I agree with most of John's picks. Just back from a few weeks ago. Also agree with John on missing that place and I never lived there!

The road to Navarre is still out. see attached picture. Was a weird day, bright sun but white haze rolling in off the gulf. Not just a bad picture, it looked like this. Road out to Ft. Pickens also out... Park service not rebuilding either maybe.



If you need place to stay with cat, try the sound side condos instead of gulf side beach... you can still get out if the surf is big. Stay as far west as you can (Ocean Club , Tristen Tower, or Baywatch) so you can sail around to the gulf if you want. All of them are available through JMR reality. In light air, you want to be on this side of the bridge as opposed to east of it.

Drinks: After your coors lite with Kirk, Diesel Fuel at Flounders (Thurs special), Voodoo punch at Peg Legs, and Hurricane at Crabs.

Food:
Crabs food sucks but service was great.
Flounders is just ok.
Peg Legs Po Boy and sandwiches are best food for money on the beach. Live music at night. Playground for kids. Best drinks on the island and good oysters.
Sam's Seafood on Pensacola proper across from joe patti seafood used to be favorite away from the beach... closed sun-tue I think. Not as good as it used to be. Good gumbo. When leaving pcola beach, stay left when you go over second bridge and hug the shoreline past downtown... it is on your right.
Around the same area, west of bridge on water, back towards bridge just off downtown by marinas is new place called Oysters (and something else). One casual, one more fancy... both same hostess station. 25 cent oysters on tuesday. More hoity-toity and less southern fried if that is your thing. Not bad prices.