A Foodie Lover’s Guide: Best Places to Eat in Destin, Florida

Destin, Florida is one of my favorite summer vacation spots because of its warm weather, clear blue water, and white sandy beaches.

Plus, it’s just a short drive from the famous 30A highway, so there’s plenty to explore.

My family has visited Destin multiple times, and we keep coming back for a reason. If you love food as much as I do, here’s my guide to the best places to eat in Destin, Florida!

Be sure to check out my blog post all about fun things to do in Destin, Florida for couples!

Best Places to Eat in Destin, Florida

Here’s a round-up of my favorite places to eat in Destin, Florida, organized by breakfast, coffee shops, lunch and dinner spots, and nightlife.

Breakfast Places in Destin, Florida

Kwench Juice Cafe

A beach vacation and an acai bowl just go together, so I was on the hunt for the best acai bowls in Destin.

Kwench Juice Cafe came highly recommended, and it definitely lived up to the hype.

I’m pretty picky about acai bowls. I like them thick and frozen, almost like ice cream, and Kwench delivered that perfectly.

They have a variety of acai bowls, plus juices and smoothies. I tried the Capitol Bowl, which comes with a generous scoop of peanut butter, and it was delicious.

My sister tried the Green Machine juice, and even with all the green veggies in it, it was yummy and refreshing.

The cafe is in a strip mall with a decent-sized parking lot, so finding a spot to park is easy.

East Pass Coffee Co.

East Pass Coffee Co is a great Destin coffee shop that gives off major beach vibes!

Please note that it does have limited seating on the inside and outside.

I got one of their summer seasonal drinks which was a Sweet Cream Pistachio Cold Brew and sadly was not a fan.

On the other hand, my sisters got the Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew and loved their drinks!

They serve up some pretty good acai bowls (I still prefer Kwench though) as well as breakfast/lunch sandwiches and various toasts.

My husband got the Breakfast Sandwich and enjoyed it.

Real + Raw 30A

I did not personally go here, but my sister took the trip to Real + Raw 30A and voted it the best acai bowl in Destin.

It is technically not located in Destin, but in Santa Rosa Beach which was roughly a 20 minute drive from our condo. It is located along 30A highway.

It has a super cute interior and offers juices, smoothies, acai bowls, etc. It is worth giving a try if you’re in the 30A area!

2 Birds Coffee & Cafe

2 Birds Coffee & Cafe is great place to eat breakfast in Destin, Florida.

We got lucky as it was only a ½ mile walk from our condo, and it had the best coffee & breakfast we had on our trip.

Some of our family favorites were the Breakfast Sammy, Biscuit Sammy, and Pan Fried Banana Bread. I recommend a vanilla iced latte with honey – can’t go wrong there!

They are located in a strip mall and have a decent sized parking lot. Definitely check this place out if you’re staying nearby!

Beignets & Brew

Beignets & Brew is a MUST visit while you’re in Destin.

I have only had beignets once in my life so I am definitely not an expert, but these were amazing!

They offer various sauces to dip them in – blueberry, butter cream (my personal favorite), and chocolate.

They serve coffee as well. I got the iced sea salt caramel latte, and it was great!

They are located on the Destin Harbor Boardwalk, and it is seriously one of the cutest locations!

It does not have any indoor seating, but they have tables set up outside right next to the Destin Harbor – pretty sweet view for some beignets & coffee for breakfast!

Donut Hole Bakery and Cafe

I have never passed the Donut Hole when there has not been a line clear out of the door, proving it to be one of the top Destin, Florida restaurants!

My advice would be to get there early to try and beat the crowd they do not take reservations.

They do offer other breakfast items in addition to donuts.

Waffle House

This might seem like an odd recommendation, but my family (specifically my Dad 😂) has always gone to Waffle House for breakfast while in Destin.

It offers great breakfast at an affordable price.

If you live in a state without a Waffle House, it is definitely worth a visit!

There seem to be a lot of Waffle Houses in Florida so I bet you would not have to venture too far from your condo.

Coffee Shops in Destin, Florida

Bad Ass Coffee

Bad Ass Coffee is another great coffee shop in Destin, Florida, and it delivers major beach vibes.

They have an extensive menu offering various flavored lattes and other types of coffee.

I went with one of their more interesting options and tried out a vanilla latte made with banana milk.

It ended up not being one of my favorite coffees, but it was definitely a fun drink to try.

People in my family did seem to really enjoy their cold brew so if you are a cold brew fan I would definitely visit.

They have various bakery items including muffins, bagels, etc. We got a double chocolate chip muffin, and it was super yummy.

Black Bear Bread Co.

Black Bear Bread Co. is a great coffee shop in 30A (not too far from Destin) that offers breakfast & lunch food along with a variety of pastries.

Their menu has several specialty coffee drinks such as the Bear Latte, Beekeeper, and Tan Line which intrigued me!

Kith & Kin Coffee

Kith & Kin Coffee is a coffee shop in 30A in Santa Rosa.

It was about 25 minutes away from where we were staying in Destin. I thought I would still include it depending where you are staying in Destin!

They offer a variety of coffee drinks and bakery items.

The Palms Coffeehouse

I am bummed I never made it to the Palms Coffeehouse because the interior of this coffee shop as well as their menu of signature drinks seems right up my alley!

Some signature drinks that caught my eye on their menu include (1) Cinnamon Frenchie – french vanilla & cinnamon and (2) The Palms – coconut, vanilla, & honey. 

It is located inside the restaurant area of The Palms of Destin Resort.

If you’re headed to Destin, Florida via airplane, check out my 40 carry-on packing tips to save space!

Best Lunch Restaurants in Destin, Florida

Since we tend to stay on the beach all day during vacation, we decided to just eat sandwiches in our condo during this trip.

