Top 10 Waterfront Restaurants in Panama City Beach

Panama City Beach is known for a lot of things including their beautiful beaches, abundant wildlife and, of course, great restaurants. There is nothing better than enjoying fresh seafood and a sunset while sitting beachside or a long relaxed lunch while enjoying some people watching and pristine water views. Of course we have you covered in terms of finding great Panama City Beach rentals. But, surprise surprise, we’ve got you on the restaurant list, too!

We selected what we think are the top 10 waterfront restaurants to check out on your next trip to PCB! Frankly, we had to use “waterfront” to narrow the list of restaurants down because this underrated scene is overflowing with options.

On to our list—trust us, you won’t want to miss the food or the stunning views!

Originally Published: March 16, 2022 

Best Waterfront Restaurants in PCB

Schooners 

This beloved, local club is an iconic spot to locals and visitors alike. Schooners has a reputation as being “the last local beach club” and for good reason(s). It offers a trifecta of lively atmosphere, wonderful seafood, and, of course, stunning views of the Gulf. It’s simply one of the spots to spend the day and enjoy a great meal. The restaurant has an easy going vibe, set up right on the beach with a laid back atmosphere and delicious casual beach fare with your toes in the sand, naturally. 

Pro tip: In the evening there is a bustling bar and live music. Translation: for the optimal experience, be sure to arrive in the late afternoon and spend a few hours watching the sun melt into dusk while you take in the live tunes. You are, after all, on vacation—and Schooners can help you live it up!

Pineapple Willy’s

Pineapple Willy’s has been around since 1984 and is a staple in the PCB community. This restaurant has great food and drinks, well known for their ribs as well as their seafood. The seafood is local and fresh and the beach views are incredible. They also offer live music and events, so make sure to check their website calendar!

Sharky’s Beachfront Restaurant

Looking for that true beach vibe on your vacay? We’ve got the spot for you. Sharky’s is a beachfront gem that has stood the test of time since it opened in 1986. This landmark restaurant is known for it’s fun beachfront dining, great views, delicious food and overall good time! But the term “great views” gets thrown around a fair amount but in this case, it’s justifiable. Just about ever seat in the house has a great view of the Gulf.

Pro tip: With its iconic tiki bar, live music, and tropical food and drinks, Sharky’s brings an island-like type of fun. Get there early to procure the best table or seat and pace yourself. We don’t know about you but it can be easy to get a bit too into the vibes here.

The Grand Marlin

This relaxed and inviting spot has a great story that all began on a boat as an idea turned into reality. The mission of the Grand Marlin is to offer great food, drinks and a laid back almost Caribbean like atmosphere. In our opinion, you can’t go wrong with this classy spot.

Capt. Anderson’s

This landmark restaurant has spectacular water views and has been in business for over 50 years! They are known for being family friendly and serving up some of the freshest locally caught seafood. They also have an extensive wine list to peruse. This waterfront spot is a great choice for your next trip to PCB!

Hook’d Pier Bar & Grill

Look, if you’re like us, some nights you may not have it in you to go all out for dinner but you still want a great selection of food and scenery. Well, Hook’d is a fantastic spot for casual dining at its best! It is directly across from PCB’s iconic pier so it’s hard for passersby to miss this wonderful open-air eatery. This place gets the foot traffic and eyeballs to make it a casual place with a good amount of people watching. It’s a lot of fun, in our opinion.

This place checks all the boxes. They offer delicious local seafood, live music and a fun vibrant atmosphere. The local staff are super friendly and welcoming.

Shuckums

Shuckums offers a great seafood beachfront with a side of history. They have been a part of PCB since 1967. The oysters are incredible and of course freshly shucked! This laid back spot is one not to miss on your next trip!

Harpoon Harry’s

Last, but definitely not least on the list is Harpoon Harry’s. This beachfront restaurant offers scrumptious seafood and other yummy beach bar eats, amazing views, great cocktails and lots of fun events always on tap.

Two things these PCB restaurants have in common…

The first one is, well, views of the water. Seriously, we put it in the title and mentioned at the start that we had to narrow down the list. Wink, wink. Going with waterfront restaurants in a place like Panama City just makes sense.

The second one? Good vibes! These places attract people who want great food and good fun. So, please be sure to bring more good energy to these wonderful, highly recommended restaurants. Need help getting your vibes up? Some of the best properties in the area can be found and booked here on our list of Panama City Beach rentals by owner—there’s just something about staying in a rental by local property owner or manager.