The best restaurants in Seaside, Florida, offer fresh seafood, soft-serve frozen yogurt, and breakfast favorites! No matter the time of day or your appetite, there is a restaurant in Seaside that will meet your needs.
Seaside was first constructed to be the primary location for the set of the movie, The Truman Show. The picturesque neighborhood is full of pastel colors and a small post office, and it is an absolutely perfect venue for a beach vacation home. Seaside Florida restaurants are fun to visit.
Its proximity to the sea heavily influences the culinary scene in Seaside, and the menus are filled with tasty and creative dishes that highlight local flavors and fresh catches. However, if you do not have the time to read into the all restaurants we picked up for you in Seaside, a quick way to get an overview of the 5 best of them is by watching our video below:
Bud & Alley’s Waterfront Restaurant & Bar
Address: 2236 E W County Hwy 30A, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459
Phone: (850) 231-5900
Website : https://www.budandalleys.com/
Bud and Alley’s Seaside is possibly the best restaurant in Seaside, Florida. It is a local favorite pastime to eat here. The restaurant is synonymous with Seaside; it is a casual eatery on the beach with a diverse menu and an open-air bar. Named for the founding couple’s cat and dog, Bud & Alley’s has served the Seaside community and visitors for about twenty-five years.
Owners Dave Rauschkolb and Scott Witcoski created something unique and special with the restaurant in the heart of Seaside; it is a place that holds precious memories for many people and a casual meeting spot for locals to catch up and enjoy a meal. It is one of the best Seaside Florida restaurants.
Some of the most delicious food in Seaside, FL, is on Bud & Alley’s menu. The smoked tuna dip is a house favorite and adored by locals.
Great Southern Cafe, Seaside, FL
Address: 83 Central Square, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459
Phone: (850) 231-7327
Website : https://thegreatsoutherncafe.com/
Great Southern Cafe in Seaside, Florida, is one of the shops in the roundabout enclosing Seaside Park, a beautiful green space in the center of the community. It is open daily from 8:00 am to 9:30 pm.
The Great Southern Cafe serves Southern classics with a creative culinary twist in a comfortable atmosphere that is welcoming for locals or visitors alike. Chef Innocent Utomi specializes in fusion cuisines, highlighting his Caribbean background and culinary training. It is one of the best places to eat in Seaside, Florida 30a.
The Great Southern Cafe believes that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so the eatery offers a wide array of options like New Orleans-style beignets, avocado toast, and a crab cake with fried green tomato eggs benedict.
For lunch or dinner, try the balsamic salmon with a feta-caper relish or the grits a Yaya with blackened shrimp, smoked bacon, and gouda!
Fish Out of Water Restaurant
Address: 34 Goldenrod Cir, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459
Phone: (850) 534-5050
Website : https://www.foow30a.com/
Fish Out of Water Restaurant offers some of the best seafood in Seaside, Florida. The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner using seasonal ingredients that are locally sourced. The restaurant has one of the most impressive Gulf of Mexico views from its wrap-around outdoor seating area. It is a standout among Seaside Florida restaurants.
The restaurant has two rooms to accommodate private dining requests–one for a party of around twelve people and the other for larger groups of about forty guests. Customizable menus and dedicated events staff create an ideal environment for an unforgettable dining experience. It is truly one of the best restaurants near Seaside, FL.
For a specialty cocktail, enjoy the Paddleboard Paloma or the Coconut Breeze. The most popular menu items include the Carolina pimento cheese with candied pepper bacon, the banger shrimp with Sriracha comeback sauce, and the blackened grouper. This restaurant is an excellent pick for your Seaside, FL, dining.
Shrimp Shack Seaside Florida
Address: 2236 E County Hwy 30A, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459
Phone: (850) 231-3799
Website : http://www.sweetwilliamsltd.com/shrimp_shack.asp
The Shrimp Shack in Seaside, Florida, is a waterfront eatery with an outdoor deck. The eatery is one of the seafood restaurants in Seaside, FL. The Shrimp Shack is situated along the boardwalk, and the menu features seafood baskets and plates.
The restaurant opens at 10:00 am daily! What’s great is that people can place a call ahead order for a large quantity of steamed shrimp and take the seafood home to enjoy for a day on the beach or for a party. Shrimp Shack is an excellent Seaside, Florida restaurant for those who love seafood.
The menu includes favorites like steamed crab claws, a Florida lobster roll, and a Cuban sandwich. Try the steamed gulf shrimp or the buttered lobster tail. Locals often visit the Shrimp Shack for a lunch of raw oysters on the half shell. It is a great place to sit down for fresh seafood after enjoying the beach or strolling through Seaside.
Cafe 30A
Address: 3899 E County Hwy 30A, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459
Phone: (850) 231-2166
Website : https://cafethirtya.com/
Cafe 30A is undoubtedly in the top ten of the best Seaside, Florida restaurants! The restaurant offers an island vibe with creative dishes. Private events are exciting at Cafe 30A; guests can book the entire restaurant or a room for eighty people. The eatery is open daily and is one of the best restaurants near Seaside, FL.
