The Village of Baytowne Wharf: Restaurants and Entertainment Guide

There are so many fun places to visit in Destin, but the Sandestin Village is one of my family’s favorites! This trendy area offers restaurants, shops, activities, and entertainment options for all ages.

Whether you’re interested in listening to dueling pianos, zip lining through the sky, or browsing through shops, The Village of Baytowne Wharf has something to offer. In this post, I will provide a full review of Baytowne Wharf and discuss why it’s a must-visit attraction when you’re in the Sandestin area!

Baytowne Wharf Restaurants

If you are searching for places to eat or even a good Happy Hour deal, you will find that there isn’t a shortage of restaurants or bars at The Village of Baytowne Wharf. Whether you are in the mood for oysters, pizza, or burgers, the dining options at Baytowne Wharf have you covered.

In recent years, The Village of Baytowne Wharf has closed some of their restaurants with new dining options opening in their places. We will try to update the list of current options as often as possible. Some of the popular dining options you will find at Baytowne Wharf include:

• Charlie’s Cafe – donuts and deli style food
• Cannery Lane Cantina – Mexican/Caribbean style food
• Fat Tuesday Daiquiri Bar – frozen adult beverages
• Cosmo’s Robo Diner – burgers and shakes
• Poppy’s Crazy Lobster – seafood restaurant with amazing water views
• Roberto’s Pizzeria and Sports Bar – pizza/Italian food
• Slick Lips Seafood and Oyster House – seafood and oysters
• Village Door Dockside Restaurant – Bar-B-Que/seafood with great views
• Hammerhead’s Bar and Grille – outdoor seating and pet friendly with live music
• Rum Runners – live music venue with outdoor and indoor seating (Kids are welcome until 9:00 PM)
• Ruby Slipper – southern style breakfast food
• Reel ’em In – seafood restaurant
• Landshark Bar and Grill – beach bar and restaurant
• Dude and Meatballs – Italian food
• The Green Panini
• Yaki – sushi and hibachi

In addition to options for sit down meals, The Village also offers several options for dessert.

• Moo La-la Ice Cream and Desserts – ice cream/chocolates/pastries
• La Cremeria – gelato/espresso
• Tony Larue’s – snoballs/cotton candy/popcorn/snacks

If your kids are anything like mine, they love getting a sweet treat after dinner, especially in the form of ice cream or gelato. The good news is they can burn off the sugar by trying out some of the fun activities you will find at The Village of Baytowne Wharf!

Shops

While visiting The Village of Baytowne Wharf, we love to stroll around the quaint paths. The walkways are all stroller friendly, which is nice if you have little ones with you. You’ll find an array of boutiques as you walk around the Baytowne village. Some of the stores and boutiques you will find at Baytowne Wharf include:

• Artful Soap Co. – skincare products
• Barefoot Princess – features Lilly Pulitzer
• Coconut Kidz – children’s boutique with clothing and toys
• Dolls and Friends – American Girl type dolls and accessories
• Gemesis Expressions- specialty shop with great gifts
• Sandestin Clothing Company- beach apparel

There are often vendors set up along the paths where you can purchase drinks (including adult beverages) and snacks to enjoy as you stroll around.

Events

Before heading to the Emerald Coast for vacation, I always check the local events scheduled during our planned trip. Most of the beach communities along the Emerald Coast (including Seaside, FL) offer all sorts of special events throughout the year. This is especially true if you are traveling over a holiday or even during the peak summer season. The Village of Baytowne Wharf hosts many events throughout the year:

• Gumbo Festival – Sandestin hosts an annual Gumbo Festival at Baytowne Wharf each February. Here, you will find family friendly activities, live entertainment, and lots of delicious gumbo! This festival typically takes place over a weekend in mid-February.
• Ice Skating – Baytowne on Ice occurs annually at The Village, and it usually takes place from the end of October through January. You would want to check the actual even calendar for specific dates and hours.
• Visits with Santa – If you are visiting Baytowne Wharf during the holiday season, you can enjoy visits with Santa during the Wednesday night concert series. In addition to this family friendly photo op, Wednesday nights during December also include a light show that is sure to get everyone in the Christmas spirit!
• New Year’s Eve – On December 31 of each year, Baytowne Wharf is the place to be to ring in the new year! Complete with live music, kids’ activities, and fireworks, this annual event is a family favorite for so many reasons!
• Trick or Treat – Spend your Halloween evening at The Village for lots of kid friendly fun! Baytowne Wharf offers costume contests, live DJ, arts and crafts, and fireworks each Halloween. Your kids will love strolling through the shops and restaurants to trick or treat as they enjoy all of the live entertainment and activities.
• Baytowne Beer Festival – The Village of Baytowne Wharf hosts a beer festival each year during October. Visitors can sample specialty beers from around the country. Parents can stroll through The Village enjoying their beverages while the kids get to experience kid friendly activities!
• 4th of July – Each year on Independence Day, Baytowne Wharf goes all out with a super fun event that includes Fourth of July entertainment. Guests can enjoy live music, amazing food, fun activities, and lots of fireworks! It’s a great way to spend the holiday with your family!

