Things to do in Pensacola
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Pensacola Lighthouse
Accessed from the NAS is the 160ft, 1859-built Pensacola Lighthouse, which is in use today.
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Atlas Oyster House
This new and instant favorite – paired, right on a breezy dock, with the slightly more upscale Fish House (mains $15 to $25) – is packed nightly with a range of locals who come for the outdoor seating, live blues and fresh-from-the-sea menu featuring everything from burgers and oysters on the half shell, to gulf shrimp and fish of the day served in a variety of ways, including pecan encrusted. The Fish House is known for its signature dish: World Famous Grits Ya Ya, which serves spicy gulf shrimp, bacon and garlicky veggies over steaming gouda-cheese grits.
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The Oar House
This tucked-away haven, right on Bayou Chico at the edge of a marina, is an alfresco dining spot with tables under a huge palapa roof. Between the sand volleyball court and wispy palmetto trees, you’ll feel like you’re really on holiday – but it’s especially true when you taste the food at this festive spot: seriously fresh oyster baskets, crab cakes, blackened fish sandwiches and fish tacos, paired with sides like black-eyed peas or garlic green beans. It’s a special, friendly kind of place.
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Veterans Memorial Park
In this military city, the 5.5-acre bayfront Veterans Memorial Park is a fittingly moving monument to American war veterans. At the end is Wall South, a replica of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, DC, starkly displaying the names of more than 58,000 US soldiers who lost their lives in the war, among them eight women nurses, Angels on the Wall. Also at the park is Pensacola's brand new WWII memorial. Take Main St east from downtown.
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Joe Patti’s
Don’t leave Pensacola without a visit to this vibrant, bustling seafood market, where you can not only watch the catch come off the boat, and have it deboned and filleted at long stainless steel tables, but also stock up on fresh and delicious items for picnicking, from shrimp salad to clam chowder. To complete the meal you can grab wine and cheese from the connected emporium.
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Saenger Theatre
The Spanish-Baroque beauty, Saenger Theatre, was reconstructed in 1925 using bricks from the Pensacola Opera House, which was destroyed in a 1916 hurricane. Closed for a major renovation project at the time of research, this is home to a popular Broadway series as well as the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra and Pensacola Opera.
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Shoreline Park
Shoreline Park in Gulf Breeze is a particular hotspot, where you’re likely to find local skywatchers (including members of the Mutual UFO Network, which meets here regularly) with binoculars and lawn chairs. Sightings have been reported right along the coast – it’s as good a reason as any to spread out a picnic or beach blanket and gaze up at the stars.
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Pensacola Museum of Art
Interestingly housed in the city’s old jail (1908), this museum, features nearly 20 exhibits a year – anything from Rodin sculptures to the pop-art work of Jasper Johns. Its impressively growing collection, shown on a rotating basis, includes major 20th- and 21st-century artists across genres including cubism, realism, pop art and folk art.
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Zoo
When Hurricane Ivan hit years ago, many of the staff at the Zoo, about 10 miles east of Gulf Breeze, risked their own safety to stay and look after the animals that had nowhere else to go. And today their personal attachment is still evident through this zoo, which is worth a visit especially if you’re traveling with kids.
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Viking Diving
In 2006, a 910ft-long aircraft carrier was intentionally sunk off the coast of Pensacola to make the world's largest artificial reef. Now dubbed 'The Great Carrier Reef, ' the USS Oriskany sits in the sand 210ft below the surface, with its flight deck at 137ft. Viking Diving can take you there.
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Scuba Shack
In 2006, a 910ft-long aircraft carrier was intentionally sunk off the coast of Pensacola to make the world's largest artificial reef. Now dubbed 'The Great Carrier Reef, ' the USS Oriskany sits in the sand 210ft below the surface, with its flight deck at 137ft. Scuba Shack can take you there.
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Jamie’s
Housed in an 1880s Victorian cottage and tucked on a quiet, residential stretch of the historic district, Jamie’s wows big-spending guests with provincial French favorites, including simply prepared fish, filet mignon and lamb. Working fireplaces and a bevy of antiques heighten the glorious ambience.
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Oscar's Restaurant
Oscar's is part of the city's lore as the place clean-cut serial killer Ted Bundy was spotted and ultimately apprehended in 1978. You can chow down on Southern classics including turkey with cornbread dressing, fried chicken, a heap of seafood options and daily specials at bargain prices.
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Native Café
This brand-new budget spot, ‘owned and operated by friendly natives,’ is a welcome addition to the fried-fish stretch. Try a shrimp po’ boy, grilled chicken sandwich, fish tacos, rice and beans or seafood gumbo – or, for a cheap morning jumpstart, eggs benedict or pancakes.
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Sam's Fun City
The very cute Rocky & Bullwinkle cartoon-themed Sam's Fun City is a one-off and has lots of whirly rides and attractions like bumper boats, mini golf and go-karting, as well as a water park with a wave pool and stacks of slides. From I-10 take exit 10A south to US 29.
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eat!
This stylish place in downtown has been wowing them since it opened its doors. The modern take on Southern cuisine includes fried green tomatoes in brown butter and feta, peppercorn-crusted elk, rosemary-lemon lamb chops and carrot cake with goat-cheese crème fraiche.
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Bay Bluffs Park
The beautiful Bay Bluffs Park is a 32-acre oasis of wooden boardwalks that lead you down along the side of the steep bluffs, through clutches of live oaks, pines, Florida rosemary and holly down to the empty beach below.
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Fort Barrancas
This fort sits on a dramatic bluff overlooking Pensacola Bay, and is now part of the national park system. The fort was variously built, destroyed, remodeled and occupied by Spanish, French, British, Confederate and US forces since 1698.
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Ever’man Natural Foods
This co-op grocery welcomes the public to shop in its aisles of healthy foods and at its deli counter, which offers fresh salads, sandwiches and hot-food concoctions to be taken out or eaten at its few instore tables.
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Lanier Sailing Academy
Conditions at Pensacola Bay are perfect for sailing. Beginners can take part in various sailing courses with Lanier Sailing Academy, or rent a Capri 22 for $215 daily and take to the waters yourself.
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H&O
Soul food will rock your world. Order hearty dinners like fried or baked chicken or catfish with sides of candied yams, black-eyed peas or okra, and finish off with peach cobbler or bread pudding for dessert.
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Bamboo Willie’s
An open-air bar right on the boardwalk in Pensacola Beach, this is the spot to get twisted in a variety of ways, with signature frozen cocktails from the Bushwacker to the 190 Octane (don’t ask – just drink).
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End of the Line Cafe
A funky, fair-trade café with velour and vinyl lounges, this is the place for casual vegan fare – like tempeh reubens and tofu BLTs – as well as regular cultural events, like Friday’s open-mike night.
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Historic Pensacola Village
The Historic Pensacola Village, a self-contained enclave of historic homes and museums. Admission is good for one week and includes a guided tour and entrance to each building.
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Flounder's
At Pensacola Beach, Flounder's is great for kids, with a pirate ship playground, huge beach area with volleyball nets and lots of memorabilia, including a 15ft Cuban raft that carried refugees.
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