11 Must-Try Italian Restaurants in Destin, FL
Although the seafood on the Emerald Coast is what makes it famous worldwide, Destin and near Miramar Beach also have a wide selection of Italian eateries.
You won’t have trouble finding the ideal restaurant, whether you’re craving pasta, pizza, or a calzone by the beach because vacation isn’t the time to count carbs.
The unique dining scene of the city offers a variety of options, from family-friendly restaurants to celebrity chefs. So, check out several top Italian restaurants in Destin and Miramar Beach!
Italian Restaurants in Destin & Miramar Beach
Mimmo’s Ristorante Italiano
The Mimmo’s provides the Italian classics you expect and much more. From the point you enter the restaurant, you can find appear the wood accents and natural stone, the terra cotta walls, and the gleaming marble bar.
The menu of Mimmo’s demonstrates how they continue to uphold the high standards they set for themselves. You can start with an appetizer and a draft beer or signature cocktail.
Both dinner and lunch are served at Mimmo’s. The lunch menu is extensive, as you might anticipate. They offer renowned pasta dishes, sandwiches, calzones, appetizers, and salads prepared in a brick oven.
Additionally, they make the most of their surroundings to produce as much fresh food as possible, particularly seafood.
Mimmo’s is an ideal setting for family gatherings, with ideal dining tables for more intimate relationships and the ability to host various events and accommodate up to 130 people.
- Address: 979 US Hwy 98 E, Ste. 5, Destin, FL
- Check Website: Mimmo’s Ristorante Italiano
Pazzo Italiano Destin
Pazzo has been around for over 20 years, but it still has an authentic Italian feel.
As one of the excellent Italian restaurants in Destin, achieving various awards and distinctions, it has become a favorite dining place of the city’s residents.
The restaurant owners of Levante Tischler and Alfonso Di Bonito aim to use the art of cooking to showcase their culture and passion.
The chefs present nightly specials for consumers who like to try various dishes. Each plate is rich with flavor and spice
They take pride in their pizzas because they only ever cook them on wood fires to achieve the artisanal pizzas’ rich flavor. Additionally, Pazzo Italiano offers catering and baked cakes.
- Address: 34904 Emerald Coast Pkwy #114, Destin, FL
- Check Website: Pazzo Italiano Destin
Olive Garden Italian Restaurant
If you have ever eaten in the Olive Garden, you’re probably already familiar with the numerous factors that make this chain of 800 restaurants so well-liked.
You can expect to enjoy fresh, flavorful meals in a family-friendly setting when you eat at Olive Garden in Destin, whether you are in the mood for classic Italian food or one with a modern twist on traditional Italian.
The best thing regarding the restaurant is its extensive menu. To begin with, a discussion of Olive Garden would be incomplete without mentioning its famous breadsticks and soup.
There are plenty of options here for people who are eating with you who are vegan, gluten-free, or have another dietary restriction.
Beyond the typical macaroni with cheese, chicken fingers, and pizza, even kids have a wide variety of options.
- Address: 34970 Emerald Coast Pkwy, Destin, FL
- Check Website: Olive Garden Italian Restaurant
Vinny McGuire’s Pizza
Vinny McGuire’s is a hidden treasure in Destin and is renowned for fusing an Irish pub atmosphere with a pizza joint.
This pairing may initially seem odd, but once you get there, you’ll see how brilliant it was to offer both made-to-order pizza and fine Irish beer.
The spot you hang out while waiting for a table at the more well-known McGuire’s Irish Pub, according to the locals, is Vinny McGuire’s.
Pizzas at Vinny McGuire’s are made specifically to your specifications for toppings and sauces. Don’t worry if you don’t know what you want and feel overpowered by the variety of options; the servers are helpful and friendly.
Even though pizza is the star dish, you might discover that you prefer to order boxes, wings, or one of the many other available appetizers.
- Address: 29 Harbor Blvd, Destin, FL
- Check Website: Vinny McGuire’s Pizza
La Famiglia italian restaurant
La Famiglia Italian Restaurant operates from its new place along the Emerald Coast Parkway and constantly aspires to please Destin locals with its genuine Italian cuisine.
They have a friendly, inviting atmosphere appropriate for both family and friend gatherings. Each of their dishes, prepared using fresh ingredients and age-old techniques, is superior to the previous one in terms of flavor and speed of stomach filling.
Even the pasta is made in-house, which helps counteract the intense flavors and rich sauces. You will find eggplant parmigiana, cannelloni, and fettuccine Alfredo on their menu. So, everything you can need from an Italian restaurant.
They add garlic and other essential spices to their olive oil to make a tasty treat everyone can enjoy. In addition, they offer various delicious drinks and menu items, including raspberry iced tea and espresso Italiano.
- Address: 16055 Emerald Coast Pkwy Unit 114 Suite 114, FL
- Check Website: La Famiglia italian restaurant
Fat Clemenza’s
Another delicious Italian restaurant in Destin is Fat Clemenza’s. You will love this spot if you are looking for classic Italian cuisine with fresh ingredients.
