Lunch at Red Bar | Photo Credit: ©Find. Eat. Drink.
THE PANHANDLE, FL
Coffee
AMAVIDA
A fair Trade coffee roaster with several locations across the Panhandle.
2236 E. Co Highway 30A, Seaside, FL 32459 | T: 850.213.1965
104 North Barrett Square, #1A, Rosemary Beach, FL 32461 | T: 850.213.1965
2997 W. 10th Street, Panama City, FL 32401 | T: 850.387.2047
9375 Emerald Coast Parkway, Miramar Beach, FL 32550 | T: 850.213.1328
712 Serona Road, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459 | T: 850.249.8657
amavida.com
Lunch
RED BAR
Steps from the beach and serving Southern fare. On the weekend, it's packed with the Bloody Mary crowd. They have a few outdoor tables but the view is overlooking the parking area.
70 Hotz Avenue, Grayton Beach, FL 32459
T: 850.231.1008
theredbar.com
Rosemary Beach | Photo Credit: ©Find. Eat. Drink.
Explore Highway 30A
Florida's Highway 30A runs along the panhandle coast from Santa Rosa Beach through Rosemary Beach. This scenic stretch of road passes through beach towns and planned communities that range from charming and rustic Grayton Beach to upscale and manicured Alys Beach resort.
GRAYTON BEACH
Highway 30A, Alys Beach, FL 32459
www.graytonbeach.com
ALYS BEACH
Highway 30A, Alys Beach, FL 32413
www.alysbeach.com
ROSEMARY BEACH
Highway 30A, Rosemary Beach, FL 32461
rosemarybeach.com
Ice Cream & Donuts
THOMAS' DONUT & SNACK SHOP
19208 Front Beach Rd, Panama City Beach, FL 32413
T: 850.234.8039
thomasdonutandsnackshop.com
Live Music and Crawfish Boil at Boathouse Oyster Bar | Photo Credit: ©Find. Eat. Drink.
DINNER
BOATHOUSE OYSTER BAR
This is a classic Florida seafood shack and bar with a dock jetting out over Destin Harbor. Come for cheap beer, live music, local seafood and their signature gumbo.
288 Harbor Boulevard, Destin, FL 32541
T: 850.837.3645
www.facebook.com/BoathouseOystersDestin
Fishing Boat in Apalachicola | Photo Credit: ©Find. Eat. Drink.
Explore
APALACHICOLA
A quintessential old Florida oyster town with a few charming inns, waterfront dining, shops, and a microbrewery. This town used to supply most of Florida's oysters and is still known for their namesake briny bivalves. They have worked hard to protect the bay from development and by law the wild oysters are still harvested by small boats using tongs. An Apalachicola oyster grows wild (no floating nurseries are used) and takes three years to grow three inches.
Apalachicola, FL 32320
ST. GEORGE'S ISLAND
This 22-mile island is a quick drive from Apalachicola over the bridge from Eastpoint. It's a barrier island and as a result of strict building codes and zoning rules remains unspoiled. There's a state park on the east end, perfect for shelling and outdoor activities. There are a few restaurants in the middle of the island.
St. George Island, FL 32328
CARRABELLE BEACH
Adjacent to the beach are a row of pastel-colored 1950s picnic pavilions, which makes for a great photo op.
1786-2402 Big Bend Scenic Byway Coastal Trail, Carrabelle, FL 32322
carrabelle.org
Beer
OYSTER CITY BREWING CO.
A microbrewery right in the center of the historic section of town -- perfect for an evening pint sitting out on the street watching the world and bikers go by.
17 Avenue D, Apalachicola, FL 32320
T: 850.653.2739
www.oystercitybrewingco.com
Ford Truck Graveyard | Photo Credit: ©Find. Eat. Drink.
EXPLORE
FORD TRUCK GRAVEYARD
In the middle of nowhere is an overgrown lot with a semi-circle of rusted Ford Trucks, arranged in chronological order from the 1900s to the mid-1970s. The trucks were put there by Pat Harvey and they had all been used at one time or another on the Harvey family farm.
Heading north on Highway 319 from Route 98 towards Crawfordville, the trucks are in the trees on the left.
Crawfordville, FL 32327
Stay
COOMBS INN
This is a ye olde style bed and breakfast housed in a Victorian home. The rooms are filled with antique furniture and four-poster beds and they serve a full complementary breakfast in the mornings.
