Ultimate 30A Restaurant Guide: Top Spots for Every Budget -

30A covers a pretty wide area with several different seaside towns and places to explore. That means that there are tons of restaurants to choose from, too.

Having so much to pick from is a good thing but it can make finding the best places a little overwhelming. Even writing this post was overwhelming and I know all about the restaurants!

To make it easier, I organized the restaurants by location from west to east. I also added dollar signs next to each restaurant to indicate the cost per person. This is most helpful for the dinner restaurants as breakfast/lunch tend to be fairly even across the board.

Here is the key for the $, $$, and $$$ signs:

$ (Least Expensive): Meals under $20 per person

This category is for casual spots, coffee shops, food trucks, and quick bites. Perfect for families on a budget or casual dining experiences.

$$ (Mid-Range): Meals between $20-$40 per person

This includes mid-tier restaurants, bistros, and most sit-down places that are not overly fancy but still offer a full-service experience.

$$$ (Most Expensive): Meals over $40 per person

This is for fine dining, upscale seafood spots, or places known for their ambiance and high-quality ingredients.

Keep in mind that prices might be higher than what you’re used to at home. 30A is a popular destination for tourists and prices in general reflect that.

Breakfast

If you want to start your day with a good cup of coffee, check out my post on the best coffee spots in 30A. I view coffee shops as a bit different than breakfast shops (with some exceptions) so I gave coffee its own post instead of including it here!

$ Cowgirl Kitchen (Rosemary Beach & Blue Mountain Beach) – a nice laid back spot with a Southwestern-inspired menu. This is also a good lunch option.
$ Black Bear Bread Co. (Grayton Beach, Miramar Beach, Santa Rosa Beach, and Seaside) – An amazing cafe and bakery with a full menu and baked goods (my personal favorite is their almond croissant). But I go for their coffee! Their Grayton Beach location also has a bar room for happy hour drinks and snacks.
$ Crackings (Grayton Beach) – great for a wide variety of breakfast options, including all of your traditional favorites
$$ Great Southern (Seaside) – Classic Southern breakfast, including beignets! This is a very popular place and it can get really busy. They are also open for lunch and dinner. Most breakfast items are under $20, but close to the $20 mark, so I went ahead and rounded up just because it’s a tad more expensive than the other options on the breakfast list.
$ The Perfect Pig (3 locations in Santa Rosa Beach at Watercolor, Seagrove Beach, and Gulf Place) Everything we got here for breakfast was incredible. The thick applewood smoked bacon, their biscuits, and biscuits and gravy were all incredible. The ingredients were fresh and high quality.
$ Fonville Press (Alys Beach) – The most instagram-worthy spot with great coffee. They also have pastries and breakfast items, their chicken biscuit is very popular!
$ Raw and Juicy (Alys Beach) – A great healthy option with smoothies, juices, açaí bowls, and more.
$ Charlie’s Delights (Alys Beach) – Once a food truck, Charlie’s Delights is now a brick and mortar shop with amazing donuts. They also have great dessert options if you’re visiting later in the day.
$ Donut Hole (Santa Rosa Beach and Inlet Beach) – They serve classic sit-down breakfast options but we always get donuts to-go! They have every flavor imaginable.

Pictured: Chicken and waffles from Perfect Pig; coffee & an almond croissant from Black Bear Coffee Co; the Instagram-worthy outside of Fonville Press; and outdoor seating at Raw and Juicy

Lunch

Most of these lunch options are also open for dinner and are great options for dinner. The reason I put them under lunch instead of dinner is just because they tend to be a little more affordable and laid back. If you’re looking for a more laid back dinner, these are all perfectly good options.

