Rolling around in the sandy white beaches and body surfing in the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico is bound to work up an appetite in your kids – and of course, yourself – so be sure to find the family-friendliest spots to eat in Panama City Beach, Florida. Whether it’s breakfast, lunch, or dinner, this beach town offers the yummiest and most unique restaurants, cafes, and diners. Don’t worry about popping in with your sandy bikini and cover up, or trying to stifle the loud excitement of your sun kissed toddlers; these places welcome young and old, with relaxed, casual, and comfortable atmospheres. Bon appetite beach bums!

Breakfast

Andy’s Flour Power Cafe & Bakery

Serving their loyal customers from a brand new location, Andy’s Flour Power Cafe & Bakery is THE place to get your breakfast on while staying in Panama City Beach. This award winning (boasting accolades from Urban Spoon – Top 101 Great Breakfasts in the U.S. – and Google) cafe and bakery cooks up fresh, homemade food that is classically delicious and perfect for the whole family to enjoy, picky eaters included!

John Certo is a third generation chef from New York City, and owns Andy’s Flour Power Cafe & Bakery. Since he was nine years old, he’s been cooking and creating delicacies that people go nuts over. Proudly serving breakfast, lunch, and brunch seven days a week at Andy’s, one of the most popular meals on the menu is the Flour Power French Toast, featuring “thick country french bread dipped in cinnamon and brown sugar batter, grilled till golden perfection and topped with toasted nuts, fresh strawberries, and powdered sugar”. Southern Living Magazine and Daily Mom both say it’s a must-have when dining here!

Enjoy your morning meal in the casual, family-friendly dining room, which is brightly decorated with flowers and vivid artwork, and then grab a muffin, cookie, or hell – a piece of cake – for the road from the bakery display. Keep your Andy’s fix going all day long!

Thomas Donut & Snack Shop

When your morning sweet tooth is in full swing, just swing by Thomas Donut & Snack Shop and pick up a classically homemade donut. Since 1971, this fun snack shack has been serving up all the classics for beach goers, from delicious breakfast sandwiches to unique Texas style Kolaches.

You can walk right up to the counter from your car or order inside, dine outside amidst the morning breeze on a picnic table or slide in a booth in the cozy indoor dining room. It’s the perfect place on the beach to get your daily morning joe with a side of sweetness. Open seven days a week from 6am until 10pm, it’ll be your trusty go-to while vacationing in Panama City Beach.

Lunch

Spinnaker Beach Club & Paradise Grill

If eating lunch with Gulf of Mexico views and cool breezes is your family’s way to dine, then Spinnaker Beach Club & Paradise Grill is the perfect lunch spot for you. This restaurant and entertainment hotspot is beyond popular with locals and visitors alike. Pull up a seat, order a cocktail and craft beer, and let the kids run free on the sandy front yard while they wait for their macaroni and cheese. If the weather isn’t so favorable, you can still enjoy the amazing seafood and cold drinks at Spinnaker from the air-conditioned indoor or outdoor covered dining rooms. The place is so huge, there’s the perfect seat for any family in any condition, including the Waterfall Deck, an open-air area where the sun kisses your cheeks as you sip on a concoction from the Rum Bar.

Serving up coastal Southern entrees, such as the mouth watering Five Spiced Seared Tuna, “seared yellowfin tuna with a Creole Remoulade drizzle, served with sweet corn mashed potatoes and a warm black-eyed pea and corn salad”, and chocolate dipped Key Lime Pie on a stick, their all-new menu is bursting at the seams with delicious lunch and dinner dishes.

If you roam around the property, you’ll see white baby grand pianos, stages galore, beach bars, lawn games, and social seating everywhere you turn, showing you that after hours on the weekends, Spinnaker Beach Club & Paradise Grill turns into an entertainment paradise. With events such as karaoke, dueling pianos, concerts, ladies’ nights, and more, this beach nightclub packs a punch for those who crave good music, good food, and good company.

Dinner

Pompano Joe’s Seafood House

Located in the heart of Pier Park, the premier shopping and dining destination of Panama City Beach, lies a seafood lover’s dream, Pompano Joe’s Seafood House. This hoppin’ restuarant serves up the freshest seafood in the Gulf, and has been featured by The Travel Channel as the ultimate beach snack shack and one of the world’s best beach restaurants. Their award-winning Seafood Gumbo is a menu must-have, and treating the kids to virgin daiquiris all night will easily win you best parent status!

The Grand Marlin Restaurant & Oyster Bar

This second location of The Grand Marlin Restaurant & Oyster Bar opened in 2016, offering its locals and visitors the freshest seafood, with a passion for oysters, delicious cocktails, and stunning sunset views over the waters of the Grand Lagoon. For a more upscale vibe, but still family-friendly, this is the place to enjoy a relaxing dinner with those who love lobster, wine, and decadent desserts.

This two story restaurant allows you to sit indoors or outdoors, all with sweeping views of serene waters dotted with boats in the marina. Enjoy the freshest catch of the day, as the menu changes daily, ensuring you the most delicious and perfect plates. Whether you opt for a lighter course of Crispy Lobster Fingers and a Field Greens Salad or go big with the Grilled Lobster Tail, your taste buds will be pleasantly satisfied after the plate is licked clean.

Photo Credits: Dani Nicole Photography