Looking for the best seafood restaurants in Destin Florida? You have come to the right place!
Destin is a tourist hot spot located in the panhandle of Florida. With over 4 million visitors annually, this fun beachside city has more than 140 restaurants! That’s a lot of hustle and bustle for a beach town.
With a large variety of restaurants to choose from (including seafood) we will do the hard work for you and narrow it down to the 14 best seafood restaurants in Destin Florida to relieve your craving for seafood.
Want to explore the Panhandle beyond Destin? Check out our post on the 14 Best Cities near Destin to Visit!
14 Best Seafood Restaurants in Destin Florida You Must Try!
Boshamps Seafood and Oyster House
This family restaurant is located right in Destin Harbor, so if you have a boat, you can dock it here and walk right into the restaurant. With amazing views of the Gulf at sunset, Boshamps is a no brainer if you are looking for a great place with not only good seafood but a great atmosphere and views!
With starters like true Alabama cheese dip and the smoked yellowfin tuna dip, there is no shortage of delicious things to try on the menu here.
Be sure to try the oyster Rockefeller, baked with garlic, cheese and spinach. The swordfish, and smoked salmon dishes are also highly recommended.
What we love about Boshamps is that all seafood is freshly caught daily so you can’t go wrong with whatever you order here.
Be sure to check on Bosham’s website here to see what live bands will be playing and what events are scheduled at the restaurant.
Note: Boshamps does not take reservations and there is usually a line up but it is well worth the wait!
Boshamps are open 11-9:30 pm Sunday-Thursday and 11-10pm Friday and Saturday.
Address: 414 Harbor Blvd, Destin, FL 32541
Brotula’s Seafood House & Steamer
Brotula’s Seafood House & Steamer is a locally owned and operated, family-friendly restaurant with thousands of 4.5-star reviews online.
Everything here, whether from the land or sea, is locally sourced which we love! This is just one of the reasons this restaurant makes the cut as one of the best seafood restaurants in Destin, Florida.
Located at Destin Harbor, this restaurant is within walking distance of shops and naturally has beautiful views of the waterways (which is always a plus when dining out!)
Take advantage of the drink specials such as Wine Down Wednesdays ½ off per glass and Sunday Funday offering $14.95 bottomless mimosas. There is also rotating Happy Hour specials every day from 2-6 pm,
Some dishes worth trying here are there delicious mussels, well-cooked grouper, and snow crab buckets. You can choose from six options of seafood or pick the combination buckets.
Note: You are welcome to bring what you caught during the day and the kitchen will cook it for you.
Address: 210D Harbor Blvd, Destin, FL 32541
Pompano Joe’s
Less than a 5-minute drive south of Henderson Beach State Park in Destin, is a beach shack serving amazing Caribbean-inspired dishes.
Pompano Joe’s has been featured on the Travel Channel, and with good reason. The restaurant has everything you are looking for in a Panhandle eatery. It is directly on the beach, is very casual, has indoor and outdoor seating, and the food is delicious.
When you visit, be sure to try the fish tacos lunch special. It includes three tacos with mahi mahi and gulf grouper as well as rice and beans, cooked caribbean style.
In addition to the Caribbean inspired menu items, another dish worth trying is the Seafood Gumbo, winner of the Sandestin Gumbo Festival this dish is overflowing with flavor.
Wondering about drink specials? Pompano Joe’s has a daily happy hour from 3-5 pm, which includes $7 margaritas (our favorite). The lunch specials menu is served until 3:45 pm.
Address: 2237 Scenic Gulf Dr, Destin, FL 32550
The Back Porch
Since 1974 The Back Porch has offered amazing beachy vibes and views with its open-air indoor and outdoor seating. The porch stretches the length of the long building with plenty of seating available for the entire family.
The Back Porch Seafood & Oyster House’s Gulf delicious seafood is so well known, it has brought people from all over the world to try it.
If you are curious about what you should try here first, be sure to try the red snapper. This tender, perfectly cooked, sweet fish comes with a southern corn medley and your choice of six sides. The signature creole seasoning that comes with the snapper is to die for!
If someone in the group doesn’t feel like seafood, we would recommend their famous Amberjack sandwich. You can order it blackened, fried, or grilled, but chargrilled is what The Back Porch specializes in.
The Back Porch Oysters here are also amazing. They are covered in cheese and crab meat – a sure hit with all seafood lovers.
You can call ahead to ask what live entertainment will be offered on the date you are visiting. Be sure to ask about the piano nights – they’re the best.
We would recommend trying to arrive an hour before sundown to try and beat the sunset crowd, seeing as the restaurant does not take reservations, and the wait can be long.