Try the grilled Georgia quail with grits or the beef carpaccio with horseradish crème. The main courses are tasty fusion dishes like tandoori salmon, panko-crusted flounder, and seared snapper with passionfruit butter sauce.
The wine list is full of options like the 2016 Sanglier Pinot Noir. Try the rum raisin apple bread pudding with cinnamon ice cream and a Kentucky bourbon sauce for dessert.
45 Central Wine & Sushi Bar
Address: 45 Central Square, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459
Phone: (850) 231-4545
Website : https://fortyfivecentral.com/
For the best sushi in Seaside, Florida, 45 Central Wine & Sushi Bar is the place to visit. Jim Shirley is the owner of 45 Central and is an award-winning chef. The sushi bar often sources ingredients locally from farmers and artisans. It is open from Wednesday to Sunday from 4 pm to 9:30 pm with a happy hour until 6:00 pm.
Try the Enforcer roll with spicy crab and sriracha or the Afterburner roll with extremely spicy tuna. To pair with your rolls, try one of the dumplings, like the pork, duck, or crab.
Order some specially selected wine or sake to pair with your meal. Other options for dinner include a paella served on particular evenings. It is one of the best places to eat in Seaside, Florida.
Surfing Deer
Address: 2743 E County Hwy 30A, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459
Phone: (850) 213-4200
Website : https://surfingdeer.com/seagrove/
Surfing Deer is another delicious Seaside, Florida restaurant. The eatery is one of the best restaurants near Seaside, Florida. It is a high-end beachfront eatery serving New American cuisine focusing on fresh seafood dishes. The atmosphere is welcoming and warm, casual yet elegant, and the space has ample patio seating so guests can enjoy the warm breezes of the Gulf of Mexico.
As an appetizer, try the fried okra with remoulade sauces. The entree menu is extensive, from seared sea scallops with champagne risotto to beef short ribs with a five-spice soy glaze. Be sure to try the jalapeno cornbread and the truffle fries.
Bud & Alley’s Taco Bar
Address: 2236 East, County Rd 30A, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459
Phone: (850) 231-4781
Website : https://www.budandalleys.com/taco-bar/
The eatery is one of the best places on our list of Seaside, Florida restaurants. The Taco Bar and its adjoining cocktail bar are an excellent example of Seaside, Florida, restaurant dining.
The bright oceanfront snack serves tacos and other Tex-Mex bites alongside tasty margaritas. Enjoy the summer sun by having a taco in the restaurant’s outdoor seating area at one of the best restaurants in Seaside, Florida.
Tacos include chorizo, vegetable, grilled steak, and many other options. Other popular menu items include the carnitas burrito, homemade chips and queso, and the quesadilla with fillings that change daily.
The Blood Orange Margarita with silver tequila, blood orange liqueur, lime juice, and agave is the perfect drink to accompany your meal or enjoy by itself. Seaside, Florida’s best restaurants list definitely includes Taco Bar!
Dawson’s Yogurt & Fudgeworks
Address: 121 Central Square, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459
Phone: (850) 231-4770
Website : https://www.dawsongroupseasidefl.com/dawsons-yogurt
Dawson’s Yogurt & Fudgeworks is one of the top Seaside, Florida restaurants. For more than twenty years, Dawson’s has been serving sweet treats to the locals and guests of Seaside.
Founder Bill Dawson created tasty treats and established the oldest yogurt shop in its original location in the country! Be sure to ask for sprinkles on top! The best restaurant in Seaside, Florida, is in the heart of the community. This is a terrific option among Seaside Florida restaurants.
Bud & Alley’s Pizza Bar + Trattoria
Address: 2236 E County Hwy 30A, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459
Phone: (850) 231-3113
Website : https://www.budandalleyspizzabar.com/
Bud & Alley’s Pizza Bar + Trattoria is another on our list of Seaside, Florida restaurants. The pizzeria serves authentic Neapolitan wood-fired pizza and house-made pasta.
Try the Chupacabra pie with spicy salami, peppers, goat cheese, and chives, or enjoy the marinara pasta with grilled shrimp. Guests can customize their pizza or pasta with toppings like pepperoni, sausage, pancetta, prosciutto, and many more. It is one of the best restaurants in Seaside, Florida.
Final Thoughts
The best restaurants in Seaside, Florida, can only be described as delicious. From fresh seafood dishes to wood-fired pizzas to Southern classics, the combination of scenery, cultures, and culinary expertise has created something extraordinary on 30A. These best restaurants near Seaside, Florida, are a must-visit on your travel list.
If you plan to visit Seaside, Beach Luxury Vacations can help you find a home and offer suggestions for various exciting attractions.
Visit the crystal blue waters of the Gulf and enjoy all Seaside has to offer! Visit Seaside Florida restaurants today; this top restaurants in Seaside, FL guide will help you decide where to dine.
And, if you’re an owner on Emerald Coast, and looking for vacation rental management for your house, do get in touch… at Beach Luxury Vacations we have over 35 years of experience in managing vacation rentals in Santa Rosa, Miramar Beach, Blue Mountain Beach, Gulf Place, Rosemary Beach, Destin, Grayton Beach, Dune Allen Beach, Seacrest Beach, Seagrove Beach, Seaside, and Watercolor beach.