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Panama City Beach is known for its crystal-clear water, white sand beaches, and beachside entertainment options. As one of the largest resort towns in the Florida panhandle, Panama City Beach combines the tranquility of Gulf Coast beaches with an array of lively amenities for all types of travelers.
When it comes to nightlife, Panama City offers guests at our vacation home rentals a little bit of everything. From happy hours on the beach to nightclubs with karaoke and live music, the best bars in Panama City Beach provide an unforgettable experience for guests.
We’ve rounded up our favorite drink spots, from hidden gems to popular family-friendly tourist joints, to give you all of the inside scoop on the eight best Panama City Beach bars.
Family Friendly Bars
Pineapple Willy’s
Photo Credit: Shyripa Alexandr
- Price Point: $$
- Address: 9875 S Thomas Dr, Panama City Beach, FL
- Website: pwillys.com
- Vibe: Casual, Lively
Opened in 1984, Pineapple Willy’s is a quintessential beachside bar known for its spectacular views of the gulf. The restaurant and bar have a resilient history due to hurricane damage that threatened to close its doors many times. However, the restaurant continued to not only survive but thrive, becoming better each time there was a setback.
Today, Pineapple Willy’s is known for its one-of-a-kind pier seating, family-friendly vibe, delicious frozen daiquiris, and live entertainment. Guests can choose from nine different daiquiri flavors poured into a souvenir cup with discounted refills. And if you want to enjoy your daiquiri on the beach, you can get it to go!
With live music shows most nights of the week during the summer, Pineapple Willy’s is the perfect spot to kick back, enjoy a cold drink, and watch the beachfront show.
Schooners Last Local Beach Club
Photo Credit: Erhan Inga
- Price Point: $$
- Address: 5121 Gulf Dr, Panama City, FL
- Website: schooners.com
- Vibe: Casual, Lively
Dubbed the “Last Local Beach Club” in Panama City Beach, Schooners is regularly voted one of the best bars on the coast for live music and entertainment. Situated right on the beach, Schooners opens at 11 am daily, offering visitors the chance to play beach volleyball by day and dance on the beach by night.
The drink menu features a mixture of cocktails, from margaritas to rum-based beach drinks to “Schooners Specialties,” original cocktails you can only get here. We recommend trying the Sunset Splash, a blend of Raspberry Vodka, Peach Schnapps, and freshly-squeezed juices.
Speaking of sunsets, there’s no better spot to watch the sunset over the Gulf of Mexico than Schooner’s beachfront seating. Whether you’re looking for a beachfront dinner for two or a group gathering, Schooners provides a special backdrop for your vacation!
Sharky’s Beachfront Restaurant and Tiki Bar
Photo Credit: Teri Virbickis
- Price Point: $$
- Address: 15201 Front Beach Rd, Panama City Beach, FL
- Website: sharkysbeach.com
- Vibe: Family-friendly
You can’t miss Sharky’s as you make your way down Front Beach Road. Boasting one of the largest open-air thatched-roof structures in the country, Sharky’s outdoor tiki bar is iconic. The 15,000 square-foot deck has hosted millions of locals and tourists throughout the years. It has even become a stage for famous musicians, such as Lynard Skynard and The Outlaws, for its live concerts.
Known for its Gulf seafood, Sharky’s serves the perfect bar food, from mouth-watering fish tacos to their famous oyster bar. The drink menu highlights specialty cocktails, such as their “World Famous Shark Attack,” a rum-based tropical treat! With a full list of craft beers as well, it's got a little bit of everything. Complete with a Pirate Ship Playground for the kids; it's the ideal spot to enjoy a family-friendly beachfront bar. It’s tiki time!
Gastropubs
The Craft Bar
Photo Credit: VDB Photos
- Price Point: $$
- Address: 15600 Panama City Beach Pkwy #180, Panama City Beach, FL
- Website: thecraftbarfl.com
- Vibe: Cocktail bar, Casual
PCB has many great options for dining, and The Craft Bar has you covered if you’re looking for high-quality drinks and food. This specialty bar and restaurant serves craft beer, cocktails, and food from locally-sourced ingredients.
