panama City Beach’s Pier Park.
As you stroll along the busy Boardwalk, you will be welcomed by the happy sounds of guests relishing their time and the tempting aroma of just-made fudge.
This delightful store, conveniently situated beside Dick's LastResort and opposite City Pier, provides a really captivating experience that resembles a journey back in time.
12. Mike's Cafe & Oyster Bar
Located in Panama City Beach's center, Mike's Cafe & Oyster Bar offers the charming blend of a warm diner and seafood paradise.
Founded in 2011 by Thomas Mike, this delightful restaurant enhances his thriving donut spot with a remarkable menu featuring local seafood gems.
The highlight of this place? The crab cakes which are crafted from fresh crab meat blended with celery and colorful peppers, are then gently seared to perfection.
13. Bayou Bill Crab House
If you are in the area of Sunnyside and Laguna Beach, be sure to visit Bayou Bill's, a lively and family-oriented seafood spot.
This delightful restaurant offers a wide menu that includes various crab leg types like Blue crab, Snow crab, Dungeness crab, and Alaska King crab.
The warm ambiance here encourages you to savor traditional meals such as rich bisque or crab steamed legs while also enjoying inventive Cajun-themed selections.
14. Dee's Hangout
This is a comfortable, straightforward spot within a shopping center that offers tasty Creole and Cajun meals such as jalapeño oysters and po' boys.
Their crustacean Cakes are prepared using blue lump crabmeat and the perfect cracker crumbs for a delicate, airy texture.
These come with a home-prepared Cajun zesty remoulade sauce, turning them into a favored appetizer or dish served alongside hush puppies and sides.
15. Buddy's Seafood Market
This is a favored destination that provides premium seafood for retail and takeout.
They offer a range of newly caught items such as snapper, shrimp, Mahi, and yellowfin tuna, among others.
And alongside their retail store, they also operate a nice steam bar. Here, you can savor freshly steamed shrimps with unique spices.
This market is really recognized for its outstanding service, skilled staff, and accessibility.
16. Back Porch Seafood and Oyster House
Located in the lively Pier Park, this is a charming spot for seafood enthusiasts.
Its ample exterior seating decorated with vibrant umbrellas makes it the perfect place to observe passersby and bask in the sun while relishing Gulf seafood.
In fact, this cherished restaurant has a history in Destin extending more than 48 years, where it initially rose to prominence for its delectable meals offered from a delightful coastal hut.
17. Hammerhead Fred's
This is a vibrant seafood bar and restaurant in PCB that features a relaxed atmosphere and a patio outside with live entertainment.
Its menu includes various choices, ranging from steak to seafood, and highlights the well-liked Vera Cruz Tacos plate for children.
Featuring more than 50 draft beers available and frequent live music performances, Hammerhead Fred's remains an exceptional option for both entertainment and dining.
18. Another BrokenEgg Cafe
This is a cafe that offers a varied dish of southern-influenced culinary treats, featuring skillfully prepared egg offerings and chef-created specialties.
Also, alongside vegetarian and seasonal selections, the restaurant offers brunch drinks and cocktails from a nice full bar.
19. Grand Marlin
Nestled on the picturesque Grand Lagoon, Grand Marlin provides a one-of-a-kind dining adventure that effortlessly combines a relaxed vibe with elegance.
The restaurant's creative menu features a variety of seafood dishes, highlighting the famous GulfCoast Grouper and scrumptious Crab Cakes, made with a blend of classic and modern ingredients.
Visitors can also relish the stunning scenery of vessels arriving and departing as they enjoy their meals here.
20. Shuckums Oyster Bar and Seafood Grill
Located in Panama City Beach’s center, this is a charming family-oriented spot that honors anything seafood.
Featuring charming decor and layers of oyster shells on the ceiling and walls, this relaxed restaurant welcomes you to revel in an assortment of gastronomic pleasures.
21. Boon Docks
Located merely 5 mins from West Bay’s beaches, this is a vibrant dining spot that serves a range of local seafood dishes and cozy meals in a rustic atmosphere.
This restaurant is famous for its fresh seafood which features Fried Crab Claw, Spicy Gumbo, and Clam Strips, along with homemade sweets.
You can easily unwind and enjoy breathtaking views of the waterfront at this lovely family-oriented restaurant by the dock.
