We visited Pensacola Beach in October—during Fall Break. But that was only a coincidence. John attended a nuclear medicine conference and Gus and I tagged along for the weekend.

Prior to this trip, we’d only driven through Pensacola without stopping, so we were eager to see more of the area—especially the beach. As a former Florida girl, I consider myself a beach connoisseur and have strong opinions about what separates a good beach from a great beach.

So, before I dive into the details of our trip, let me tell you that Pensacola Beach surprised us in a really good way. It probably helped that our hotel was right on the beach, facing the Gulf, because I love a view. But still. Pensacola Beach is just the right amount of touristy without being too touristy—and I say that as someone who prefers off-the-beaten path experiences.

Must-Dos in Pensacola Beach

Pensacola Beach Gulf Pier

As I mentioned, our hotel was within walking distance of the pier at Pensacola Beach—not to be confused with the Boardwalk on the sound side of the barrier island. The cost is (currently) $2.25 for observers and $7.50 for adult fishermen, and the wristband is good for the entire day. And let me tell you, the $2.25 is worth every penny.

We walked the full length of the pier and had a panoramic view of the beach and shoreline on both sides. The water was crystal clear, too. Apparently, the timing of our trip was ideal to avoid the summertime seaweed (aka. sargassum), as it cleared up only days before we arrived.

From the pier, we also witnessed LOTS of sea life, including massive schools of fish, an abundance of jellyfish, small-ish sharks, and a squadron of over 100 manta rays that came out of nowhere!

I’m pretty sure we spent about an hour on the pier, just looking over the railing to see what we could find in the water below. Again, it was well worth the $2.25 admission fee.

Pensacola Beach Boardwalk

The Boardwalk faces the sound, looking inland toward Pensacola. While not a Gulf view, it is still a beautiful spot to wander—whether you walk the pier at QuietWater Beach, grab a bite to eat at one of many restaurants, or do some shopping.

Shop-wise, you’ll find two typical beach shops, Ron Jon Surf Shop and Alvin’s Island, plus a few local spots like Intracoastal Outfitters, Island Trader, and Flo’s Gift Shop. I highly recommend the latter two shops if you are looking for coastal or beach souvenirs and apparel to take home.

Restaurant-wise, the Boardwalk is home to a Señor Frogs and several local spots, including the highly popular Flounder’s Chowder House. We didn’t end up eating at Flounder’s because the wait was so long every single night.

Top Restaurants in Pensacola Beach

While we didn’t eat at Flounder’s Chowder House, I’d say it’s one of the best, hotspot restaurants in Pensacola Beach, so check it out if you’re able to get on the waitlist early enough.

Waitlists were one downside of dinner in Pensacola Beach. Not all, but most restaurants only offered a waitlist option instead of the ability to make reservations. Basically, you join a waitlist online that tells you how long the wait will be from that point—which means you need to be diligent to check an hour or so ahead of the time you want to eat, to see how long the wait is and time it just right.

Peg Leg Pete’s

Peg Leg Pete’s also has a waitlist, but we ended up joining at the right time to get a table around 6:30 pm on our last night. Unfortunately, this restaurant isn’t within walking distance of the beach area, but it is worth the short drive because the Google reviews don’t lie!

If you’re looking for a true, coastal meal that is both basic and high quality, at a reasonable price point, Peg Leg Pete’s is for you. But that’s not all. Pete’s also offers live music and a playground area for kids on the first floor.

Parking might be an issue on a busy night, so keep that in mind.

Bounce Beach Pensacola

Thankfully, Bounce Beach on the Boardwalk does allow you to make reservations for a specific time. We ate here on our second night and the food is good. Not as good as Peg Leg Pete’s, if I had to rank them, but the menu is solid.

Bounce Beach also offers a kids ball pit area on the first floor, with more covered seating and cornhole out on the sand along the sound. The second floor dining area is casual but a bit more upscale than Peg Leg Pete’s.

Shaggy’s Pensacola Beach

Shaggy’s also takes reservations; however, we did not make any and had to wait about an hour on a Friday night. Lesson learned! This restaurant is across the street from the Boardwalk and faces the other side of the sound, looking west.

The menu is decent, with something for everyone. It felt like your typical coastal beachy restaurant and bar—nothing fancy or too memorable, but the overall experience was good.

If you’re planning a visit Pensacola Beach, I hope these recommendations help you!

I will add, that it is easy to walk around the main Boardwalk and beach area, even with younger kids. John’s friend and co-worker also attended the conference and brought his family along.

One day, I even walked over the causeway bridge on Pensacola Beach Road to visit the local Beall’s in Gulf Breeze. (I used to work at Beall’s corporate office back when I lived in Florida, so I had to pop in and make a few purchases for old-time’s sake!)

Happy travels!