Dining Out in Destin or Fort Walton Beach
Convenient location near Destin Shopping Center
explore Destin Shopping and Dining
Once you’ve had enough of lounging on the beach or exploring the local attractions, you’ll find many great options for shopping and dining out in Fort Walton Beach and Destin, FL. Our hotel, Wyndham Garden Fort Walton Beach boasts a beachfront location that is only minutes away from two outlet malls and countless restaurants. With so many options at your doorstep, everyone in your family is sure to have the time of their life during your vacation on the Emerald Coast.
Enjoy a meal with your friends and family at any one of the restaurants near Wyndham Garden Fort Walton Beach. You’ll find everything from Italian and Mexican restaurants to elegant steakhouses and fresh seafood only a short drive away from our hotel. If you have any trouble deciding on where to eat, the hospitable staff of Wyndham Garden is happy to make a personalized recommendation for you and your party.
Shopping Malls and Centers
IslandSurf & Islanders
IslandSurf.com and Islanders (our stores) are your source for surf-inspired women’s and men’s shoes, accessories, apparel and gear. Our brands include Rainbow sandals, Reef, Olukai, UGG, KAVU and many others. We are lucky to call the beach our home since 1980. We are committed to serving our customers with friendly “Island-Style” service.
Silver Sands Factory Stores
This sprawling outlet center, the nation’s largest and loaded with upscale vendors, is a shopper’s paradise. Large reliefs of scallop shells mark the storefronts, and jasmine climbs up columns, filling the air with fragrance. A gourmet food court and entertainment center welcome adults and kids alike, and plenty of parking ensures convenience.
The Market Shops at Sandestin
This complex of upscale shops includes a gazebo courtyard, a children’s play area, and a courtyard with a fountain and clock tower. The landscaping is well-kept and includes planting beds, potted annuals and a small pond. Located in a series of pavilions, the shops sell clothing, gifts, jewelry and artwork. There are also a couple of places to pick up a bite to eat.
Santa Rosa Mall
Bright and open, this mall is only minutes from Fort Walton Beach and offers one-stop shopping. It looks small from the outside, but once you’re in, you’ll discover a wealth of diversions. A large food court is easy to get in and out of and has plenty of seating. Just beyond it is a carousel that’s a perfect distraction for fidgety children.
Merchants of Downtown Seaside
This planned community is a bit of a drive from Destin, but it has some fantastic shops to look through. Most of them are located along the beach, but you’ll also find good ones in the downtown area, which is just a hop, skip and a jump away. An open-air market displays goods in the open breezes and sunlight, and other shops sell clothing, artwork, home accessories, toys, games and books.
Destin Commons
This large pedestrian shopping center surrounds an attractive European-style courtyard and fountain. Anchored by Bass Pro Shops, Belk and Rave Motion Pictures, some of the 80+ stores include Lucky Brand Jeans, Buckle, Victoria’s Secret, Abercrombie & Fitch, and Learning Express Toys. Other stores are Chico’s, Cache, Hollister, White House/Black Market, Jos. A. Bank, and Talbots.
The Village of Baytowne Wharf
A popular resort shopping spot, Baytowne Wharf offers everything from wine to souvenirs to beach apparel. It’s cluster of upscale eateries specialty shops such as Aloha Surf Company, Coconut Kids, Fresh Produce, and Island Clothiers. The Village of Baytowne Wharf features an array of boutiques, eateries, galleries and nightlife — not to mention a jam-packed schedule of outdoor festivals and special events for the entire family.
HarborWalk Village
HarborWalk Village offers activities and entertainment to please each and every taste in your family. Here you can find waterfront shopping, paddleboard and kayak rentals, pontoon and jet ski rentals, parasailing, glass bottom boats, world class fishing, pirate ship excursions, dolphin cruises, clubs and nightlife, weekly fireworks, weekly Fat Tuesday parades, live entertainment, and an array of restaurants to satisfy all tastes
City Market
City Market is an upscale lifestyle shopping center located in Destin, Florida. This stylish outdoor shopping mall is located on the prestigious Emerald Coast Parkway in the heart of Destin. The businesses include Kitchenique, Geana’s Art Gallery, Pure & Co.uture, Happy Nails & Spa, Destin Days, Destin Fashion Exchange, Norma’s Casuals, Destin Floral Design, Sunbiz, and Destin Trophy.
Zoo Gallery
One of the coolest shops in the area, Zoo Gallery is known for its unique merchandise. Wooden floors and whitewashed walls highlight a selection of colorful artwork, accessories and funky occasional furniture. They also sell art prints, accessories, lamps, frames and handmade jewelry (which people come for specifically). A range of pottery items is available, along with whimsical sculptures and other pieces with an island flair.
Clements Antiques
This beautiful establishment is as much showroom as it is antique store. The salmon-colored building is surrounded by garden statuary and flowering jasmine, and inside, merchandise is laid out in easy-to-browse groupings. Although reproductions mingle with antiques, everything is impressive and of high quality. European pieces are well-represented, and you’ll find dining room sets, armoires, occasional tables and more.
