Best Restaurants in Destin

Destin is the World’s Luckiest Fishing Village — and that means the seafood here is about as fresh as it gets. Charter boats dock at the harbor every afternoon with the day’s catch, and it’s on your plate by dinner.

Waterfront & Harbor

AJ’s Seafood & Oyster Bar (HarborWalk) — The center of Destin’s dining scene. Waterfront bar, raw oyster bar, and a massive deck overlooking the harbor. The fried grouper sandwich and the oysters on the half shell are the standards. Live music most evenings.

Boshamps Seafood & Oyster House (harbor) — Elevated Southern seafood. Smoked tuna dip, blackened grouper, and pan-seared scallops with harbor views. One of the best restaurants in Destin.

Dewey Destin’s Seafood (multiple locations) — Right on the harbor where the fishing boats dock. The closest you can get to eating what was just caught. Fried, grilled, or blackened — all of it is fresh.

Beach & Casual

The Back Porch — Oceanfront dining on Old Highway 98. Chargrilled amberjack, seafood gumbo, and frozen drinks. The view and the atmosphere are unbeatable for casual beachfront dining.

Pompano Joe’s — Caribbean-flavored beachfront restaurant. Jerk chicken, coconut shrimp, and rum runners. The Gulf view patio is excellent.

McGuire’s Irish Pub (Destin) — Not seafood — an Irish pub with 18-cent Senate bean soup, enormous steaks, and house-brewed beer. An institution. The moose heads on the wall are wearing sunglasses.

Breakfast

The Donut Hole — Destin breakfast institution since 1978. Fresh-baked donuts, massive omelets, and the kind of place where everyone in town has eaten at least once.

Another Broken Egg Café (Destin Commons) — Southern-inspired brunch chain that started in the Southeast. Creative benedicts, shrimp and grits, and craft cocktails.

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