The atmosphere is cozy and communal, inviting guests to pull up a chair and stay awhile. You can choose from a large selection of locally-brewed beer on tap and even take a ‘crowler’ to go! With an extensive wine list and hand-crafted seasonal cocktails, there is no shortage of drink choices for your group to try.
The Craft Bar holds weekday happy hours, Monday burger nights, and Sunday brunch - making it the ideal spot to hang out any day of the week.
Wicked Wheel
Photo Credit: NOBUHIRO ASADA
- Price Point: $$
- Address: 10025 Hutchison Blvd, Panama City Beach, FL
- Website: thewickedwheel.com
- Vibe: Family-friendly
This family-friendly bar and grill is known for its craft beer, motorcycle shows, and world-famous fried chicken.
Wicked Wheel’s drink menu highlights their long list of draft beers. But it also includes specialty cocktails, wine, and even moonshine by the shot! The food menu features a mix of Southern and Cajun-inspired dishes, from their infamous Nola catfish to chicken and waffles. They even have an on-site pond where guests can catch their own catfish for dinner! An extensive kid's menu makes it the perfect spot for the whole family to enjoy.
The Firefly
Photo Credit: Maksym Fesenko
- Price Point: $$$
- Address: Shoppes at Edgewater, 535 N Richard Jackson Blvd, Panama City Beach, FL
- Website: fireflypcb.com
- Vibe: Upscale, Romantic
The Firefly is an upscale restaurant and bar in the heart of Panama City Beach. With a rotating food menu featuring local, seasonal ingredients, this casual fine-dining spot allows visitors to indulge their taste buds from start to finish.
The Firefly Bar offers a sophisticated spot for guests to enjoy a pre-dinner cocktail and appetizer. Or, you can head to the cozy, mahogany-filled Library for an evening nightcap. If sake is your thing, don’t miss out on their Sushi bar with an extensive sake list.
Whether you prefer fine wine, sake, or hand-crafted cocktails, the drink menu won’t disappoint.
Locally Loved Dive Bars
Salty Goat Saloon
Photo Credit: Rybalchenko Nadezhda
- Price Point: $$
- Address: 13006 Front Beach Rd Suite B, Panama City Beach, FL
- Website: saltygoatsaloon.com
- Vibe: Sports bar, Casual
Located just across the road from the Gulf, Salty Goat Saloon offers a classic sports bar ambiance complete with live music most nights of the week. This no-fuss bar is a local favorite due to its easygoing atmosphere, reliably delicious cocktails, and consistent entertainment options.
Serving everybody’s favorite bar snacks, the food menu ranges from nachos to wings to loaded tots or fries. With a daily happy hour and rotating weekday specials, this saloon is the ultimate spot to try a little bit of everything while enjoying a game or live music.
Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge
Photo Credit: P Kyriakos
- Price Point: $$
- Address: 700 S Pier Park Dr, Panama City Beach, FL
- Website: tootsies.net
- Vibe: Dive bar, Casual
Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge is unlike anywhere else in Panama City Beach. Originally based in Nashville, Tootsie’s is known for providing the best country music entertainment in the Gulf. But that’s not all. Visitors can enjoy a low country boil on the patio for free every Friday by purchasing a drink. And then there’s the oyster happy hour every Monday-Thursday!
Between the Gulf seafood and live country music, Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge uniquely blends Nashville entertainment with Gulf Coast living. Locals and tourists can enjoy a low-key night out while listening to their favorite country songs at Tootsie’s.
Cheers to An Unforgettable PCB Vacation
Panama City Beach offers an eclectic array of nightlife options to suit every traveler's taste while staying at a PCB vacation home. Whether your vacation dreams involve lounging on the beach with a daiquiri in hand or celebrating with fine wine at an upscale bar, this Gulf Coast town has it all. From family-friendly gastropubs to honky-tonk dive bars, PCB’s bar scene ensures you can relax, connect, and create lasting memories on your trip.