Posted on 7/6/2012By the Ocean Reef Editorial Team
Our Ocean Reef guests here in South Walton enjoy the gorgeous emerald hewed gulf, water sports, fishing, golfing at championship courses, tennis and world class shopping during the daytime but what is there to do for fun at night? "Eat, Drink & Be Merry" is the usual answer! Delicious delectables can be found at a number of fine restaurants throughout SOWAL (South Walton) but how about drinking and dancing? Well, we're happy to say that if you are staying in Miramar Beach or any of our fine private vacation rentals along Scenic 30A, you don't have to drive all the way to Destin to enjoy an abundance of nightlife fun. There is a lot to choose from but here are a few South Walton night spots that are favorites for our visitors and locals alike. There are a wide range of choices related to their own special atmospheres, musical entertainment, dancing or just a laid back setting for a romantic rendezvous.
Baytowne Wharf Sandestin
Starting out on our tour from west to east are two popular venues at the Village of Baytowne Wharf in Miramar Beach. Baytowne itself has been a popular gathering spot on the Sandestin Resort since its inception less than a decade ago. The entire village looks like a colonial recreation of old New Orleans but has a Disneyesque feel due to its newness, cleanliness and definite Americana feel. Fireworks are shot off on a weekly basis throughout the Summer and just about every major holiday. The setting on Choctawhatchee Bay is breath taking, especially when spectacular sunsets occur over the water towards the west. A favorite spot here for dining, drinking and dancing is John Wehner's Village Door Restaurant and Nightclub which overlooks the Sandestin Marina. Wehners original success came from his Famous Door Nightclub on Bourbon Street in New Orleans itself where his electrified band sounds during live performances and it became a legend of sorts. His love of music began when he started playing drums when he was only eleven. In fact, prior to opening the Famous Door on Bourbon Street he played for many years in a number of bands. Wehner brought this same passion for music and successful concepts to Sandestin when he opened his nightclub here. The result became an instant hit with live bands playing on a regular basis along with DJ favorites. The Village Door is two stories tall with double bars upstairs and down as well as a waterfront, Tiki Torch lighted outdoor dining deck with good food. The interiors are designed to allow patrons plenty of space to check out other party goers since the dance floor and stage can be seen from a three sided loft above. A large multifaceted crystal ball floats above the center of the dance floor providing a psychedelic light show that is particularly effective when high energy disco tunes are played. Computerized state of the art sound systems, light controls and the sub woofers create an electric, choreographed beat. Destin Magazine named The Village Door "The Best Place to Dance" in a Readers Survey and Emerald Coast Magazine readers named it "The Best Place to Go Dancing" for both 2010 and 2011. Upscale crowds of all ages join in to dance the night away until the wee hours of the morning. There are gorgeous "Tooter Girls" as well as hunky "Tooter Guys" who help paying guests receive single shots in a fun manner. Every night from 8:30 to 9:30 pm there are free well drinks. It has also become a kind of "Bachelorette Headquarters" and female patrons will often take to the stage when it's not being used by the band to strut their stuff which can be quite a show in itself. However overt lewd behavior is not allowed since after all, this is NOT New Orleans. Perhaps South Beach?
Another popular spot nearby in the Village of Baytowne Wharf is called Rum Runners Dueling Piano Bar & Grill. This amazing place has a distinctively Caribbean atmosphere with both indoor and outdoor cafe style dining. However, if you want to be "part of the show" be sure to get a table inside. Rum Runners features a full service bar as well as a huge variety of tasty food including beef, chicken, seafood, ribs, sandwiches and burgers. However, the main attraction here are the wonderful interactive musical shows they put on throughout the evening. The most popular of these includes the "dueling pianos" on stage as each performer tries to outdo the other while playing favorite tunes. They also do "Open Microphone" impromptu spots which are a lot of fun as well as classic karaoke. Audience participation is encouraged here, especially when they announce, "OK Folks, it's Showtime!" The entire staff works to get the whole place rocking with a variety of song and dance routines. The fun engagement of entertainers with individuals and different tables of guests provides musical competition that ends with great frolic.
Down on Scenic 30A in Blue Mountain Beach there is a new place called Marie's Bistro and Bar Side which has already received rave reviews by local and visiting patrons for its delicious food. Food critics have also given the bistro Five Star Ratings. It's no wonder since the gourmet food is prepared by Chef Nasri who was trained in Paris, Cairo and New York. Outstanding classic Mediterranean cuisine is mixed with Cajun, Southern and even Tex Mex food creating a hybrid of taste that cannot be found anywhere else. All of their dishes are made from scratch creating a truly memorable, romantic dining experience that is infused with passion and creativity. Besides the awesome food, they have multiple Happy Hours with reduced drink prices every day throughout the year from 4:00 to 7:00pm and again after 10:00 pm which makes it a popular early and late night destination. Marie's Bistro and Bar Side also has a special inexpensive menu during these Happy Hours which includes a sampling of some of their delicious treats. These include Tapas like Edamame with ginger dressing, Shrimp Potstickers, Vegetable Egg Rolls, Spicy Shrimp Marie, Home Made Hummus with Pita Points and Sesame Crusted Mahi Tuna with a wasabi ponzu sauce. Three varieties of salads and the soup of the day are also featured. Entrees include larger Caesar Salads topped with smoked salmon, grilled fresh fish or jumbo shrimp as well as shrimp, grouper or chicken baskets. Giant Black Angus Burgers, Meatball Subs, PoBoys and Fish Tacos are also featured. For dessert their Happy Hours Bar Menu includes Chocolate Mousse or Key Lime Pie. The bar is open until 11:00 pm on Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday, stays open until 12:30am on Tuesdays and is open until 1:30am on Friday and Saturday.