22. Thomas Donut and Snack Shop
Founded in 1971, this shop has become a popular destination for American favorites and fresh donuts in PCB.
This family-operated establishment provides a range of espresso drinks and specialty coffee, utilizing only organic and fair trade Colombian blend beans.
23. Dirty Dick Crab House
This is a well-known locally operated restaurant providing an extensive selection of steamed and fried seafood, grilled meats, patties, and Southern-style sides.
Although it isn't a seafood buffet, the menu here features a limitless selection of options such as King Crab, Crab Fritters,
24. Dustys Oyster Bar
This is a beloved spot that provides a relaxed dining atmosphere and a fascinating variety of oysters with additional seafood options.
Their menu showcases various oyster plates, starters, sandwiches, and substantial choices for seafood lovers.
Guests can also delight in observing the lively bartender shucking oysters as they relish fried shrimp, grilled grouper poboys, blackened scallops, cooked oysters, jalapeno, and other items.
25. Diego's Burrito Factory and Margarita Bar
This is a casual place where you are free to personalize your own tacos, burritos, and various other Mexican meals.
And apart from classic meats such as beef and chicken, they also provide grilled mahimahi for their fish tacos.
This restaurant also offers numerous topping options including homemade mango pico gallo, crispy vegetables, fresh guacamole, cheeses, their distinctive Southwest coleslaw, and sauces.
26. Pompano Joe's
This is a lively restaurant situated by the beach in Pier Park, providing Caribbean-inspired seafood and stunning Gulf views with a relaxed environment.
It's a well-frequented restaurant where residents and tourists come together to savor fresh, budget-friendly local seafood that is well-spiced with the Islands’ tastes.
The menu here includes essential dishes such as their acclaimed Seafood Gumbo, shrimp and crab stuffed flounder, and fish tacos, along with coconut shrimp.
27. Pink Pelican IceCream Bar
This is a laid-back venue featuring an ocean-inspired decor that offers tasty frozen desserts and coffee drinks.
This cream shop offers an extensive selection of flavors even peanut butter, brownie bits, Heath Bar pieces mixed in a smooth strand of butterscotch, and Oreo cookie chunks.
Featuring a limitless variety of ample portions and flavors, this place is hard not to adore.
28. Yard Milkshake Bar
This is an essential stop for dessert lovers, featuring a selection of beautiful and tasty ice cream treats.
From luxurious sundaes stacked with toppings to towering milkshakes topped with cookies, candies, and syrups, every dessert here is a masterpiece.
Since its launch in May 2017, this bar has built a significant presence on social media and is recognized for its intricate specialty milkshakes such as The Cookie Creature.
29. Panama City Beach Winery
This is a nice family-operated shop providing top wines crafted from citrus, fruits, and berries cultivated in Florida.
Guests can savor ample tastings of different wines here and discover their origins directly from the welcoming staff.
The winery provides distinct tastes such as Key Lime, Mango, and Guava.
Featuring 34 wine varieties crafted from fruits like carrots to bananas, this high-end destination is ideal for grown-ups or older kids seeking an elegant adventure.
30. Finns Island
This is a lively location in PCB's Historical St. Andrews area, providing a blend of dishes inspired by street food and high-quality coffee.
The owners' love for coffee inspired them to start Finns, where they provide organic coffee gotten from Amavida Coffee Roaster.
31. Señor Frog's
This place offers an ideal location for a relaxed dining atmosphere with beautiful ocean vistas.
This lively grill restaurant provides an energetic environment featuring happy hours with frequent live performances that maintain the excitement levels.
Visitors always compliment the delightful decorations here which feature whimsical quotes positioned on chairs, enhancing the fun atmosphere.
32. Hookd Pier Bar and Grill
This is a delightful beach-inspired grill and bar that features outdoor seating together with beautiful water scenery.
Hook'd Pier is famous for its menu centered on seafood, establishing it as a preferred choice for both residents and visitors in Panama City Beach.
The Sauce Sampler, a signature dish of the restaurant, is highly recommended, showcasing a variety of seafood cooked in a savory broth and accompanied by corn, toasted baguettes, and hushpuppies.
33. Salty Sue's
Salty Sue’s stands as a well-known seafood eatery located on the shores of PCB, Florida.
The eatery showcases brick walls with an assortment of televised games, live performances, and tasty seafood meals.