Address: 1740 Scenic Hwy 98, Destin, FL 32541
Marina Cafe
The Marina Cafe is conviently located at Destin Harbor. With its great indoor and outdoor seating with stunning views of the Destin Harbor waterways, it is the perfect place to celebrate a special occasion, whether it be an anniversary or birthday,
With pan-seared andouille-crusted Louisiana redfish, seared scallops, and grilled Gulf swordfish on the menu, Marina Cafe is no doubt one of the best seafood restaurants in Destin!
While we recommend scoffing down as much seafood as humanly possible, make sure to save room for the white chocolate crème brulee – it’s mind-blowingly good. It also comes with strawberries, which really are the cherry on top of the delicious desert.
Marina Cafe is open daily from 5-10 pm. As it is a fine dining experience, they do take reservations so we recommend giving them a call in advance to make a booking.
There is also a free parking lot available for customers.
Address: 404 Harbor Blvd, Destin, FL 32541
The Surf Hut
The Surf Hut is another great spot for seafood in Destin if you are looking for a more casual dining experience, with indoor and outdoor seating available, right off the beach. Bring the kids along, this is a family-friendly restaurant.
This restaurant gets all its seafood fresh from the Gulf daily (which we love!)
With fabulous dishes like the endless seafood summer salad, fried crab claws, fried stuffed shrimp, and blackened shrimp your seafood cravings are sure to be totally quenched at The Surf Hut. The menu also offers ribs, pork, and chicken options for anyone that is looking for something other than seafood.
Vegetarian and gluten-free meal options and substitutions are also available.
Address: 551 Scenic Gulf Dr, Destin, FL 32550
Louisiana Lagniappe
Louisiana Lagniappe is an upscale waterfront restaurant that, as you may have guessed, incorporates Creole-style cooking to its dishes.
Lagniappe opens daily at 4:30 pm and closes at 9:30pm so it is great for families who want to dine early.
You do need to drive through the gated Sandpiper Cove community in order to get to the restaurant and valet your car. Self-parking is available, but it has limited spaces.
The menu consists of Mardi Gras shrimp, Louisiana crab cakes, grouper Louisiana style and fresh Deston snapper. For desert there is also some good options with our favorites being the delicious key lime pie, or bread pudding.
Address: 775 Gulf Shore Drive Destin, FL 32541
Fish On Seafood House
It may not be on the water, but Fish On Seafood House has such great food they don’t need water views. With celebrity Chef Giovanni Filippone in the kitchen, this family-friendly restaurant ranks easily as one of the best seafood in the Panhandle!
Everyone’s favorite fish n chips is here on the menu so the kids will be happy. For the adults, the crab cakes here are said to be some of the best in Destin. We would also recommend trying the pan-seared pepper-crusted tuna served with a vegetable medley and a sweet soy spicy Thai sauce on the side.
At this restaurant its casual style seafood dining. You order you food at the counter and the staff will bring it over when it’s ready. If you want to eat at home, this restaurant also offers takeout and delivery. Open Monday-Saturday 11am-9 pm.
Address: 791 Harbor Blvd, Destin, FL 32541
LuLu’s Destin
Bring your dog, kids, and your unique dietary restrictions over to LuLu’s in Destin, with its fantastic surf and turf menu, Lulu’s is one of the few restaurants on this list that has an entire section of their menu dedicated to those with food allergies and sensitivities.
LuLu’s has indoor and outdoor seating available for guests to enjoy the nice warm weather. You can also paddle, boat, or swim up to the restaurant. Want to try paddle boarding? Destin Paddle Company operates from here and you can paddle right from the restaurant if you want to, by appointment only.
The restaurant is open daily from 11 am to 9 pm. The restaurant often offers live music which is great and advertised on their facebook page.
Address: 4607 Legendary Marina Dr, Destin, FL 32541, USA
Jackacuda’s Seafood & Sushi
If you are talking about the best places for seafood in Destin, leaving out Jackacuda’s Seafood & Sushi would be outrageous. This clean but simple eatery with indoor and outdoor seating offers some of the very best sushi in Destin!
Try the kami ka zee roll, a tuna roll with avocado, jalapeno, mango, and spicy mayo – it’s absolutely delish! Other good options are over the rainbow, and machi machi to name a few.
Monday-Friday is all-you-can-eat sushi from 11-4 pm which of course is our favorite time to visit! You can also take advantage of the happy hour from 4-6 pm, it includes discounted wine, beer, and cocktails. It also includes half off of all appetizers and $2 off select sushi rolls.
You can order delivery from Jackacuda’s but is only available for select items on the menu. Open daily from 11:30-9 pm.
Address: 36120 Emerald Coast Pkwy, Destin, FL 32541
Harry T’s
Right in the heart of Destin Harbor, on the Boardwalk, is some of the best seafood in town at Harry T’s.
Open for brunch lunch and dinner, they specialize in local seafood, just so you know you are getting some of the freshest food around at Harry T’s.
