Diners' Choice: Lively restaurants in Panama City

OpenTable

Updated April 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants that have the most vibrant bar scenes in Panama City? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Gallion’s

4.9

4.9 (1112)

$50 and over

Contemporary Southern

Rosemary Beach

About the restaurant

GALLION'S welcomes guests 18 years & older for an adult only dining experience beginning at 3pm daily. We offer a family friendly lunch dining experience from 11 am until 2:30 pm, where we welcome guests of all ages. Our bar opens at 11 am. Join us in the Bar daily for exclusive food & drink offerings of between 2:30 & 4:30pm. 18+ Dinner service kicks off at 5 pm.

Gallion's is an approachable upscale restaurant & cocktail lounge located on iconic Barrett Square in the heart of Rosemary Beach on Scenic Highway 30A.

Sophisticated small plates drive the culinary experience while flawlessly executed coastal favorites anchor the menu. The establishment boasts an extremely dynamic & opulent wine & spirits portfolio that ranges from numerous marques in the Buffalo Trace vintage collection to Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon.

Bold cocktails, a vast inventory of allocated goods, exceptional cuisine, & a timeless interior are the hallmark characteristics of this Rosemary Beach staple.

Top review

RichardVIP

Dined 4 days ago

Talk about a perfect place, this is it. Location, ambiance, cocktails, food. And Caleb our waiter was icing on the cake. Sincerely a perfect place to go.

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Firefly - Panama City Beach

4.8

4.8 (8104)

$31 to $50

Seafood

Panama City Beach - Bay Point

About the restaurant

Firefly Casual Fine Dining at it's Finest! Firefly specializes locally caught seafood, mouthwatering steaks seared on an 1800 degree broiler, wild game, and fresh sushi. Named one of OpenTables Top 100 Most Romantic Restaurants in America, and winner of Florida Trend's Golden Spoon Award, Urbanspoon.com Top 250 High End Restaurant and Wine Spectator Award of Excellence, quality of food and service is Firefly's mission. We want it to be much more than dinner, we want to treat you to a unique dining experience!

Top review

Amanda

Dined 4 days ago

An amazing dinner with the best service! The dining room is cozy and inviting!

The Grand Marlin of Panama City Beach

4.8

4.8 (4989)

$30 and under

Seafood

Panama City Beach - Bay Point

About the restaurant

The Grand Marlin Restaurant features a main dining area with a shucked to order oyster bar, exterior North Drop Bar overlooking Grand Lagoon, and private meeting rooms. This Panama City Beach restaurant, with an air of island casualness, serves the highest-quality cuisine, including the freshest local seafood featured on menus designed and printed daily to take advantage of the local bounty. The atmosphere creates a fusion of the Caribbean and the Panama City Beach Area. Corporate Executive Chef Gregg McCarthy has a passion for great-tasting food and particularly loves working his culinary magic with fresh Gulf Coast seafood. Boaters and beach-goers feel comfortable in shorts and flip-flops at the oyster bar, in the dining room and at the North Drop Bar. The Grand Marlin has a space and atmosphere for all occasions and is looking forward to creating an authentic experience between time and tide.

Top review

Randy

Dined 3 days ago

Overall we were very pleased with the dining experience here.

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4.8

4.8 (225)

$31 to $50

Seafood

Rosemary Beach

About the restaurant

Ambrosia is 30A’s iconic location for the freshest Gulf-to-table seafood and the most luxurious prime and wagyu steaks. At Ambrosia you will find authentic hospitality combined with a rich celebration of local flavors in a sophisticated upscale dining room, patio, and separate bar room. When coming to 30A, it doesn’t get any better than Ambrosia.

Top review

DineenVIP

Dined 1 day ago

We recently had the pleasure of dining at Ambrosia and we must say it was an exceptional experience from start to finish. The moment we walked in, we were greeted with warm and attentive service. The staff went above and beyond. The service was seamless, our water glasses were never less than half filled. The food was outstanding from appetizer to dessert. This restaurant excels in service and cuisine. Highly recommend the stuffed flounder. We are looking forward to our next visit.

Havana Beach at The Pearl On Rosemary Beach Florida

4.7

4.7 (799)

$31 to $50

Contemporary Southern

Rosemary Beach

About the restaurant

Inspired by El Floridita, Hemingway’s favorite haunt in old-town Havana, The Pearl Hotel's signature restaurant offers a comfortable, communal ambiance full of life and steeped in the joy of living, eating and drinking well.

Enjoy Gulf Coast Americana cuisine with Caribbean influences that is also seamlessly merged with a contemporary local philosophy as meats, fish and produce are harvested from family-owned, small-producers on the Gulf Coast.