Destin’s Best Restaurants
Marina Café
Recipient of numerous awards, this fantastic restaurant couples imaginative cuisine with impeccable service and a stunning view of the harbor. The menu, which changes daily, culls inspiration from a variety of traditions, resulting in Japanese barbecued salmon, grilled filet medallions with crawfish barbecue, and Dijon and rosemary rubbed lamb chops. Gourmet pizzas and pasta dishes also feature cross-cultural influences. A cocktail lounge greets guests with contemporary jazz, and the deck is incomparable for outdoor dining.
Bud and Alley’s
This long-standing local favorite, named for a dog and a cat, is a half hour’s drive from Destin but definitely worth the trip. Devoted to fresh seafood, the owners also choose the best ingredients from area farmers. They transform these goods into creative entrees, such as Basque-style seafood stew, grilled duck breast, Florida blue crab cakes and grilled beef tenderloin stuffed with fried oysters. The menu extends well beyond these dishes and constantly reveals new flavors and textures.
Seagar’s
Refined and sophisticated, this classy establishment gleams with polished wood and stone. Its culinary emphasis is on seafood, steaks and wine, but the focus extends to spirits and cigars as well. Entrees include Maine lobster, swordfish, Atlantic salmon, Dover sole and steaks in a variety of cuts. Everything is prepared fresh when you order, and Steak Diane is assembled tableside. Premium cigars are available as well, and a decorative humidor made for the Shah of Iran is on display.
Dewey Destin’s Harborside
Leonard Destin, who founded the beach town in 1835, happens to be Dewey’s great, great grandfather making this restaurant a true Destin establishment that shouldn’t be missed. Besides the intriguing history of the restaurant, this seaside eatery has a lot to offer. The harborside location gives patrons the chance to enjoy the ocean breeze and view while savoring fish and seafood dishes and sipping tropical drinks.
Cafe Thirty-A
Gulf Coast architecture figures prominently in this yellow clapboard building, trimmed in white and topped by a metal roof. Inside, exposed rafters and ductwork are painted white, and market umbrellas hang from the ceiling. The menu features oak-fired oven pizzas, and main dishes include grilled swordfish, sesame-crusted yellowfin tuna, grilled rack of lamb, and filet mignon with truffle aioli and foie gras bordelaise. Fishbone, the restaurant’s bar, serves up specialty martinis and has a terrific wine list with a number of good champagnes.
Beach Walk Café
One of the Emerald Coast’s most celebrated restaurants, this waterfront eatery serves American cuisine with Asian and European influences. Its chef, Tim Creehan, creates dishes such as tempura-fried grouper with black bean sauce and stir-fried vegetables, oven-roasted pork with shiitake mushroom dressing, or roasted lamb with eggplant and goat cheese rolls. He is also known for his hot crawfish salad, crabmeat spring rolls, white chocolate banana cream pie, and a delightful Sunday brunch.
Cuvee Bistro
Named for the practice of blending wines in order to achieve a particular flavor, this restaurant is a master at combining elements for incomparable dining. Set in a contemporary pueblo, the restaurant shares quarters with a cozy wine bar. The interior’s muted colors and stone floors are subtly lit by glass-and-metal Moravian stars, which cast ambient light over eager diners.
Picolo Restaurant & The Red Bar
Legendary in the area, this restaurant’s decor is part beach shack, part thrift store and part retro club. Walls and ceilings are papered with posters and funky mirrors, and the place has a laid-back, devil-may-care attitude. Since the restaurant gets crowded quickly, going early is a smart strategy. The menu isn’t extensive but the few entrees (pastas and seafood) are well-received, especially the famous crab cakes, which disappear fast and are only available on Friday and Saturday.
Fish Out of Water
An ocean view and trendy blue-tiled sushi bar enhance this large dining room’s appeal. Soft shades of yellow and green dominate the interior, and guests may dine at either a table or semi-circular booth. The kitchen boasts flavorful fish and meat prepared with homegrown veggies and exotic seasonings. The short but intriguing menu might include wild striped bass with butternut squash lasagna, baby carrots, turnips, and apple curry sauce or moulard duck breast with poached quince, polenta, frisse, and orange coriander sauce.
McGuire’s Irish Pub and Brewery
The first thing you notice when you step inside this brewpub is the thousands of dollar bills that hang like foliage from the ceiling. Signed by pleased patrons, they add extra green to the Irish memorabilia already on display. The restaurant’s dark wood and brass accents aptly furnish a place where Irish folk music plays and beer is made on the premises. Pub fare, such as fish and chips, shepherd’s pie, and corned beef and cabbage, will placate purists, but the menu also offers steaks, pastas, burgers and seafood for those who haven’t been initiated into the pleasures of Irish cuisine.