10 Mississippi Waterfront Restaurants So Popular Locals Know To Go Before The Weekend Rush
There’s a reason Mississippi locals slip out to these places on a random Tuesday instead of fighting for a table come Saturday.
Ten waterfront restaurants along the Gulf Coast have gotten popular enough that the weekend rush now starts embarrassingly early, sometimes before most people have even finished their morning coffee.
The regulars caught on a while ago and quietly adjusted their schedules around it. Sitting right on the water gives these spots an unfair advantage, sure, but that alone doesn’t explain the crowds.
The food actually earns the hype, which is the part that fills tables fast once word gets around. Show up midweek and you get the best of both worlds, an open table and a water view that isn’t fighting for your attention with a packed dining room.
Mississippi regulars figured out the timing years ago, and honestly, letting outsiders in on it feels almost generous.
1. The Chimneys Restaurant
Right on the Gulfport shoreline, The Chimneys Restaurant has been earning its reputation since the year 2000, and it has not slowed down one bit.
Locals call it one of the best spots for outdoor dining in all of Mississippi, and once you settle onto that heated patio, you will understand exactly why.
The Gulf of Mexico stretches out in front of you like a painting you did not pay enough for.
Find it at 1640 E Beach Blvd, Gulfport, MS 39501, where the building itself feels like a piece of coastal history wrapped in Southern charm. Large windows line the interior so even indoor diners get a full waterfront view.
Fresh seafood is the main event here, and the kitchen keeps things classic without getting boring.
Weekends at The Chimneys fill up quickly because word travels fast in Gulfport. Locals with good taste already know to plan a weekday visit instead.
Go early, grab a patio seat, and let the Gulf breeze do the rest of the convincing for you.
2. Anthony’s Steak And Seafood
Anthony’s Steak and Seafood has been turning ordinary evenings into memorable ones since 1992, and it does so with zero effort apparent on the surface.
The restaurant sits at 1217 Washington Ave, Ocean Springs, MS 39564, surrounded by centuries-old oak trees that give the whole property a storybook quality.
Sunsets over Fort Bayou from this spot are genuinely something to plan your week around.
The menu is upscale without being stuffy, featuring the freshest local seafood alongside quality steaks and specialty cuts that would satisfy even the most particular carnivore at the table.
Brunch and dinner are both available, which means you have more than one good excuse to visit.
The dress code stays casual, so you can feel comfortable without sacrificing the elevated experience.
Families, couples, and groups celebrating special occasions all find their way here regularly. The combination of outstanding food and that breathtaking waterfront atmosphere keeps people coming back season after season.
Weekends book up fast, so a midweek visit is the insider move that Anthony’s regulars have been using for years.
3. Bacchus On The Beach
Bacchus On The Beach is the kind of place that makes you want to cancel all your plans and just stay put for the afternoon.
Perched at 111 W Scenic Dr, Pass Christian, MS 39571, it overlooks the Pass Christian harbor with the kind of casual confidence that only a truly great waterfront spot can pull off. The marina views alone are worth the drive.
The menu leans hard into Cajun-Creole comfort food, and it delivers on every promise. Brick-oven oysters, royal red shrimp scampi, and classic po’boys all make appearances, and every dish arrives with that Gulf Coast soul that keeps locals loyal.
The outdoor deck is spacious and dog-friendly, which means your four-legged companion is welcome at the table too.
With a rock-solid 4.5-star rating, Bacchus has clearly made an impression on a lot of hungry people. Sunday brunch draws a particularly enthusiastic crowd, and weekend evenings can get tight fast.
Arriving on a Tuesday feels like getting a backstage pass to the best show on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
4. Steve’s Marina Restaurant
Steve’s Marina Restaurant in Long Beach is the kind of local favorite that does not need flashy marketing because the food does all the talking.
Sitting right at 213 Beach Blvd E, Long Beach, MS 39560, the restaurant puts you directly on the scenic Gulf Coast shoreline with sunset views that hit differently when paired with a bowl of top-tier gumbo.
The outdoor seating area is perfect for watching the sky turn orange over the water.
The menu covers serious Gulf Coast ground, from panned red snapper to steaks to homemade onion rings that people genuinely rave about. Hundreds of reviews back up the claim that Steve’s is doing something very right in that kitchen.
The atmosphere is warm and open in a way that makes first-time visitors feel like regulars before the appetizers even arrive.
Friendly service and consistently fresh seafood have made Steve’s a repeat destination for families and food lovers all along the Mississippi coast. Weekend evenings pack the patio quickly, so the smartest strategy is a relaxed weekday visit.
Show up, grab a seat facing the water, and let the sunset earn its applause.
5. Salute Italian Restaurant
Nobody expects to find seriously good Italian food steps from the Gulf of Mexico, but Salute Italian Restaurant has been proving people wonderfully wrong for years.
Find it at 1712 15th St, Gulfport, MS 39501, where the open exhibition kitchen fills the entire dining room with the aroma of fresh garlic and herbs the moment you walk through the door.
It is the kind of smell that makes you forget you had a plan to order light.
Guests can eat on the patio under towering oak trees while the Gulf of Mexico delivers a sunset that pairs beautifully with a plate of coastal-inspired pasta or classic Italian seafood.
The menu also includes heart-healthy options, which means everyone at the table can find something that works for them. With over a 4.5-star rating, Salute has clearly built a dedicated following.
