Across the Gulf Coast in Texas, find delicious coastal eats everywhere you turn. Our proximity to Mexico means that many restaurants are using local seafood in south-of-the-border dishes like ceviche and fish tacos, and our neighbor to the east, Louisiana, has heavy influence as well, with many eateries cranking out po’ boys, seafood gumbo, and Cajun seafood pasta dishes. The coastline’s numerous marinas and bays offer miles of views as well, giving you plenty of opportunity to find a dockside chair for a gorgeous sunset with a cocktail. Here, our favorite restaurants along the Texas coast with stellar maritime views.
Paradise Key Dockside Bar and Grill, Rockport
Access Paradise Key Dockside Bar and Grill either by car or boat, as the restaurant is located right on the water with views of Aransas Bay. There’s a large indoor dining room, or you can sit at the dockside bar and dining area. Fridays and Saturdays offer live music, and every day of the week, you’ll find “Marina Munchies” such as nachos, crab cakes, chicken wings, and coconut shrimp. There’s also a huge burger list, plus seafood plates and steaks. You can even bring in your own catch and have the kitchen cook it for you.
Pier 6 Seafood and Oyster House, San Leon
Soak in sunsets and marina views at Pier 6 Seafood and Oyster House in San Leon, Texas. The eatery comes from Raz Halili, a second-generation oysterman and vice president of family-owned Prestige Oysters. Order a signature cocktail from the extensive cocktail list, and opt for a round of oysters before digging into seafood pasta, crispy red snapper, shrimp tacos, or the cowboy ribeye.
Address: 113 6th St, San Leon, TX 77539
Stingaree Restaurant and Marina, Crystal Beach
On the shore of Crystal Beach, you’ll find the Stingaree, which has views of Galveston Bay. Dine inside or on the outdoor patio, where picnic tables offer a casual spot for wild-caught Gulf shrimp, Texas blue crab cakes, raw and grilled oysters, po’ boys, gumbo, crawfish etouffee, the fresh catch of the day, and seafood platters. Cocktails play off of the beachy locale, and there’s also a “beef and bird” section of the menu with steaks and chicken.
Topwater Grill, San Leon
At the April Fool Point Marina, park your boat and head to Topwater Grill, where beautiful views of Galveston Bay accompany shrimp and oysters caught from the restaurant’s own fleet of fishing boats. Dive in to fried seafood plates, crawfish, flame-grilled oysters, and Topwater Tacos made with the catch of the day. Try a portion of the Royal Red shrimp, caught right from the Gulf of Mexico.
Address: 815 Avenue O, San Leon, TX 77539
Barge 295, Seabrook
Moored on Clear Lake in Seabrook, Barge 295 was rebuilt after Hurricane Beryl struck in July 2024. The rebuild created a larger kitchen and layout and a new dock with lots of boat parking, but the views of the marina are as stunning as they’ve always been. Order a Bushwacker—a boozy milkshake with rum, coconut cream, coffee liqueur, and chocolate—a popular treat here, and don’t forget the charbroiled oysters, done in numerous ways. Fried and broiled seafood plates are also a hit.
Miller’s Seawall Grill, Galveston
Located right along the Seawall, Miller’s Seawall Grill is a convenient spot for those looking for fresh seafood with an ocean view. They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner, meaning you can enjoy your view with coffee and an omelet or a margarita and a po’ boy. Of course there’s an array of seafood, including fried shrimp and fish, fish tacos, crab cakes, and their award-winning shrimp and gouda grits. Sandwiches, burgers, and steaks are also available for those looking for more turf than surf.
Café on the Beach, South Padre Island
At The Palms Resort, you don’t have to be a guest to have a meal at their onsite Café on the Beach, which has direct beach access. The back patio has gorgeous views of the beach, and you can walk down a wooden pathway through lush green grass to reach the beach directly. Breakfast here is a treat, as you’re immersed in the golden early-morning light with nothing but the sound of waves crashing. They also serve lunch and dinner, with American classics like chicken tenders and burgers, plus fried seafood baskets, grilled red snapper, and blackened mahi mahi.
Louie’s Backyard, South Padre Island
A South Padre icon, Louie’s Backyard is located right on the Laguna Madre, giving diners a sprawling patio to enjoy live music with locally caught seafood, steaks, and their famous seafood buffet, which includes shrimp, fish, crab legs, prime rib, baby back ribs, a baked potato bar, and more. Louie’s also includes a sports bar, and the drinks here are in line with a beach vacation. For example: The Cherry—a 32-ounce bucket filled with six different liquors—and the loaded margaritas, which come with a Mexican beer overturned inside a margarita.
Elizabeth’s at the Art Museum, Corpus Christi
At the Art Museum of South Texas, Elizabeth’s at the Art Museum serves Mediterranean-inspired dishes with harbor views. See the USS Lexington through the restaurant’s floor-to-ceiling windows, or sit on the patio underneath an umbrella. The eatery only serves breakfast and lunch, and dishes include roasted chicken with tzatziki and pita bread, a focaccia grilled cheese with tomato soup, ahi tuna crudo, hummus, charcuterie, and more. A curated wine lists includes labels from Spain, Portugal, Italy, France, and California, and signature cocktails are anything but your typical beachy sugar bomb.
Doc’s Seafood and Steaks, Corpus Christi
Located under the JFK Bridge on the waterfront in Padre Island, Doc’s Seafood and Steaks is a favorite spot with indoor and outdoor views of the water. There’s live music every night, and Gulf seafood in the form of fried seafood plates, crab-stuffed flounder, Padre Island ceviche, and even seafood queso with blackened shrimp. There’s also hand-cut steaks, and you can bring in your catch and have Chris, under the Palapa Palms downstairs, clean and filet it. The cook with then prepare it to your liking (grilled, blackened, or fried) and serve it with rice and sauteed vegetables.
