Fancy restaurants near me on the water

The perfect meal requires the perfect setting. 

Sometimes that means a cozy restaurant with fireside tables, delicious menu options and an ample wine list. But can also be a romantic table for two overlooking Grand Traverse Bay, a seat on the patio facing the lake, or a picnic table at a café. What’s important is having the right scenery and selection of food to match the moment.

Fortunately, Traverse City is richly blessed with waterfront dining options that can be enjoyed year-round. Classic American fare, pasta, seafood and sandwiches are all available.

Look at the options below.

Restaurants on the Water in Panama City Beach

Nothing pairs better with a beach vacation than an ice-cold beer on the shore or boat drinks in the evening with a gentle breeze in your hair. Whether you want traditional American fare, savory Southern cooking, or the freshest seafood around, Panama City Beach offers a vibrant dining experience every bit as inviting as the waterfront vistas. Have lunch at the beach while the sun glistens on the Gulf, sip drinks on a deck while the gulls soar above St. Andrew Bay or savor a romantic dinner while the sun sets over the tranquil waters of the Grand Lagoon.

Casual Dining

Working up an appetite swimming in the surf or strolling the boardwalk? Panama City Beach features a variety of restaurants just off the beach. Lunch on Gulf Coast delicacies like fried shrimp or a grouper sandwich while sunshine dries the water on your skin. Visit Harpoon Harry's and try their World Famous Seafood Bucket and chase it with a drink of ice-cold beer. 

Looking for hearty American fare like beef and veggie burgers in addition to Cajun po’boys, gumbo and the freshest seafood catch from the Gulf? Pick your casual dining pleasure at Hook’d Pier Bar & Grill located right on the beach across from Pier Park. 

The atmosphere of Panama City Beach is as relaxed as the beach is beautiful, so you can kick back in your flip-flops and bathing suit while you eat.

Authentic Cuisine

Panama City Beach’s unique location as a nexus of the American South and Gulf Coast makes for a vibrant local cuisine. Freshly harvested shrimp, oysters and fish pair beautifully with hearty comfort food. Sit down to an elegant dinner at Capt. Anderson’s Restaurant of perfectly seasoned steak accompanied by grilled shrimp and raw oysters. Sample the rich, hearty roux of Sisters of the Sea’s award-winning seafood gumbo, followed up by a whimsical dessert of fried strawberries.

Offerings don’t stop there. Panama City Beach features surfside restaurants serving up ribs, brisket and mac ‘n cheese, local catches like grouper and drumfish, as well as gluten-free and vegetarian options. Area restaurants have received awards from Southern Living, Wine Spectator, and Florida’s coveted Golden Spoons. Whatever the season and whatever you’re craving, Panama City Beach combines rich variety and authentic cuisine with the most stunning waterfront vistas you can imagine.

Exquisite Atmosphere and Lively Entertainment

An ideal dining experience doesn’t rely on delicious food alone, and Panama City Beach restaurants possess the enchanting atmosphere you might expect from a beach town. Any type of experience you’re looking for, we’ve got it. Visit Sharky’s Beachfront Restaurant for both drinks and a taste of tropical paradise. Or spend an evening on the back deck under the stars while the evening tide rolls in. Surfside restaurants like Schooners Last Local Beach Club also provide live music so you can tuck in to a delightful meal while you soak in tunes.

Even better, many Panama City Beach restaurants on the water come equipped with fun for the kids too. Let your little ones romp on the playground, chat with pirates or gaze in wonder at live mermaids. Panama City Beach is also famous for friendly, attentive service. 

Savor exciting flavors and revel in the celebratory vibes at one of Panama City Beach’s many restaurants on the water today!

Palmetto, FLorida

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