Eating Gluten Free in Destin, Florida

Gluten Free Destin, FL

I vacationed here before I started my blog and, unfortunately, I didn’t get a lot of pictures. However, I do still have my list of places we ate and some other places that were recommended that we didn’t get to try. I will list all the gluten free Destin, FL restaurants we tried here for anyone else vacationing in the Destin area. This trip was in June 2023. Restaurants may have changed their menus or gluten free options since then so please double check or contact the restaurants before you go. None of the restaurants we went to were dedicated gluten free, therefore, all of them have a risk of cross contact. I did not get sick at any of the restaurants I am recommending below.

Check out my guides to eating gluten free in Tulsa and Las Vegas, too!

Pompano Joe’s in Miramar Beach, Florida

Pompano Joe’s Seafood House in Miramar Beach was right down the road from our condo and perfect for our family. It is on the beach with a beautiful view of Miramar Beach. They have a decent selection on their gluten free menu, mostly grilled or blackened seafood options.

LuLu’s in Destin, FL

LuLu’s Destin is such a great location right on the beach with a sand area for kids to play in. The food was good but I will say the service wasn’t great when we went. We waited quite a while for our drinks and food. I enjoyed their fish tacos and chips with salsa and queso.

Lulu’s has live music, a small arcade, and a gift shop within the restaurant.

Merlin’s Pizza in Destin, FL

Merlin’s Pizza was really delicious and it was perfect to have delivered to our condo when we didn’t want to have to get out with the kids. They have a gluten free crust and I really enjoyed it but my FAVE was the cheese bread sticks!! I could’ve eaten those as my meal and been golden.

The Village Door at Baytown Wharf in Destin, Florida

The Village Door at Baytowne Wharf is amazing! They have so much gluten free fried seafood to choose from. Almost their entire menu is gluten free or can be made gluten free. This place is a gluten free kid’s dream.

Boshamps Seafood & Oyster House in Destin, FL

Boshamps is such a cool place. They have a sandy beach area for kids to play in while you wait but you have to climb the stairs and go around back to access it. They have live music and seasonal events going on. The waiters are very knowledgeable regarding gluten free and are able to tell you what is gluten free on their menu.

The Back Porch Seafood and Oyster House

The Back Porch Seafood and Oyster House is a nice choice for gluten free dining. They have a pretty good menu with several grilled or blackened seafood options. They are also located on the beach with a great spot for kid’s to play while you wait for a table.

Bayou Bill’s Crab House in Santa Rosa Beach

Bayou Bill’s Crab House was delicious. It’s located in Santa Rosa Beach. It was highly recommended and not too far of a drive from where we were staying. Our kids started screaming in the middle of our meal and we had to leave early but aside from that it was great. (Ha!) Their menu has GF marked.

Moo La-la Ice Cream & Desserts in Miramar Beach, FL

Moo La-la Ice Cream & Desserts is in the Village of Baytowne Wharf. We had dinner at The Village Door and then had ice cream here. It was a hit. They also have a second location in Miramar Beach in the Seascape Towne Center, as well.

Things to Do with Kids

• Gulfarium: We enjoyed this but with younger kids, (age 3.5 and 1.5), it wasn’t worth the money or the effort to us.
• Baytowne Wharf: fun place located in Miramar Beach. Adventure Land playground, Carousel, Adventure Zone, Arcade and Laser maze, live events
• Harborwalk village: (Destin) different charter boat tours (we did the Buccaneer cruise for the kids, see below), mini golf, ziplining, shopping, eating, helicopter rides, mirror maze, shooting gallery, and more.
• Gator Beach at Fudpucker’s
• Fat daddy’s arcade
• Uncle Buck’s FishBowl & Grill Restaurant bowling
• Rainforest glow golf and arcade in Miramar Beach

Buccaneer Cruise in Destin, FL

We had the best time on the Buccaneer Cruise in Destin. They do fun pirate training, sword fighting, water gun battles, a treasure hunt, and they really pull a treasure chest out of the water to open up and get treasure. Both my boys loved it (ages 3.5 and 1.5). They had pirate attire and swords for sale on the cruise or you can wear your own.

Other gluten free recommendations in the area. These recs were received from locals or people in Facebook groups:

Breakfast

1. Another Broken Egg Cafe
2. Bad Ass Coffee
3. NaturBaker – Dedicated Gluten Free + Vegan Bakery & Cafe
4. The Breakfast Table
5. Parlor Doughnuts – call and ask if they have gf the day you are going – they run out
6. Canopy road in Grayton 
7. Blue mountain bakery in Blue Mountain Beach, FL

Note: We did eat at Crackings for Breakfast while there. I had the gluten free pancakes because lots of people recommended them. I didn’t think they tasted great and I also got mildly sick afterward.

Lunch/Dinner

8. Chiringo in Grayton “has awesome Gluten free fried seafood”
9. Fudpucker’s Destin Restaurant – we did not eat here because the wait time was so long
10. Crab Trap – Destin
11. Lost pizza – Miramar
12. Pizza by the sea – Miramar 
13. Fish out of water 
14. Old Florida Fish House 
15. Grand Boulevard Farmer’s Market at Sandestin Park in Miramar – Saturdays 9am-1pm
16. Seaside farmers market: The Martin Abel House Bakery
17. Louisiana Lagniappe – upscale waterfront dining