The menu has a wide selection of seafood including steamed crab clusters, steamed shrimp, and a white crab platter. Aside from the delish menu, you might get lucky and see dolphins while you dine!
On Mondays and Thursdays from May-August at 9 pm there are fireworks at the harbor. Make sure to get a good seat so you can enjoy them after eating.
Be sure to stop by on Fat Tuesdays, the area around the restaurant teams with street performers and parades to entertain the crowds.
Address: 46 Harbor Blvd, Destin, FL 32541, USA
The best seafood and the best views in Destin
AJ’s Seafood and Oyster Bar
AJ’s Seafood and Oyster Bar is so good it’s expanded to four locations around the Panhandle but Destin is the original and best. This is an open-air restaurant, directly on the water in Destin where you can enjoy the sounds, smells, and sights of the waterway in front.
This place serves the best seafood and oysters along with three different stages for live performers, and a jumbo screen for sporting events.
There is also a club inside called Bimini which is free for dining customers and $10 cover if you don’t eat, or drink, in. This place has everything.
Start off with their fried seafood baskets or the firecracker shrimp tacos, they are juicy, sweet, and spicy goodness that will make your day.
AJ’s offers a great sushi menu in addition to its fresh seafood. We recommend trying the new Florida girl signature roll it’s really good.
Fried pickles might not be seafood but they are one of the most popular starter at AJ’s and worth getting as a start before your main seafood course.
Open from 11am-2 am daily. A good seafood spot for the night owls in Destin.
Address: 116 Harbor Blvd, Destin, FL 32541
Fudpucker’s Beachside Bar & Grill
With over 12,000 4.5 star reviews, Fudpuckers Beachside Bar & Grill is worth the hype. It’s impossible not to notice the scale of this colorful place. It looks like and mini amusement park which you can easily find on US98, across from Henderson Beach State Park. Plus they have good seafood on the menu.
It has multiple dining rooms, games, live entertainment, and even live alligator viewings!
From 10pm-1 am every Thursday is teen night, so feel free to drop your 13-17-year-olds off so they can dance the night away to music provided by local DJs.
If you are looking for a place to see a gator show, you found it. Gator World is at Fudpuckers and the have shows every day at 12:00, 2:00, 4:00, and 6 pm.
The seafood combo menu here is for the adventurous, with alligator on the list. There are also Gulf shrimp, fresh fish, and crab balls available. Other popular menu items are the shrimp a la fud, the shrimp pucker poboy. The extensive children’s menu offers gator nuggets and kiddie cocktails which are always a bit of fun.
Address: 20001 Emerald Coast Pkwy, Destin, FL 32541
Wagyu McGuire’s Japanese Sushi
Another great Japanese restaurant in Destin with an inventive seafood sushi menu is Wagyu Mcguire’s .It is a sushi seafood gem in Destin.
Order the popular rainbow roll, it will not disappoint. If you alternatively want a bit of everything, the wagyu trio is to die for and includes steak, shrimp, and chicken. Poke bowls are also on the menu for the Poke fans out there. All of the sauces here are made from scratch which is what makes the restaurant so good.
We also recommend taking a look at the sake menu. If you have never tried it, this would be a great place to start. Sake is a Japanese fermented rice wine, and yes it is alcoholic. It is also strong. Don’t mistake strong for bad, sake tastes great and goes super well with sushi.
If you are ready to knock back a sake bomb there are three to choose from here: the geisha, katana, and samurai. Flavors include lychee and moonstone, coconut, and lemongrass – how could you say no? There is even a sparkling sake called Sho Chiku Mio.
Open from 12-10pm every day.
Address: 35 Harbor Blvd, Destin, FL 32541
See more: Best beachfront hotels in Destin you must stay at!
Slippery Mermaid Sushi
Rounding up the list is Slippery Mermaid Sushi – another great option for sushi seafood in the Panhandle. Actually, we were cheeky and this one is not actually in Destin, it is a 30 minute drive away but it is well worth the effort if you are looking for some seriously good sushi!
Slippery Mermaid Sushi is small but the menu is original and diverse which means even the pickiest of sushi eaters will leave satisfied.
We really love the fun menu of this place with options like the psycho mermaid roll, the sexy mermaid, and the flaming mermaid. There are also traditional sashimi, and nigiri’s on offer for those who do not like to go outside of their comfort zone.
For sushi beginners the tropical mermaid or sassy mermaid rolls are suggested.
Address: 8779 Navarre Pkwy, Navarre, FL 32566, United States
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So there you have it folks, the 14 best seafood restaurants in Destin.
Did your favorite seafood joint make the cut? Our readers are always looking for great local tips so if you’ve been to a hidden seafood gem in Destin, let us know in the comments below!
