Diners' Choice: Lively restaurants in Northwest Florida

OpenTable

Updated May 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants that have the most vibrant bar scenes in Northwest Florida? 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!

Ambrosia 30A

4.8

4.8 (228)

$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

Rob

Dined 3 days ago

One of the reasons we enjoy vacationing in the Rosemary Beach area is the dining options. Ambrosia is our favorite spot. Love the Bacon Rack appetizer and the full size martinis, not like the junior servings so many places offer for a full size price. Service has been wonderful and management is always checking to ensure the experience is top notch. Heartily recommend it!!

Havana Beach at The Pearl On Rosemary Beach Florida

4.7

4.7 (803)

$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

Laurie

Dined 3 days ago

The food was outstanding, everything we had was wonderful.

The Union Public House

4.7

4.7 (1665)

$30 and under

Gastro Pub

Pensacola

About the restaurant

UPH is a crafty southern pub where it all comes together. 36 East Garden St.

Top review

Madison

Dined 6 days ago

We will be returning! Great food! I had the fried chicken and it was so good.

Brother Fox

4.6

4.6 (215)

$31 to $50

Spanish

Pensacola

About the restaurant

We pay tribute to the rugged individualism of Pensacola’s unique historic cultural significance, specifically its Spanish influence. Real and super-rustic, the kitchen presents Old World cookery at its roots, with all the layers peeled back. Brother Fox utilizes a live-fire approach to cooking almost everything that we serve, from coal-roasted oysters to Carne Asada for two, served with hot tortillas. Our beautiful outdoor seating sets the stage for a casual meet up with friends for a glass of wine from regions near and far, carafes of Bathtub Gin or Sangrias from the bar. Inside, the cuisine and casually elegant design are the embodiment of a “neighborhood” spot that caters to visitors and residents alike, for special occasions, celebrations, and some of the finest wood-fired cuisine in Pensacola. Imagine food with soul, both exciting and traditional, in a breezy setting, right in the heart of Old East Hill.

We are open daily for Dinner at 5pm

Top review

michae

Dined 6 days ago

We celebrated our 16th wedding anniversary and had such a great meal, great server and overall a great experience!

Wild Olives Market & Cafe

4.3

4.3 (151)

$50 and over

Mediterranean

Seagrove Beach

About the restaurant

WILD OLIVES

Wild Olives in SeaGrove, Florida features gourmet cheeses and fine wines along with a bistro menu. The menu is well thought out, with salads, platters, small plate offerings and entrées. Chris' burger is the burger you won't forget. Small plates at Wild Olives are made for sharing, and, if you choose several, you can create a meal for your entire party. Salads are served with bread, so they can be almost a meal in and of themselves. You have to try the Crispy Tuna Poke, Fried Goat Cheese and Crab Cakes with Red Pepper Aioli. Popular main entrees include the Chef's Cut, Greek Catch and Paprika Chicken with Pancetta, don't forget about Chris' Famous Reuben "Dagwood".

Chef Chris Trovas prepares Chef's Specials weekly with fresh local seafood.

Wild Olives is known for Friday Night Wine Tastings, they take place every Friday from 4pm-7pm.

Wild Olives is a Family-Friendly Restaurant!

Join our VIP Email List by visiting www.wildolives30a.com

STAY WILD

Top review

TimVIP

Dined 7 days ago

The food is always very good, and the staff are attentive and very friendly.

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.

Pompano Joe's - Panama City Beach

4.0

4 (488)

$30 and under

Seafood

Panama City Beach - Bay Point

About the restaurant

Pompano Joe's 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. We're a neighborhood beach place where you can "savor the flavor" of the Islands!

Top review

LAVETT

Dined on Apr 26, 2025

We were seated within 5 minutes of our arrival. Our server was friendly and very accommodating. She provided excellent service.

Bubba Gump - Destin

3.8

3.8 (11)

$30 and under

Seafood

Destin

About the restaurant

Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. captures the charm and American spirit that made “Forrest Gump” a smash hit, featuring down-home décor reminiscent of the movie’s setting in Alabama. Now branded as an American icon, the restaurant showcases memorabilia and still-photos from the movie, along with reproductions of script pages, storyboards and even some costumes. At the core, we are a seafood restaurant committed to providing a casual environment where everyone can enjoy a great meal and have some fun too.

Top review

Tyler

Dined on Apr 8, 2025

Alex was our server. She did amazing and running the bar at same time! Highly recommend her!

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!

The Crazy Lobster Destin

3.3

3.3 (658)

$30 and under

Seafood

Destin

About the restaurant

Looking for a place to fuel up with drinks and fresh or fried seafood, find your feast today overlooking the beautiful Choctawhatchee Bay at Poppy’s Crazy Lobster. Share a Steamed Seafood Bucket with your pals, or satisfy your own appetite by keeping it all to yourself—a 2-lb. lobster, snow crab, shrimp, clams, mussels, corn on the cob, potatoes, and sausage all seasoned to pure perfection. Taste some of our New Orleans’ favorites like Crawfish étouffée, jambalaya, gumbo, and red beans, or our local specialties such as blackened Redfish, pan seared Amberjack or lobster fettuccine. The signature drinks and full service bar will keep the good times Rollin; Poppy’s Voodoo Juice, an all-time favorite and refreshing tropical cocktail. Live music keeps the restaurant hopping nightly with a variety of musicians and local talents

Reservations made through Open Table will only be held for up to 15 minutes

Top review

AlannahVIP

Dined on Apr 27, 2025

10/10 Seafood and atmosphere!! If you’re looking for views and good seafood, this is the spot. Lots a great shops on this location too

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