I thought I would still provide some lunch restaurants I found while planning for our trip!

The Whale’s Tail Bar & Grill

The Whale’s Tail Bar & Grill is a great beachfront restaurant in Destin, Florida making it the perfect spot for lunch if you’re relaxing on the beach.

They offer a variety of sandwiches, salads, and wraps.

Cabana Cafe

Cabana Cafe is a great spot for lunch since it is only a ¼ mile walk from the beach.

Their menu offers salads, quesadillas, fish baskets, burgers, sandwiches & wraps, etc. 

The Harbor Tavern

The Harbor Tavern is a great place to enjoy lunch outdoors on the Destin Harbor Boardwalk.

The Mediterranean bowls on their menu caught my eye!

Dinner Restaurants in Destin, Florida

Surf Hut

The Surf Hut is a great beachfront Destin restaurant! It was only a ½ mile from our condo allowing us to walk on the beach to dinner – does not get much better than that!

It offered great views of the beach while eating dinner.

They also had cornhole boards set up on the beach to play while waiting to be seated which is a fun way to pass the time.

We had a group of 8 people but were able to get seated immediately – not sure if we just got lucky but that was a plus.

I recommend the grilled cobia with the fresh parsley & garlic chimichurri sauce.

Back Porch

The Back Porch is one of the most popular restaurants in Destin, Florida and is my family’s go-to place to eat dinner while on vacation here.

I recommend the Back Porch Mahi along with the twice baked potato. It is 10/10!

They don’t do reservations. For our party of 8, we waited around 45 minutes to an hour which wasn’t too bad when you have the ocean as your view while you wait!

Pompano Joe’s Seafood House

Pompano Joe’s Seafood House is a great seafood restaurant to add to your itinerary.

We did have our longest wait at this restaurant for a party of 8 which was roughly around an hour and a ½. Not too bad for visiting Destin in June!

I recommend the Mahi “Bajan” which is crab & shrimp stuffed Mahi Mahi served with a cream sauce.

Crab Trap

The Crab Trap offers great beachfront outdoor seating! We got to sit on their outside deck right against the beach – can not beat that!

They are known to have great crab legs (hence the name 😂) and great seafood as well.

I recommend the Mahi Mahi and the Hot Crab & Shrimp Dip for an appetizer.

Pazzo Italiano

Pazzo Italiano is one of the best places to eat in Destin, Florida if you’re looking for some yummy Italian food!

We decided to venture out and try something for dinner other than seafood, and we were not disappointed.

It was also a great decision for our wallets 😂 (those tourist seafood restaurants get to be very $$$)!

They serve free bread & olive oil at the beginning of your meal. The olive oil has crushed garlic in it which was soooo good!

I recommend the Regina Margherita Pizza – best pizza crust I have ever had!

Their portions were also pretty big so most of us took home leftovers to eat the next day.

We were lucky enough to get seated right away with 8 people, but I would recommend making a reservation if you can.

It seemed as though most of their tables were reserved for parties with reservations.

The Craft Bar

The Craft Bar serves up one of the best burgers in Destin!

Everyone loved this restaurant so much we went there twice over the course of our vacation.

I recommend the Pimento Burger, the Bistro Burger, and their Fried Chicken.

Boshamp’s Seafood & Oyster House

Boshamp’s Seafood & Oyster House is a very popular restaurant on the Destin Harbor Boardwalk!

They are well-known for their fresh seafood and oysters.

They offer live music some evenings – check their website for their schedule.

Brotula’s Seafood House & Steamer

Brotula’s Seafood House & Steamer is another great seafood restaurant located on the Destin Harbor Boardwalk!

They are best known for their fresh, locally-sourced seafood such as the steamed snow crab.

The Edge Seafood Restaurant

The Edge Seafood Restaurant serves up some great local seafood.

Their rooftop bar offers panoramic views of the Destin Harbor!

Tailfins Waterfront Grill

Tailfins Waterfront Grill serves a wide variety of food from cheeseburgers to sushi and steak.

AJs Seafood & Oyster Bar

AJs Seafood & Oyster Bar is one of the most popular and longstanding Destin, Florida restaurants!

They have been in operation since 1984 and are located on the Destin Harbor.

They are well-known for their fresh oysters and seafood.

Rum Runners

Rum Runners is one of the most fun places to eat in Destin, Florida!

It offers an exciting environment with a dueling piano bar and live music.

McGuire’s Irish Pub

If you are looking for a great steak in Destin, McGuire’s Irish Pub the place to go!

Check out 23 things to do on long flights to pass the time on your way to Destin, Florida!

Night Life in Destin, Florida

Royal Palm Grille Beach Bar

The Royal Palm Grille Beach Bar is one of the coolest beach bars in Destin, Florida!

It is three stories and located right on the beach. They have several TVs inside the bar to watch sports.

It is a part of Royal Palm Grille, and the beach bar offers a limited menu of food from the Royal Palm Grille.

They host free bonfires on the beach every Friday & Monday year round and offer smores!

Harry T’s Lighthouse

Harry T’s Lighthouse is one of the best places to do karaoke in Destin, Florida!

They have karaoke on the 2nd floor Thursday – Saturday starting @ 8:00pm.

You have to be 21+ to enter.

It seems they keep their Facebook up to date if the karaoke is canceled for any reason so be sure to check their Facebook page.

Kenny D’s Beach Bar

Kenny D’s Beach Bar offers karaoke every Wednesday night starting at 7:00pm.

Final Thoughts on the Best Places to Eat in Destin, Florida

On your next trip, be sure to hit up one (or more!) of the spots on my list of the best places to eat in Destin, Florida.

From breakfast spots and coffee shops to lunch and dinner restaurants, plus a few beach bars, there’s something for everyone!