Discover Authentic Panama City, Florida

A Local’s Perspective

By Brittany Tucker

Come fall in love with my Panama City. Those like me, who grew up in this town and love all its nooks and crannies, can tell you it’s about more than the tourist stops, and should never be confused with our neighbor, Panama City Beach. In “town,” our culture and lifestyle are shaped by the waters of St. Andrews Bay, the lifeblood of our community. Its fishing, shipping, and manufacturing harbors have long provided food, jobs, recreation, and more to the people here. We’ve got salt water in our veins and the grit of the blue-collar folks who laid the foundation for Panama City today.

Founded in 1909, Panama City is a well-known destination in Florida, but likely looks different from what most picture when they imagine the state. Shipyards, lumber mills, and commercial fishing are far more prevalent than beaches and theme parks here. History guides our vibe and culture, seen in everything from the architecture to the art and cuisine. The newer generations of Panama City locals are building on those roots, crafting a community for people who appreciate place-making. This town has an old soul but stars in its eyes, and we’re excited for the future we are building here. Experience it like the locals do!

Four Unique Neighborhoods, Many Unique Experiences

Panama City is best savored. Explore it over a few days by breaking it into four historic neighborhoods: Historic Downtown, St. Andrews, Millville, and Glenwood. Each has a story and culture of its own to enjoy. Together, they make a place truly worth visiting.

Historic Downtown

Historic Downtown was Panama City’s first business district. For decades, bustling shops, boutiques, and eateries lined Harrison Avenue, Downtown’s main street. Then, like in many American downtowns, ours declined and suffered blight from the late 1900s through the early 2000s as mall culture grew and urban sprawl saw the city expand north toward Lynn Haven.

However, about ten years ago, a group of dedicated locals began working to revitalize Historic Downtown. Later, the town planners at Dover Kohl & Partners were commissioned to restructure the district for walkability and sustainable living, making it more attractive for locals and visitors alike. Now, just off the shores of the teeming St. Andrews Bay, sits one of the cutest downtown districts in America. Prim storefront facades face a newly cobblestoned Harrison Avenue. Park benches flank wide sidewalks lined with oak trees (oaks are more common in North Florida than palm trees), and locally owned restaurants offer everything from Irish classics at House of Henry to homemade pizza at Mosey’s, Italian favorites at Ferrucci, and fresh Gulf seafood, of course. Brew pubs like El Weirdo—which, to my knowledge, is also the largest mural art installation in Florida—and History Class offer local flair at its finest. Bespoke shops welcome guests with experiences you can only find here.

Start your long weekend of exploration by checking in at the boutique Hotel Indigo on Panama City Marina with its Old Florida aesthetic. Next, stop by the visitor center at Destination Panama City to pick up a map of our mural trail (more on that later), and then start walking.

For the gamers of all ages, try The Portal, our new board game shop and café, or pop in to play vintage video games at Point Break, our old-school arcade. Browse antiques and vintage clothing at Main Street Antiques, where you never know what you’ll find. Snag the latest read and a glass of wine at Bookish Boutique. Wander into Thistle & Thorne, which is a study in contrasts; decorated like a 1930s-style apothecary, it’s a lively respite where guests can sip herb-infused cocktails or enjoy British High Tea. Did I mention there’s a tattoo parlor in the back? Some other Downtown highlights include checking out the skateboard selection and accessories at Relief Skate Supply, enjoying a cone from Sticky Fingers ice cream parlor, and, on Saturday mornings, strolling the diverse Panama City Farmers Market to grab some local produce or other goods.

Whatever you do, don’t miss the art. Historic Downtown has become a hub where our local creatives can thrive. You can spend a day wandering Downtown just finding all the murals, which are found on walls, in crosswalks, inside buildings, and outside them—or sometimes both.

Downtown is also home to two of our signature arts structures. The Panama City Center for the Arts is the latest incarnation of the building that was our first city hall, police station, and jail. Now it hosts gallery exhibits, regular arts events, and classes for every age and stage.

The prize building downtown is the Martin Theatre. Built in 1937 and currently under renovation and expansion, this proud art deco-style theater is a signature icon of our whole town. When it reopens, it will have a complete period-specific makeover and include the latest technology for performances and film, a new event space, and a speakeasy-style restaurant. The bay gives life to our town, but the Martin will soon be the beating heart that keeps creativity and excitement pumping.

Historic Downtown is the perfect mix of noble age and playful youth, classic hometown charm and tattooed, artsy edge. It is best to explore on foot, so you can pop into any place that catches your eye along the way.

