Colorful beach cottages, cobblestone streets, quaint picket fences, vintage Airstreams turned into food trucks… If you haven’t figured it out already, I’m talking about Seaside, Florida, a section of Hwy. 30A in South Walton County between Panama City Beach and Destin. Seaside has become a popular, well-developed beach destination over the past 25 years and gained international fame thanks to the movie The Truman Show (a must watch, by the way!).
I’ll be honest, I jumped on the Seaside bandwagon pretty late. I did not grow up in a family that had been coming to the area for years and seen this area grow over time. In fact, while I had always enjoyed the beautiful Florida beaches elsewhere, I just did not understand what the big deal was with Seaside…until I went.
From the first day I drove into Seaside over a year ago, I was captivated. Even though the area brings thousands of tourists, there is a sense of community not found in many popular beach destinations. People would rather walk or ride bicycles than move their cars. Beach clothes and SEASIDE® shirts are a staple. And, four-story beach cottages – not skyscraping condos – are the tallest thing around.
A few weeks ago, my fiancé, Alex, and I decided to make a quick trip to Seaside while we were in Florida visiting family. Unfortunately for us, the weather did not get warmer than 60 degrees over the course of the three days we were there. Brrr! (for the beach anyway) My swimsuits stayed packed in my suitcase, and my sweatshirt never left my side. While we tried spending some time on the beach, the wind forced us back inside after a mere 15 minutes.
Not to be deterred, we decided to explore and see what other features Seaside offers. Renting cruiser bicycles from Butterfly Bike Rental was a fantastic decision, allowing us an easy way to explore the many streets and biking/walking trails. Not only did Butterfly Bike Rental offer free delivery and pick-up for bikes, they also provided free baskets – my personal favorite.
Well, there is only so much cycling and walking a person can do, but I believe there’s never too much a person can eat. Luckily, Seaside, Watercolor, and Rosemary Beach have some FANTASTIC restaurants, so I made it my personal mission to eat as many meals as I could (who’s surprised?). Thanks to a little research, we settled on the following restaurants, and they did not disappoint!
(Scroll to bottom to see photos of all the delicious food!)
Bud & Alley’s Pizza Bar
What we got: Margherita Pizza
This was the first place Alex and I went after arriving in town, and we treated this as an afternoon snack. We sat outside at the bar, allowing for a nice breeze and a view of the crowds walking by toward the beach. The service was outstanding and fast.
723 Whiskey Bravo
What we got: Fried Mac & Cheese Sticks with Chipotle Aioli Sauce, Shrimp & Grits
As pilots, we immediately noticed this restaurant because of its name. In fact, the restaurant owners own the same plane as Alex’s dad, a Cirrus. The fried mac & cheese sticks were entirely too much food for two people as an appetizer, but they were delicious! The shrimp & grits were some of the best I’ve ever had (and I’ve had a lot). Next time, we plan to go back when the rooftop bar is open so we’ll have a view of the sunset.
Donut Hut
What we got: Peanut Butter Donut, Key Lime Pie Donut
Alex and I each got our own donuts, but honestly, we should have split one. These donuts are HUGE! My peanut butter donut came with literally half a jar of peanut butter in the middle, while Alex’s had a nice key lime filling.
Pickle’s
What we got: Pimento Cheese Burger, Fried Pickle Spears, Margarita
This is my second time back to this place, and I assure you I will be going back many more times. Generally, I’m not a fan of fried pickle spears (would much rather have fried pickle chips), but I can literally eat a whole order of these by myself.
Café Thirty-A
What we got: Jumbo Lump Crab Cake, Alaskan Salmon with Brussel Sprouts
Our waiter, who was extremely knowledgeable about the menu, suggested we try the crab cake since it’s one of their signature items. The salmon dish was extremely fresh and perfectly seasoned. Alex and I told our waiter that we would be splitting the dish, so he pre-divided and beautifully plated the food without charging extra – much better than having to eat off one plate together. The menu changes daily at Café Thirty-A, so make sure you check the menu before you go if you’re looking to try a specific dish.
Amavida Coffee & Tea
What I got: Almond Croissant, Cold Brew Coffee with Vanilla Flavor
Located across from the Seaside Central Square, Amavida had guests out the door at all hours of the day. I knew I wanted to try this spot before leaving town, so on our last morning there, we decided to go. The croissant had a sweet sugar and almond glaze on top. However, the cold brew coffee would have tasted better in my opinion without the added flavoring.
Meltdown on 30A
What we got: Brie & Bacon on Cranberry Walnut Bread; Goat Cheese, Prosciutto, Arugula, Tomato
I could eat a grilled cheese (or really any kind of cheese) for every meal and be perfectly happy. I’d been wanting to try this food truck for a long time, but the line literally has 30+ people at any given time. I’m afraid I’m not patient enough for that. Around 11 a.m. there was almost no line, so this seemed like the perfect chance to go! Sadly, they were out of the cranberry walnut bread, so instead, the chef made my sandwich on Texas Toast and added strawberry jam. Can’t wait to try and recreate this recipe at home!
Now that you think I probably gained 100 pounds on this trip, I would like to inform you that Alex and I split everything we ate, which, honestly, made our dining out more economical. So, I hope this inspires you to plan a trip to Seaside to enjoy the beaches, the community, and, above all, the food!
P.S. Take me with you.
Mack of All Trades 