Welcome to your travel guide to Rosemary Beach from a Gulf Coast native! I'm Annie from Home of Malones sharing my guide to one of our favorite spots on 30A.
Rosemary Beach is full of charm and is one of our very favorite beach destinations. This walkable town is perfect for foodies and families alike. It has an old-world charm with gorgeous wrap-around porches on every block and restaurants that will make your mouth water. The people are friendly, and the beaches are beautiful. Whether you are looking for a romantic getaway, a girls weekend escape or a trip with the whole family, this is your place!
How to Get There
Rosemary Beach is located on Florida's Emerald Coast just a few miles west of Panama City Beach. Perfectly planned on 30A, you can arrive at this gorgeous destination from two different airports:
The Panama City airport is just a short 30 minute drive away. It now has direct flights from over 20 cities, so be sure to check this list to see if your city is included.
Where to Stay
The Pearl Hotel in Rosemary Beach is a wonderful place to stay because of its central location, rooftop pool, beautiful bar and great views. Another great option in Rosemary if you are traveling with a large group is to rent a house. That is our favorite option. If you are just traveling with 2-4 people, another great option is to look at renting a carriage house, which is typically a small one bedroom loft above a garage. Additional hotel options in the area are The Pointe 30A and The Rosemary Beach Inn (formerly The Pensione).
Where to Eat
There is absolutely no shortage of delicious food in Rosemary Beach. Whether you are looking for seafood, pizza, Mexican, Italian, or just a good burger, you can find it.
For Breakfast:
Havana Bar & Grill at The Pearl
Big Bad Breakfast- this has become our very favorite! Grab your bikes!
Donut Hole- always crowded!
For Lunch & Dinner:
Love this restaurant for both lunch and dinner. The indoor space is very small, but love the outside patio area. It’s the perfect spot to bike to for lunch too!
The very first restaurant in Rosemary Beach that I fell in love with! I love the decor, atmosphere and food! Enjoy drinks at the bar, sit inside or out and be sure to listen to all the specials for the night!
I love this spot for both lunch and dinner. It’s tapas style, so be sure to try a variety. They are known for their paella, and I love their Brussel sprouts! We bribe the kids to behave at dinner by ordering the chocolate fondue for dessert! So good.
The highest rooftop bar in Rosemary Beach. Go for dinner, afternoon drinks, or just a late night dessert! The outdoor seating is first come, first serve; but if you want to sit inside, I recommend snagging a reservation! The food is so good. Get the Seafood Salad and the Asian lobster split with two or three people!
This is in Seaside, so its a little big of a drive; but it’s one of my favorites! It’s a bigger restaurant that offers tons of great seafood dishes as well as beef. It’s worth the drive in my opinion especially after you have hit up all my Rosemary favorites!
Several different casual spots to choose from and lots of area for the kids to run around. They have a big screen tv that they show movies on and lawn seating. They also have games around and fun for all ages!
For Coffee:
Fonville Press- for coffee and pastries
For Sweet Treats:
Charlie’s Donut Truck- breakfast only
Sugar Shak- ice cream and lots of candy!
La Crema- fondue
For Drinks:
Havana Bar at The Pearl- order the Cilantro Margarita. It will blow you away!
What to Do
What we love about Rosemary Beach is that everything is so close and you rarely have to get in your car! We love that you can walk everywhere or even grab a bike and bike to the next town(s) over!
Beach
That’s what you are coming here for hopefully! Rent your chairs (and do it EARLY!). Rosemary Beach Chair Rentals will set your chairs out early in the morning and pick them up for you at 5pm or a little after. It’s so nice to be able to walk out to the beautiful beach and plop yourself down to a chair and umbrella that’s already set up for you!
Shopping
Bike
Rent some bikes from Bamboo Bicycle Company and bike your way through Rosemary Beach, Seacrest, Alys Beach and even towards Seaside if you are ambitious! We rent the the kids trailers to pull behind our bikes too!
Concerts & movie nights
Rosemary Beach always has fun events planned, so grab a blanket and find a spot in the amp to enjoy one of their summer concerts!
Evenings at the beach
Grab some beach chairs and enjoy the evening time at the beach. One of our favorite times at the beach is from 5-8 pm when we can watch the kids run, enjoy a bottle of wine and view the gorgeous sunsets. Another fun thing to do that they offer in Rosemary Beach is the group bonfires. You have to call and set them up ahead of time and they can be a bit pricey, but if you have a bigger group, they can be a lot of fun!
Pamper
Farmer's Market
On Sunday mornings, they set up a nice-sized Farmer’s Market in Barrett Square that is fun to walk through. They often have some pre-made meals if you wanted to grab a few to enjoy at home during the week.
Kid Stuff
There are 5 or more different pools all around the Rosemary Beach area. Find the one closest to you. Be sure to take them to the splash pad in Alys Beach, and there is also a playground there too. We had a couple of rainy days on vacation and took a short car ride (15 or 20 min) to Panama City where they have a Dave & Busters Arcade and a big Movie Theater. There is also an awesome water park called Shipwreck Island that the kids love!
What to Pack
When you are packing for the beach, don't forget your favorite swim suits, cover-ups and sundresses. It is so helpful to pack swimwear that already has UPF 50+ like the ones offered by Cabana Life. That way, you’ll be able to relax and enjoy the water without stressing about getting a sunburn on the first day. With three young kids, I am always worried about protecting them from the sun as well. I love this rashguard and shorts set for the boys and the tankini and cover-up options for the girls. Now that I have tried a rashguard for myself, I want one to match every swimsuit I own. It is perfect for long days at the beach or days at the water parks with the kids! I love my Garden Gate Swimsuit and Jade Rashguard and this perfect Terry Cloth Tunic to wear to the beach or the pool!