Papa Hemingway himself would’ve loved the hand-carved mahogany bar, the perfect spot for enjoying an expertly muddled cocktail, craft beer or fine wine after a day of running with the bulls or battling the mighty marlin.

Havana Beach Bar & Grill is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Dinner reservations are recommended.

Top review

SarahVIP

Dined 4 days ago

Everything was amazing, they accommodate gluten free so well with your own bread service, the entrees, and all desserts are gluten free!

Cuvee 30A

4.7

4.7 (1615)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Rosemary Beach

About the restaurant

Cuvee 30A is a culinary gem in the vibrant 30A community, offering unforgettable dining experiences. Led by renowned Chef Tim Creehan, this award-winning restaurant combines casual fine dining with an extensive wine list in an elegant yet comfortable setting. Chef Creehan's artistry shines in every dish, featuring fresh, locally sourced ingredients. The menu includes a variety of options, from succulent seafood and prime steaks to delightful vegetarian creations. Signature dishes like Seared Tuna Rare and Pecan Crusted Grouper showcase his culinary talent and have earned accolades, including the Wine Spectator's Best of Award of Excellence. Enhancing the dining experience is Cuvee 30A's impressive wine list, curated by expert sommeliers. With a diverse selection of international vintages, there's a perfect pairing for every dish and occasion. Come savor the flavors at Cuvee 30A, where every meal is a celebration.

Top review

RachelVIP

Dined 2 days ago

This was our first time in the restaurant. We sat in the dining room and enjoyed everything. The cocktails were amazing, appetizers and entrees were both wonderful. We loved the wine and the overall vibe. We can’t wait to return next year. Well done to the owner, chef, and wait staff at Cuvee!

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The Wharf Fish & Oyster Company

4.4

4.4 (47)

$30 and under

Seafood

Pensacola Beach

About the restaurant

The Wharf Fish & Oyster Company is Pensacola Beach's premier dining destination, offering an elevated yet approachable experience that features waterfront views and flavors of the Gulf Coast.

Top review

WendyVIP

Dined 6 days ago

This was a great place to spend my birthday dinner! The fish and chips were amazing - I don’t love seafood but the cod was incredible. They also had great drinks and surprised me with a yummy birthday cake.

The Back Porch Bay

4.1

4.1 (86)

$31 to $50

Seafood

Panama City Beach - Bay Point

About the restaurant

The Back Porch takes tremendous pride in serving Gulf Seafood to its guests. If it lives in the Gulf, you will most likely find it on our menu. Our seafood is delivered daily and it is handled with great care from the minute it arrives at our door to the time it arrives at your table. Our standards are high and it shows in the presentation and flavor of every seafood dish we serve.

Top review

Debra

Dined on Apr 23, 2025

Oysters, twice baked potato, and slaw were very good. Grouper was a little thin and overcooked, but the sauce moistened it and it was delicious. It was noisy, but a fun place to go.

SALT

4.0

4 (95)

$30 and under

Bar / Lounge / Bottle Service

Pensacola Beach

About the restaurant

Salt offers a welcoming haven where people come together to enjoy fresh from the Gulf cuisine and share in the joy of good company. Inspired by the vibrant flavors and rich cultural traditions of the Mediterranean, our dishes are created from scratch using the freshest and most flavorful ingredients available.

Top review

Julie

Dined on Apr 11, 2025

We had impeccable service. Our server was attentive and very helpful with suggestions/questions. Her knowledge and experience was obvious with her very descriptive responses. Our food was very good. The ambiance was OK, it sounded like a cafeteria due to the open floor plan and open access to the hotel lobby. Loud roller carts going up/down the corridor adjacent to the booth seating was distracting. But, in a city full of similar fried food menus, Salt offers more variety with salads, non-battered seafood and veggies. Their menu was exactly what we needed.

Solstice Oceanfront Bar + Grill

3.8

3.8 (42)

$30 and under

American

Panama City Beach - Bay Point

About the restaurant

Located within the stunning Springhill Suites Panama City Beach beachfront hotel, Solstice Oceanfront Bar +Grill offers a delightful dining experience with breathtaking views of the Emerald Coast. Indulge in handcrafted cocktails and savor a selection of delectable bar bites or dive into our array of mouthwatering entrées. With daily specials to surprise and delight, Solstice Oceanfront Bar + Grill is the perfect spot to unwind and enjoy the coastal ambiance. Join us for an unforgettable culinary journey where the flavors are as refreshing as the ocean breeze.

Top review

Lauren

Dined on Mar 19, 2025

The food and service were excellent here! We loved the quinoa bowl, smash burgers, and the jalepeno chicken! Great atmosphere especially if it’s chilly out to smart a window seat so you can enjoy looking at the beach. Great service too!

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