80 6th St, Apalachicola, FL 32320
T: 850.653.9199
www.coombsinnandsuites.com
Chef's Guide to the Florida Panhandle
CEDAR KEY, FL
Cedar Key | Photo Credit: ©Find. Eat. Drink.
Lunch
83 WEST
This dockside restaurant has indoor and outdoor seating with a large seafood menu. 83 West Downstairs is more casual -- watch the boaters and pelicans while over a leisurely lunch of smoked mullet dip, shrimp, clams, oysters, and a cold beer.
310 Dock Streetbackyard, Cedar Key, FL 32625
T: 352.543.5070
www.83westcedarkey.com
Drink
ISLAND HOTEL
Funky hotel with a storied past as a general store and former brothel. Rooms 27 and 28 are said to be haunted by ghosts, but you can just hang out in the bar, one of Jimmy Buffett's favorite watering holes.
373 2nd Street, Cedar Key, FL 32625
T: 352.543.5111
www.islandhotel-cedarkey.com
TARPON SPRINGS, FL
Grilled Octopus at Mykonos | Photo Credit: ©Find. Eat. Drink.
Lunch
MYKONOS
It is right across from the sponge docks in the historic area of Tarpon Springs. Look for the azure blue awning and whitewashed exterior. Tampa chef Greg Baker (The Refinery) recommends ordering the gryos and saganaki. We also recommend the fresh grilled fish and octopus.
628 Dodecanese Boulevard, Tarpon Springs, FL 34689
T: 727.934.4306
Shop
NATIONAL BAKERY
Small, traditional Greek bakery located on a side street. Come for sweets, breads and baklava. At Easter time, they sell Tsoureki, which are braided breads with red-dyed hard boiled eggs.
451 Athens Street, Tarpon Springs, FL 34689
T: 727.934.5934
NICHOLAS TOTH FINE ART AND A. LERIOS MACHINE SHOP
Toth's grandfather, Anthony Lerios, was a master machinist and engineer and made parts for sponge diving boats, including helmets. For the past thirty years, Toth has been making hand-crafted copper and brass diving helmets.
1057 North Pinellas Avenue, Tarpon Springs, FL 34689
T: 727.938.8868
www.nicholastothfineart.com
VINYL VIBES
Tucked amongst the multiple t-shirt and sponge souvenir shops is this small record store on a corner across from the waterfront.
813 Dodecanese Boulevard, Tarpon Springs, FL 34689
T: 201.739.1616
DUNEDIN, FL
Shop
DUNEDIN RECORDS
Selling new and used vinyl, as well as audio gear.
30 Patricia Avenue, Dunedin, FL 34698
T: 727.423.4108
dunedinrecords.com
Dinner
THE RESTORATIVE
It's tucked in a strip mall on a side street and across from a bowling alley, so to describe it as unassuming seems almost redundant. The menu is small and changes several times a week. Erin Plunkett and Jason Borajkiewicz are the chef-partners and owners of this 18-seat restaurant and are cooking food that is imaginative and very Instagram-friendly.
420 Patricia Avenue Dunedin, FL 34698
www.restorativerestaurant.com
ST. PETERSBURG, FL
The Gulf | Photo Credit: ©Find. Eat. Drink.
COFFEE
BANDIT COFFEE CO.
A minimalist and airy coffee shop serving single origin coffee. They roast, they brew, and they sell sweets made by The Hole Donuts.
2662 Central Avenue, St. Petersburg, FL 33712
banditcoffee.co
Explore
ST. PETE BEACH
Walk along the white-sand beaches and take a swim in the calm Gulf waters.
Gulf Boulevard, St Pete Beach, FL 33706
Tacos at Casita Taqueria | Photo Credit: ©Find. Eat. Drink.
Lunch
CASITA TAQUERIA
For Mexican tacos, tortas, pressed-sandwiches and bowls with beans, rice and guacamole.
2663 Central Ave, St. Petersburg, FL 33713
T: 727.498.8749
www.casitatacos.com
BODEGA
Made-to-order Latin American food with outdoor seating. Brewer Khris Johnson of Green Bench Brewer recommends the Cuban sandwich and Lechon Platos, which is a plate of white rice, black beans, mojo pulled pork, and plantains.
