(DESTIN, FLORIDA) — Mornings at the beach are warm, welcomed changes for visitors in Destin, Florida.
The thing that doesn’t change? Humans’ need for that cup of coffee in the morning. According to the National Coffee Association, nearly two-thirds of Americans drink coffee every day! That’s roughly 230 million people, by the way.
The Gulf Coast city is known for its white, sandy beaches and is a popular destination for families and friends alike. And through our travels, I’ve found the Okaloosa County-based city has a great coffee scene.
For those days that leftovers for breakfast just don’t sound appealing, or you don’t want to eat eggs and toast AGAIN, consider supporting one of the local coffee shops below. Let’s dive in!
My wife Rachel felt right at home at Lady Ray’s! Sharing a name with the owner and head chef was just the beginning of a great visit, the delicious food and coffee is what really won her over, though.
Croissants were used for food items, both sweet and savory. I ordered the “Meglassant,” (top line, photo in the middle) topped with 2 eggs, bacon, ham, sausage, American cheese, candied jalapeño and peppers on a toasted croissant. This was filled with flavor and an awesome twist to breakfast sandwiches.
Rachel got the Croque madame, with grilled ham and cheese and sourdough bread, topped with melted Swiss cheese and an egg. This was also absolutely delicious.
Chef Rachel worked for the Ritz Carlton in New Orleans and West Palm Beach, and she has been part of several groundbreaking farm-to-table restaurants. Rachel has done it all, which includes previously running an Award-Winning Catering Company in South Florida specializing in weddings, event planning, and complete production services. Her do-it-all spirit continues in Destin! She helps run a salon next door to the bakery, as well as running an event planning company, cake decorating company, and more. Need a specially-decorated cake for a special event or occasion in Destin? Make sure to contact Lady Ray’s.
The pastries and treats here are 10/10 as well. Make sure to check out the full menu and learn more about Lady Ray’s Culinary Delights on their website! We were also very impressed at how affordable the items were!
If you’ve got a sweet tooth like us, then Beignets & Brew (French donuts) is going to be sweet treat Heaven for you. Beignets are the focus here, including traditional and specialty.
We got an order of the traditional, covered in powdered sugar and an order of the Cinnaswirl specialty beignets. Both extremely delicious! Frappes and cold lattes are also a great option, I got a cookie butter iced latte, while Rachel ordered Nutella frappe. The location is Destin is right off the harbor, offering pretty views of the boats, fish and birds.
It had been quite some time since I had enjoyed an Acai bowl. Now, I’m hooked once again and ready to start making these healthy treats at home. I got the East Pass Acai bowl with peanut butter, bananas, strawberries, granola and honey. It was one of the best food items I got on our trip. We also split an order of fried donuts which were amazing. Served with tater tots, we also split a bacon, egg and cheese breakfast burrito. I’m getting hungry just thinking about it! Then for our iced lattes, I got the Coco for Mocha and Rachel ordered the Iced Sweet Cream Vanilla Cold Brew.
These were all great ways to start our days in Destin, Florida. Having places that offer this good of food AND coffee add to the reasons of why Destin is a fantastic place to visit.
What coffee shops did we miss? Let me know for next time?
What other things would you like to know about visiting the area? Drop me a comment or email and I’ll look into it for next time!
Matt Sheehan Official 