Destin Restaurants

As is the case with most tourist towns, Destin is loaded with chain restaurants and fast food joints along Highway 98. In this section, we’ve tried to list the best restaurants in town for any budget. The higher the price definitely does not indicate higher the quality.

Over the past few years we’ve been to just about all of them and we’d love to hear from you if we’ve missed any.

Seafood is king in Destin and throughout the year you can find a very large variety of locally caught fish that includes Grouper, Mahi Mahi, Tuna, Amberjack, Triggerfish and Swordfish to name a few.

Top Five Destin Restaurants

#1 The Whale’s Tail ($10-15)

This newly renovated restaurant has re-opened for the 2010 season and there is no better place in town to grab a reasonably priced meal while sipping a cocktail and watching the sunset. The fresh seafood is outstanding and the specialty frozen drinks are the best on the beach (not to mention they start serving them up at 7am!).

#2 Marina Café ($20-30)

The Marina Café has the best seafood chef in Destin. They have a constantly changing menu and offer an all around fabulous dining experience.

#3 Fat Clemenza’s ($10-15)

The location is uninviting and driving by it you would see it as just another Pizza shop. This is hands down the best pizza in town. The staff is friendly and welcoming as this is the perfect option if you’re ‘seafooded’ out.

#4 Pompano Joe’s ($10-15)

This fun restaurant offers a casual beach side dining experience. Walk up the stairs from the Gulf and enjoy one of the many unique menu items. The service is average, the food is good and the location is unbeatable. We did once have a hot sauce explosion which warranted a free tee shirt and appetizer. Just make sure there is a bottom to the bottle before using!

#5 Maguire’s Irish Pub ($10-15)

No visit to Destin is complete without stopping in to Maguire’s. The food, drink and atmosphere is among the best in town and is our favorite Thursday night spot (ladies night). The Irish Wake will knock you off your feet and goes perfectly with the ‘Maguire’s Terrible Garbage Burger’. This one is for adventurous burger lovers only!

There are a number of options within Harborwalk Village near the Destin bridge and if you would like to stroll around looking for a place to eat, this is your spot. You can also take the 20-30 minute drive down to the Village of Baytowne Wharf within the Sandestin Resort in Miramar Beach. This fairy-tale like village offers a number of dining options for any budget.

There are also a number of all-you-can-eat buffets on and around Highway 98. Whether it be seafood, Chinese, Sushi or old fashioned American cuisine, you’ll find a great value for your money at any of them. Our personal favorite is the Fuji Sushi and Seafood Buffet. About $15 will get you all you can eat seafood and sushi that is as good as any restaurant in town.

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$ Destin Restaurants

$$ Destin Restaurants

$$$ Destin Restaurants