Guidebook for Santa Rosa Beach
Food Scene
Located at the Gulf Place beach access, this coffee shop is great for a stop-off on the way to the beach. The shop is in the same storefront as the 30A Gear store, which has all sorts of great souvenirs and beach gear!
34 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Sunrise Coffee Co.
45 Town Center LoopLocated at the Gulf Place beach access, this coffee shop is great for a stop-off on the way to the beach. The shop is in the same storefront as the 30A Gear store, which has all sorts of great souvenirs and beach gear!
If you want to grab lunch while you're at the beach, La Playa restaurant is right across the street at Gulf Place. Great food, and plenty of outdoor seating. This is a great place for happy hour as well, and often has live music. Note: La Playa also features a bar for the late night scene. You can saddle up to the bar, or grab one of the high-top tables on the sidewalk and enjoy the show from outside, while people-watching. It's a great spot for happy hour, live music, and definitely the best spot within walking or biking distance for late night shenanigans...
21 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
La Playa
37 Town Center LoopIf you want to grab lunch while you're at the beach, La Playa restaurant is right across the street at Gulf Place. Great food, and plenty of outdoor seating. This is a great place for happy hour as well, and often has live music. Note: La Playa also features a bar for the late night scene. You can saddle up to the bar, or grab one of the high-top tables on the sidewalk and enjoy the show from outside, while people-watching. It's a great spot for happy hour, live music, and definitely the best spot within walking or biking distance for late night shenanigans...
Whether you want to ride bikes from the house, or just want to grab some pizza (and maybe some wine too??) while you're down at the beach, Pizza By The Sea is conveniently located in the Gulf Place complex. Hint: Restaurant is on the 2nd level - easiest access is via stairs near street in the rear of the building.
45 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Pizza by the Sea at Gulf Place
95 Laura Hamilton BlvdWhether you want to ride bikes from the house, or just want to grab some pizza (and maybe some wine too??) while you're down at the beach, Pizza By The Sea is conveniently located in the Gulf Place complex. Hint: Restaurant is on the 2nd level - easiest access is via stairs near street in the rear of the building.
If you're looking for great pizza and a screamin' deal - this is the place for sure! Fat Daddy's is located on Hwy 98 (go up 393 and turn left). About a 5 min drive. The pizza is great & they offer $1 domestic bottled beer - $2 imports. Lots of arcade games for the kids - very family friendly!
9 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Fat Daddy's Pizza - Santa Rosa Beach
4942 U.S. 98If you're looking for great pizza and a screamin' deal - this is the place for sure! Fat Daddy's is located on Hwy 98 (go up 393 and turn left). About a 5 min drive. The pizza is great & they offer $1 domestic bottled beer - $2 imports. Lots of arcade games for the kids - very family friendly!
If you're looking for a romantic dinner, this is a great choice. Cafe Tango is a tiny little place (looks like a small cottage from the outside). It's located just east of Gulf Place - an easy bike ride from the house, or a couple minutes in the car. Perfect for parties of two or four. Note, though, there is no view - it's really more about the ambience of dining inside what feels like a quaint country cottage...
14 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Cafe Tango
14 Vicki StIf you're looking for a romantic dinner, this is a great choice. Cafe Tango is a tiny little place (looks like a small cottage from the outside). It's located just east of Gulf Place - an easy bike ride from the house, or a couple minutes in the car. Perfect for parties of two or four. Note, though, there is no view - it's really more about the ambience of dining inside what feels like a quaint country cottage...
The name says it all. You won't find a better ocean view in the area! This is a mix of white linen inside dining, as well as casual dining on the incredible outside deck. Sweeping views of the Gulf.
54 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Vue on 30a
4801 W County Hwy 30AThe name says it all. You won't find a better ocean view in the area! This is a mix of white linen inside dining, as well as casual dining on the incredible outside deck. Sweeping views of the Gulf.
