9 great restaurants to stop at on your way to the beach this summer

Fresh Gulf seafood, along with the Deep South’s year-round produce and its robust culinary traditions, deliver the makings of a top-tier dining scene. Tuck into a fine dining experience or a waterfront shack for a sunset nosh.

Dining out during your Gulf Coast vacation is a great way to explore the area while keeping you out of the condo kitchen. Or ditch the drive-thru while en route and take a detour to one of these eateries that are well worth the drive.

Mississippi

Radish

200 Jeff Davis Ave., Suite 1, Long Beach

Named for the coastal town’s unlikely signature crop, this ingredient-driven spot does magical things with artisan products and local produce. radishlongbeach.com

Stalla

875 Beach Blvd., Biloxi

Dive into Italian favorites like veal parmigiana and brick-oven pizza paired with a selection of Italian wines within Beau Rivage Resort & Casino. beaurivage.mgmresorts.com

Thorny Oyster

104 North Beach Blvd., Bay St. Louis

Raw and cooked interpretations of fresh Gulf seafood are reimagined with global flair at this stylish eatery inside the hip Pearl Hotel.
thornyoysterbsl.com

Alabama

Kitchen on Main

1716 Main St., Suite C, Daphne

Think casual-with-a-twist at Kitchen on Main, where the menu includes dry-aged rib-eye with compound butter and diver scallops over risotto with lobster sauce. kitchenonmaindaphne.com

The Hope Farm

915 Nichols Ave., Fairhope

Dishes are made with hyper-local ingredients grown on-site and throughout the region at this multifaceted eco-restaurant founded by a father-and-son team. thehopefarm.com

Jesse’s Restaurant

14770 Oak St., Magnolia Springs

Situated in a former post office, this small-town favorite deploys ingredients by boutique producers in a charming setting. Don’t miss the buttery, Gruyere-draped baked Oysters Jesse or the famous wet- or dry-aged steaks. jessesrestaurant.com

Florida

Dharma Blue

300 S. Alcariz St., Pensacola

Founded by a marine biologist in 1996, Dharma Blue is known for sushi and seafood specials in an eclectic setting. The fresh fish is sourced from its sister seafood market in Destin. dharmablue.com

Bud & Alley’s Waterfront Restaurant

2236 E. County Road, Santa Rosa Beach

This lauded establishment in pastel-hued Seaside has been a favorite for decades, thanks to its fine food and wine, as well as a rooftop bar with stunning Gulf views. budandalleys.com

Gallion’s Restaurant

104 N. Barrett Square, Unit C, Rosemary Beach

Break out your White Lotus wear for lunch or dinner at Gallion’s. The “après beach” menu of small plates and craft cocktails is a must for parents during kiddie naptime. gallions30a.com

This article was originally published in the June 2025 issue of 225 Magazine.