17 Delicious 30A Restaurants that You Will Want to Try! - Somewhere Down South (2024)

There are so many great 30A restaurants to choose from!

Often the food in touristy places is just not that good. This is not true of 30A. You will discover that there are some amazing restaurants on 30A.

Of course, many of the 30A restaurants are seafood centric. You would expect that in a beach community.

However, even if you are not a seafood lover you will find many options other options in the area.

One thing that might surprise you is that many of the 30A restaurants do not have ocean views and even fewer are on the beach. Don’t expect to be able to sit with your toes in the sand while you enjoy your dinner here.

(For a Florida beach location where you can sit with your feet in the sand check out the restaurants on Anna Maria Island.)

Our favorite 30A Restaurants

Shunk Gulley

Shunk Gulley is one of our favorite 30A restaurants. In fact, you can check out our entire Shunk Gulley review here. This restaurant has a wonder beachy vibe with great drinks, great food, and great service.

Try the oysters, y’all. Even if you aren’t an oyster lover these may change your mind.

Great Southern Cafe

The Great Southern Cafe is located in Seaside and it is a must try 30A restaurant. It is open for breakfast lunch and dinner. The food is a delicious combination of southern cooking using local produce with a bit of international flair.

In my opinion the must try menu item is Grits A Ya Ya. Blackened shrimp, gouda cheese grits…oh, man! This dish is served at breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Don’t worry if grits aren’t you thing, everything here is good. They even have a meat and three option for the non-seafood lovers in your group.

Black Bear Bread Company

Black Bear Bread Company has two locations, one in Grayton Beach and one in Seaside. It is not a hidden secret. But it is worth the morning lines!

They are considered to have the best coffee in town, but you are really here for the pastries. I recommend a cheese danish, but all the pastries here are delightful!

Stinky’s Fish Camp

Stinky’s Fish Camp in Dune Allen is a 30A institution. This is a big, bustling, and sometimes noisy place to eat. This makes it great for families and groups, but perhaps not as much so for a romantic dinner for two.

However, the food is excellent. Many of the dishes here have a Louisiana flair. The crawfish pie is amazing as are the fried green tomatoes. If you like a little spice in your food try the firecracker shrimp.

Blue Mountain Bakery

Blue Mountain Bakery is the perfect place to go for your morning coffee and breakfast or for a casual lunch. You can expect a line especially on the weekends.

But I have two words for you. Cinnamon. Rolls. They are worth standing in line for.

However if you are trying to be a little healthier they also have excellent breakfast burritos and avocado toast.

Cafe 30A

Cafe 30A is a place for fine dining and it is probably the most well-known of the 30A restaurants. The menu here is eclectic, modern, delicious, and updated frequently.

The crab cakes are great and the filet mignon will hit the spot for those craving something besides seafood. It is a perfect steak.

You will definitely want to make reservations to dine at 30A and expect to valet park.

The Meltdown on 30A

The Meltdown is one of the adorable walk up airstream trailer restaurants in Seaside. This whole area is fun and flip-flop casual. But, in my opinion, The Meltdown has the best food.

They serve upscale grilled cheese sandwiches.

I love the Strawberry Goat Forever, however I know that goat cheese is not for everyone. Don’t worry. You will find a grilled cheese for any palate here.

Oh, and try the tomato soup!

La Crema Tapas and Chocolate

This is a fashionable place that is perfect for people watching. La Crema Tapas is a place to linger, to have a snack while you sip something sparkly, and then to finish it all off with some chocolate.

Service here is attentive but not pushy. Order several tapas or small plates to share among your group. Try the brussel sprouts or the serrano wrapped figs. Yum!

George’s

George’s at Alys Beach is one of our favorite 30A restaurants. It is upscale, but casual and is located in a lovely beach cottage with dining inside and out.

They do not take reservations so unless you arrive right at opening you should be prepared to wait. The menu here isn’t large, but it is perfection.

Their grilled market fish tacos (served at lunch) are scrumptious and I highly recommend them! Also, save room for dessert and try the Key Lime Pie.

Seagrove Village Market Cafe

This is said to be one of the oldest restaurants along 30A. Garden and Gun magazine once named the grouper sandwich at Seagrove Village Market “one of the things that you must eat before you die.”

Wow.

With that kind of recommendation you know we had to try it and yes, the grouper sandwich is delicious. This is a super casual place where you walk up to order and then the food is delivered to your table.

Basmati’s

Basmati’s is known for delicious asian cuisine and sushi. This restaurant has been in the Blue Mountain community for years and they have been featured in places like the Southern Living and the New York Times.

Yet somehow they tend to get overlooked in “best of” lists. They shouldn’t be.

The atmosphere is sophisticated and romantic but still casual and not stuffy. Their candle lit porch is perfect and the food is delicious.

Red Bar

The Red Bar is basically a local legend. It is located in Grayton Beach. Sadly, the original Red Bar suffered a devastating fire in 2019.

It has since been rebuilt and has retained much of what made it so unique – the fun and funky and kitschy atmosphere. Red Bar is known for live music, great drinks, and simple but delicious bar food.

Chef’s 30A Deli

Chef’s 30A Deli is a brand new restaurant currently located in the back of Gulf Place. Chef Justin Sharpe is offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner from this small place. He seems to have plans to expand in the future.

We ate here twice on a recent visit to 30A once for lunch and once for dinner and found the food to be delicious! Try the Reuben or the Cuban sandwich for lunch.

Follow them on Instagram and watch their stories to see the daily dinner specials as they change daily.

THe Chicken Shack

Looking for something super casual and southern? Try The Chicken Shack! This is a newer addition to the 30A culinary scene. It says on the website that it is “inspired by every mama’s chicken.”

The chicken is excellent. Maybe even better than my own mama’s chicken. You can order meals or buckets of chicken with sides. They also have an amazing honey butter chicken biscuit for breakfast.

The Perfect Pig

The Perfect Pig seems to be one of the 30A restaurants that is equally popular with both locals and visitors. They are open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and have an extensive menu.

The biscuits and gravy for breakfast were delicious. It is the perfect casual restaurant for a beach vacation.

LaCo 30A

LaCo, previously known as La Cocina before a recent remodel claim to serve Latin inspired dishes with a coastal twist.

The restaurant is casual and bright. The food is fresh and tasty. The service is friendly and prompt. What more could you want? Well…how about chips and salsa? These are excellent here, too.

You will definitely want to try one of the top shelf freshly squeezed margaritas with your meal. I love the brisket tacos but everything here is yummy.

Pazzo Italiano

Craving Italian food? You have got to try Pazzo Italiano.

This is a Destin based restaurant that has now opened a second location in 30A. One of the owners is from Naples and is an award winning pizza chef. Many of the dishes here are crafted from family recipes.

Of course the pizza is wood fired and delicious but you should also add a Caesar salad to your meal. So good!

I hope that this list of 30A Restaurants is enough to get you started. I think that you will be impressed with the quality of the food in this area.

Enjoy your trip to one of the loveliest places in Florida.

If you would like to learn more about 30A check the links below.

Thanks for stopping by!