Disclaimer: As far as the adults are considered, VKI would probably be considered just "OK" - however, if you need a good place to take the kids out where they'll have some fun, this is a good choice. Make SURE to sit at a hibachi table and ask for a chef who'll goof around with the kids. If you don't get a hibachi table, pick a different restaurant. At the hibachi, the kids will get a kick out of watching the chef cook (flames, steam, jokes, and tricks) and you'll be stuffed for a reasonable price. Just don't expect to be necessarily wow'd by the food. It's more for the fun! (and the Sake)
VKI Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Bar
4552 US-98Disclaimer: As far as the adults are considered, VKI would probably be considered just "OK" - however, if you need a good place to take the kids out where they'll have some fun, this is a good choice. Make SURE to sit at a hibachi table and ask for a chef who'll goof around with the kids. If you don't get a hibachi table, pick a different restaurant. At the hibachi, the kids will get a kick out of watching the chef cook (flames, steam, jokes, and tricks) and you'll be stuffed for a reasonable price. Just don't expect to be necessarily wow'd by the food. It's more for the fun! (and the Sake)
Parmesan encrusted sandwiches, seafood, bbq, good kids menu, and conveniently located at Gulf Place. Grab breakfast after a walk on the beach, or bike on down for an early bird dinner special!
134 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Perfect Pig Grill and Fish House
4281 E County HighwayParmesan encrusted sandwiches, seafood, bbq, good kids menu, and conveniently located at Gulf Place. Grab breakfast after a walk on the beach, or bike on down for an early bird dinner special!
This is another convenient place to get your bike rentals, if needed. Beyond that, the kids will LOVE getting ice cream here. You will too - it's really good. Often a bit of a line, so try to hit them up a little early. A mid-afternoon bike for ice cream is often good timing. You can also get there via hiking through the woods! (See our map and directions re: The Longleaf Pine Trail).
11 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Buddy's Bike Rentals and Beach Store
17 Gulfview Heights StThis is another convenient place to get your bike rentals, if needed. Beyond that, the kids will LOVE getting ice cream here. You will too - it's really good. Often a bit of a line, so try to hit them up a little early. A mid-afternoon bike for ice cream is often good timing. You can also get there via hiking through the woods! (See our map and directions re: The Longleaf Pine Trail).
Starbucks
780 Grand BlvdGreat local seafood, good atmosphere, and often live music! Try the oyster shooters to get started (served in shot glasses surrounding a big can of PBR). Keep the kids busy by taking them over to Stinky's Bait Shack (same parking lot) - lots of fun stuff to look at in there - basically an expansive gift shop.
149 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Stinky's Fish Camp
5960 W County Hwy 30AGreat local seafood, good atmosphere, and often live music! Try the oyster shooters to get started (served in shot glasses surrounding a big can of PBR). Keep the kids busy by taking them over to Stinky's Bait Shack (same parking lot) - lots of fun stuff to look at in there - basically an expansive gift shop.
Drinks & Nightlife
If you ask anyone who's been to the 30A area once or twice, they'll tell you The Red Bar is a must-do. Great local seafood, consistent lineup of outstanding local live music, and of course a full bar. Red Bar is east on 30A, beachfront in Grayton Beach. Atmosphere is quirky, dark, red-light, and lots of fun! Hint: Awesome place for mimosas & bloodies at brunch.
257 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
The Red Bar
70 Hotz AveIf you ask anyone who's been to the 30A area once or twice, they'll tell you The Red Bar is a must-do. Great local seafood, consistent lineup of outstanding local live music, and of course a full bar. Red Bar is east on 30A, beachfront in Grayton Beach. Atmosphere is quirky, dark, red-light, and lots of fun! Hint: Awesome place for mimosas & bloodies at brunch.
If you're looking for something different - be sure to check this place out! It's located in the Publix shopping mall plaza, just a minute or two east on Hwy 98. Sign outside says, simply, "Music & Coffee." They also have beer & wine, as well as a limited food menu. Tuesday nights are open mic, which typically have a great lineup of local talent. Thursdays and Friday nights feature local and visiting artists playing a lineup of original music in a "storyteller" setting. Hint: This is a small venue with limited seating, so get there early!
30A Songwriter Radio - Music and Coffee
2078 U.S. 98If you're looking for something different - be sure to check this place out! It's located in the Publix shopping mall plaza, just a minute or two east on Hwy 98. Sign outside says, simply, "Music & Coffee." They also have beer & wine, as well as a limited food menu. Tuesday nights are open mic, which typically have a great lineup of local talent. Thursdays and Friday nights feature local and visiting artists playing a lineup of original music in a "storyteller" setting. Hint: This is a small venue with limited seating, so get there early!
Shopping
Gulf Place is at the corner of 393 and 30A. Just a couple minutes via bike, this is a great place to wander around (it's also your easiest beach access. Gulf Place features a variety of shops and restaurants, but also features a Farmers Market every Saturday and Sunday from 11AM-3PM. Plentiful parking if you prefer to drive as well.
