Boathouse Oyster Bar
288 Harbor Boulevard
Destin, FL 32541
(850) 837-3645
Hours: 11:00 AM to Close
Location: On the water
Drink: Beer, wine and full bar
Eat: Award Winning Gumbo
Music: Daily seasonally
Parking: Own parking lot
Boat Access: Yes
Unique Feature: Dollar bills and bras hanging from ceiling
Overview
The Boathouse is located on the harbor in Destin and is a well-kept secret. We wandered the whole harbor area checking out one good Florida beach bar after another, and then we stumbled upon The Boathouse. We were told by a friendly bartender that The Boathouse is the place to go for good food and fabulous entertainment.
So, of course, we checked it out. The first thing we noticed was the calendar on the outside door stating they have live music every day from 6:30 PM to close. Some days the music starts at 4:00 PM. In fact, you can catch music March through October - seven nights a week, plus Friday, Saturday, and Sunday afternoons. Now, we're talking!!
We were lucky enough to catch Kelly Bird late one Sunday afternoon. We were very lucky and very happy. Kelly has his own style and sings original songs pertinent to the Destin area.
Some really famous musicians have stopped in to play with the local bands on occasion. One of those people is our favorite country music star and Nicole Kidman's husband, Keith Urban.
Inside you will see dollar bills hanging from the ceiling. Yes, we have all seen that before, but there are also bras hanging with the dollar bills. We've seen bras before too, but we don't know if we ever saw them together. Oh, and some sneakers and flip flops hang in there too. There is a trend in Florida beach bars that if there is money or underwear hanging from the ceiling, these are usually the most fun and lively bars.
How much do the locals love this Florida beach bar? The Boathouse was flattened on October 4th in 1995 by Hurricane Opal, but a group of people who were willing to work for cold beer got together and The Boathouse opened the day after Thanksgiving in 1995. That is a true sign of a great Florida beach bar.
There is a new deck that borders the outside of the Boathouse and this little deck area is a great place to sit, eat, drink and watch the boating activities. You will love this little Florida beach bar. They even have boiled peanuts!
“We hang out at The Boathouse each September when we vacation there. I have a dollar bill on the wall above the bar with my name on it. We have a blast in there. And I LOVE their gumbo!!!”