Their gumbo remains a popular choice among customers, as is their grouper sandwich. It can be requested with various toppings like shrimp and cheese.
Salty Sue’s also provides takeout meal choices and has indoor seats for any family with kids.
34. David's
This is a charming, laid-back venue that offers an assortment of delights.
Although they are mostly recognized for their creamy soft-serve stuffed Sno-Balls and shaved flavored ice, they additionally provide various lunch treats and budget-friendly po' boys.
Their menu features choices such as shrimp, meatball, roast beef, and veggie po' boys prepared with MorningStar Farms patties.
35. Hungry Howie's Pizza and Subs
This is a well-known counter-service pizza chain recognized for its flavored crusts, which feature choices such as sesame and herb garlic.
Guests have commended their friendly and informed staff, along with the tidiness of their facility and the ease of accessibility.
Visitors also appreciate the affordability provided by the reasonable costs here.
36. Runaway Island
This is a relaxed grill and beach bar that has provided local top-notch seafood for more than twenty years.
The restaurant also provides Panama City Beach’s breathtaking sights and includes live performances all year round.
Their crab cakes, inspired by Maryland cuisine, are prepared using minimal fillers, featuring rich chunks of crab blue meat cooked to order and accompanied by a housemade caper mustard lemon sauce.
37. Margaritaville
Located in Pier Park, Margaritaville is an essential stop for anyone looking for a perfect vacation getaway.
This lively restaurant offers traditional American cuisine infused with a charming Gulf Coast and Southern flair, making it an ideal spot to enjoy tasty dining while taking in the Gulf’s beautiful scenery.
38. Sharkys Beachfront Restaurant
This is a laid-back dining spot situated by the beach, serving a range of margaritas and seafood.
It is distinguished by its welcoming environment for families, boasting a fun pirate ship play area for children and the biggest outdoor palapa within the US for visitors to relish drinks and other celebratory activities.
The restaurant even features live music performances and provides beach volleyball in its vicinity.
39. Barefoot Beach Bar and Grill
For a relaxed dining adventure with stunning views, this bar and grill is the perfect choice.
This recently opened gem encourages you to relish the stunning Gulf of Mexico’s breathtaking views while enjoying a delightful selection that highlights all kinds of substantial sandwiches and fresh seafood.
40. Pineapple Willy's Restaurant
This is a well-known seaside location that is celebrated for its views of the Gulf, fresh seafood, and vibrant ambiance.
Throughout the day, the restaurant provides a relaxed, family-oriented atmosphere, and after dark, it changes into a lively setting featuring live performances and unique events.
This restaurant also provides delectable offerings such as Fried Oysters and Smoked Tuna Dips, ideal to savor with craft beers or frozen daiquiris.
41. Culver’s
This is a popular fast-food franchise recognized for its distinctive ButterBurgers and freshly made frozen custard.
This restaurant takes great pride in utilizing fresh beef for its burgers and making rich custard continuously in-house during the day.
Culver’s is even a nationwide brand that is known for providing at affordable rates, top-notch fast food.
Clients can look forward to outstanding service, tasty cuisine, and a tidy dining atmosphere while visiting Culver's.
42. Firefly
Firefly, tucked away in PCB, is a delightful and popular restaurant recognized for its enchanting atmosphere and innovative menu.
This restaurant provides a distinctive experience of dining beneath an illuminated oak tree, fostering a magical ambiance.
Their jumbo lump crabcakes are truly exceptional, showcasing high-quality crab meat with a unique mix of spices that is sure to please your taste.
43. Great White Pizza
This is a laid-back restaurant serving an assortment of signature pizzas, calzones, salads, and flatbread sandwiches in a nice environment with al fresco seating.
Their menu here includes meat-centric selections such as their Carnivore pizza alongside vegetarian options like their veggie pizza filled with red onions, black olives, bell peppers, chopped garlic, and tomatoes.
Customers also praise their mushroom and spinach pizza, and acknowledge that the cheese at the restaurant has great flavor and stretch.
44. Saltwater Grill
This is a delightful restaurant that showcases an impressive saltwater aquarium of 25,000 gallons.
The restaurant offers fresh seafood sourced from the lovely Gulf. It also offers gluten-free choices for its customers.
Visitors can relish their dining experience while sitting in a bar at the aquarium’s front, enjoying delicious cocktails such as the Key LimePie Martini.
