Some of our favorite 30A nights end with a cone in hand at Pecan Jacks. They have a few shops along 30A, including Grayton Beach and Seagrove, and the Gulf Place location in Santa Rosa Beach is the one we send guests to on this stretch, whether we're wrapping up a beach day or looking for something to do after dinner while the kids still have energy to burn.
What to expect when you stop in for a scoop
The ice cream is homemade and there are a lot of flavors, including a few you won't find at the other shops along 30A. They'll hand you samples until you land on the right one, (which is the only reasonable way to choose between bourbon pecan praline and Kahlua espresso!).
Then there's the candy side, which is honestly half the reason we come. Handmade pralines, brittle (the cashew and pistachio are the ones we keep buying), chocolates, gummies and sauces fill the cases, and it's very easy to walk out with a bag you didn't plan on. There's patio seating out front, so you can grab a table and let everyone finish their cones outside.
Good to know before you go
This is a walk-up counter, not a sit-down dessert restaurant, so no reservations and no dress code. Flip flops and sandy feet are the standard uniform. It gets busy in the evenings during peak season, but the line moves quickly and the samples make the wait painless.
Since it's right in Gulf Place, you can pair it with dinner nearby and walk over, or make it the reward after a bike ride on the Timpoochee Trail. The brittle and pralines travel well too, which makes them our favorite thing to bring home for whoever fed the cat while you were gone.
Insider Tips
- Ask for samples before you commit. We always taste two or three, and the staff genuinely doesn't mind.
- The bourbon pecan praline and Kahlua espresso are the boozy flavors worth trying if you want something different from a standard scoop.
- We buy a bag of the cashew or pistachio brittle every trip. It's the best souvenir here and it survives the drive home.
- Grab a patio table out front instead of eating in the car. It's the better move on a warm evening at Gulf Place.
- Go in the early afternoon or on a shoulder season weekday if you want time to browse the candy cases without a line behind you.
- We like pairing this with a Gulf Place dinner so you can park once and walk over for dessert.
