Dining, Entertainment & Shopping

Farm-to-table and surf-to-table top the coastal cuisine menus in Seaside. Casual beachfront eateries have a loyal following, including long-time favorite Bud and Alley’s, where you can sip tasty sunset cocktails at the rooftop bar and indulge in fresh seafood. Head over to the convivial Pizza Bar, to tuck into a savory wood-fired pizza or make your way to the colorful and festive Taco Bar for its extensive and tempting menu (and top-shelf tequilas!). Black Bear Bread Co. brings scrumptious breakfast sandwiches, pastries and breads to Seaside’s foodie-focused community. 

Can’t quite decide what you’d like to eat, or perhaps you’re too active to sit down for long? Visit the retro food trailers of Airstream Row, serving everything from 100-layer donuts to succulent barbecue, crepes and snow cones. Or, head to the porch at Great Southern Cafe, where no one can turn down the famous Grits a Ya Ya with blackened shrimp, bacon, mushrooms – need we say more? 

Locals and visitors alike stream toward the Saturday morning Seaside Farmers’ Market in the Seaside Amphitheater – which just also happens to be a South Walton chef favorite for its plethora of fresh produce, meats, dairy and baked goods (the same delicious ingredients you’ll find used in Seaside’s incredible restaurants). For everything else you may need to whip up a meal in your home’s gourmet kitchen, stop by Modica Market (don’t forget to include one of their homemade desserts in your shopping basket). 

Set aside a full day when you shop in Seaside. A quick trip into that cute boutique “over there” turns into a quick pop into the shop “over here” … and so on. Peruse the fine pearls and leather jewelry by Wendy Mignot at La Vie est Belle. Flip through the best in modern and historical fiction at Sundog Books or pick up classic or edgy, new or used vinyl records at Central Square Records. From vintage treasures to tabletop gems and quirky gifts for your furry friends, The Art of Simple offers an array of carefully curated goods. 

The Shops at Ruskin bring out the neighborhood on Saturday mornings with their European-inspired “farmer and flea market.” Local farmers bring their freshest items, while Seaside shops set up booths in the Ruskin Place park. If you miss it, don’t worry – there are several enticing boutiques around the green space, from Cara Roy Artworks to Eliott Boutique. Continue a day of outdoor shopping at Cabana by the Seaside Style, a boutique set up like an outdoor bazaar with a fantastic selection of warm-weather fashions. 

Treat kids of all ages to a whimsical toy from Duckies Shop of Fun, where part of the proceeds give back to local community organizations such as the Special Olympics of Walton County and Alaqua Animal Refuge. You never know what fun you’ll find under the rubber ducky disco ball!