The 25 Best Restaurants On Florida’s 30A

Here are our favorite places to eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner on your next trip to 30A.

30A was once Florida’s best-kept secret, but now that the secret is undeniably out, families and friends come from all over to enjoy the white-sand beaches, bright blue waters, and idyllic walkable communities located along the scenic road. Perched on the northwest Gulf Coast of Florida, 30A (which refers to an actual local two-lane highway in South Walton County, known as County Road 30A) spans roughly 20 miles along the Florida coastline, between Destin and Panama City. No matter which community you’re staying in—we cover them all in our Ultimate Guide To Florida’s 30A—there are so many unique restaurants to visit in between bike rides and beach days.

Here are our favorite places to eat for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even dessert on 30A. 

Best Breakfast Spots on 30A

Black Bear Bread Co.

This all-day café offers pastry cases full of homemade baked goods for breakfast and beyond, as well as a full menu. Visit its two locations, one in Seaside and one in Grayton Beach, which has an attached bar room where you can grab a happy-hour drink and snacks.

blackbearbreadco.com; multiple locations

Great Southern Café

For those looking for classic Southern breakfast plates, plus special bites like beignets for the table, this bungalow located in Seaside serves up one of the most popular breakfasts on 30A. It’s also open for lunch and dinner, but make sure to pencil in time for the often-long waitlist.

thegreatsoutherncafe.com; 83 Central Square, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459

Raw & Juicy

Get a healthy start to your day at this organic smoothie café in picturesque Alys Beach. In addition to fresh-squeezed juices, colorful smoothies, and acai bowls, the breakfast menu also has savory options like a vegan biscuit sandwich and potato skillet.

rawandjuicylife.com; 147 West La Garza Lane, Alys Beach, FL 32461

Charlie's Delights

The new brick-and-mortar location of beloved truck Charlie’s Donuts is now open in the heart of Alys Beach. While you can still enjoy the same hot and fresh donuts, visitors can also sample house-made fudge, ice cream served in homemade waffle cones, a full espresso bar, and other offerings for breakfast and dessert.

facebook.com/CharliesDelights30A; 67 Somerset St, Alys Beach, FL 32461

Best Lunch Restaurants on 30A

Cowgirl Kitchen

This nothing-fancy canteen is an easy place to saddle up for a casual lunch. The menu is Southwestern-inspired with salads, sandwiches, and tacos, including fresh Florida grouper tacos. The original location resides in Rosemary Beach, but you can also visit a second location in Blue Mountain Beach.

cowgirlkitchen.com; multiple locations

The Perfect Pig

An all-day eatery with Southern-meets-French fare, this restaurant is known for its sandwiches that make for a “perfect” post-beach meal, along with hearty salads and brunch-esque dishes like quiche. It has three locations along 30A—in Watercolor, Seagrove, and Gulf Place—that you can visit depending on where you’re staying.

theperfectpig.com; multiple locations

Airstream Row

More of a collection of unique airstream food concepts, this area is smack-dab on the main 30A drag in Seaside. Head to Frost Bites for Hawaiian shaved ice, Barefoot BBQ for smoked meats and sides, The Meltdown for artisanal grilled cheeses, or Wild Bill’s Beach Dogs for a quick lunch bratwurst with all the toppings.

seasidefl.com/airstream-row; 2235 E County Hwy 30A, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459

Taco Bar

Just steps away from Seaside’s public beach access, this taqueria serves up Mexican cuisine and margaritas that you can take to-go as you walk around nearby shops or head back down to the beach. It’s also an ideal place to grab kiddos a quick snack when they get hungry.

budandalleys.com/taco-bar; 2236 E County Rd 30A, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459

Seagrove Village Market

This old-school seafood spot dates back to 1949, but has gone under renovations in recent years. Located in Seagrove at the cross-section of 30A and County Road 395, it’s easily accessible via bike from nearby communities Watercolor, Seaside, Seagrove, and Grayton Beach. Go for a casual flip-flop-friendly lunch or dinner, and order its signature fried seafood baskets that come with hushpuppies.

seagrovevillagemarket.com; 2976 S County Hwy 395, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459

Daytrader Tiki Bar & Restaurant

Located just steps away from the public beach access in Seaside, this newer concept is an ode to tiki cocktails and tropical-inspired eats, including a vibrant menu offering items such as fresh seafood bites (try the tuna crispy rice), sandwiches with unique spins, and even Hawaiian favorites like spam musubi.

www.daytradertiki.com; 2236 E County Hwy 30A, Seaside, FL 32459

The Salty Butcher

Have an authentic Italian butcher experience at this recently opened shop between Seagrove and Seacrest. Along with the cheese and charcuterie meats that you can purchase at the counter for your own at-home boards and lunches, you can also order deli sandwiches to grab on-the-go and take right down to the beach.

thesaltybutcher30a.com; 4749 E County Hwy 30A, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459

Best Dinner Restaurants on 30A

Bud & Alley’s

It’s easy to recognize this iconic dinner restaurant, which has arguably the best view in the area of the sunset and the Seaside Obelisk. You can make reservations for the downstairs portion of the restaurant, but the upstairs deck is first-come-first-serve (and offers the prettiest view). Make sure to try Bud’s legendary crab cakes! It is also open for lunch.