$$ Shunk Gulley Oyster Bar (Santa Rosa Beach) – Good views on their open-air upstairs terrace. Their menu is a little on the small side with mostly fresh seafood options.
$$ Goatfeathers (Santa Rosa Beach) – A 30A staple that has been open since 1988. A laid back fish house with fresh seafood. They also have a fish market.
$ Cowgirl Kitchen (Rosemary Beach & Blue Mountain Beach) – a good casual lunch option with salads, sandwiches, and tacos.
$$ Chanticleer (Grayton Beach) – This spot is a bit tucked away and is great for a casual lunch. They have great sandwiches and salads. They’re also known for their freshly made cookies.
$$ Chiringo – Sit upstairs for views of the Gulf! We love their relaxed atmosphere and the beer is ice cold. We love their shrimp tacos and guacamole.
$$ Taco Bar (Seaside) – Owned by Bud and Alley’s, this is a great spot for casual Mexican food which you can easily take to-go or eat at one of their outside tables. I especially love their margaritas! Great before or after a day at the beach or for taking a drink and wandering around.
$$ Pizza Bar (Seaside)- Also owned by Bud and Alley’s and also great for grabbing a pizza to go or sitting at one of their outside tables. Their pizza dough is made in house and is wood fire baked.
$$ Shrimp Shack (Seaside) – A quintessential shack with casual seafood baskets.
$$ Airstream Row (Seaside) – This is a collection of airstreams located right in the heart of Seaside. There is Hawaiian shaved ice, BBQ, artisanal grilled cheese sandwiches, and hot dogs. It’s great for a quick meal after a day at the beach.
$$ Seagrove Village Market (Seagrove) – this seafood market has an authentic old-school feel and it is authentic because it dates back to 1949. It’s casual and known for their fried seafood baskets and hushpuppies.
$$ La Crema Tapas and Chocolate (Rosemary Beach) – This is one of my favorite restaurants that we visit over and over when we come. It is a tapas restaurant with amazing food and fondue. Everything we’ve ever ordered here has been delicious.
$$ Havana Beach Bar & Grill (Rosemary Beach) – Located in the infamous Pearl Hotel, their rooftop has great water views. The rooftop is more of a place to grab a snack or a drink than a full-on meal. Their rooftop serves great cocktails and sharable plates. They’re open in the evening as well with lit fireplaces for some incredible ambiance. The dining room is a AAA Four Diamond restaurant serving upscale American food for dinner.
$$ Amici (Rosemary Beach) – Great Italian food
$$ Amigos (Rosemary Beach) – Amigos and Amici are owned by the same company and are lcoated right next door to each other. They serve good Mexican food and this would also be a great option for lunch.

Pictured: baked oysters from Shunk Gulley; the picturesque Shrimp Shack, and roasted brussels sprouts from La Crema (recommended by our waiter and I’m so glad!)

Dinner

Like I mentioned under the lunch restaurants, many of these can also be good lunch options. The restaurants with a * next to them are not open for lunch.

$$$ *Basmati’s (Blue Mountain Beach) – Unique Asian food in a quaint bungalow setting.
$$$ *Roux 30A (Santa Rosa Beach) – Nice for a fancy, intimate dinner. It’s a 6-course meal and you can opt to include a wine pairing as well. The chef will tell you about what was going on, the ingredients they’re using, and techniques. They are reservation only.
$$ *Grayton Seafood (Grayton Beach) – Laid back fish shack vibes with specializing in fresh seafood dishes
$$ *Borago (Santa Rosa Beach/Grayton Beach) – Great authentic Italian food great for a date night. Dinner comes with complimentary homemade focaccia bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
$$ Red Bar (Grayton Beach) – The Red Bar is a classic for many. It has your typical bar food and turns into a lively spot in 30A. It is no frills and high energy. They have live music most days when it’s busy season and they’re open late. This is on the dinner menu because the atmosphere in the evening is worth visiting, but if you don’t care about that then this spot is also great for lunch.
$$ The Wine Bar (Watercolor) – wine, cheese plates, and pizza. They also have a great happy hour
$$ Fish Out of Water (Watercolor) – I recommend going for happy hour for half-priced fresh oysters & half-priced house wine. They have great water views! At the time of this writing, they are not open on Fridays.
$$$ Bud & Alleys (Seaside) – Probably the most quintessential restaurant in 30A. Great food and great views.
$$$ *Surfing Deer (Seagrove) – Upscale restaurant specializing in seafood dishes that are Mediterranean and Southern-inspired. They use locally sourced and fresh ingredients.
$$$*Cafe Thirty-A (Seagrove) – Fine dining serving upscale, innovative American food.
$$ Old Florida Fish House (Between Seagrove and Seacrest) – They have the coolest space with twinkling lights, so the vibes are the best after dark. They also have live music most evenings. Their menu items include a little bit of everything including sushi, oysters, burgers, fresh seafood, and more.
$$$ George’s (Alys Beach) – I feel like this is the restaurant that people are the most excited to visit in 30A. It’s a charming restaurant located in a cottage with a charming wraparound porch and outdoor seating. They also have a rooftop cocktail bar. Their menu serves their own unique take on Southern food.
$$$ The Citizen (Alys Beach) – This is a more upscale seaside tavern with coastal cuisine inspired from destinations all over the world. They have an oyster happy hour that is really good.
$$$ Pescado (Rosemary Beach) – Pescado has beautiful views from its rooftop bar and restaurant. It’s a fine dining restaurant specializing in fresh local seafood. If you get there early, try to get a seat on the porch for a good sunset view! Friday through Sunday, they open at 9:45 am, but Monday through Thursday they are only open for dinner.
$$$ *Paradis (Rosemary Beach) – Another fine dining restaurant specializing in American food and seafood in particular.

There are so many options for good food in 30A and hopefully this guide helped you find the perfect place. From cheap eats to formal dinners, there really is something for everyone and I hope I helped you find it!