Traveling a little further east along Scenic Highway 30A you can take a right on County 283 which will take you into the historic part of Grayton Beach. This charming little enclave has been around for many decades and sits on the beach nestled next to the stunning Grayton Beach State Park. Here you will find a local favorite called Piccolo's Restaurant and The Red Bar. This place will take many of you back to your college days since funky furniture abounds and the walls are lined with posters from around the world. They even hang from the ceiling! The building itself used to be the old Grayton Beach General Store and is quite rustic to say the least. The lighting throughout, emanating from old lamps and chandeliers glow red in color, hence the name of the bar. They have great food which is presented on chalk boards and served in generous portions. The menu includes Pastas with Crawfish and Shrimp, Panne Chicken with delicious mashed potatoes, Stuffed Eggplant, Crab Cakes, Fresh Fish of the Day and Super Salads. After dinner live musical entertainment begins most evenings on a stage inside the restaurant. The brassy Red Bar Jazz Band plays Wednesday through Saturday from 6:00 to 11:00pm while the multitalented Dread Clampitt Band plays on Sundays from noon till 3:00pm and then again from 7:00 to 11:00pm. This place is quite unique and exceedingly popular among area hipsters so don't be surprised to spot a celebrity among the patrons. Most of them are traveling as incognito as they can so if you see one, try not to stare and let them be.
723 Whiskey Bravo
Further east on the north side of Scenic 30A in Seagrove Beach you will find another Hot Spot that recently opened called 723 Whiskey Bravo. The unusual name is from Skip and Victoria Moore who are both the owners of this new restaurant and bar but are also avid aviators. It just so happens that their wedding anniversary is on July 23rd and they were able to get the call letters 723 WB for their small plane. In air lingo W is called Whiskey and B is called Bravo so there are no misunderstandings in air communications with control towers. They fell in love with Seagrove years ago, decided to relocate here from Atlanta along with their close family and started this hallmark restaurant and bar. Actually it's not just one bar but two. Downstairs is a custom built Sports Bar that seats forty where the latest games are always playing on multiple screens. Upstairs, they built an open air Roof Bar which has stunning views over the treetops to the gulf beyond. At night you can enjoy the breezes up there and hear the sound of the waves when the surf is up. One of their mottoes is "When Life throws you tomatoes, Make a Bloody Mary!" (Which are great by the way.) 723 Whiskey Bravo has very reasonable drink and food pricing and in addition each day there is a different "Special" for each. The menu includes such an assortment of Comfort Food that you will make you think you have died and gone to Heaven, as they used to say. Appetizers include Sweet Potato Fries,Fried Mac & Cheese Sticks, Onion Ring Towers, Craw fish Fritters, Italian Sausage Sliders, Fried Green Tomatoes and Seafood Nachos. They also have traditional Buffalo, Sweet Mango and Spicy Caribbean Jerk Wings. Main entrees include such dishes as Hangar Steak, Key Lime Chicken Breast and Seafood Linguini which come with exotic sides like Avocado Coleslaw, Blue Corn Goat Cheese Grits and Horse Radish Mashed Potatoes. There is also a wide assortment of Sandwiches, Burgers, Poboys, Salads, Gumbos and Flat Breads.
On the other side of Seagrove Beach just off 30A where it crosses Eastern Lake you will find another hot spot for dining and dancing at The Old Florida Fish House. This restaurant and bar are located right on the shores of the lake and opened in 2005. The decor is very "down home" in one regard and very chic on the other with cathedral ceilings and special architectural details. They have a Dinner Menu, Sushi Menu, Drink Menu as well as a Wine List so obviously there is lots to consume here and most of it is delicious. Naturally the majority of offerings here include different types of fresh fish caught in the gulf along with other sensational seafood but they also serve steaks as well. The musical entertainment here has become a popular rival to their great food and for late night entertainment with the Fish House Band. This includes the duo of Geoff McBride and Tim Jackson who are able to do renditions of everyone's favorite songs as well as their own originals. Geoff started singing in a Gospel choir as a kid growing up in North Carolina and started his own band doing Top 40 Hits for wedding receptions and parties. In the late 1980s he auditioned on the TV show "Star Search" and offered several music deals by major labels. He went with Arista Records and in the 1990s "Now Sweet Love" climbed to #10 nationwide from one of his CDs. He then began an extensive tour opening for famed rock star Aretha Franklin. Tim Jackson is a local who spent time playing years ago as the house band for Hog's Breath Saloon in Destin as well as an opening act band at Night Town. His popular band "Passage" played at the original Harry Ts for more than ten years. When he started his own recording studio here, he met Geoff and they teamed up to start producing their own work. Their collaboration has led to enough material to produce four CDs. Their own recordings and renditions of old favorites can be heard on a regular basis at the Old Florida Fish House and they are creating quite a stir locally.
Well these are just a few of the top favorite night spots in SOWAL. We have wonderful selection of South Walton Vacation Rentals all along the way so that you can be close by to any of these. If you are planning to "party hardy" be safe, drink moderately or perhaps choose a designated driver for the evening. We want you to eat, drink and be merry but be able to come back for more!
The Ocean Reef Editorial Team leads the market in vacation rental, real estate, and coastal lifestyle content, with decades of Destin & 30A expertise behind every story. As the area's largest locally owned and longest continually operating vacation rental company, we welcome over 200,000 guests each year and reach millions who dream of the beach. Our guides serve travelers, homeowners, and locals alike, sharing authentic knowledge you can trust-because this coast isn't just where we work, it's where our story began, and where we'll continue to welcome generations to come.