St. Andrews

Leaving Downtown, a short jaunt along scenic Beach Drive will lead you to our saltiest historic neighborhood, St. Andrews. This former fishing outpost spills into a sprawling marina and boasts some of our most colorful characters, as well as the best sunsets. St. Andrews’ fishing past has shaped its saline character. Here, you’ll find a quirkier side of Panama City coupled with some of our most creative restaurants and establishments.

Hunt’s is one of our time-honored oyster bars (FYI, there is almost always a wait, but it’s worth it). Captain’s Table and Uncle Ernie’s also serve seafood that spent last night in the Gulf before making it to your plate. If you’re in the Gulf yourself, pull your boat up to Ernie’s dock and stroll in for a meal. Lounge on the back porch while eating at The Grocery Kitchen, then pop across Beck Avenue for refreshments at Luna Muna Cafébar. Would you prefer local pizza? Visit Slice House or Enzo’s.

One highlight many miss out on is the free walking tour of St. Andrews led by the staff of the Panama City Publishing Company Museum. They’ll guide you through the neighborhood and show you the still-working Heidelberg Press in their printing house, once home of the Panama City Pilot, the St. Andrews Bay News, and Lynn Haven Free Press newspapers circa the 1920s.

St. Andrews—or “St. A,” for short—is also home to one of our foundational arts organizations, Floriopolis. This troupe of creative pioneers not only lends a deep yet wistful flavor to this corner of Panama City but also provides a gathering place for kids of all ages to express themselves unbidden by rules or expectations.

You can also enjoy a bar crawl of some of our best dives in this part of town. These unassuming eateries deserve high praise for local flavor, both in food and atmosphere. One of our most famous stops is simply called The Dive. Newby’s Brewhouse on the Bay is a great spot for an eclectic mix of live music, where everyone is welcome. You’ll find a diverse crowd of punk rockers, drag queens, cowboys, and other free spirits having a blast until the wee hours. Little Village is a place that genuinely captures the essence of St. Andrews. Think funky artist hangout meets legit fish taco joint, all found on the bank of Lake Ware under a giant palm-frond palapa. It is a must-visit.

Millville

As its name implies, the oldest of our neighborhoods is a former sawmill village. That origin story gives Millville its look and feel, melding cottage-lined streets, waterfront parks, and one of our most storied oyster bars.

Millville is just five minutes from Historic Downtown across Watson Bayou. As you enter this aged hamlet, the first milestone is the spanking new Snug Harbor Marina and public boat launch. Watson Landings Marina also sits next door (it’s the one with the beautiful octopus mural crawling across the boathouse). A few lots down on Maple Avenue is Millville Waterfront Park, where you can settle into a porch swing and soak up the view of bobbing sailboats among an authentic Panama City brackish-scented zephyr.

Walk around the corner from the park to Gene’s Oyster Bar. Shucking since 1910, this cash-only joint boasts its own historical marker. It’s a teensy place with ten bar stools, just right for you and some friends—or newly met locals—to consume a couple dozen oysters and wonder why more people don’t know about this place.

A few blocks away from Gene’s is one of our newest restaurants, Getchewabox. (Try the shrimp po’boy!) Or, if you’re in the mood for Asian food, Aroi Thai is worth a visit just down Fifth Street.

Millville is dripping in Panama City charm and, in my opinion, will be the next big thing in our town’s renaissance. A beautiful Old Florida borough with public parks, water access, and antique corner eateries? Yes, please.

Glenwood

Glenwood is our historic Black neighborhood. It has a noble past of local entrepreneurship, and a new generation of local leaders is breathing fresh life into this special area. In addition to the gleaming new 30,000-square-foot Martin Luther King Community Center, it hosts the Glenwood Marketplace, a farmers market-art bazaar-community celebration mashup that is always worth wandering through. Its wares are all local, made by locals, all the time. Glenwood also has an audible walking tour on the Otocast app that honors and celebrates the businesses of the past.

Hungry after the market and tour? Fill your belly and spirit at Josiah’s Southern Cooking, the soul food place of your dreams. The fried catfish has almost tempura-like breading with a mild and delicious meat. The greens and cornbread seem to possess Southern magic from old family recipes. And the people—well, they are sweeter than the tea.

Not Your Typical Florida Destination

Panama City has my heart. Our historic neighborhoods—and the people who inhabit them—are what make the place special. As a local, every time I pass an old friend on the sidewalk or experience a new local business opening, I fall deeper in love with our little bayside corner of the world. After a weekend of exploration, art, and great food, I think you will, too.

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Visit DestinationPanamaCity.com, PCDIB.com, and various merchant websites and social media accounts to learn more and start planning your trip!