Guidebook for South Padre Island
Food Scene
A 10-minute walk from the condo. Great place to enjoy a leisurely breakfast right ON the beach. Try their Malted Pancakes, served with real butter and real maple syrup.
30 residents recomanen
The Palms Resort
3616 Gulf BlvdA 10-minute walk from the condo. Great place to enjoy a leisurely breakfast right ON the beach. Try their Malted Pancakes, served with real butter and real maple syrup.
This place has been around for a long time and is popular with the locals. It's a good spot for island atmosphere and affordable eats.
130 residents recomanen
Blackbeards'
103 E Saturn LnThis place has been around for a long time and is popular with the locals. It's a good spot for island atmosphere and affordable eats.
Easy walking distance, right across Padre Blvd. Excellent burgers made from natural, grass-fed beef. Their custard treats are yummy too!
17 residents recomanen
BurgerFi
5001 Padre BlvdEasy walking distance, right across Padre Blvd. Excellent burgers made from natural, grass-fed beef. Their custard treats are yummy too!
Excellent food in a fun, island atmosphere. Just a mile or two down Padre Blvd. I love their Shrimp Etoufee!
53 residents recomanen
Daddy's Seafood & Cajun Kitchen
1800 Padre BlvdExcellent food in a fun, island atmosphere. Just a mile or two down Padre Blvd. I love their Shrimp Etoufee!
We like their pizza. They also make their own beers there, which are very tasty, but have about twice the normal alcohol content of regular beer, so keep that in mind when you decide what size to order. :-)
67 residents recomanen
Padre Island Brewing Co
3400 Padre BlvdWe like their pizza. They also make their own beers there, which are very tasty, but have about twice the normal alcohol content of regular beer, so keep that in mind when you decide what size to order. :-)
A little pricey, but if you really want to treat yourself to a nice night out, the food is excellent here!
100 residents recomanen
Sea Ranch
33330 State Park Rd 100A little pricey, but if you really want to treat yourself to a nice night out, the food is excellent here!
Their Cinnamon Coffee is amazing! I also love their garden omelet. A very popular specialty is their Grapefruit Pie. They usually have only a limited amount of it on hand, so order early! They are open only for breakfast and lunch, 8am-2pm each day.
146 residents recomanen
Yummies Bistro
700 Padre BlvdTheir Cinnamon Coffee is amazing! I also love their garden omelet. A very popular specialty is their Grapefruit Pie. They usually have only a limited amount of it on hand, so order early! They are open only for breakfast and lunch, 8am-2pm each day.
Delicious, beautifully-presented, multi-ethnic cuisine. Skip the house coffee. You may want to try one of their many adventurous-sounding coffee beverages instead. I think there was at least one which involved cayenne pepper. Yikes! :-)
Causeway SPI
5908 Padre BlvdDelicious, beautifully-presented, multi-ethnic cuisine. Skip the house coffee. You may want to try one of their many adventurous-sounding coffee beverages instead. I think there was at least one which involved cayenne pepper. Yikes! :-)
Excellent food presented with great imagination. Very cool ambiance, too.
Texas Moon Catering Company
5800 Padre BlvdExcellent food presented with great imagination. Very cool ambiance, too.
Parks & Nature
A great place to walk around a bit and see some of the local wildlife. You can see a lot from the boardwalks that run over the wetlands area, or you can take the elevator to the lookout tower and get the bird's-eye view. There are plenty of birds to see, including egrets, herons and the iconic Roseate Spoonbill. If you're lucky, you might spot some turtles or alligators.
153 residents recomanen
Centre d'observació d'aus i natura de South Padre Island
6801 Padre BlvdA great place to walk around a bit and see some of the local wildlife. You can see a lot from the boardwalks that run over the wetlands area, or you can take the elevator to the lookout tower and get the bird's-eye view. There are plenty of birds to see, including egrets, herons and the iconic Roseate Spoonbill. If you're lucky, you might spot some turtles or alligators.
This is a sea turtle rescue center. They welcome guests, only asking for a small, voluntary donation. You can get a close look at the turtles they are caring for and/or trying to rehab for release back into the wild. Last time we went, they had a turtle wearing a prosthetic fin they had been developing. You can learn a lot about turtles here!
205 residents recomanen
Sea Turtle, Inc.
6617 Padre BlvdThis is a sea turtle rescue center. They welcome guests, only asking for a small, voluntary donation. You can get a close look at the turtles they are caring for and/or trying to rehab for release back into the wild. Last time we went, they had a turtle wearing a prosthetic fin they had been developing. You can learn a lot about turtles here!
Take a dolphin watch cruise. It's a great way to see the area from the perspective of the bay. When I went, we got a close-up view of one of the oil rigs that is parked (idle) nearby. We also saw plenty of dolphins.
18 residents recomanen
Creuers Breakaway
33384 State Park Rd 100Take a dolphin watch cruise. It's a great way to see the area from the perspective of the bay. When I went, we got a close-up view of one of the oil rigs that is parked (idle) nearby. We also saw plenty of dolphins.
Essentials
If you just need some basics and not a huge selection, you can avoid crossing the bridge by stopping here. If you need a little more, cross into Port Isabel and visit Walmart or HEB.
114 residents recomanen
Blue Marlin Supermarket South Padre Island
2912 Padre BlvdIf you just need some basics and not a huge selection, you can avoid crossing the bridge by stopping here. If you need a little more, cross into Port Isabel and visit Walmart or HEB.
Full-service pharmacy and plenty of essentials. Prices are high, so get the CVS app and discount card and learn how to use them. Coupons can get prices down to a reasonable level!
13 residents recomanen
CVS Pharmacy
1500 Padre BlvdFull-service pharmacy and plenty of essentials. Prices are high, so get the CVS app and discount card and learn how to use them. Coupons can get prices down to a reasonable level!
Entertainment & Activities
Loads of fun for all ages! Bring plenty of sunscreen. The tickets are pricey, so look for coupons.
49 residents recomanen
Beach Resort At South Padre Island
100 Padre BlvdLoads of fun for all ages! Bring plenty of sunscreen. The tickets are pricey, so look for coupons.
Island Cinema
4700 Padre BlvdEasy walking distance to go catch a movie
Drinks & Nightlife
Right next door! This is a very popular spot for relaxing beachside, well-known for their burgers, fries and fried Gulf shrimp. Many people say they have amazing margaritas, though I don't have personal experience with that one. They also have a selection of other alcoholic beverages and occasional live music. Very casual, you can come in right from the beach.
123 residents recomanen
Wanna Wanna Inn Beach Bar & Grill
5100 Gulf BlvdRight next door! This is a very popular spot for relaxing beachside, well-known for their burgers, fries and fried Gulf shrimp. Many people say they have amazing margaritas, though I don't have personal experience with that one. They also have a selection of other alcoholic beverages and occasional live music. Very casual, you can come in right from the beach.
Shopping
The SPI Farmers' Market is held each Sunday 11am-1pm at The Shores. Drive north on Padre Blvd until you're almost to the last building on the island. You will see signs on the left for the Farmers' Market. Live music and some good, organic locally-grown produce, free-range eggs, baked goods, shrimp, etc.
21 residents recomanen
South Padre Island Farmer's Market
8605 Padre BoulevardThe SPI Farmers' Market is held each Sunday 11am-1pm at The Shores. Drive north on Padre Blvd until you're almost to the last building on the island. You will see signs on the left for the Farmers' Market. Live music and some good, organic locally-grown produce, free-range eggs, baked goods, shrimp, etc.