Half Shell Dockside

Great wine list and good vibes! Live music! Owner and bartenders are super friendly' make you feel…read moreright at home!

Carson was AMAZING! Nothing like service with a smile. My husband and I came in with my in laws…read moreafter dinner on our last night in Apalachicola and we were not disappointed. Apalachicola Yatch Club was such a cool vibe and Carson made our experience even better. She was extremely friendly and made great drinks. 10/10 recommend stopping by when in Apalachicola. Hopefully next time we will be able to check out their live music!

Outside

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WaterCraft Brewing

4.7(6 reviews)

This is our second time in. The staff is nice and they have a good variety of beers. Seating area…read moreis out front. Clean inside music good volume. Nice selection of gear you can get.

You can get food nearby but here they have a great selection of beers and if beer is not your thing…read moreyou can get a vodka cocktail w vodka distilled on premises... service is awesome... gift shop has all kinds of souvenirs and outside seating on benches to interact with other patrons is also very inviting!

Outside entrance nice seating bench's out front

Brewery

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The tap list

Up To No Good Tavern

3.6(68 reviews)

0.4 mi

Not sure why there are bad reviews, the drinks that we had were very well made and strong enough to…read moreget us tipsy quickly without being too strong to drink. Granted we didn't order much food other than some desserts from the display case

Arrived in historic Apalach only to be greeted by a lot of very early closures of restaurants. It…read morewas a weekday evening, but it's also August, and it is supposedly a tourist focused town, so I'm not sure why they shut down restaurants at 8 and 9 pm. Anyway, Up to no good was still open at sunset and there seemed to be a handful of patrons so we dropped in to get a bite and a beer. Sat at the bar and ordered a decent draft of a locally brewed blonde ale. That was the highlight, and it slid downhill from there. I don't enjoy giving negative critique of personnel, but as they are an integral aspect of the experience, it's altogether necessary to do so. Two girls working the front of the house...both seemed a bit disappointed that anyone would want to order food at the horrific hour of half past 8. We chose the 16" gourmet specialty pizza on the nights specials board. The Greco. Olive oil, olive tampanade, feta, banana peppers, PLUS your choice of chicken or shrimp. I asked if we could get half chicken and half shrimp but was told flatly...no. Seemed like a rational request, and I'm sure the cook EASILY could have managed the chore, but I wasn't gonna get into it with her. She was definitely eyeing the clock already, and giving off a vibe so it wasn't going to be a productive back and forth. I wrote it off to her probably just having a bad day. EXCEPT, when she was interacting with another table that were clearly locals and acquaintances, she was amazingly friendly, sociable, and jovial. Her disdain was obviously reserved for strangers and out of towners. Oh well. Now, the pizza. Clearly they over reached on this. It came out looking ok, but it just didn't hit the mark. The crust and the toppings seemed to be two entirely different entities, to the point that when you picked up a slice, the toppings would just slide right off. Almost as if the crust was pre-cooked. It was edible, but underwhelming. We were pretty much finished with the whole scene, so we asked for a box and a check, as they clearly were anxious for us to leave, so that they could also. So, the pizza was listed on the board for 27 bucks. But then , insult to injury, there was a 4 dollar add on for the chicken! lol. Why didn't they just LIST the pie at the 31.00 up front!? Petty, but deceptive practice. I brought it to the attention of the waitress, but my explanation was beyond her ability to process. But she had no problem processing my cc for the 31.00, plus 2 beers, and tax. 50+ dollar pizza dinner for two! And mediocre at that. With attitude. We won't be back.

Bar

Chicken and pasta

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View from the patio

Owl Cafe

3.9(518 reviews)

Love that this place has dining outdoors upstairs. The server was awesome and so personable. Im…read morefrom out of town so he explained all the good local options and what is the best to get. I settled on the shrimp and grits and it was delicious. I wanted to lick the bowl clean it was that good. All the entrees that my group ordered were good (fish and chips, catch of the day, Greek salad and kids chicken tenders). I would definitely go back when I'm in the area.

