Panama City Beach Restaurants

Top 5 Panama City Beach Restaurants on the Water to Visit by Boat

Written by Boatsetter Team
April 14, 2022

The warm Gulf waters and sugary white sand make Panama City Beach home to some of the best beaches in the Sunshine State. Panama City Beach is also home to popular attractions, such as Shipwreck Island Water Park, Shell Island, St. Andrews Bay, Pier Park, and Camp Helen State Park. However, nothing beats the fantastic waterfront restaurants in town serving up uniquely crafted menu items and locally sourced ingredients.

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Bayou Bill’s Crab House

Bayou Bill's Crab House in Panama City Beach, Florida

Though famous for the food offerings, Bayou Bill’s Crab House is home to the famous alligators everyone loves to stop by and visit. This restaurant has been serving the finest seafood in a great atmosphere since 1986 and has become a local tradition. Most of the seafood is locally sourced from the Gulf of Mexico, and cold water crabs and lobster tails are sourced in the USA.

Bayou Bill’s Crab House offers various menu options, including lunch, dinner, a kids’ menu, an oyster bar, and a full bar. Popular menu items include the restaurant’s special crab feast, shellfish meals, and classic po-boy sandwiches.

Other popular menu items include crab dip, seafood gumbo, chargrilled chicken, shrimp alfredo, and large dinner salads.

Don’t forget to save room for the restaurant’s famous key lime pie and peanut butter pie.

Grand Marlin Panama City Beach

Grand Marlin, Panama City Beach, Florida

In Panama City Beach, Lighthouse Marina is home to the Grand Marlin Restaurant and North Drop Bar. This highly acclaimed restaurant and bar is a favorite among locals and visitors looking for a night of fantastic food, great drinks, and fantastic company. The menu features fresh seafood and daily specials from award-winning Chef Gregg McCarthy, including poultry burgers and steaks.

Grand Marlin, Panama City Beach menus feature brunch, dinner, and specialty drinks. In addition, you will find an assortment of appetizers, soups, salads, burgers, sandwiches, seafood, chicken, pork, and beef options.

Popular menu items include crispy lobster fingers, seafood gumbo, eggs benedict, crab cake benedict, and grouper piccata. Other popular menu items include grilled ribeye, prime rib, fish sandwich, Scottish salmon, she-crab soup, and ahi poke.

Capt. Anderson’s Restaurant

Capt. Anderson's Restaurant, Panama City Beach, Florida

Capt. Anderson’s Restaurant serves some of the most innovative classic dishes along the Gulf coast. Millions of loyal customers visit this restaurant annually to enjoy a tradition in Panama City Beach. This family restaurant operates six nights a week during an eight-month season, serving award-winning menu items in an atmosphere Southern Living calls the “Best Seafood Restaurant.”

Menus available at Capt. Anderson’s Restaurant include dinner, on-the-go, kids menu, gluten-free, and dessert. Popular menu items include Capt. Anderson’s “Famous” Grilled Shrimp, fried golden calamari, grilled bay shrimp appetizer, and three cheese shrimp and grits.

Other popular menu items include Parmesan baked oysters, Fettuccine Alfredo, and oven broiled breast of chicken.

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Sisters of the Sea & Dive Bar

Sisters of the Sea & Dive Bar, Panama City Beach, Florida

Sisters of the Sea & Dive Bar offers boaters a casual dining setting with a swimming pool overlooking the water in Panama City Beach. The menus at this restaurant include award-winning dishes in Seafood and New American cuisine. Waterfront and poolside dining are available, offering fantastic views of the Grand Lagoon.

Nestled in Pirates Cove Marina, boat slips at this location are first come, first served, so it is best if you plan to arrive earlier in the day to ensure you have a spot. Sisters of the Sea & Dive Bar is also a family-friendly and pet-friendly dining establishment you must add to your list of things to do in Panama City Beach, Florida.

The main menu includes everything from appetizers to salads and seafood creations to beef entrées. A brunch menu with bottomless mimosas is available on Saturday and Sunday.

Popular menu items include hot and spicy crawfish, Key West mahi-mahi, crab cake dinner, mama’s roast beef and gravy, and Dixie fried chicken.

The pets-only menu features everything from a pub burger to a chicken sammie, and unlimited belly rubs are free.

Bayou Joe’s Marina and Grill

Bayou Joe's Marina and Grill, Panama City Beach, Florida

Bayou Joe’s Marina and Grill is one of the best-kept secrets in Panama City Beach, Florida, where patrons can enjoy breathtaking views of Messalina Bayou. Dining at Bayou Joe’s puts you right on the water as you are seated on a dock that jets out over the inlet, offering 180-degree views of stunning sunsets and sunrises. Dining here is an authentic Old Florida experience.

This restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner all year long, with menu items including appetizers, egg creations, soups, salads, sandwiches, seafood entrées, and more. All meals are made to order, and the restaurant features daily specials.

Popular menu items include the garbage omelet, Riley’s sloppy cheese fries, fish sandwich, trash with class burger, oyster basket, and mahi-mahi basket.

Panama City Beach, Florida, is a fantastic place to explore, offering you access to the Gulf of Mexico, home to soft white sand and crystal clear waters. Boatsetter provides many opportunities to make your visit to the area one to remember. Rent local party boats, pontoons, catamarans, yachts, jet skis, and many more boat types with Boatsetter!

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