The Best Beachfront Restaurants in Panama City Beach, FL

Panama City Beach, Florida is known for its beautiful emerald water and white sandy beaches. It's the perfect vacation spot for travelers looking for a relaxing beach vacation. However, what sets Panama City Beach apart from other beach destinations is its dining scene. From seafood to local cuisine, Panama City Beach offers a variety of dining experiences for all tastes.

Here are the best beachfront restaurants in Panama City Beach, FL, where you can enjoy not just the delicious local cuisine but also the stunning waterscape:

photo by: fireflypcb

Firefly

Located in the heart of the Grand Lagoon, Firefly offers a romantic and elegant dining experience. This upscale, "Golden Spoon Award" winning restaurant will immediately captivate any guest with their nature-inspired decor and beautiful outdoor terrace overlooking the lagoon. The menu offers a variety of seafood dishes, steaks, and southern-style appetizers. This restaurant is perfect for a date night or a more classier night out for two, where you can enjoy a great wine selection and wonderful atmosphere. The must-try dish at Firefly is their crab cakes, made with lump crab meat and served with a cream sauce. For dessert, try their signature key lime pie.

photo by: @runawayislandpcb

Runaway Island

Runaway Island offers the ultimate waterfront scenery with a casual and relaxed dining experience. The restaurant has been delighting locals and tourists alike for over 20 years with a menu that focuses on fresh seafood and local cuisine. The restaurant has an indoor dining space and a gorgeous outdoor deck with a boardwalk that extends all the way to the beach. Runaway Island's top dishes are their baja fish tacos, their New Orleans BBQ shrimp and their signature Runaway Salad. The restaurant also offers great live entertainment and a daily happy hour with drink and food specials.

photo by: @pwillys

Pineapple Willy's

Pineapple Willy's is a popular Panama City Beach spot for both locals and tourists with more than 30 years of tradition. The restaurant's atmosphere is family-friendly and their menu focuses on seafood and BBQ dishes. Some of their highlights are their fried po'boys with shrimp, calamari or Mahi mahi and their famous BBQ rib platter, served with their signature BBQ sauce made with Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey. The restaurant also offers live music and entertainment on their outdoor stage creating the perfect beach vibe for a fun time.

photo by: @sharkysbeach

Sharky's Beachfront Restaurant

Sharky's Beachfront Restaurant has been offering a casual and laid-back PCB dining experience for over 30 years. The restaurant's menu focuses on seafood and bar food. The must-try dishes at Sharky's are their smoked tuna dip, baja fish tacos topped with cilantro cream and pico de gallo and their grouper sandwich, with your choice of fried, grilled or blackened filet on a grilled bun with tartar sauce. The restaurant also has an outdoor tiki bar with live music and holds a lot of events throughout the year.

photo by: @pcbharpoonharrys

Harpoon Harry's Beachfront Restaurant

With over 40 years of serving locals and visitors, Harpoon Harry's Beachfront Restaurant offers a fun and lively beach dining experience. It's a restaurant with a slightly upscale feel while keeping to its casual vibe, which most tourists would appreciate. The restaurant's menu features gourmet Gulf seafood dishes, steaks, pasta and other traditional American favorites. The must-try dishes at Harpoon Harry's are their fish tacos, served with a mango salsa and guacamole, its World Famous Seafood Bucket, stuffed with jumbo shrimp, crab legs and baby clams, and its Shrimp Alfredo pasta. The restaurant features live music and also has a great selection of cocktails and beach drinks, a great reason to not miss their drink specials during their daily happy hour.

photo by: @shuckumspcb

Shuckums Oyster Pub & Seafood Grill

Shuckums Oyster Pub & Seafood Grill is the place to indulge in oyster platters, great seafood dishes and cocktails. Established in 1967, this restaurant offers a casual atmosphere and relaxed dining experience with an extensive menu that features the freshest gulf coast seafood and local cuisine. Besides their wide range of baked, steamed, grilled or fried oyster platters, their trademark dishes are their shrimp jammers, their oyster Po'boy and their crab cakes. The restaurant also offers a daily happy hour with drink and food specials.

Conclusion 

Panama City Beach offers a variety of beachfront restaurants for travelers looking for a unique dining experience with beautiful Gulf views and great local cuisine. From Firefly's elegant and romantic setting to Pineapple Willy's casual and laid-back atmosphere, there's a restaurant for every taste and occasion. Whether you're looking for fresh seafood or local cuisine, Panama City Beach has it all. So next time you visit, be sure to check out one of these amazing beachfront restaurants.