This old fishing village is a fun place to visit on Florida’s Gulf Coast.
Filled with a boardwalk and shops, it’s a great place for the family to spend the day. John’s Pass is also known for its incredible waterfront views and restaurants!
Note: I haven’t been to John’s Pass since right before the hurricane in 2024, so a few of the photos may be outdated. All of the following restaurants are open as of May 2025!
Booking a last-minute trip to Florida?
If so, we have you covered. Here are some top recommended tours and experiences!
Top Tours in Florida – Viator: Save 10% Until May 16th Using Code: VIATORAFF10
Top Hotels In Florida – Booking.com
Looking To Get Around In Florida?
Check out rental car rates here! 🚗
Located in Madeira Beach just north of Treasure Island and close to St. Petersburg, John’s Pass Village is a shopping area with over 100 shops and restaurants.
The Village has a few larger chain restaurants including Bubba Gump Shrimp and Hooters, but here are 10 other places to try while you’re at John’s Pass!
Check out these amazing restaurants below! 👇
John’s Pass Restaurants- 10 Great Places To Try!
1. Bamboo Beach Bar
Bamboo Beach Bar is located at the northern end of John’s Pass and claims to be one of the Florida Suncoast’s oldest bars!
This tiki-style bar and grill is the place to go for food and frozen tiki drinks and one of the best restaurants to go to around the St. Pete area!
Come here for some live music while enjoying their pina coladas, margaritas, or craft beers.
They serve grilled cheese sandwiches, salads, burgers, fish tacos, and seafood baskets.
Photo credit – Wikimedia
2. Delosa's Pizza
When you’re in the area looking for some delicious food options, pizza is always a good choice!
Delosa’s Pizza has been around for over 40 years and specializes in pizza, wings, and garlic rolls.
They’re also a full Italian restaurant and have pasta, lasagnas, meatballs, subs, and salads.
Delosa’s even has seafood and a full bar, too! They also do takeout, delivery, and catering.
3. Sculley's
Located right on the boardwalk at John’s Pass, Sculley’s Waterfront Restaurant offers one of the most scenic dining experiences in the area.
Sculley’s menu leans heavily into local favorites—think coconut shrimp, blackened grouper sandwiches, and a build-your-own seafood boil where you can mix and match crab legs, shrimp, and scallops with your preferred sauces and spice levels.
Not into seafood? Their burgers and chicken sandwiches hold their own.
Live music is often part of the evening lineup, adding a fun, laid-back energy to your night out.
👉 Looking for the best place to stay near John’s Pass?
Check out these 9 Beautiful Madeira Beach Rentals 🏩
4. Mad Beach Brewing
Mad Beach Brewing is an excellent place to go for some beers and food while at John’s Pass!
They have a long list of IPAs, craft beers, lagers, ales, wines, and more.
Mad Beach is a brewpub with a full menu and a kids’ menu.
Their menu is Southern and Caribbean influenced, with plenty of fresh seafood entrees, burgers, sandwiches, salads, and more.
Try one of their signature entrees with one of the Chef’s recommended drinks to pair it with!
5. Paradise Cafe
Paradise Cafe is a casual eatery right on the boardwalk in the midst of all the wonderful shops and restaurants.
Come to Paradise for a slow-roasted pork sandwich or one of their other premium sandwiches, tacos, or gyros.
The cafe is most well known for its award-winning gumbo.
And you can’t visit Florida without trying some of their key lime pie!
6. Walt'z Fish Shak
Tucked just off the main boardwalk, Waltz Fish Shak is a hidden gem in John’s Pass known for serving some of the freshest seafood around.
The menu is short and simple, but that’s part of the charm. They serve whatever’s fresh that day, often including local grouper, shrimp, and snapper, prepared either grilled, blackened, or fried.
Their fish sandwiches are a hit, especially when paired with their signature house-made sauces and a cold beer.
Waltz has a super laid-back atmosphere with outdoor seating that feels more like a friend’s patio than a tourist hotspot.
If you’re looking for an authentic, straight-from-the-boat seafood experience, this is the place.
7. Addicted To The Bean
If you’re tired from all the shopping at the Village stores, come to Addicted to the Bean to perk up!
Addicted to the Bean is a coffee shop, but they also have sweets like cinnamon rolls and donuts.
Or you can grab some breakfast or lunch with a breakfast sandwich or a bagel. They have indoor and outdoor seating and free WiFi.