1120 Central Avenue, St. Petersburg, FL 33705
T: 727.623.0942
eatatbodega.com
Shop
ST. PETE RECORDS
Located upstairs in the Furnish Me Vintage store on Central Avenue. They have a large selection of old and new albums ranging all genres. They have a "fresh finds" bin and a listening station.
1246 Central Avenue, 2nd floor, Saint Petersburg, FL 33705
T: 727.490.8861
www.facebook.com/stpeterecords
DADDY KOOL RECORDS
The majority of their records are newly pressed, but the back wall features used vinyl at good prices.
666 Central Avenue North, St. Petersburg, FL 33701
T: 727.822.5665
www.daddykool.com
Beer and Relaxation at Green Bench Brewing Co. | Photo Credit: ©Find. Eat. Drink.
Sweets
THE HYPPO
On a steamy Florida afternoon, what could be more refreshing than a popsicles made with all natural, seasonal ingredients. They have over 450 flavors that range from simple ones like strawberry or chocolate sea salt to more unusual ones like eggnog or cucumber lemon mint.
627 Central Avenue, St. Petersburg, FL 33701
T: 727.498.6536
www.thehyppo.com
Brewery
GREEN BENCH BREWING
Locally-brewed on site with a 6,000 square foot beer garden that adjoins their tasting room. Sample their craft products and play a game of corn hole.
1133 Baum Avenue N, St. Petersburg, FL 33705
T: 727.800.9836
greenbenchbrewing.com
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NEW SMYRNA BEACH, FL
New Smyrna Beach | Photo Credit: ©Find. Eat. Drink.
Coffee
ISLAND ROASTER COFFEE COMPANY
Coffee roaster Scott Clawson is roasting 20 different organic, fair-trade, single-origin beans. In addition to buying the beans, you can get brewed coffee, espresso drinks, and cold brew. If you get hungry, snack on Max's muffins, baked daily by Max, who works behind the counter.
394 N Causeway, New Smyrna Beach, FL 32169
T: 386.847.2920
www.islandroasterscoffeecompany.com
Breakfast
LITTLE DRUG CO.
Located on the mainland side of New Smyrna Beach on quaint Canal Street, this is about as old school as you can get with a mid-century lunch counter and booths. The food is a throwback too with burgers, floats, malts and egg creams. They are still using the same soda fountain from the 1950s.
412 Canal Street, New Smyrna Beach, FL 32168
T: 386.428.9041
littledrugco.com
Surf
NEW SMYRNA INLET
With a $10 pass you can drive along the beach here. Make a left and park at the Inlet where you can watch world class surfers. Just watch out for the sharks -- New Smyrna Beach is known at the Shark Bite Capital of the World.
New Smyrna Beach, FL 32169
Shop & Explore
RIP CURL
This is a nationwide surf shop, but this small outpost just off the beach still has a cool, local vibe with a friendly and knowledgeable staff.
510 Flagler Avenue, New Smyrna Beach, FL 32169
T: 386.423.2317
www.ripcurl.com
FLAGLER AVENUE
Stroll down Flagler Avenue filled with surf shops, coffee places, restaurants, and bars. Get an ice cream cone from Treats on the Beach and check out the local Walk of Fame, which are sidewalk bricks inscribed with personal dedications for memories, memorials and celebratory events.
Flagler Avenue, New Smyrna Beach, FL 32169
Steamed Rock Shrimp at JB's Fish Camp | Photo Credit: ©Find. Eat. Drink.
Lunch / Dinner
JB'S FISH CAMP
Sit dockside overlooking Mosquito Lagoon and feast on local seafood. Don't miss the steamed Rock Shrimp when available.
859 Pompano Avenue, New Smyrna Beach, FL 32169
T: 386.427.5747
jbsfishcamp.com
THE BREAKERS
Beachside shack at the end of the town's main strip. Come in your flip flops and grab a counter stool at the open-air windows overlooking the beach. Order a cold beer, peel-n-eat shrimp, a fish sandwich, or one of their singnature burgers.
518 Flagler Avenue, New Smyrna Beach, FL 32169
T: 386.428.2019
breakersnsb.com
Ice Cream
TREATS ON THE BEACH
This old school ice cream shop is just blocks from the beach. It's a walk-up window, so you grab and go. Just look for the line on the main drag.
504 Flagler Avenue, New Smyrna Beach, FL 32169
T: 386.409.3456
www.treatsonthebeach.com
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