Reviews: Palafox Pier Yacht Harbor

Reviewed by: G. Jay Nelson , Pegasus, on Dec 10, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 4

The best thing about the Palafox Pier Yacht Club marina is its proximity to downtown Pensacola. Pensacola has a variety of interesting shops, museums, and restaurants, and are all within a 5/10-minute walk from the marina. The marina is very well protected from Pensacola Bay. The marina has new floating docks and power pedestals, gated security, and the docks are clean and very well maintained. The marina office/fuel dock is a small floating building on the water below the Jaco's Bayfront Bar & Grille restaurant at the southern-most end of the docks. The office is accessible from the docks, but if you go through the gates to the restaurant level, you will need the gate code to get back down to the marina office. Interestingly, the marina's restrooms/showers are shared with the restaurant's restrooms. Upon entering the restaurant restroom there is a second door with a keycode lock that lets marina guests into a restroom/shower area. I presume the woman's restroom is set up the same way. The laundry facility is also in the back of the restaurant and has one washer and dryer. The marina is not very pet friendly. We had to walk about four blocks (towards downtown) to find a grassy area that wasn't private property. The food at Jaco's restaurant was very good. The marina is very nice, but pricy for the amenities available. The slip rate is $2.50/foot, plus $20/night for power.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Reviewed by: Anne Hartley on Dec 8, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 36'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 4

Great stop! Floating docks in excellent condition. Very protected from wind and waves. Fuel and pump out easy access. I did not use facility restroom, shower, laundry. The docks are gated. I'm a single woman traveling alone, I felt safe. It was an easy walk to downtown museums, restaurants etc. The staff were super nice and helpful. ATT 3-4 bars. Only negative for me is no WiFi on my dock, though staff said that's in the works.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Reviewed by: Dick Heusinkveld on Nov 22, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 5

Wide, solid floating docks with good rubber protection. Restrooms and showers are clean but did not use as they are quite a hike from the transient docks. Easy in and out for fuel and pump out. Top notch pump out machine. The breakwater has flow through channels so there is some surge from the bay inside the harbor. No assistance with docking. Popular restaurant on-site. Good security gates. Fantastic downtown access for great restaurants and shops, farmer's market on the weekends.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Reviewed by: Mike Hopkins , Tortue de Mer, on Jan 21, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 36'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 5

Beautiful marina and downtown location, well protected, clean bathrooms/showers. Easy walking to shops and restaurants along with good pet access. No courtesy car but great staff. Security gates provide good protection from the public streets.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Reviewed by: Tony Green on Jan 10, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 26'
Draft: 3.0'

Rating: 5

Very nice marina. Easy to book by phone, super friendly staff, well protected and easy to enter and exit. Fuel, water, clean bathrooms (shared with onsite restaurant), shower and laundry. Beautiful floating docks, with 50A power and water. Right in downtown Pensacola, close to shops, dining, museums, parks and historic district. Very walkable city and we felt safe at all times. There is a security gate to enter docks. Only negative was construction site next door, which began work around 7:00 AM. We would definitely return here.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Reviewed by: Elana McGregor on Feb 2, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 36'
Draft: 3.0'

Rating: 5

Fantastic place for a quick visit- excellent walking to ball park, restaurants, and right on tourist destination Palafox Pier.
Green space within a few blocks. Wide open green space near the ball park.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Reviewed by: Rob Dare , Liberty Call , on Nov 27, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 46'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 5

Great marina. Well protected. Still in the process of rebuilding from Hurricane Sally. No wifi. Excellent docks, good power and very friendly staff. Right in downtown Pensacola. Lots of nice places to take a dog for a long walk.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Reviewed by: David Mann , Now or Never, on Nov 10, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 4.7'

Rating: 4

Great location in the downtown area where eating establishments abound. Still under construction after hurricane. The docks and electrical are first class. No wifi or courtesy car available. Friendly and competent staff made for a great stay. Lots of things to do and see. Locking gates provide security from the public streets.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Reviewed by: David McClure , Livin’ The Dream, on Sep 28, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 28'
Draft: 3.0'

Rating: 4

Partially reopened after Sally. Great staff. Very accommodating. Only reason not a 5 Stat is that not all services are restored (no WiFi and shower rooms are still being rebuilt). Great location - walking distance to downtown. Pensacola entertainment, dining and shopping.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Reviewed by: John Eppinett , Deep Obsession, on Jul 22, 2018
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 45'
Draft: 3.4'

Rating: 5

Bounced around the Gulf coast for 23 days on our Sea Ray 410EC. Finding Palafox was a true blessing. Located 3 blocks from downtown Pensacola. Great restaurants "Jacksons and Ruby Slipper" and shops.
Ron and Shae run a great marina, protected, peaceful and beautiful.
Save us a slip next year guys..
John n Cindy.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Reviewed by: Smackdaddy on Aug 18, 2016
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 40'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 5

This is a fantastic marina. Great information from Jeff the harbormaster as we were coming in. He met us at the fuel dock, then met us again at our slip to help with lines. The marina is very well protected and right in the middle of downtown Pensacola - which is awesome. Lots of restaurants, beautiful streets, etc. HIGHLY recommend this place.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Reviewed by: Chris Caldwell , AskCaptainChris, on Jul 3, 2016
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 4

Great place to be downtown. Walk to Seville Quarters, a small French Quarter settlement. Train museum nearby and best of all, rent a car to visit the best Naval Aircraft Museum in the world. NAS Pensacola. If you love aircraft plan on spending the entire day.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer