Guidebook for Pensacola Beach
Food Scene
Native Cafe
45A Via De Luna DrGood breakfast place.
Great place for the whole family. Volleyball on the beach, great playground within view of the restaurant seating, romantic seating with fire pits for romance and to stay warm in the winter. Crab nachos are huge, delicious and a great value. Brunch on weekends. Can get a bit wild at night with bands, wet t-shirt contests, and beach celebrations. Oh yeah, they now have a sushi shop so you can stop and bring home dinner.
216 locals recommend
Flounder's Chowder House
800 Quietwater Beach RdGreat place for the whole family. Volleyball on the beach, great playground within view of the restaurant seating, romantic seating with fire pits for romance and to stay warm in the winter. Crab nachos are huge, delicious and a great value. Brunch on weekends. Can get a bit wild at night with bands, wet t-shirt contests, and beach celebrations. Oh yeah, they now have a sushi shop so you can stop and bring home dinner.
Great beachy restaurant with inside and outside dining or just sit at the bar and order drinks and oysters. Drive your boat up to the dock. Local musicians perform in the downstairs area where your kids can play in the sand while you enjoy drinks and dinner. We like the crab bucket to share with shrimp, corn, and potatoes.
292 locals recommend
Peg Leg Pete's
1010 Fort Pickens RdGreat beachy restaurant with inside and outside dining or just sit at the bar and order drinks and oysters. Drive your boat up to the dock. Local musicians perform in the downstairs area where your kids can play in the sand while you enjoy drinks and dinner. We like the crab bucket to share with shrimp, corn, and potatoes.
Parks & Nature
Beautiful beaches and historic park. Geronimo was imprisoned here, sadly. They have night time tours with lanterns of the fort remains and star-gazing. You can scuba dive from the beach and fish from the pier. There is a small cost to get in the park and for the tours.
394 locals recommend
Fort Pickens
1400 Fort Pickens RdBeautiful beaches and historic park. Geronimo was imprisoned here, sadly. They have night time tours with lanterns of the fort remains and star-gazing. You can scuba dive from the beach and fish from the pier. There is a small cost to get in the park and for the tours.
Beautiful, undeveloped beach with remains of an historic fort that was built on the tip of Perdido Key to defend the natural Pensacola Bay and destroyed by Confederate forced during the Civil War. People lined up on the Pensacola shoreline to watch the barrage. You can only reach it by boat now. Ask Bill and Brittany about renting a pontoon boat for the day and enjoy a family outing well-away from the crowds.
9 locals recommend
Fort McRee
Beautiful, undeveloped beach with remains of an historic fort that was built on the tip of Perdido Key to defend the natural Pensacola Bay and destroyed by Confederate forced during the Civil War. People lined up on the Pensacola shoreline to watch the barrage. You can only reach it by boat now. Ask Bill and Brittany about renting a pontoon boat for the day and enjoy a family outing well-away from the crowds.
Sightseeing
On the Pensacola Naval Station. Something of interest for everyone. Aircraft and exhibits, giant screen theater, cafe, interactive flight training, gift shop.
468 locals recommend
National Naval Aviation Museum
1750 Radford BlvdOn the Pensacola Naval Station. Something of interest for everyone. Aircraft and exhibits, giant screen theater, cafe, interactive flight training, gift shop.
Onboard NAS Pensacola, 177 steps to the top. There is a museum where you can learn some Pensacola naval history.
176 locals recommend
Pensacola Lighthouse & Maritime Museum
2081 Radford BlvdOnboard NAS Pensacola, 177 steps to the top. There is a museum where you can learn some Pensacola naval history.
Drinks & Nightlife
This is a real Pensacola Beach bar! It is a must visit for adults while here. Home of the Bushwhacker, a frozen concoction you have to try. Seriously, it was invented here. They'll ask if you want 151 rum added. Careful they sneak up on you, hence the "bushwhacker." Loud, live bands most nights. Lots of southern rock with crusty locals showing you how to live the "Salt Life."
41 locals recommend
Sandshaker Lounge
731 Pensacola Beach BlvdThis is a real Pensacola Beach bar! It is a must visit for adults while here. Home of the Bushwhacker, a frozen concoction you have to try. Seriously, it was invented here. They'll ask if you want 151 rum added. Careful they sneak up on you, hence the "bushwhacker." Loud, live bands most nights. Lots of southern rock with crusty locals showing you how to live the "Salt Life."
This is April's favorite bar. You can get a good meal (fish baskets, salads) while sitting with your feet in the sand, watching the boats on the sound arrive at the private pier. Sunday afternoons are my favorite time to plan to meet friends. Choose a table away from the band if you want to talk or close up if you are there to dance! They have heaters set up for winter-time. The Polar Bear Plunge is held here on New Years Day.
59 locals recommend
Paradise Bar & Grill
21 Via De Luna DrThis is April's favorite bar. You can get a good meal (fish baskets, salads) while sitting with your feet in the sand, watching the boats on the sound arrive at the private pier. Sunday afternoons are my favorite time to plan to meet friends. Choose a table away from the band if you want to talk or close up if you are there to dance! They have heaters set up for winter-time. The Polar Bear Plunge is held here on New Years Day.
Shopping
Touristy shops, clothing stores, bars, restaurants, pier...a great place to kill some time and get souvenirs.
9 locals recommend
Pensacola Beach Boardwalk
Pensacola Beach BoardwalkTouristy shops, clothing stores, bars, restaurants, pier...a great place to kill some time and get souvenirs.
Essentials
You have to go back over the beach bridge to shop for groceries in Gulf Breeze "proper" as the locals call it. There is a Publix and Neighborhood Walmart, as well as a few local shops, fast food, pharmacies, and a Tuesday Morning. Go down Highway 98 toward Navarre to find a full-size Wal-mart.
27 locals recommend
Gulf Breeze
You have to go back over the beach bridge to shop for groceries in Gulf Breeze "proper" as the locals call it. There is a Publix and Neighborhood Walmart, as well as a few local shops, fast food, pharmacies, and a Tuesday Morning. Go down Highway 98 toward Navarre to find a full-size Wal-mart.
Getting Around
Santa Rosa Island Authority trolley service. Free trolley to get around the island much of the year. Check out the schedule online. The stop is out on the main road nearby. There is also a seasonal Pensacola Beach Trolley for trips into Pensacola provided by ECAT. Also on-line information.
41 locals recommend
Santa Rosa Beach
Santa Rosa Island Authority trolley service. Free trolley to get around the island much of the year. Check out the schedule online. The stop is out on the main road nearby. There is also a seasonal Pensacola Beach Trolley for trips into Pensacola provided by ECAT. Also on-line information.