When the city is feeling too hot and stuffy, make your way south to South Padre Island for a few days of relaxation. Located on South Padre Island, a barrier island along the Texas Gulf Coast, the city South Padre Island is accessible by the Queen Isabella Causeway from the town of Port Isabel. Packed with over 40 different restaurants, cafes, and bars, South Padre Island has everything from Italian and Mexican to fresh seafood and steakhouses. What better way to spend a vacation than eating your way through some of the best South Padre Island restaurants?
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We gathered our favorites in no particular order. Some are filled with live music and spring break students while others are fine dining experiences.
Our Favorite South Padre Island Restaurants
Ceviche Ceviche
https://www.instagram.com/p/BxVsCPmFsWz/
1004 Padre Blvd h1, South Padre Island, TX 78597
Have you ever wished there was a Subway-type restaurant for ceviche? Now there is! Located on Padre Blvd, Ceviche Ceviche offers fresh seafood with all the fixings you could imagine. Make sure to grab a bag of chips to enjoy every bite.
Barry International
7010 Padre Blvd, South Padre Island, TX 78597
Eclectic is the only way to describe this restaurant. Along with their normal menu, the restaurant (which is located in the Hilton Garden Inn), also features a taco trailer that serves frozen margaritas, cold beer, and piña coladas on the beachfront deck.
Yummies Bistro
700 Padre Blvd, South Padre Island, TX 78597
Local and quaint, Yummies Bistro serves up the cutest eggs benedicts. Just take a look for yourself! They also serve breakfast favorites like waffles and egg sandwiches, making this a fun family brunch spot.
Pier 19
1 Padre Blvd, South Padre Island, TX 78597
Casual, comfortable, and a full bar, Pier 19 is the epitome of a pier hangout. Watch the waves, grab a fish taco, or hop onto one of the chartered fishing boats to try out your luck.
Sea Ranch Restaurant
33330 State Park Rd 100, South Padre Island, TX 78597
Munch on chicken, shrimp, and pasta at this marina restaurant and beachside bar. Sit on the patio around dusk and watch all the fishermen bring in their catches.
Laguna Bob
https://www.instagram.com/p/B70Fdzdhy3G/
2401 Laguna Blvd, South Padre Island, TX 78597
?If an afternoon spent drinking and watching the sunset sounds like your type of vacation, make your way over to Laguna Bob. The beach bar & grill features live music throughout the week.
Louie's Backyard
https://www.instagram.com/p/B6uK1NbgKsL/
2305 Laguna Blvd, South Padre Island, TX 78597
Hungry? Stop by Louie's Backyard for the buffet of a lifetime. Hand-cut steaks, fried shrimp, snow crab legs, you name it.
The Painted Marlin Grille
202 W Whiting St, South Padre Island, TX 78597
One of South Padre's newest waterfront restaurants, The Painted Marlin Grille is all about seafood and fresh fish from the Gulf of Mexico. Their Budweiser fish is the perfect meal after a day on the water.
Dirty Al's
33396 State Park Rd 100, South Padre Island, TX 78597
Home of the best-fried shrimp! Casual dining with a bait shop next door, Dirty Al's has some of the freshest seafood in South Texas. Try out the New Orleans shrimp for a cajun kick.
F&B South Padre Island
3109 Padre Blvd, South Padre Island, TX 78597
Elegant and refined, F&B South Padre Island is a great place to visit for a special occasion. Try the whole grilled red snapper or whole salted fish if you are looking for a seafood specialty.