🍽️ Where to Eat · Panama City Beach Restaurants
Restaurants in Panama City Beach
39 real, verified restaurants across eight categories — iconic Gulf seafood landmarks, the full Pier Park dining lineup, Grand Lagoon waterfront spots, family favorites, BBQ, and local casual picks.
🗺 Front Beach Rd to Grand Lagoon
✅ Verified Direct Sources
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Panama City Beach’s dining scene runs on decades-old seafood landmarks, the Pier Park dining cluster, and a string of waterfront spots along Grand Lagoon. We verified every listing against its own official site or a reliable third-party source, and confirmed several once-popular names — including one of PCB’s most iconic restaurants — have closed since Hurricane Michael and the years since.
Capt. Anderson’s Restaurant & Waterfront Market
Open since 1967 — PCB’s best-known seafood landmark with its own docks and waterfront fish market.
Schooners – The Last Local Beach Club
Beachfront institution since 1985, famous for its nightly “sunset cannon” tradition.
Shuckum’s Oyster Pub & Seafood Grill
Long-running, dollar-bill-covered dive-bar-style oyster pub and local landmark.
Harpoon Harry’s
Longtime beachfront seafood spot known for its “World Famous Seafood Bucket.”
Thomas Donut & Snack Shop
PCB breakfast legend and drive-thru donut/snack institution.
Andy’s Flour Power Café & Bakery
Bakery-café known for made-from-scratch breakfast/brunch fare.
Another Broken Egg Cafe
Regional brunch chain outpost known for scratch-made Southern-style breakfast.
Gypsea Crepes
Casual crepe café popular for sweet and savory breakfast crepes.
Margaritaville
Jimmy Buffett-branded beach-themed restaurant and bar anchoring Pier Park.
Dave & Buster’s
Arcade/sports-bar restaurant combo, a Pier Park anchor for families and groups.
Dick’s Last Resort
Rowdy, novelty-themed American restaurant known for its irreverent service style.
Angry Tuna Seafood Company
Casual seafood counter known for affordable fresh Gulf catches.
Osaka Japanese Hibachi Steakhouse & Sushi Bar
Hibachi and sushi restaurant popular for tableside cooking.
Back Porch Seafood & Oyster House
PCB location of the well-known Destin-founded seafood/oyster house chain.
Sharky’s Beachfront Restaurant & Tiki Bar
Sits directly on the sand, known for its tiki-bar beach vibe.
Runaway Island Beach Bar & Grill
Two-story Gulf-view restaurant and beach bar.
Pompano Joe’s
Long-standing beachfront seafood restaurant with Gulf views.
Bayou Bill’s Crab House
Cajun-leaning seafood/crab house with Gulf-facing dining.
Hook’d Pier Bar & Grill
Waterfront bar and grill near the city pier.
Billy’s Oyster Bar & Crab House
Local seafood/oyster house on the Grand Lagoon side of PCB.
Hammerhead Fred’s
Casual waterfront seafood and grill spot.
Capt. Max’s Dockside Bar & Grill
Waterfront bar and grill on the Grand Lagoon marina.
Pineapple Willy’s
PCB icon since 1989, built on the historic 1936 city pier, known for live music and its Pay It Forward charity week.
The Wicked Wheel Bar & Grill
Southern comfort-food restaurant with a classic-cars theme, known for its fried chicken.
Capt. Jack’s Family Buffet
All-you-can-eat seafood, crab leg, and steak buffet aimed at families. Two locations.
McGuire’s Irish Pub – Panama City Beach
Newly opened (2025) PCB outpost of the famed Pensacola/Destin Irish pub chain, family-friendly with live music.
Visit McGuire’s Irish Pub – Panama City Beach →
Opened in the former Boar’s Head Restaurant & Tavern location after that longtime spot closed and sold in 2023.
Back Beach Barbecue
Dedicated slow-smoked BBQ spot — pulled pork, ribs, brisket, sausage.
Sandbar Seafood & BBQ Joint
Combo seafood-and-BBQ concept popular with locals.
Salty Sue’s
Sports-bar-style spot known for hickory-smoked wings and chopped pork alongside seafood/steak.
Dee’s Hang Out
Family-owned spot known for authentic Southern-Coastal-Cajun cuisine and steam pots.
Cantina Del Mar Fresh Mexican Grill
Local Mexican grill known for fresh, made-to-order fare.
Diego’s Burrito Factory
Popular casual Mexican-inspired burrito and margarita spot.
Finn’s Island Style Grub
Casual island/Caribbean-inspired grub, coffee, and smoothie shack.
J. Michael’s Restaurant & Oyster Bar
Longtime local seafood restaurant and oyster bar — “The Original.”
Firefly
Upscale steakhouse-style restaurant known for a polished, contemporary dining experience.
Saltwater Grill
Upscale seafood, steak, and sushi restaurant known for its 25,000-gallon tropical aquarium and acclaimed Sunday brunch.
The Grand Marlin of Panama City Beach
Upscale seafood house and oyster bar overlooking the Grand Lagoon marina.
Triple J Steaks & Seafood
Long-running local steak-and-seafood house near Grand Lagoon.
Good to Know
- Boar’s Head Restaurant & Tavern is closed. The longtime Front Beach Road tavern sold in 2023 and was redeveloped into McGuire’s Irish Pub – Panama City Beach, listed in our Family-Friendly section above.
- Several other PCB landmarks have closed since Hurricane Michael. Montego Bay Seafood House & Oyster Bar, Dockside Seafood & Oyster House, Boatyard Restaurant, Pier 77 Seafood Restaurant, and The Shrimp Boat Restaurant are all confirmed closed and not listed here.
- Some well-known Gulf-seafood names are across the bay, not in PCB. Uncle Ernie’s, Hunt’s Oyster Bar, and Los Antojitos are all in mainland Panama City — out of scope for this guide.
- Reservations matter for the landmark spots. Capt. Anderson’s and Firefly both get busy in peak season — book ahead where possible.
What happened to Boar’s Head Restaurant & Tavern?
It sold in May 2023 and was redeveloped into McGuire’s Irish Pub – Panama City Beach, which opened at the same Front Beach Road address.
What’s the most iconic seafood restaurant in Panama City Beach?
Capt. Anderson’s Restaurant & Waterfront Market, open since 1967 with its own docks and fish market, is the closest thing PCB has to a definitive seafood landmark.
Where should I eat if I’m staying near Pier Park?
See our Pier Park Dining section above — Margaritaville, Dave & Buster’s, Ford’s Garage, and five other restaurants are all within walking distance inside the complex.
Is Goatfeathers in Panama City Beach?
No — Goatfeathers is on 30A near Rosemary Beach, a separate destination. It’s not included in this PCB-specific guide.
How does NME choose which restaurants to feature?
We verify each restaurant against its own official site, Yelp status, or local news coverage rather than relying on a single aggregator list, and we exclude anything confirmed closed. Read more on our methodology page.
Know a Restaurant We Missed?
If there’s a restaurant in Panama City Beach we’re missing, email us and we’ll take a look.
Heading to Panama City Beach?
See the full trip guide — where to stay and what to do, organized the same way, by area.
