30A's Food Guide
Welcome to foodie paradise! The Emerald Coast is home to some of the best dining in Florida, & I’ve put a delicious list together of all the must stops, & what to try when you do. I know, brutal market research but someone’s gotta do it, right? I highly recommend making reservations advance your stay, but if you didn’t; arriving a few minutes before restaurants open will be key to scoring a table or seat at the bar. When you’re finished here, be sure to check out more recs on what to do & see in my Ultimate Guide to 30a here!
First up…
Pescado
Like I said, there’s no shortage of fine dining experiences in the food paradise that is 30A, & we chose to eat here three times, which says a lot! Best feature you ask? The view, the food, the cocktails, in no particular order. Everything exceeded expectations, every time. The dining room is coastal chic & a lovely option with all the natural light pouring in from the oversized windows, but there’s no beating the views from the swanky, rooftop terrace. A sea of rooftops & intricately designed balconies slow fade to an abyss of turquoise waters meeting the horizon. We made our way through the majority of the menu, & I can tell you nothing is short of perfection…but I’ve listed a few favorites below. The cocktails are top notch & always come with a smile from a chatty bar tender, but the “Go Juice” turned out to be our go to. Irish cream, fernet-branca, & cold brew, a delicious combination we enjoyed morning, day, & night. They don’t have it on the dinner menu but ask for it by name & the bar tenders are happy to whip one up. Pescado is the perfect spot for lingering with a sunset glass of bubbly & good company in the heart of Rosemary Beach. Keep in mind this restaurant is 18 & up, so count the littles out for this one.
Personal favs:
Apps- chef’s ceviche, charred octopus, fried brussels
Lunch/Dinner- seafood platter (worth it, friends), lobster roll, arugula salad (I added salmon), airline chicken breast
Cocktails- go juice, gin thyme, who’s the boss, pama jama
Brunch- filet benedict, smoked salmon, & while I didn’t try the challah French toast; I did drool every time one past our table, so that’s probably noteworthy
George’s At Alys Beach:
A quick bike ride from Rosemary, George’s was another favorite of ours serving up coastal cuisine with a global flair. A charming cottage with large veranda for outdoor seating, as well as a small rooftop terrace. This place made you feel like a local & delivered an outstanding meal to fill you up.
Favs:
Apps- tuna tartare, calamari fries
Lunch/Dinner- jerk crusted snapper, ribeye, the garlic spinach & hot honey sweet potatoes were delicious too
Drinks- If doing fish or light dish, the Spy Valley Sauvignon Blanc was perfection (get the bottle, or two- it’s vacation)
Dessert- key lime pie for the win here
The Citizen:
Another Alys Beach destination, we enjoyed an afternoon at their gorgeous bar, noshing on delectable bites & sipping craft cocktails from cheery barkeeps. The aesthetic is definitely coastal, & there’s a sort of classy meets cool vibe going on here that makes you want to stay & hang all day. The staff was by far the friendliest in 30A, & their extensive menu offers unique, culinary surprises on classic dishes.
Favs:
Apps- Whipped feta, oysters (hubs loved the turtlebacks, I preferred the northeast ones)
Lunch/dinner- whole fried gulf fish, charred avocado salad
Cocktails- big dune energy, ready or great
Dessert- we stopped in mid day from a bike ride & opted for the Kakigori (basically shaved ice w/housemade syrup) to cool off. The perfect, sunny day, light treat.
Old Florida Fish House:
Clear winner for “family favorite!” This place made everyone happy, which is a tall order these days. The sushi & apps were delicious, views were great, & there was plenty to keep the kids entertained. Super relaxed vibe & the outdoor dining area is absolutely gorgeous. Such a fun place with lots of lawn games & things to explore. While the sushi & oysters were fantastic, some of the other food was just okay. However, the overall experience & it being super kid friendly, make this one we’ll come back to year after year. There’s also an ice cream shop attached-another win for this fam! While you won’t bike to this one; it’s well worth a few minutes in the car.
Favs:
Apps-charbroiled oysters (might be the best I’ve ever had), TNT roll or summer summer roll (no, that’s not a typo)
Skip the calamari-none of us liked it
Lunch/dinner- sashimi sampler, stuffed grouper (ask for them to go heavy on the sauce as mine was a little dry)
Drinks- seagrove, fish house sangria
Dessert- Coast Creamery gelato & snowballs is attached to the Old Fish House, so we bypassed the dessert menu (although it looked good), & the ice cream did not disappoint!
La Crema Tapas & Chocolate:
Located on Main Street in Rosemary Beach, it’s known for its tapas & chocolate (duh, I know, but it really does live up to the name). Pop in for a light meal or a an all out feast. Just be sure to make a reservation for this one or be pared to wait a couple hours for a table to open up.
Favs: the ceviche (yea, we like ceviche)- quite small for the price, but it really was next level good, fish tacos, chocolate fondue (seriously ya’ll, THIS CHOCOLATE!!!)
