Treat Yourself to Something Sweet in Navarre Beach/Santa Rosa County
Your sweet tooth will not go begging around here. Navarre Beach/Santa Rosa County gushes with places that will satisfy your confectionary cravings. Several establishments evoke an Americana of bygone days, with prices to match. And if you desire an indulgent after-dinner splurge, yes, we have that too.
Here are a few can’t-miss recommendations:
An old-fashioned ice cream parlor conveniently located just north of Navarre Parkway in Navarre, The Twist serves up delicious hand-dipped and soft-serve ice cream, sundaes, shakes, floats and epic banana splits. There’s even Gelato for those of you with a more international palate. The Twist offers indoor seating, but if the weather’s nice we recommend heading outside to the nearby picnic tables. The lot is so big that you’ll never have a problem parking. The Twist is guaranteed to fulfill all your cold-treat cravings.
We rarely get to see snow in Navarre Beach/Santa Rosa County. Sno-balls, that’s a different story. These indigenous New Orleans confections are made with finely shaved ice and cane sugar syrup. Tommy’s takes the origins of sno-balls seriously — all flavors, dozens of bottles (including sugar-free options), come from the Crescent City. Located in Navarre next to the Navarre Beach Parkway, Tommy’s is a beach-shack kind of place, decked out in bright colors with picnic tables and goofy inflatables on the surrounding sand. Fun fact: while a snow cone’s ice is coarse and crunchy, a sno-ball’s is fine and fluffy.
Let’s see — what dessert wine goes with Tuxedo Bomb Cake, Vine’s decadent confection of frozen mousse blanketed in a chocolate shell and drizzled with caramel and chocolate sauces? The folks at Vine are sure to know the answer because pairings are what they do. Vine also offers Sea Salt Caramel Cheesecake and a rotating array of other sweets. Enjoy your dessert and wine combo in the elegant but unfussy confines of this welcoming place, which is located on Navarre Parkway less than two miles west of the Navarre Beach Causeway.
The Bakery at Juana’s Pagodas
The vast waterside eating, drinking and entertainment complex features a first-class in-house bakery. You can take your treats out or have them as part of a breakfast, lunch or dinner at adjacent Sailor’s Grill. Juana’s bakery is famous for its cinnamon rolls — and visitors should not miss out on Cheryl’s Famous Key Lime Pie. After you’re done treating yourself, you can take a walk on the beach, jump into a game of sand volleyball, rent a kayak or find a comfy spot and lounge in the sun. Then stop by the bakery for more.
Let’s go treat-seeking up in quaint downtown Milton. For 50 years, the Milton Quality Bakery has been satisfying the sweet-tooths of residents and visitors alike. Opulent cakes join five different types of bread, cookies, Danishes, donuts, muffins, pastries and — of course — pies. The shop is located on Caroline Street less than a mile west of the Blackwater Riverwalk.
What better way to top off a tasty sandwich, panini or wrap than with a light and fluffy cupcake? Milton’s top lunch spot happens to also specialize in house-made cupcakes. The flavors rotate — they usually offer five or six daily — and range from chocolate to pina colada to other imaginative mouth-pleasers.