We went on Sunday evening, party of 3. There was some confusion with our reservation but we were…read morestill seated at a table that wasn't reserved until 7pm. Our server came, we ordered our drinks. He brought them but didn't lay cocktail napkins on our table with them. After that we ordered appetizers, asked our server what his favorites were. The stuffed shrimp was named, so I ordered those. My friend ordered a 1/2 dozen of the baked oysters. The appetizers came out but were luke warm at best. The baked oysters were way over cooked & then I'm sure sat under the heat lamp which dried them out even more. I'm a southern Alabama girl who knows her seafood and loves good soul food & know how it should be cooked. So far I wasn't impressed. This menu hits all the check marks but over does the easy stuff. My friend ordered gumbo. It was more 'Cajun' red looking than a darker rue & it was served cool to luke warm at best. The flavor wasn't good at all. I ended up ordering the duck. The greens with it were great but the duck itself came out fried not roasted which threw me off. If you're going to imitate Louisiana cooking, please at least follow their ways of cooking. My other friend ordered redfish & shrimp and that was the best tasting dish out of all. Overall, the meal wasn't good for the quality and pricing. The overcooked baked oysters were $30 for a 1/2 dozen so don't waste your time. The gumbo was $15 a bowl & it was the size of a salad bowl at best. Also, pro tip. Don't leave money sitting on the table. They were about to not seat us because they had a 7pm reservation at the table we ate at. We were there at 5pm.

Bar/dining room

Fresh catch of the day

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Outside the owl

Up The Creek Raw Bar

3.9(510 reviews)

0.3 mi

Oysters were fantastic! Ambiance is rugged and staff is attentive! It is easy to find and great…read moreelevator!

Look yall, if you're in Apalachicola, you need to try these Baltic oysters. I dream of them when…read moreI'm land locked in St. Louis. I share photos of them, like they're my favorite child who just graduated from Yale. These are what dreams are made of: fresh, local oysters from the oyster capital of the world, touched with creamy horseradish and a generous portion of caviar. Other delights include po' boys with your choice of protein, coconut shrimp with spicy-sweet dipping sauce, and some of the best fish tacos in town. Service is excellent; the busser/ food runner Is happy to get your beer/ pop/ extra sauces refilled. And of course, the waterside views of fishers, boats, and birds never hurt. I prefer to sit in the screened in porch, but sometimes the heat is unruly, and sitting inside is just as nice. Don't be shy in the ladies' room, one stall has a curtain enclosure

Oysters Parmesan

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View from the deck

The Tap Room

3.6(45 reviews)

Josh and Mike G gave us an amazing experience with quick service, great drinks, and good vibes…read more 10/10 recommend this place for a good time.

My husband and I stopped by for a cocktail at the bar to pass time before our reservation at The…read moreOwl Cafe. I was happy to see a decent bourbon selection. The ladies behind the bar were hustling but clearly enjoyed working with each other and made a good Old Fashioned.

Bar

Key Lime Cheesecake

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View from the dining room

High Five Dive Bar

4.7(21 reviews)

0.3 mi

Ice cold beer, great music, food truck out back! Plenty of room to socialize and dance. Don't…read moreforget the best bartender Ronnie who will serve you a drink some laughs and always a good time!

High Five Dive Bar is a MUST when in Apalachicola! Local…read moreFamily owned business, with incredibly friendly service. Extremely dog friendly - has a back patio area as well. Live music was great! They have a food truck in the back so you don't have to leave for food! Can't wait to come back to High Five Dive Bar!

High 5 Dive Bar

A shot from the table outside of the building

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A couple of craft brews

Roseate Spoonbill Lounge

2.5(4 reviews)

0.6 mi

Patrons are down-to-earth and happy drinkers. Mostly polite…read more Karaoke can be fun, but sometimes it's a mess. The place is pretty, but it has a rundown feel. I would never recommend it as a place to host, for example, a wedding party. Bartenders are great. Bathrooms are pretty darn small. Right on the river... 3/5 R.I.P.

Atmosphere sucks and most of the patrons are rude. And I won't ever go back. Crappy place to end a…read morewedding party

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Red Pirate Family Grill & Oyster Bar

3.9(281 reviews)