Raw & Juicy:
Back in Alys Beach, this cutie patootie is the perfect pit stop to relax & refuel. If you’re looking for a light breakfast, smoothie, or pre-lunch snack, this is where you’ll find it. The patio is super trendy & breezy, & a great place to hangout & chill between beach sessions & bike rides.
Favs: antioxidant smoothie
Bud & Alley’s:
Best ocean view dining in 30A if you ask me. While I love the bright, white sand & emerald water views the patio offers for breakfast/lunch, I’ve heard it’s something quite beautiful lit up in the dark too. Whether it be a sunset dinner & nightcap drinks or a relaxing, coastal lunch, you’ll love your time at Bud & Alleys. DON’T miss this one on your visit to Seaside! (Sorry for the lack of food pics here, apparently I was starving & inhaled my brunch before I remembered bout y’all)
Favs:
Brunch/lunch- crab cake benedict, cuban sandwich
Cocktails- coconut mojito, frozen B&A mule, & while I personally don’t share everyone’s love for a bloody Mary, I’m told they’re great here if you’re weird like that
Airstream Row:
The insta famous, row of Airstream trailers in Seaside are definitely worth a visit, & you won’t just do it for the gram. That’s right, some of the best street food in the state comes out of this tiny strip of mobile, culinary treats! From BBQ to smoothies, you’ll find something for everyone here. Then meet back up in the amphitheater to picnic or head for the beach to enjoy your goodies toes in the sand style.
Favs: The Melt Down (grilled cheese, like ahhhmazing grilled cheeses), Raw & Juicy’s (yes, the same. It’s their sister location, & their Costa Rica bowl is so yum), Wild Bill’s hot dogs (you think, a hot dog is a hot dog…wrong. Wild Bill actually makes you want to eat a hot dog)
Havana Beach Bar Grill & Rooftop Lounge:
Great food meets great views, can’t go wrong here. Located in the Pearl Hotel, it offers beach views on Main Street & a wonderful menu of seasonal favorites. Head to the rooftop lounge for cocktails while you wait for a table or a nightcap like we did.
Favs: the berry salad, grouper sandwich
Donut Hole:
“Donut” miss this one (cringe, I know, I couldn’t help myself. No more puns, I promise…for this post anyway). On highway98 in Rosemary, you will find the best donuts in, well, anywhere! You name it, they have a donut for it. Grab a box to go or dine in for their full breakfast menu.
Favs: ummm..all of them. I’ve always been a tapas gal, so I ended up with a variety & a tummy ache. Worth it though.
The Summer Kitchen Café:
Favorite omelet, perfect location, great price…highly recommend. Most laid back vibe of all the Rosemary restaurants.
Favs: cheese omelet-feta, tomato, spinach, avocado (had it twice), French, French toast (no, that’s not a typo either)
The Hub:
One of the coolest hangout spots in 30a, full of food, shopping, & well, lots of fun. A food court feel with multiple good eatin’ options surround a large, green, play area with a stage & movie screen at end. The Hub is a great place to let loose, kids & adults alike. Best plan of attack- split up & order a little something from each place, meet back up to stuff your face & pretend you’re a food critic.
Playa Bowls:
Acia bowls, smoothies, & more! They have an extensive menu of creative bowls to choose from or, go rouge & create a custom bowl, because they’re cool like that here. Options for gluten free & vegan too!
Favs: Nutaya Bowl, Pacifica Bowl (get cray & load up on all the fruits)
Amicis & Amigos:
Amigos & Amicis are sister restaurants- one Mexican & one Italian (you probably could have guessed that, huh) that share one large space. Located at 30a & Highway 98, & therefore less of a wait than restaurants directly in Rosemary. We opted for Amigos & the tacos were very good. Excellent service, good food, & a fun atmosphere make this a solid, low wait, dining option that won’t disappoint. Also, the homemade pasta going around Amici’s looked pretty on point to this Italian, so it’s definitely worth trying next visit.
Favs: chips & gauc, tacos, margs…obviously
Cowgirl Kitchen’s Feed & Supply:
While we didn’t have a chance to try the restaurant, we did grab a variety of goodies from the shop on occasion. Best place to stock a cooler for the beach or picnic in the park. Impressive selection of alcohol & nonalcoholic drinks, delicious snacks, & more. Think boutique grocery meets gift shop.
Sugar shack:
Tell yourself you’re just going in for the kids or whatever makes you feel better, but I guarantee you’ll leave with your own personalized bag of goodies. Sugar Shak on Main Street, as well as Sweet Peddler in Peddler’s Pavilion, will have you feeling like a kid again...& your children acting like tiny adults at dinner to earn a trip back to candy haven.
So there you have it, folks! Hopefully you read my “What to Do in 30a” post already, but if not, click here (30A’s Best Travel Guide” to make sure you don’t miss a thing!
Happy travelling, friends!
