Fresh, Local Seafood Near Panama City Beach

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Just a few miles east of PCB, Historic St. Andrews is a walkable, waterfront neighborhood packed with locally owned, non-franchised seafood restaurants serving Gulf shrimp, oysters, and daily catches straight from our waters. No corporate menus. No freezer-to-fryer nonsense. Just real seafood, cooked by people who live here.

Welcome to the salty side of Panama City.

Why Locals Skip the Chains for Seafood

Panama City Beach has plenty of options — but locals know the difference between tourist seafood and real Gulf seafood.

Here’s why they head to St. Andrews:

• Locally owned restaurants (not franchises)
• Fresh Gulf shrimp & oysters, not shipped-in substitutes
• Menus shaped by the water, the weather, and the catch
• Waterfront dives and oyster bars with history and personality
• Walkable streets, fewer crowds, and zero corporate vibes
• When locals want seafood, this is where they eat.

Locally Owned Seafood Restaurants Near Panama City Beach

Historic St. Andrews is home to some of the most loved seafood spots in Bay County — places that have fed generations and still smell like the Gulf breeze.

You’ll find:

• Oyster bars shucking fresh, local oysters
• Casual waterfront spots with fried, grilled, and blackened seafood
• Family-owned restaurants serving recipes passed down, not franchised out
• No two menus exactly alike — because chains don’t live here

If it feels authentic, a little weird, and unapologetically salty — you’re in the right place.

How Far Is St. Andrews From Panama City Beach?

Just a few miles.

That’s it.

Most visitors staying in Panama City Beach don’t realize some of the best seafood near PCB is just a 5–10 minute drive away. St. Andrews feels like old Florida — slower, saltier, and far more local.

Once you cross over, you’ll understand why people don’t go back.

Fresh Gulf Seafood, the Way It’s Supposed to Be

This isn’t “seafood-inspired.”

This is seafood-from-the-Gulf.

Expect:

• Shrimp that actually tastes like shrimp
• Oysters pulled from salty waters
• Fish that changes with the season
• Recipes built around freshness, not marketing

The bay is part of the flavor here — in the food, the air, and the attitude.

Non-Chain Seafood Near PCB (Yes, It Exists)

If you’re specifically looking for non-chain seafood restaurants near Panama City Beach, Historic St. Andrews should be at the top of your list.

There are no big-box franchises running the show here. These are independent restaurants, owned by locals, supported by locals, and protected by a community that wants to keep it that way.

Supporting these spots means:

• Better food
• Stronger community
• A neighborhood that stays real

Make a Day of It

Seafood is just the beginning.

After you eat, you can:

• Walk the waterfront
• Grab a drink at a local bar
• Shop small, weird, and independent
• Catch live music
• Watch the sun drop into the bay

It’s the kind of place you stumble into for dinner and leave planning your next visit.

Plan Your Visit to St. Andrews

If you’re searching for:

• Fresh seafood near Panama City Beach
• Locally owned seafood restaurants
• Non-franchise places locals actually eat

You’ll find them right here.

👉 Explore our local seafood spots

👉 Skip the chains

👉 Taste the Gulf

👉 Keep St. Andrews Salty