Picolo Restaurant & The Red Bar
70 Hotz Ave, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459 / 850-231-1008
Legendary in the area, this restaurant's decor is part beach shack, part thrift store and part retro club. Walls and ceilings are papered with posters and funky mirrors, and the place has a laid-back, devil-may-care attitude. In one corner of the dining area, tattered furniture surrounds the stage and attracts eager patrons, although music can be heard throughout the space. Blues and jazz take the forefront and provide a perfect backdrop for nursing a drink and hanging out with friends. The Red Bar, which links the front and rear dining rooms, serves up libations fore and aft. As your memento of the coolest bar on the coast, make sure to pick up one of their hip (and recognizable) t-shirts.
http://www.theredbar.com/

Hogs Breath Destin
541 Hwy 98 E, Destin, FL 32541 / 850-837-5991
This local hang-out looks like it's had its share of loving over the years. In classic bar style, it sports dark wood, brass rails and neon beer signs, but you know you're at the beach by the surfboards suspended overhead. Very laid-back, it always entertains a gang at the bar, and at night, patrons gather to play pool and listen to live bands. Rock music and cover tunes are most popular, but you'll also hear blues, jazz, and island music. Inside, several levels corral bar-goers, but if you don't like the cigarette smoke, there's an outdoor deck. The place also serves food, including appetizers, steaks, seafood and sandwiches. Raw bar, too.
http://www.hogsbreath.com/

AJ's Seafood and Oyster Bar
116 Hwy 98 E, Destin Harbor, Destin, FL 32541 / 850-837-1913
Club Bimini, AJ's venue for live music and night-time drinks, is the party choice in Destin. An expansive wooden deck, with a tiki-hut bar and terrific views of the harbor, hosts hordes of tourists and locals. Beer specials are a perennial favorite, and when the bands aren't playing, DJs spin island music and classic rock. Vacationers mingle easily and conversations take off as quickly as the breeze. If you're hungry, order a few oysters or one of the seafood baskets. If not, just nurse your drink and enjoy the evening. There's plenty to do, and if you've arrived early enough to get a parking space, life is nothing but good.
http://www.ajs-destin.com/

Howl at the Moon
1450 Miracle Strip Pkwy, Okaloosa Island Boardwalk, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548 / 850-301-0111
A fun, lively ambiance pervades this dualing piano bar where the pianists lead the music and the evening. Guests sing along in unison, and each group attempts to out-perform the other. Even the staff joins in on the melodic competition, which includes people of all ages and backgrounds. Perfect for special occasions and parties, these nightly activities pull in loyal fans, and seats are often at a premium. When the rivalry gets too intense, head out to the outdoor deck. With great views of the beach, it's an ideal place to cool off and enjoy your favorite beverage.
http://www.howlatthemoon.com/

Ocean Club
8955 W Emerald Coast Pkwy, Tops'l Beach & Racquet Club Resort, Destin, FL 32541 / 850-267-3666
Elegant and upscale, this dimly-lit bar caters to a mixed clientele but is especially popular with a slightly older crowd. During the early evening, the Ocean Club is a stylish restaurant, but later on, a talented pianist entertains patrons with a mix of classics and contemporary music (including an incredible rendition of "The Phantom of the Opera"). A dance floor is available if the spirit moves you, but for the most part, guests simply enjoy listening to the beautiful music, which plays several nights each week. Ideal for an after-dinner cognac, too.
http://www.topsl.com/dining.html

McGuire's Irish Pub and Brewery
33 Hwy 98 E, Destin Harbor, Destin, FL 32541 / 850-650-0000
The first thing you notice when you step inside this brewpub is the thousands of dollar bills that hang like foliage from the ceiling. Signed by pleased patrons, they add extra green to the Irish memorabilia already on display. The restaurant's dark wood and brass accents aptly furnish a place where Irish folk music plays and beer is made on the premises. A large central bar, elevated above the dining area, sports bras along with its bills, and seeks to fulfill the promise made by an outdoor sign, which boasts "Feasting. Imbibery. Debauchery." The cavernous space, filled with good cheer, can hold tons of fun-loving patrons. With McGuire's popularity, it's a good thing.
http://www.mcguiresirishpub.com/

Blue Point
4304 Legendary Drive, Destin, FL 32541 / 850-654-1921
This stylish restaurant and bar at Destin Commons offers terrific cocktails and popular steak and seafood dishes. Oysters on the half shell and seared ahi tuna highlight the rawbar, while seafood mac'n'cheese and Jamaican jerk chicken are among the interesting dinners. Well-dressed patrons sip martinis at the classy bar or retreat to the outdoor seating area. The mojito, chocolate dream, honeydew, blue bayou, and expressotini appear on the list of 20+ cocktails, and over 60 wines are available. After 10pm, beer and wine specials run $2-3.
http://www.bluepointamerica.com/FL/destin.html

Jet Ultra Lounge
76B Harbor Blvd, HarborWalk Village, Destin, FL 32541 / 850-337-8555
Hip décor, upscale cocktails and crowd-pleasing DJs explain this club's appeal, and the kitchen's gourmet Asian cuisine hasn't hurt either. Delicacies include bacon-wrapped scallops, sherry chicken satay, and Asian beef fillet. A swanky bar, dance floor, indoor and outdoor seating areas give patrons the freedom to move, groove or just chill out. Wine available by the bottle. Live bands Fri-Sat.
http://www.jetultralounge.com/

Fudpucker's Beachside Bar & Grill
20001 Emerald Coast Pkwy, Destin, FL 32541 / 850-654-4200
Raised on pilings, this multi-level restaurant and bar is adorned with grafitti, so much so that it's become an unofficial trademark. Inside, the island decor depends heavily on flotsam and jetsam, giving the place a studied casualness. Popular with tourists and a favorite of locals, Fudpucker's serves good food and live music with equal dexterity. Bands play a variety of styles, including rock and alternative, and patrons flock to hear the best. The bar adds liquid refreshment to the mix, and an outdoor deck invites lounging and nighttime conversation. Locations on Okaloosa Island and in Seagrove Beach too.
http://www.fudpucker.com/intro.launch.htm