budandalleys.com; 2236 E County Hwy 30A, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459

George’s

Perhaps the winner for most charming restaurant on 30A, George’s is housed in a shingled cottage with a breezy wraparound porch, outdoor courtyard seating, and a rooftop cocktail deck. It’s imperative to arrive early to put your name down, since it does not take reservations. Enjoy a Southern-with-a-twist menu.

georgesatalysbeach.com; 30 N Castle Harbour Dr, Alys Beach, FL 32461

Borago

This Italian trattoria is located amongst a collection of shops and restaurants near Grayton Beach. The dimly lit dining room is the perfect setting for a romantic dinner with authentic pasta dishes and house-made focaccia bread that comes complimentary to each table with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

boragorestaurant.com; 80 E County Hwy 30A, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459

Basmati’s

This tiny hidden gem is hard to find, but once you have, you’ll return again and again. It’s been a local favorite for over 20 years and features unique Asian cuisine. The small bungalow is in Blue Mountain Beach and has a small indoor dining room and quaint porch that overlooks marshlands.

basmatisthirtya.com; 3295 W County Hwy 30A, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459

Red Bar

For many people, it’s not a trip to 30A without visiting this iconic restaurant and lounge in Grayton Beach. The no-frills, mood-lit space suffered from a devastating fire in 2019, but has since reopened with the same energy and style of the original building. Catch live music here almost every day of the week during high season.

theredbar.com; 70 Hotz Ave, Grayton Beach, FL 32459

The Citizen

This newer addition to the 30A restaurant scene has already become a popular gathering spot in Alys Beach. The fancified seaside tavern is friendly for larger groups and a great starting place to grab cocktails. Head there early for an oyster happy hour, and choose from a menu of elevated coastal cuisine.

citizenalys.com; 20 Mark Twain Ln, Alys Beach, FL 32461

Papa Surf Burger Bar

Country music stars Brian Kelley and Jason Aldean, along with their wives, have recently opened this burger joint in Blue Mountain Beach, offering made-to-order burgers with song-inspired names like “The Beach Cowboy” and “Burnin’ It Down.” It's the perfect spot to stop by for a casual early dinner after a day enjoying 30A's outdoor beauty. It marks the Kelley's second business opening in the area.

papasurf.com; 4324 W County Hwy 30A, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459

Wild Olives

When the first (and much beloved) location of Wild Olives in Rosemary Beach closed down, longtime visitors and locals were sad to see it go. Luckily, the concept has reopened just a bit down Highway 30a in Seagrove. The new menu is full of fresh seafood and a standout assortment of small plates to share.

wildolives30a.com; 4771 E County Hwy 30A, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459

Pescado

If you’re looking for beautiful views, this rooftop restaurant and bar is the place to post up for the characteristic pastel swirls of a 30A sunset. Located in Rosemary Beach, it is ideal for groups who want to try different things, as many of the dishes are shareable, such as the seafood paella. The bar is open before dinner service for cocktails only, and there’s also a weekend brunch.

rooftop30a.com; 74 Town Hall Rd, Rosemary Beach, FL 32461

Old Florida Fish House

This family-friendly restaurant sits on the cusp of Eastern Lake, the dune lake nestled between Seagrove and Seacrest. Few places in the world feature the type of dune lakes that are in the 30A area, so this indoor-outdoor hangout spot gives a dreamy glimpse, especially at sunset. The attire is casual, and an extensive menu offers something for everyone.

oldfloridafishhouse.com; 33 Heron's Watch Way, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459

Best Dessert Spots on 30A

La Crema

This cozy nook in Rosemary Beach is dedicated fully to Spanish-style tapas and chocolate. Yes, chocolate. It’s perfect for dropping in after dinner for a nightcap and its popular chocolate fondue, amongst other desserts and confections. You can even order sipping chocolate with various add-ons and customizations.

lacrematapas.com; 38 Main St, Rosemary Beach, FL 32461

Modica Market

This small family-run grocery and gourmet deli has been a staple in Seaside for over 30 years and was featured in the locally-filmed Truman Show. While you can drop in from morning to night for any essentials or premade items from the deli counter (including breakfast biscuits), one of the biggest draws is the colorful pastry case filled with layer cakes. Choose from over 10 kinds of cake and pie by the slice. On a lucky day, you can get the homemade, meringue-topped banana pudding before it sells out.

modicamarket.com; 109 Central Square, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459

The Sugar Shak

You might hear about this candy shop from kids begging their parents to visit during a trip to Rosemary Beach. You’ll find it close to the town post office, and it contains new and old-school sweets along with an ice cream parlor. Pick out candies to take home, or order an ice cream dessert to enjoy while walking around town.

facebook.com/TheSugarShak; 5 Main St, Rosemary Beach, FL 32461

Dawson’s Yogurt & Fudgeworks

This throwback frozen yogurt joint in Seaside’s town circle is known to accrue quite the long line during the busy season. Order soft-serve, fudge, and even its beloved chocolate-covered Key lime pie on a stick. 

dawsongroupseasidefl.com/dawsons-yogurt; 121 Central Square, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459

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