This breakfast and lunch cafe fosters a welcoming environment just steps from the beach. From locally roasted coffee (Coast Roast, out of New Orleans), tasty egg dishes, short rib and brisket burgers, chicken and waffles — all served in plastic-free containers, Mockingbird Cafe can sate even the weariest traveler. Need more good juju? There’s a yoga studio upstairs.

Covington’s loss was Bay St. Louis’s gain when chef Jeffrey Hansell and his wife Amy left the Southern Hotel and opened the beguilingly named Thorny Oyster in the Pearl Hotel steps from the beach. Hansell’s trademark attention to detail and gorgeous composition comes across in an array of fresh Gulf seafood, from a simple fried fresh daily fish to a bouillabaisse and stuffed whole flounder. Wonderful craft cocktails, naturally.

Sea Level, a sweet little shack on the beach, combines the simple pleasures of sandy toes with freshly grilled vacation food, from local fish tacos to award-winning burgers and macaroni and smoked gouda bites. Familiar New Orleans sno-balls for dessert? Yes, please.

Chefs William Rester and Lauren Joffrion are behind this newly opened modern Southern restaurant in Long Beach. Radish is named for the Long Beach Red, a local radish that was shipped by railroad to points North, where it was a popular bar snack dipped in butter and salt. Radish does a terrific job of both honoring and updating the Southern table. Besides a radish crudite, small plates include crab beignets with Crystal beurre blanc and fried okra with Comeback sauce. Try sweet tea-brined fried chicken with a black pepper biscuit or a killer Raines Farm hanger steak with a side of Barq’s rootbeer-infused mashed sweet potatoes that ooze rootsy goodness.

The Chimneys is a swell spot for classic coastal cuisine on the Gulfport waterfront. Take a seat on the front porch patio of this charming historic home for views of live oaks and the Gulf. The seafood gumbo is terrific, as well as the Godchaux salad, a toss of lump crabmeat, boiled shrimp, anchovy, and avocado on greens, dressed with a Creole mustard vinaigrette. Seafood is a specialty.

With locations in Biloxi and Pass Christian, Fill-Up with Billups dishes hefty breakfasts from early to late night, including the hungover special — a split cathead biscuit stacked with a half each fried chicken thigh and chicken fried steak and hash brown patty all smothered in white sausage gravy. That should do it. The menu is vast, with burgers, pizza, sandwiches, and salads served in a friendly setting.

This revelatory Pan-Asian restaurant tucked away in Beau Rivage surprises at every turn, with authentic flavors, superb presentation, and globe-trotting dishes. Jia isn’t going for fusion, instead from pho to bun to kung pao to roti to Mongolian beef, the team of chefs takes the diner on a world journey that replicates favorite dishes from Vietnam, China, Thailand, and beyond.

This inspired plant-based breakfast and lunch spot will win over even the hardened carnivore. Makin’ Groceries’ flavor-packed menu is inspired by owner Lauren Turner’s travels in Europe, North Africa, and Mexico with dishes like jackfruit carnitas tacos and lentil shepherd’s pie. They also offer family meals to go — perfect to bring home to the beach house.

This newish spot in Biloxi offers Cajun-Creole-inspired coastal fare with an emphasis on seasonal and local ingredients. Open for brunch, lunch, and dinner Wednesday through Sunday, One Thirty One on Lameuse offers favorite dishes including chorizo beignets, barbecue shrimp over cheese grits, and a fried chicken sandwich.

With locations in Gulfport and Biloxi, Patio 44 is a solid choice for brunch, lunch, and dinner, thanks to a copious menu with a strong seafood-centric sensibility. Indulge in the blue crab fondue (yum) and the outstanding redfish on the half shell with crawfish cream sauce. The field pea saute deserves careful attention — could it be the applewood bacon? Or the cornbread and roasted garlic aioli? Yes to both.

This French-Vietnamese bakery is loved for its fresh daily pastries (the cinnamon rolls! the danish!) French bread, and a selection of Vietnamese banh mi. Bubble teas, smoothies, and specialty cakes are also available. Le Bakery’s crusty baguettes are served at many of the best restaurants on the coast.

Vestige is a romantic date night spot that combines contemporary American cuisine with Japanese influences, thanks to chef Alex Perry’s wife Kumi Omori’s inspiration. Expect a farm and Gulf to table experience, with just caught seafood, museum-quality composed plates of greens and vegetables, proteins that might include perfectly cooked Black Hawk wagyu steak and boned chicken wings grilled yakitori style and topped with smoked fig miso and fermented figs. The chef’s four course tasting menu is $85 per person, an experience that would easily be twice the price in the big city.

Tapas, beer, and craft cocktails is a winning combination at Mosaic, which offers an all day menu that ranges from sandwiches and burgers, gyros, salads and tacos, along with small plates of empanadas, grilled tuna and chicken skewers. Frozen drinks are a specialty, best enjoyed on the patio where live music is played nightly.

This beautifully restored historic jail firehouse sets the stage for generous portions of comfort fare for lunch and dinner everyday but Monday. Try Scranton’s she crab soup, Bang Bang shrimp tacos, pork rinds and for the vegetarians, there’s the Impossible burger.