Fat Clemenza’s most of their ingredients are imported directly from Italy, and their sausages are delivered twice a week from Chicago.
The menu includes client favorites like wood-fired pizzas, pasta, salads, calzones, desserts, Italian roast coffee, and wine.
Overall, you will find dining at Fat Clemenza’s to be a broad experience.
- Address:12273 US-98, Miramar Beach, FL
- Check Website: Fat Clemenza’s
Emeril’s Coastal Italian
Located on Miramar Beach, 10 minutes from Destin, Emeril’s Coastal Italian provides a traditional Italian dining experience and has all the ingredients for a great meal.
Although the menu is dominated by noodle-based dishes like fettuccine Nero, lasagna Bolognese, and Emeril’s linguini, there are also various pizzas, bread, soups, salads, meat entrees, and other options.
The drink menu is practically as extensive as the food menu. There are international cocktails, beers, and wines, but there is undoubtedly an emphasis on Italian options.
There is an excellent selection of desserts to select from. The gelatos and pies can order in for a complete meal.
You can combine different sweet foods and drinks with similar flavors to create a more enjoyable experience. Take your family to Emeril’s Coastal Italian for a leisurely, satisfying, and flavorful meal.
- Address: 435 Grand Blvd, Miramar Beach, FL
- Check Website: Emeril’s Coastal Italian
Merlins Pizza
In March 1999, the first Merlins Pizza location in Destin, Florida, started serving customers. Since then, we have provided residents and visitors of the Gulf Coast with hundreds of thousands of pizzas.
The idea behind Merlins Pizza’s creation was only to use the best ingredients. They demonstrate this daily, despite many national chains making the same claim. They still make their sauce and dough fresh every day.
They ensure that every ingredient is of the highest quality and will even pay more to avoid serving consumers’ average food.
They provide cheese bread, claiming it to be the best anyone has ever had. It has loads of garlic butter, cheese, and Italian Parmesan seasoning.
In addition, if you can’t find what you’re looking for on their pizza menu, you may create your own with your preferred crust, cheese, meat, sauce, and vegetables.
- Address: 1251 Airport Rd, Destin, FL
- Check Website: Merlins Pizza
Tuscany Italian Bistro
Since 1976, chef and proprietor Guglielmo Ianni has been serving authentic Northern Italian food. He brought a unique Italian dining background to the Emerald Coast Pkwy of Florida.
Tuscany Italian Bistro is served as an outstanding dining restaurant around Miramar Beach since 2009.
This incredible restaurant offers specials nightly happy hour, live music, and an extensive menu with excellent Italian cuisine.
They also have seafood, vegetarian, and gluten-free options. Furthermore, Tuscany Italian is an excellent venue for a wedding reception, birthday celebration, rehearsal dinner, and business lunch.
- Address: 9375 Emerald Coast Pkwy W Ste 20, Miramar Beach, FL
- Check Website: Tuscany Italian Bistro
Landsharks Pizza Company
In Destin, nobody makes pizza quite like Landsharks. This neighborhood treasure enjoys a solid reputation in and around Destin Harbor Walk, which is recognized as the go-to destination for those seeking unhurried fun.
The owner Brian and Sue Hussmann’s main objective is to make it appear that Cheers has arrived in Destin and provide fantastic pizza.
The food quality and the portions’ size will impress you if all that matters to you are devouring a delicious pizza or a pile of wings. In addition, Landsharks’ sandwiches, appetizers, and calzones are all-inclusive.
The restaurant’s menu also offers a limited number of kid-friendly dishes, including favorites like chicken tenders and hot dogs.
There are various alcoholic options available if you want to enjoy a cold beer or mixed drink while eating pizza. Landsharks offers many local brews and typical local and imported beers.
- Address: 300 Harbor Blvd A-B, Destin, FL
- Check Website: Landsharks Pizza Company
Mama Clemenza’s
Owned by a couple in Ireland and Italy, Mama Clemenza’s recently became famous as a top Italian restaurant for locals for breakfast and lunch.
Everything on the menu is made fresh in-house, and with handmade bread baked every day, Mama Clemenza’s pays excellent attention to detail.
Enjoy delicious menu items like ricotta pancakes with lemon curd and prosciutto or the Italian lunch with antipasto, sandwiches, crepes, and sides. Thus, you would taste the love in every bite.
They boast a premium range of liquors and a range of specialty espressos and cappuccinos for a truly Italian experience. Mama Clemenza’s is an excellent place to celebrate the weekend with family and friends or dine alone.
- Address: 12271 US-98, Miramar Beach, FL
- Check Website: Mama Clemenza’s
Note: Since all the information in this article is based on the date of publication, for some reason (health, economic, social), these businesses may be temporarily or permanently closed or moved to another location.
