Outdoor Dining Delights: 11 Fresh Downtown Experiences
It’s no secret that Pensacola is The Way To Beach™ – from the sand in your toes to a picturesque downtown full of vibrant arts and culture – but that sugar-white sand isn’t the only delicious thing you’ll find outdoors.
Downtown Pensacola’s al fresco scene hones in on the simple pleasures of what outdoor dining should be – natural, tasteful, and celebratory.
Eat Your Vitamins - Vitamin D, that is
Pensacola’s open-air eating experiences range in a culinary variety – from location, cuisine, and experience – but each dining destination stays true to the Italian-borrowed concept of consuming “in the cool, fresh air” with al fresco fun in the sun. The natural active lifestyle and ever-changing social scene of Pensacola, its people, and its visitors are met with more than arts, culture, and agriculture. There’s nowhere better to start your al fresco tour than the delightful delights overlooking Pensacola Bay.
Jaco’s Bayfront Bar and Grille puts the water in mouthwatering. Stunning marina views, a laidback outdoor ambiance, and delectable American chow and tipples make Jaco’s the perfect spot to see and be scene while getting your greens. (I can’t get past the Southwestern Salad. Throw in the Ahi Tuna, and you’ll swoon-a.) At the very south-end of Pensacola’s renowned Palafox Street, the slow and steady stroll along your journey to Jaco’s is just as yummy as the meal to come.
The real pearl of water-view dining lies in the newly reimagined Atlas Oyster House, which has really come out of its shell. With six different varieties of baked oysters, the world is your oyster on their redesigned upscale menu. Their Oysters a Ya Ya give a delicious nod to their sister restaurant sharing the same views and vittles at The Fish House. A beloved Pensacola favorite, the Grits a Ya Ya combine Gulf shrimp, gouda cheese, garlic, and all the goodness you know and love in a (great) southern shrimp and grits. You’ll know the sign; you’ll remember the view; and you’ll return over and over again to try something new.
Now, if you’re looking for something more inland that’s just as appetizing, Carmen’s Lunch Bar and Tapas is the mecca for appetizing appetizers. I’m constantly yearning for the yeast that is the ever-famous Carmen’s Soda Bread – combining fresh rosemary, dried cranberries, and sweet butter. See what delicious combination of accoutrements Chef Maricarmen Josephs will fuse into her daily kale salad selections or soup of the day, while sitting along the intersection of Palafox and Main.
Also located in the middle of all the action of Palafox is 200 South Tap House, which raises the bar on great beer, good vibes, and where to start (or end) your night out. Their neighboring sister restaurants Graffiti Pizza and Taco Agave run the gamut on grabbable bites while hustling and bustling Downtown. (Because what’s more al fresco fresh than a piece while you promenade or a little Mexican while you meander?)
Just down the street is Our Palafox. Sit outside and enjoy some fresh air while you dig in on a delectable coastal cuisine. The menu is filled with a variety of tasty plates, so there's something for every palate. Don't forget about weekend brunch!
For a more laid-back experience to taco’ bout, Lucy’s in the Square offers an eclectic lineup of street tacos to share with your friends (and fur babies) overlooking Seville Square. But Lucy’s isn’t the only one that’s dog friendly – The Dog House serves a lengthy signature list of gourmet hot dogs that the town continues to yap about. Whether an 8 a.m. custom burrito or in the lunchtime rush of Po’Boys, Dog Houses’ yummy yap continues as you move up and down Palafox Street to O’Riley’s Irish Pub, the family-owned staple of Downtown that you’ll hear before you even see. Mix and mingle with the ever-growing crowds that frequently flock to the hearty menu and happiest of hours outside of O’Riley’s. In true Irish fashion, you’ll have a hard time leaving the bar.
Open Table in the Open Airstream
However and whenever you gather – your seat at our table combines friends, fresh air, and your favorite foods along your al fresco tour of Downtown Pensacola.