6.0 mi

We were looking for a seafood place on our first night in Carrabelle Beach. The Red Pirate was…read morehighly recommended by several we asked and they he menu looked good so we drove over. It was quite crowded so there was a 30 minute wait. We didn't mind because there was a lot to explore and plenty of seating outside. There was a mini golf course, a gift shop and two more dining rooms. Both of those had a bar, dimmer lighting and live music plus one had outdoor seating. We didn't know they had other dining rooms so I told the hostess First Available. We ended up in the family dining room. Not complaining; just informing you that you do have a choice. You can get drinks in there but it doesn't have the atmosphere of the two bars. We were seated and ordered a Coke and a Coke Zero. I tasted mine and it had this awful muddy flavor that lingered. I looked at Jenn and she had the same look on her face. I don't know what was wrong with those drinks but they were so so bad. We told the server and she swapped both for ice tea. Sadly the tea had the same dirty disgusting taste. I don't know what's in the water there but it almost made me retch. We didn't order anything else to drink. We both ordered appetizers next- I got coconut shrimp and Jenn got the Buffalo Skins, basically loaded tater skins. Both were delicious!!! The appetizers were generous portions and quite filling. Jenn didn't want an entree after that but I ordered one - the southern fried chicken sandwich with a loaded baked potato. I should've followed Jenn's lead and skipped the entree. By the time it arrived (which wasn't an unreasonable wait) I was full, quite thirsty and ready to go. The sandwich looked very good, as did the tater but I couldn't eat it. I asked for a box and took it all back to our AirBnB. I did nibble to taste the fried chicken and it was quite good. I'm a fried chicken snob and quite picky. It was hot, not too much breading, well seasoned and the fillet was juicy. The only down side was the sauce on it. It was awful! I used a napkin to try to wipe it off. The server did ask me if I wanted it and I said yes (it was listed on the menu with the sandwich). I should've asked for it on the side. If you order the chicken sandwich you might consider asking for the special sauce on the side. I'm sure many people like it but for me it ruined the sandwich. I did bring the sandwich and baked tater back and will eat it later if I can. The baked potato looked very good, not too small and very well loaded. I didn't taste it though so I can't tell you much about it. They brought the sour cream separately too. Smart! Now I can reheat the tater. I didn't try any of the seafood except the coconut shrimp. I have to say it was excellent-large shrimps and a generous portion. I didn't need the entree at all. The place seems very popular and I will suggest giving it a try. I didn't notice anyone else complaining about the drinks so I don't know how to explain our experience with the Cokes and the tea. Neither of us could drink even one drink of them. I read reviews after we left and one even mentioned the delicious water. Maybe tuck a bottle of Aquafina in your bag or pocket, just in case.

We first visited this restaurant in April 2025 and it was absolutely amazing - great beer…read moreselection, incredible food, fair prices, and excellent service. We were so impressed that we recommended this place to multiple people and were genuinely excited to come back last Sunday. Unfortunately, this visit was a complete disappointment from start to finish. The service was noticeably worse, the beer selection was extremely limited compared to before, and the food was honestly some of the worst seafood we've had in years. We ordered the fried calamari and the mixed grilled seafood plate. The calamari was chewy, flavorless, and the batter had an unpleasant texture. The mixed seafood plate was even worse - the oysters looked, smelled, and tasted awful, and the fish, shrimp, stuffed crab and scallops were completely bland. Even the fried okra, which should be an easy Southern staple, was disappointing. We left wondering if they changed chefs or management because the difference from our first experience was shocking. Even my mom, who is far from a picky eater, could barely eat her food. It's genuinely upsetting because this used to be a place we loved and enthusiastically recommended to others. Sadly, after this experience, we won't be returning.

Shrimp poboy

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Fried Captain's Platter @tiffhuangry

High Five Dive Bar

5.0(4 reviews)

0.8 mi

We were in Apalachicola, FL for the 4th of July fireworks show. Show was great, band and beer…read morewas even better. Good 'ol Southern band played all the favorites. OCBC be was fresh and cold on a hot summer night. Cool (and large) patio out back. When I travel, I love finding little "dive bars" that really show the character of the town. High Five Dive Bar fits the bill... come on in and hang out a while.

This place is epic fun Live music is mixed and always…read moreentertaining We go here every trip we have to the panhandle Great family & local feel Cheers

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Main space

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12 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Carly F.

0

2

0

3 years ago

Food was terrible, the waiter was horrible and staff was rude, the waiter even said she would put desserts on the house because of how she was acting then tried to say she only said one dessert. She also added over $28 of things we couldn't get. And to add onto it they didn't have almost anything from the online menu on the actual menu so it was quite confusing if you already new what you were getting read more

Wendy D.

0

40

2

1 year ago

We discovered this place a few years ago, and now it's become a vacation must-do! We love the seafood, the fried pickles, the cocktails, and the friendly service. The location is also wonderful - we love spotting an alligator and watching the water and boats. We made a point of going twice during vacation this year! Already looking forward to next year. read more

Kimberly S.

0

17

0

2 years ago

whole fried flounder was great, slaw is fresh and made in house. Kids got chicken tenders with fries and said that they were good. I only rated at 4 stars because my grilled grouper sandwich was almost raw. sent it back and the fish on the replacement was so salty that I could not eat it. No compensation or credit were offered for the bad sandwich. read more

Boone F.

