Guidebook for Mary Esther
Food Scene
This place is only open in the early morning and closes by 1 pm, but they have fantastic apple fritters. They also have breakfast and korean lunches (bulgogi, kalbi) but I go for the apple fritters.
Happy Donut
2387 US-98This place is only open in the early morning and closes by 1 pm, but they have fantastic apple fritters. They also have breakfast and korean lunches (bulgogi, kalbi) but I go for the apple fritters.
My go-to spot for seafood (except oysters, for those go to Hightide or Boathouse).
51 locals recommend
Dewey Destin's Harborside
202 Harbor BlvdMy go-to spot for seafood (except oysters, for those go to Hightide or Boathouse).
This place is definitely a dive bar, but go for reasonably priced oysters, good bloody mary's, and live music where the singer heckles the locals. Often crowded and loud, but there's outdoor seating.
65 locals recommend
Boathouse Oyster Bar
288 Harbor BlvdThis place is definitely a dive bar, but go for reasonably priced oysters, good bloody mary's, and live music where the singer heckles the locals. Often crowded and loud, but there's outdoor seating.
Great oysters, fried pickles are pretty good too. Looks kind of ghetto from the outside, but actually pretty cute inside with a nautical theme. Makes you want to go "aaaarrrrrrrr".
27 locals recommend
Hightide Seafood Restaurant and Oyster Bar
1203 Miracle Strip Pkwy SEGreat oysters, fried pickles are pretty good too. Looks kind of ghetto from the outside, but actually pretty cute inside with a nautical theme. Makes you want to go "aaaarrrrrrrr".
Good place for breakfast/brunch - eggs benedict, stuffed french toast, more homey and less expensive than Another Broken Egg or Donut Hole.
13 locals recommend
Neighborhood Cafe
417 Mary Esther Cut Off NWGood place for breakfast/brunch - eggs benedict, stuffed french toast, more homey and less expensive than Another Broken Egg or Donut Hole.
My default place for Korean. Great lunch specials...bento box for $10. Also, funnily enough, pretty good sushi as well.
6 locals recommend
Kim's Restaurant
99 Eglin Pkwy NEMy default place for Korean. Great lunch specials...bento box for $10. Also, funnily enough, pretty good sushi as well.
A little pricier, but if you just want to dive into a huge bucket of steamed seafood, this is your place.
58 locals recommend
Old Bay Steamer
102 Santa Rosa BlvdA little pricier, but if you just want to dive into a huge bucket of steamed seafood, this is your place.
Another great seafood place...also good for oysters (I like oysters! Can you tell? =)
Stinky's Fish Camp
Another great seafood place...also good for oysters (I like oysters! Can you tell? =)
The food tries to be upscale Mexican and is good but not great (my favorite is the mango shrimp appetizer - big enough to be an entree) but the sangria is awesome.
76 locals recommend
Cactus Flower Café - Navarre
8725 Ortega Park DrThe food tries to be upscale Mexican and is good but not great (my favorite is the mango shrimp appetizer - big enough to be an entree) but the sangria is awesome.
It's not *really* a restaurant, but this place has the best Thai food in town (and that's saying a lot!) at it's outdoor market. Sundays, 10-2, cash only. Come hungry, you'll want to try EVERYTHING.
Wat Mongkolratanaram Buddhist Temple
741 Mayflower AveIt's not *really* a restaurant, but this place has the best Thai food in town (and that's saying a lot!) at it's outdoor market. Sundays, 10-2, cash only. Come hungry, you'll want to try EVERYTHING.
Sadly the only Indian restaurant in FWB closed last year, so this is the closest. There are two other Indian restaurants in Pensacola, but I prefer this one.
26 locals recommend
Taste of India
810 E Gregory StSadly the only Indian restaurant in FWB closed last year, so this is the closest. There are two other Indian restaurants in Pensacola, but I prefer this one.
This place is so common it's cliche, but if you're a tourist go at least once and kiss the moose. Watch out for the bathrooms - read the signs *carefully*!
318 locals recommend
McGuire's Irish Pub of Destin
33 US-98This place is so common it's cliche, but if you're a tourist go at least once and kiss the moose. Watch out for the bathrooms - read the signs *carefully*!
Buffalo's Reef on Eglin Parkway gets all the rave review for wings, but I prefer TC's.
74 locals recommend
TC's Front Porch
8558 Navarre PkwyBuffalo's Reef on Eglin Parkway gets all the rave review for wings, but I prefer TC's.
I usually don't recommend chain restaurants, but oddly enough this is one of my favorite pizza places. I went to school in Jersey so I'm a fan of the crispy thin crust with just a hint of chewy.