Crowds start forming by early afternoon on weekends, and locals have been caught waiting outside just to get a seat. The smart play is a weekday lunch or an early weeknight dinner.
Gulfport’s waterfront scene has a lot to offer, but Salute sits right at the top of that list.
6. Felix’s Restaurant And Oyster Bar
Felix’s Restaurant and Oyster Bar brings a full New Orleans oyster bar experience directly to the Mississippi Gulf Coast, and it does so with confidence and flair.
Sitting at 942 Beach Drive, Gulfport, MS 39507, directly across from the beach, Felix’s has built a reputation that stretches well beyond the state line.
Watching oysters get shucked right in front of you is both a meal and a show.
Chargrilled oysters are the star of the menu, but crab fingers, crab cakes, and BBQ shrimp all compete hard for the title of best dish at the table. Classic Cajun pasta dishes round out the menu for anyone who needs a break from shellfish.
The whole experience feels like a trip to the French Quarter without the drive to Louisiana.
Felix’s draws a devoted crowd of locals alongside national and international visitors who have clearly done their research. The waterfront location and the quality of the seafood make it one of the most talked-about spots on the Gulf Coast.
Plan a visit on a weekday if you want to enjoy it at a relaxed pace rather than elbow to elbow with the weekend crowd.
7. Shaggy’s Pass Christian
Shaggy’s has a personality that is all its own, and the Pass Christian harbor location at 120 Hiern Ave, Pass Christian, MS 39571 is where that personality really shines.
The vibe is island-style and easygoing, the kind of place where the seating is outdoors, the views are over the water, and nobody is in a rush to leave.
It is consistently ranked as the top dining destination in the area, which is not a title earned by accident.
Fresh Gulf seafood takes center stage on the menu alongside signature BBQ pork, hearty burgers, and crowd-pleasing appetizers like the famous Beach Balls. Every dish is designed to be shared, debated, and ordered again.
The outdoor deck keeps the Gulf breeze close and the harbor views front and center throughout the entire meal.
Locals and vacationers alike have made Shaggy’s a regular stop, and weekend evenings see the kind of crowds that require patience and a good attitude. Arriving on a weekday afternoon is the move that regulars have quietly mastered.
The food is fun, the setting is relaxed, and the harbor view never gets old no matter how many times you visit.
8. White Pillars
White Pillars is not just a restaurant. It is a full-on architectural and culinary statement sitting at 1696 Beach Blvd, Biloxi, MS 39531.
Housed in a 12,000-square-foot neoclassical mansion listed on the National Historic Register, the building sets expectations sky-high before the bread basket even arrives. Fortunately, the kitchen meets those expectations without breaking a sweat.
The menu follows a farm-to-table approach that genuinely celebrates Mississippi’s farmers, fishermen, and artisans.
Local ingredients drive every dish, and the result is an American Contemporary menu with a Southern soul that feels both refined and deeply rooted.
Two dining rooms, a patio, and a lounge give the space a range of atmospheres to suit any kind of occasion.
In 2025, White Pillars earned a Michelin Plate recognition, and it was named a James Beard Award Semi-Finalist in 2026, which puts it in very serious culinary company.
Advance reservations are strongly recommended, especially on weekends when demand outpaces available tables by a significant margin.
Booking early in the week gives you the best shot at experiencing one of Biloxi’s most celebrated dining destinations at its full, unhurried best.
9. Mary Mahoney’s Old French House
Mary Mahoney’s Old French House carries a history so deep that the building itself is older than the United States.
Dating back to 1737, the French colonial structure at 110 Rue Magnolia, Biloxi, MS 39530 has been feeding people well for over 50 years as a fine-dining destination, and it has attracted everyone from everyday seafood lovers to well-known celebrities along the way.
That kind of track record speaks for itself.
The menu blends Cajun and European influences into an elegant collection of seafood dishes and premium filets that feel both indulgent and thoughtfully crafted.
Dining in the New Orleans-style courtyard beneath a centuries-old oak tree adds a layer of ambiance that no modern restaurant can manufacture.
It is the kind of setting that makes every meal feel like a special occasion even when the occasion is just a Tuesday.
Mary Mahoney’s has earned national acclaim and local devotion in equal measure, which means the wait on weekends can be substantial. Regulars in Biloxi know to secure a reservation well ahead of time.
A weeknight visit rewards you with a quieter, more intimate version of this legendary dining experience right on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
10. Cuz’s Old Town Oyster Bar And Grill
Cuz’s Old Town Oyster Bar and Grill is the kind of family-owned spot that reminds you why local restaurants will always beat the chains.
Sitting at 108 S Beach Blvd, Bay St. Louis, MS 39520, it occupies a beloved corner of Old Town Bay St. Louis where the waterfront setting and the down-home cooking create a combination that is very hard to argue with.
The patio alone, shaded by sprawling oak trees, is reason enough to make the trip.
Chargrilled oysters are the signature move here, and the kitchen executes them with the kind of consistency that builds loyal followings over years.
Flavorful gumbo, fried seafood, grilled plates, and boiled Southern-style shellfish round out a menu built entirely around locally sourced ingredients.
Every dish carries that Bay St. Louis character that feels genuine rather than performed.
Crowds fill up the patio regularly because word about Cuz’s travels fast through the Mississippi Gulf Coast community. The atmosphere is lively and welcoming, never pretentious, always buzzing with happy customers who came back for the third time this month.
Hit it on a weekday and you get all the flavor with a fraction of the wait.