8. The Boardwalk Grill
Come to The Boardwalk Grill to have breakfast, lunch, or dinner on the boardwalk!
Local favorites here include the Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich, Lobster Rolls, and of course, their Boardwalk Burger.
They also have lots of appetizer options, seafood combos, tacos, sandwiches, and salads.
Eat inside or hang out on their patio and enjoy some beautiful views of the Gulf!
9. Friendly Fisherman
Friendly Fisherman is the oldest seafood restaurant in John’s Pass and has been around since 1978!
The cool thing about this place is that they also have Hubbard’s Marina, just a couple of doors from the restaurant, where you can book a deep-sea fishing trip.
Then they will cook your catch at the restaurant if you’d like!
Or you can just eat something from their menu. They offer appetizers, sandwiches, and lots of seafood!
Try the catch of the day or their Famous Clam Chowder.
Next to Friendly Fisherman is Pirates Pub & Grub, a casual, pirate-themed bar and grill.
10. Pirates Pub & Grub
If you’re in the mood for a casual, pirate-themed hangout with great food and strong drinks, Pirate’s Pub & Grub is a must-stop in John’s Pass.
This lively spot is fun for all ages and offers a relaxed vibe with indoor and outdoor seating just steps from the water.
Their menu is packed with pub favorites and seafood staples—gator bites, fried shrimp baskets, and hearty burgers all make regular appearances.
The Pirate’s Fish Sandwich is a local favorite, especially when paired with their seasoned fries or potato salad.
They also serve up a variety of tropical cocktails, cold beer, and daily drink specials to keep the good times rolling.
Getting To John’s Pass And Parking
John’s Pass has a parking garage with more than 6 floors, at the southwest corner of the village, just north of the bridge.
John’s Pass Parking Garage can be located at 179 Boardwalk Place W, Madeira Beach, FL, 33708. There are also a couple of metered parking lots.
The central lot is just a little north of the parking garage and right off Gulf Blvd, to the east.
Across the street from John’s Pass and just northwest of the bridge is the beach lot. This is where I parked and it was really easy.
For payments, you can also download the Way To Park app and just pay there. Zone is 1192 (South Beach).
If you need a ride to or from John’s Pass while in Madeira Beach, Free Beach Ride is a service that takes you where you need to go. They work for tips.
☎️ Phone- 727-776-7553
Other Things To Do At John’s Pass
Get On The Water!
At John’s Pass, you can rent a boat or go on a fishing charter, go on a tiki tour, and go on a dolphin-watching cruise along the intercoastal waters.
You can also go on a pirate ship tour, rent jet skis, or go parasailing!
Here are some of the nearby activities that you should check out and try! 👇
Parasailing – 1-hour parasailing trips around Madeira Beach!
Florida Tiki Tours – Dolphin Cruises, Sunset Cruises, Sandbar Cruises. They also do events like bachelor parties and weddings!
Madbeach Water Sports – Rent a Waverunner or go on a fishing charter!
Fly-N-High Waverunners – Waverunner/Jet ski rentals and parasailing.
Jack’s at John’s Pass – Boat and Jet-ski rentals!
Royal Conquest Pirate Ship – Go on a pirate-themed cruise with lots of activities for the kids.
Other Attractions
✓ Beach Fun & Games – Kids’ arcade with over 30 games.
✓ Helicopter Tours – Take a helicopter ride around the area, including John’s Pass and Treasure Island!
Go Shopping!
Check out the stores of John’s Pass!
Gift shops, jewelry stores, boutiques, surf shops, home decor stores, ice cream shops, candy stores, and more.
The best thing about John’s Pass is that admission is free! It’s also open every day.
For more amazing activities near John’s Pass, Take a look at these tours! 👇
7 Best Dolphin Cruises Near John’s Pass Florida
Final Thoughts: John’s Pass Restaurants
As you can see, John’s Pass has some great waterfront restaurants and fun things to do!
If you’re looking for more to do while in the area, check out these Memorable Day Trips From Tampa!
Me enjoying the beach at Pass-A-Grille in St Pete just a few minutes away from John’s Pass in Florida!
Always On The Shore contains affiliate links and if you make a purchase, we make a small commission at no cost to you.
For more information, please read the disclaimer page.
Booking a last-minute trip to John’s Pass FL?
If so, we have you covered.
Top Tours near John’s Pass – Viator
Top Rated Hotels & Accommodations – Booking.com
Looking To Get Around In Madeira Beach Florida?
Check out rental car rates here! 🚗