0

2

0

3 years ago

Food was dry and service was horrid we had such a hard time with are server she offered us free dessert so me and my group ordered some cheesecake but they charge for it after saying all the desserts are on the house DO NOT GO HERE ABSOLUTE WASTE OF MONEY AND YOUR TIME!!!! read more

Kallie J.

50

3

1

6 years ago

Horrible. We waited two and a half hours for our food. The hostess had to remind our waitress TWICE to bring us our drinks. After waiting so long for our food, it was disgusting. The noise level was through the roof and our waitress didn't even apologize for our problems. read more

Destiny B.

0

1

0

6 years ago

LOVED this place! Tessa was our waitress and she made sure we had everything we needed throughout our dining experience. Beautiful view, great service, and even better food! I had the grouper sandwich and fried tomato appetizer. Can't wait to go back read more

Jessica D.

0

12

0

7 years ago

Sea gull nightmare. The food was pretty good but we were distracted by the constant sea gull attacks on us and our food. I've had better experience dining by the water that did not involve scenes from The Birds. read more

Steven P.

93

12

2

5 years ago

We enjoyed the food very much. Nice seating area. And the place is very clean. Amazing fries! Would recommend. read more

Jason R.

74

2

0

4 years ago

Don't waste your time on this place. Rude staff. Rude management. Got to the piggly wiggly instead. read more

Emily H.

358

9

2

5 years ago

Fantastic food and service. Michael took care of us and was amazing. We will be back!

Janice J.

0

2

0

3 years ago

Great food and service! We loved the view and so did our dog!

Teeah S.

0

4

0

4 years ago

absolutely excellent food and service!

Half Shell Dockside - bars - Updated October 2026

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Sand Bar Kitchen and Tavern

4.1

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My wife and I came to Sand Bar last night with our dogs to enjoy live music on their patio. The…read moremusic was great...we had a fantastic time. We had beers and I got a Hemingway from the bar...a little sweet and smaller than expected but really good overall. We came back today for lunch. My wife had blackened shrimp nachos, and I had a shrimp basket. The nachos were huge with delicious shrimp, tasty queso, and fresh lettuce and tomato to top it. My shrimp basket was really good...plenty of shrimp with a side of cole slaw. Our bartender took excellent care of us. We chatted for a while and he put the Penn State game on for my wife. We'll be back for sure!!!

Great little seafood restaurant & bar! It's order at the counter, delivery to your table. Staff are…read moresuper friendly and accommodating. Tables are all high top, but very modern and comfortable. Fully stocked bar available with lots of cocktail options. Portions are huge and super delicious! Favorites: Fried Grouper Basket Mahi or Smoked Tuna dip Crab Cakes Surface lot parking available but limited. A gem brought to the island!

Blue Parrot Ocean Front Cafe

3.7

(648 reviews)

We were told by our neighbors that if we got onto the island a must stop was the blue parrot on the…read morebeach . Totally, totally awesome view of the water , amazing atmosphere and service was supper ! Our server Cynthia was excellent and knowledgeable, very polite . We had not one but two each of their signature drink - the sand blaster . We shared the smoked fish spread , the onion rings were fantastic, the grouper sandwich, we shared was off the charts. We were also told that the crab cakes will take you to a new place as they are so good . We were too full to try the crab cakes and realized later we should have gotten an order to go . Thank you Cynthia . We went back a second time and had the sand blasters again with the onion rings, conch fritters and Yellow fin fish dip. Thank you to Sumer for the excellent service . This place is truly worth a visit if you are on the island .

Me and my family are on vacation at St. George Island and we went here for the 4th day on the trip…read more I got the chicken, my dad got the fish sticks and said it was really good. It was. And my mom got a dozen Oysters. I've never had Oysters, and they don't sound appetizing but my mom liked them. (Coming from a woman who likes ALL Oysters. I liked the ocean view and it had a nice ambiance. Service was good and was helpful. They also had a gift shop! Bought a parrot for me and a tank top for my brother. Very nice and I will come back!

Family Coastal Restaurant

3.6

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Friendly staff with nice waterfront view. Basic tasty fare: fried shrimp, grouper and hush puppies…read morewere all lightly battered. Cole slaw too sweet for me but good meal.

Food was pretty good! We stopped here before we checked into our Airbnb. Wanted the blue crab claws…read morebut they were out so went with the shrimp po boy good flavor but none of the sides were spectacular. Fried grouper sandwich was star of the show.

The Tap Room

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