Visitors and locals on the Northwest Florida Gulf Coast know that for fresh seafood, beach restaurants, and a variety of dining options, Scenic Highway 30A in South Walton County is the place to go to eat. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks are always being served at dozens of restaurants and coffee shops along this 19-mile stretch of coast road that passes though some of the most rare and beautiful scenery in the world.
The Red Bar in Grayton Beach
Locals know the place to see and be seen is the Red Bar. Located in the historic town of Grayton Beach, the Red Bar is one of the most popular places on the Gulf Coast and although the menu is limited, the people-watching isn’t. Celebrities can often be spotted in the crowd and the “30A Posse” (the Scenic Highway 30A party crowd) are often there to enjoy a martini and the live jazz.
There are no Gulf views from the Red Bar, but sand and surf are just a few steps away. The Red Bar is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and the bar is open from 11 AM to 11 PM. The dinner menu includes a daily fish, shrimp and crawfish, baked eggplant, manicotti, and crab cakes. The Red Bar doesn’t take reservations or credit cards; cash or check only. There is an ATM on site.
Bud & Alley’s on Scenic Highway 30A in Seaside
Advertising “daily sunset celebrations,” Bud & Alley’s Waterfront Restaurant and Rooftop Bar truly is a great place to watch the sun go down. This all-encompassing eatery also boasts a Pizza Bar and a Taco Bar, so there are many options besides their fresh seafood. Founded in 1986 and named for a dog and a cat, Bud and Alley’s is a long-standing hot spot for visitors and locals alike.
Bud & Alley’s is open for lunch and dinner and serves salads, sandwiches, and burgers. Entrees include shrimp and grits, chicken scaloppini, grilled gulf grouper, and Bud & Alley’s famous crab cakes. Kid-friendly menu items like grilled cheese with Goldfish, noodles with marinara sauce, and house-made mac and cheese will keep the little ones smiling.
Fish Out of Water, Florida Gulf Coast Dining in Watercolor
Truly luxurious dining happens every day at Fish Out of Water, Walton County’s only AAA Four Diamond restaurant. Open for breakfast and dinner, Fish Out of Water offers beach front dining in a resort casual atmosphere, so casual attire and beachwear is expected. The décor is upscale with a great view of the Gulf and the beach from the deck and through the floor to ceiling windows.
Offering “sophisticated and inventive Southern cooking,” the menu includes many items that are locally grown along with fresh seafood such as Apalachicola oysters, grouper, scallops, and blue crab claws. The extensive wine list includes over 3,000 wines representing 325 labels.
Santa Rosa Beach Club, One of South Walton’s Favorite Beach Restaurants
For beach dining without the sand, Santa Rosa Beach Club offers casual dining with a Gulf view. Located in Santa Rosa Beach on the western end of Scenic Highway 30A, the Beach Club is open for lunch, dinner, and Sunday brunch. With both indoor and outdoor tables available, the restaurant is a popular gathering spot, and the “sunset club” gathers nightly on the Terrace for an outstanding view of the sunset.