A new beachfront dining spot has opened at Sandpiper Cove, bringing fresh seafood and a touch of nostalgia to the Holiday Isle community in Destin.

• The Sand Flea Beach Bar, owned by local restaurateur Chatham Morgan, offers breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks with a focus on Gulf seafood in what Morgan describes as an “Old Florida Beach Shack” atmosphere.

“Sandpiper Cove is one of the last sort of old Florida feeling resorts in town,” Morgan said. “It’s a community that deserves something cool, like a really good beach bar.”

The restaurant, which serves from 9 a.m. until 15 minutes before sunset daily (rain or shine), features a mix of original items and favorites from Morgan’s other Destin establishments, La Paz and The Local Market.

Morgan, a Destin native, said naming the restaurant “The Sand Flea” was important to connect with local history.

• “I just thought it would be cool to have something that reflects old Destin and old Florida,” he said. “The locals all tell me how cool of a name it is and the tourists are kind of unsure about the name because they are not familiar with what sand fleas are.”

The beach bar is accessible only to Sandpiper Cove residents and guests, along with people walking up from the beach. Morgan said this creates “more controlled chaos” compared to other beachside establishments. 

“It’s not quite as busy as some of the other beachside places, which is nice for the guests because they’re getting better service, shorter lines,” he said.

Menu highlights include Gulf seafood, a cheeseburger that Morgan describes as “killer”, and Harbor Docks smoked tuna recipe. The bar also serves fresh fruit smoothies and cocktails made with “fresh ingredients and good liquors”.

• About 20% of the menu consists of items from Morgan’s other restaurants, including La Paz chips, salsa, queso and fish tacos, along with the Cuban sandwich from The Local Market.

The restaurant’s decor features elements from World War II Liberty Ships, including light fixtures, portholes and glass buoys, reflecting the “old school” aesthetic Morgan wanted to create.

“Destin’s gone through so many changes over the years and there’s not many things that are consistent, but Sandpiper Cove has been pretty consistent in being just a blue collar spot for families to vacation,” Morgan said.

The Sand Flea offers live music every Saturday from 2-5 p.m. with performer Shane Curle, and plans to offer happy hour specials during rainy days.

• Morgan said the response since opening has been “wonderful” from Sandpiper Cove residents and guests.

“I think they’re happy to have some new energy here in a place that hasn’t seen many changes in 30 years,” he said.

When asked what he hopes customers will say after their first visit, Morgan’s answer was simple: “That it was cool.”

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