38 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Gulf Place Town Center
45 Town Center LoopGulf Place is at the corner of 393 and 30A. Just a couple minutes via bike, this is a great place to wander around (it's also your easiest beach access. Gulf Place features a variety of shops and restaurants, but also features a Farmers Market every Saturday and Sunday from 11AM-3PM. Plentiful parking if you prefer to drive as well.
If you're looking for a shopping day, look no further! This expansive outdoor outlet mall is only about a ten minute drive west on Hwy 98. Every store you can dream of, and obviously fantastic deals! Hint: All storefront entries are outside. If you're doing this for a rainy day activity, don't worry - you can walk store-to-store without getting wet. There are only a couple spots where you'll have to cross the street. :)
462 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Silver Sands Premium Outlets
10562 Emerald Coast Pkwy WIf you're looking for a shopping day, look no further! This expansive outdoor outlet mall is only about a ten minute drive west on Hwy 98. Every store you can dream of, and obviously fantastic deals! Hint: All storefront entries are outside. If you're doing this for a rainy day activity, don't worry - you can walk store-to-store without getting wet. There are only a couple spots where you'll have to cross the street. :)
Essentials
The Publix grocery store is just a minute or two east on Hwy 98. The plaza also offers a liquor store, barber shop, pizza place, coffee shop & more!
48 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Publix Super Market at South Walton
2038 US-98The Publix grocery store is just a minute or two east on Hwy 98. The plaza also offers a liquor store, barber shop, pizza place, coffee shop & more!
Getting Around
Conveniently located in Gulf Place, the YOLO Board and Bike shop offers some great local bike rentals. Bikes are the way to go for touring most of the local area!
25 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
YOLO Board + Bike
4735 Laura Hamilton BlvdConveniently located in Gulf Place, the YOLO Board and Bike shop offers some great local bike rentals. Bikes are the way to go for touring most of the local area!
Entertainment & Activities
This is listed as Baytowne Marina, because Google Maps can't find the right place, but a great place to go is "Baytowne Wharf" - the directions to Baytowne Marina will get you close, and there's a walking path to Baytowne Wharf from there anyway. Lots of restaurants, kids activities, rides, arcade, entertainment, dueling pianos, rum bar, mexican food, sushi, you name it. All in a nice little walking tour circle around a pond. Great for evening entertainment with the family, or even later evening fun with the adults. Check to see - they might even have fireworks during your visit - it's a pretty regular thing there. Note: It gets busy, so be prepared for an amusement park sort of feel - lots of fun though.
14 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Baytowne Marina
8330 Emerald Coast PkwyThis is listed as Baytowne Marina, because Google Maps can't find the right place, but a great place to go is "Baytowne Wharf" - the directions to Baytowne Marina will get you close, and there's a walking path to Baytowne Wharf from there anyway. Lots of restaurants, kids activities, rides, arcade, entertainment, dueling pianos, rum bar, mexican food, sushi, you name it. All in a nice little walking tour circle around a pond. Great for evening entertainment with the family, or even later evening fun with the adults. Check to see - they might even have fireworks during your visit - it's a pretty regular thing there. Note: It gets busy, so be prepared for an amusement park sort of feel - lots of fun though.
Great restaurants, bars, shopping, grocery store & the movies! Check out Cantina Laredo for outstanding Mexican Cuisine! Try the Craft Bar for hand-crafted unique cocktails, microbrews & rare liquor! Publix is right there if you need some groceries. Carmike Cinemas is located in Grand Boulevard as well - they're the easiest local spot to catch a movie. Shopping, Ice cream, coffee & more!
36 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Grand Boulevard
Grand BoulevardGreat restaurants, bars, shopping, grocery store & the movies! Check out Cantina Laredo for outstanding Mexican Cuisine! Try the Craft Bar for hand-crafted unique cocktails, microbrews & rare liquor! Publix is right there if you need some groceries. Carmike Cinemas is located in Grand Boulevard as well - they're the easiest local spot to catch a movie. Shopping, Ice cream, coffee & more!
Parks & Nature
Great way to get out and do something different nearby. For a reasonable entry fee, you can park at the entrance and take their trolley through the woods & down to the beach. Kids love the trolley! Even works for a rainy day activity as long as the rain is minimal.
84 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Parque Estatal de Topsail Hill Preserve
7525 W County Hwy 30AGreat way to get out and do something different nearby. For a reasonable entry fee, you can park at the entrance and take their trolley through the woods & down to the beach. Kids love the trolley! Even works for a rainy day activity as long as the rain is minimal.