RedBrick Pizza
4144 Legendary DrI usually don't recommend chain restaurants, but oddly enough this is one of my favorite pizza places. I went to school in Jersey so I'm a fan of the crispy thin crust with just a hint of chewy.
A Chinese restaurant owned by a Vietnamese family that also has a tiny Vietnamese menu. (Keeping that all straight?) Go if you've got a pho craving; the Chinese food is okay for the area, not amazing.
Golden Dragon Vietnamese and Chinese Restaurant
9914 Navarre PkwyA Chinese restaurant owned by a Vietnamese family that also has a tiny Vietnamese menu. (Keeping that all straight?) Go if you've got a pho craving; the Chinese food is okay for the area, not amazing.
Alright this is almost embarrassing...but if you're coming back to the house at 3 am and you're starving, this place is right across Hwy 98. Surprisingly good waffles, not so good for salads.
26 locals recommend
Waffle House
Miracle Strip Parkway SoutheastAlright this is almost embarrassing...but if you're coming back to the house at 3 am and you're starving, this place is right across Hwy 98. Surprisingly good waffles, not so good for salads.
Half Mexican grocery store, half permanent food truck. Go here for awesome fresh corn tortillas, chorizo, and no frills Mexican food, including a lingua (cow tongue) burrito. Food served after 4 pm.
7 locals recommend
Super Market Mi Gente
699 Beal Pkwy NWHalf Mexican grocery store, half permanent food truck. Go here for awesome fresh corn tortillas, chorizo, and no frills Mexican food, including a lingua (cow tongue) burrito. Food served after 4 pm.
Essentials
If you can make the drive....DO IT! Fantastic seafood market...lobsters, huge shrimp, oysters, more fish than you can shake a stick at. Bring a cooler so the ice doesn't melt and stink up your car.
295 locals recommend
Joe Patti's Seafood Company
524 S B StIf you can make the drive....DO IT! Fantastic seafood market...lobsters, huge shrimp, oysters, more fish than you can shake a stick at. Bring a cooler so the ice doesn't melt and stink up your car.
The little brother to Chan's Wine World in Destin, this place has all sorts of interesting wine, liquor, and beer from around the world. The staff is also helpful and genuinely knowledgeable.
18 locals recommend
Wine World
4424 Commons Dr EThe little brother to Chan's Wine World in Destin, this place has all sorts of interesting wine, liquor, and beer from around the world. The staff is also helpful and genuinely knowledgeable.
I'm not even that big of a drinker and I usually leave this place with at least 3 bottles. Lots of fun and interesting wine and liquor, plus a big international beer selection.
18 locals recommend
Wine World
4424 Commons Dr EI'm not even that big of a drinker and I usually leave this place with at least 3 bottles. Lots of fun and interesting wine and liquor, plus a big international beer selection.
Drinks & Nightlife
A cute bar with its own adult sandbox, live music, and surprisingly good sangria. Decent Maryland-inspired seafood menu as well.
54 locals recommend
KC's Sandbar & Grille
190 Miracle Strip Pkwy SEA cute bar with its own adult sandbox, live music, and surprisingly good sangria. Decent Maryland-inspired seafood menu as well.
Um...I don't know why it's called "Ski & Sail"...it's a bar. Cute quasi-outdoor, thatched roofs, with a beach and playground. Also, good sweet slushy drinks like bushwhackers.
20 locals recommend
Sailor's Grill
1451 Navarre Beach CausewayUm...I don't know why it's called "Ski & Sail"...it's a bar. Cute quasi-outdoor, thatched roofs, with a beach and playground. Also, good sweet slushy drinks like bushwhackers.
Shopping
I don't usually advocate going shopping on vacation, but you can actually get some pretty good deals here. Wear comfortable walking shoes, this place is huge.
462 locals recommend
Silver Sands Premium Outlets
10562 Emerald Coast Pkwy WI don't usually advocate going shopping on vacation, but you can actually get some pretty good deals here. Wear comfortable walking shoes, this place is huge.
Everything Else
Much less crowded than Destin or Okaloosa Island, but the beaches are just as beautiful. Drive west along Gulf Blvd/hwy 399 and you'll find plenty of parking lots for beach access.
172 locals recommend
Navarre Beach
Much less crowded than Destin or Okaloosa Island, but the beaches are just as beautiful. Drive west along Gulf Blvd/hwy 399 and you'll find plenty of parking lots for beach access.
There are quite a few parasailing companies in Destin. I've personally tried this one and had a lot of fun.
29 locals recommend
Just Chute Me Parasail
500 Harbor BlvdThere are quite a few parasailing companies in Destin. I've personally tried this one and had a lot of fun.