Activities

Depending on the time of year you visit, Baytowne Wharf provides tons of activities and entertainment options for guests of all ages. Some of the special activities that The Village offers throughout the year are as follows:

• family movie night
• magic show
• karaoke
• water flight show
• fireworks

Many of these nightly entertainment options take place on the stage in the center of Baytowne Wharf.

There is a large lawn in front of the stage where visitors can sit to watch the nightly entertainment.

At times when the stage isn’t being used, this lawn is a great place for little ones to run and play!

Adventure Zone

As you walk around, you will find so many things to do at The Village. Some of the family friendly fun offered in the Baytowne Adventure Zone is:

• zip line
• trampolines
• ropes course
• tower climb

On our last trip to The Village, you could find a ticket stand to purchase your tickets for the activity you wanted to try.

The prices were really reasonable and there seemed to be activities that appealed to toddlers and teenagers alike.

Even if you don’t choose to participate in these adventurous activities, it’s super fun to watch others take on the challenge!

Baytowne Wharf Playground

If you have smaller kids who are too small to take part in some of the Adventure Zone activities, Baytowne Wharf offers other fun options! On my family’s most recent visit, we found numerous carnival style games that my two little ones could enjoy. There is also a carousel that your kiddos can ride.

The playground pictured above is another example of a toddler friendly feature of The Village. My kids both exhausted themselves running, climbing, and sliding in this super cute, fenced in area.

Arcade

The Village of Baytowne Wharf even has you covered if the weather isn’t cooperating. This arcade is full of fun games for kids (and adults) and is a great option during rainy weather.

Overall, there are so many different things to do that it might be difficult to fit them all in to one evening. This is why we often visit Baytowne Wharf on more than one occasion during our trip!

Escape Room

The Cloak and Dagger Escape Room is located near Rum Runner’s and offers different options for escape rooms. You can book your room and sign the waiver online in order to save time.

Getting There

If you are looking for directions to The Village of Baytowne Wharf, it will help to know that it sits inside the gates of Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort on Florida’s Emerald Coast. This absolutely beautiful resort area is home to many hotels, condos, restaurants, activities, and much more! Plus, it boasts a gorgeous beach with clear water and white sand! Sandestin really is one of the most amazing beaches in the world…and it’s super kid friendly!

The Village of Baytowne Wharf is located on the opposite side of the Sandestin Resort area from the beach. Baytowne Wharf sits on the shores of Choctawhatchee Bay and provides its own great views of the water. When you enter the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort (on the bay side), you will see plenty of signs with directions pointing you to The Village.

If you are looking for beach access from Baytowne Wharf, you would have to drive to the other side of the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort area. Note that there is also a tram that transports resort guests around the grounds for free.

If you’re looking for easy access to The Village of Baytowne Wharf, you have several options for accommodations. The Sandestin area is full of vacation rentals that range from small condos to large houses.

Additionally, you’ll find multiple hotel options in the area. My family and I recently stayed at Hotel Effie, which sits just a short walk away from Baytowne Wharf. This recently built hotel offers modern rooms, a rooftop pool, and amazing restaurants. If you’re looking for more of a beach vibe, the Hilton Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort provides beachfront accommodations, several pools, and multiple restaurants.

If you are driving your own vehicle to Baytowne Wharf, you will find plenty of parking spots available. The Village is connected to a large parking garage that is an easy walk to the main entrance of Baytowne Wharf.

They will also open off-site lots during busy times of the year. When this happens, you will find a shuttle to take you from this off-site lot to the main entrance of The Village. Parking is free unless you choose to utilize the valet services.

Final Review of The Village of Baytowne Wharf

Whenever we are visiting the Sandestin area on a family vacation, The Village of Baytowne Wharf is a must-do for us. I love the atmosphere and adorable shops that they have. And my kids could spend hours on all of the children’s activities offered.

We hope you have an amazing time experiencing all the restaurants, activities, and entertainment that Baytowne Wharf has to offer! What is your favorite part of The Village of Baytowne Wharf in Sandestin? Comment below to let me know!