Located at the Holiday Inn in Pensacola, Riptides Grill and Tiki Bar is a bit of a hidden gem. This beachside bar is tropical and relaxing, with views of the pool and the ocean. So much more than a beach bar, it offers a robust menu of drinks, appetizers, and meals, in an immersive atmosphere.
Once entering, there are a variety of seating options to choose from. The indoor part of the restaurant features tropically colored booths, tables with bright yellow chairs, and plenty of TVs on the walls to keep up with the latest games and tournaments.
Outside, there are round metal tables and chairs overlooking the dunes, the beach, and the ocean. This is a delightfully relaxing spot to have a drink or snack while enjoying the sounds of the sea.
Finally, and perhaps most impressive, is the massive outdoor tiki bar. Overlooking the ocean, the bar itself is a sprawling circular shape with space for at least a couple dozen chairs. Around the bar, there are several more round tables, all with views of the ocean. A large, thatched top, reminiscent of a tiki hut covers the entire area, giving it a tropical, playful air.
Their food menu offers basic favorites, including hot sandwiches, sliders, hot dogs, tacos, burgers, salads, and some baskets, as well as some lighter bar snacks. The drink menu is impressive, with an assortment of mixed and frozen drinks, wine, and beer.
It was hard to choose a favorite from the menus, but here are a few we really enjoyed:
Skye’s Three Reef
This one is for salad lovers looking to switch it up. This salad comes together with creative ingredients like spring mix, grilled shrimp, strawberries, feta, and candied walnuts. The balsamic vinaigrette pulls it all together, creating a balanced plate that is equal parts sweet and savory.
Kim Joy’s Po’Boy
As far as we’re concerned, you can’t go wrong with a Po’Boy, and Riptides certainly didn’t disappoint. Gulf shrimp and hand-breaded and then deep-fried to perfection. They’re then placed on a hoagie roll and topped with lettuce, tomato, red onion, and Riptides’ signature zippy sauce. We don’t know what was in that sauce, but boy, was it delicious!
Riptide Mojito
There’s nothing more refreshingly tropical mojito, so naturally, we had to try one here. Made traditionally with rum, simple syrup, fresh mint, and club soda, mojitos here are available in multiple flavors, including strawberry, mango, wildberry, coconut, banana, and blueberry. We chose coconut and loved every last drop of it.
What were your favorite meals and drinks at Riptides Grill and Tiki Bar? We can’t wait to hear about them!
Insider Tips:
-This restaurant may initially be difficult to find because it’s located in the Holiday Inn Resort. Once you see the Holiday Inn, follow directions to Riptides Grill and Tiki Bar, and you should find it with no issue.
-This restaurant also serves breakfast, so don’t be afraid to stop by in the morning!
-During busy hours, service can be a bit slow. Build in some extra time into your schedule to accommodate this, just in case.