Drinks just taste better while relaxing near a beach. But are some beaches better than others?
Lifestyle magazine Southern Living announced its year’s annual South’s Best awards — including arts and culture, food, sporting events and shopping.
The awards are decided every year by readers, voting for their favorite destinations in the South. They also narrowed down their favorite beach bars visit, with Florida seeing three spots on the list. Have you been to any of them?
According to Southern Living, what is the best beach bar?
Southern Living named Pensacola’s iconic waterfront bar, Flora-Bama, as its top beach bar of 2025.
“For more than 60 years, this sandy-floored bar has brought together all walks of life—from snowbirds to spring breakers and tourists to fishermen—with a beckoning call of fresh seafood, live music, and its signature liquor-soaked, chocolaty milkshake known as a Bushwacker.”
Where is ‘Flora-Bama’ located?
Pensacola’s Flora-Bama bar is found at 17401 Perdido Key Drive.
What other Florida beach bars made the list? See all 10
Captiva Island’s The Mucky Duck nabbed the seventh spot on Southern Living’s ranking.
“Although it’s still recovering from back-to-back hurricane destruction that hit the Florida coast last fall, this long-cherished local tavern is planning on making a comeback—hopefully with the same delicious menu.”
Pensacola appeared on the list again with Peg Leg Pete’s in the 10th slot.
“This pirate-themed tavern, which has a marina right behind it, started out selling oysters and shrimp in 1991. Now, there’s a busy bar, full menu, and live streaming beach camera you can check out anytime from anywhere.”
Here’s the full top 10 list:
What is the best beach town in the US?
We established what the best beach bar is, but what is the best beach in the entire region? Southern Living also released a list of the top beaches, which includes several from the Sunshine State.
Georgia’s St. Simons Island was declared the top beach in the South, with the lifestyle magazine writing that visitors come in waves to this alluring town where “the peel ’n’ eat shrimp and gorgeous sunsets are requirements.”
“Crossing the F.J. Torras Causeway (the only road onto the island) signals a shift in the salty air. Georgia’s second-largest barrier island, St. Simons is nestled between the Frederica River and the Atlantic Ocean, with creeks woven throughout its scenic landscape,” Southern Living says.
The magazine also highlights its plethora of activities for visitors, such as
Here’s which Florida beach towns made the list:
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Southern Living’s top ‘beach bar of 2025’ is in Florida. Have you been to it?
Reporting by Samantha Neely, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Pensacola News Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
