5 Old-School Galveston Restaurants You Have to Try Before Your Cruise

GALVESTON, Texas — If you’re staying in Galveston the night before your cruise, you have an important decision to make before boarding the ship.

Where are you going to eat?

You could visit a national chain. You could grab something close to the hotel. Or you could use your one night on the island to eat somewhere that has been feeding Galvestonians for generations.

We recommend the third option.

Galveston is an old port city with its own food traditions, family-owned restaurants and neighborhood institutions. Some have been serving the island for more than a century.

So after checking into one of the best Galveston hotels for cruise passengers, put down the luggage and go experience a little bit of the island.

Here are five old-school Galveston restaurants you should consider the night before your cruise.

1. Gaido’s Seafood Restaurant

If you only have one dinner in Galveston and want the classic experience, Gaido’s Seafood Restaurant is difficult to beat.

Gaido’s has been part of Galveston since 1911.

More than a century later, the family restaurant remains one of the most recognizable names in Galveston seafood.

Located along Galveston’s Seawall, Gaido’s specializes in the kind of Gulf Coast seafood you’d expect to find in a historic Texas port city — fresh fish, shrimp, oysters, crab and other coastal favorites.

But eating at Gaido’s is about more than dinner.

You’re eating at a restaurant that has survived hurricanes, wars, economic booms and busts, and more than 100 years of change on Galveston Island.

For cruise passengers staying at Grand Galvez, The San Luis Resort, Hilton or another hotel along the Galveston Seawall, it’s also a convenient choice for the night before departure.

Have dinner, take a walk along the Gulf and enjoy your last evening on land.

Tomorrow, you cruise.

Best for: First-time Galveston visitors looking for the classic island seafood experience.

2. The Original Mexican Cafe

Want to eat somewhere that’s nearly as old as Gaido’s?

Head to The Original Mexican Cafe.

The restaurant traces its history to 1916 and has become one of Galveston’s longtime Tex-Mex institutions.

This is the kind of place we love recommending to visitors because you’re not simply getting dinner.

You’re visiting part of the island.

For generations, Galvestonians have come here for enchiladas, tacos, tamales, margaritas and the kind of old-school Tex-Mex that has become deeply connected to Texas food culture.

It’s also convenient for visitors exploring historic downtown Galveston and The Strand Historic District.

If you’re staying downtown before your cruise, spend the afternoon exploring The Strand, have dinner at The Original Mexican Cafe and then check out one of the best Galveston dive bars to visit before your cruise.

That’s a pretty good first night of vacation.

Best for: Cruise passengers craving old-school Galveston Tex-Mex.

3. Sonny’s Place

If you want to experience somewhere that feels less like tourist Galveston and more like local Galveston, put Sonny’s Place on your list.

Sonny’s is the kind of neighborhood establishment every old city needs.

It’s casual. It’s comfortable. And it has spent generations becoming part of the community around it.

You’ll find burgers, sandwiches, seafood, cold beer and plenty of local personality.

This isn’t necessarily the restaurant you choose because you want white tablecloths and an elaborate dinner.

You go because you want to sit somewhere Galvestonians have been gathering for years.

That’s especially worthwhile for visitors who have only experienced the island through Galveston’s cruise terminals, major hotels and tourist attractions.

Sometimes the best way to understand a city is to eat where the locals eat.

Best for: Cruise passengers looking for an authentic neighborhood Galveston experience.

4. Shrimp ‘N Stuff

For a casual plate of Gulf Coast seafood before boarding your cruise, Shrimp ‘N Stuff has been a Galveston favorite since 1976.

This isn’t fancy seafood.

That’s part of the appeal.

Think fried shrimp, fish, oysters, po’boys, gumbo and other Gulf Coast comfort food served without turning dinner into a major production.

It’s particularly attractive for families arriving in Galveston the night before a cruise who want something local without spending steakhouse prices feeding everyone.

And after traveling all day, sometimes a basket of fried Gulf shrimp and a cold drink is exactly what you need.

If you’re researching where to eat in Galveston before a cruise, Shrimp ‘N Stuff deserves to be in the conversation.

Best for: Families and cruise passengers looking for casual, affordable Galveston seafood.

5. Mario’s Seawall Italian Restaurant

Not everyone wants seafood before spending a week aboard a cruise ship.

That’s where Mario’s Seawall Italian Restaurant comes in.

Mario’s is another longtime family restaurant that has become part of the Galveston dining landscape.

Located along Seawall Boulevard, it’s particularly convenient for cruise passengers staying at one of the best beachfront hotels in Galveston.

Pizza, pasta and classic Italian comfort food make Mario’s an easy option for families, couples and groups where everyone wants something different.

There’s also something undeniably Galveston about finishing dinner and stepping outside onto Seawall Boulevard with the Gulf of Mexico across the street.

Take a walk.

Enjoy the ocean air.

Then head back to the hotel and get some sleep.

You’ve got a ship to catch in the morning.

Best for: Families and groups looking for a longtime Galveston restaurant with something for everyone.

Staying Near The Strand the Night Before Your Cruise?

If you’ve booked The Tremont House, Harbor House or another hotel near the Port of Galveston, use your location to your advantage.

Downtown Galveston is extremely walkable.

Spend the afternoon exploring The Strand Historic District, visit some of Galveston’s historic buildings, have dinner and then grab a drink at one of the best bars near the Galveston cruise port.

You don’t need to spend the night driving around the island.

Park the car, explore downtown and enjoy Galveston on foot.

Staying on the Seawall Before Your Cruise?

If you’re staying along Galveston’s Seawall, you have an entirely different Galveston experience waiting outside your hotel.

Walk the beach.

Watch the sunset.

Have dinner at Gaido’s or Mario’s.

Then stop at one of the best Galveston dive bars before your cruise or simply walk along the Gulf before heading back to your hotel.

You’ll have plenty of time aboard the ship tomorrow.

Tonight, you’re on Galveston Island.

Why You Should Eat Local Before Your Galveston Cruise

Cruise ships aren’t exactly known for having a shortage of food.

For the next several days, you’ll probably have more dining options than you know what to do with.

That’s exactly why your dinner in Galveston should be different.

Eat somewhere you can’t find aboard the ship.

Visit a restaurant with a story.

Gaido’s has been serving Galveston since 1911.

The Original Mexican Cafe dates to 1916.

Other restaurants on this list have spent decades becoming part of everyday island life.

These places help tell the story of Galveston’s history, its neighborhoods and the generations of families who have called the island home.

Make the Night Before Your Cruise Part of the Vacation

There’s a tendency to treat Galveston as simply the place where the cruise ship happens to be parked.

Don’t.

If you’ve already made the smart decision to stay in Galveston the night before your cruise, you’ve given yourself an extra evening of vacation.

Use it.

Check into your hotel.

Explore The Strand or walk Galveston’s Seawall.

Eat somewhere that’s been feeding the island for generations.

Maybe stop for a drink afterward.

Then head back to your hotel knowing you’re already minutes away from the port.

Tomorrow morning, you’ll board the ship.

But tonight?

You’re in Galveston.

Planning a cruise from Galveston? Explore our guides to the best Galveston hotels before a cruise, the best dive bars to visit before your cruise, restaurants near the Galveston cruise terminals, things to do on The Strand, Galveston cruise parking, and more Galveston cruise tips from Galveston City News.