Foodie Tour of Alabama’s Gulf Coast

Orange Beach Concierge

Along Alabama’s Gulf Coast, fresh-caught seafood intermingles with Southern-influenced cuisine. In Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, restaurants serve up everything from fried shrimp baskets with a beach view to high-end dishes prepared by a James Beard-nominated chef. Here are the best places to eat on your next visit to the coast.

The Gulf

Eat Your Way Through the Day

Breakfast

Grab coffee and a pastry from BuzzCatz before hitting the beach. The cult-favorite cinnamon rolls come in glazed, cream cheese, and praline

varieties. For something a little heartier, Brick and Spoon offers coastal brunch favorites like shrimp and grits and crab cakes Benedict, plus a

build-your-own Bloody Mary bar.

Lunch

Look for the Pepto pink building on the sand to find Pink Pony Pub, open since 1956 and famous for burgers and nachos. OSO at Bear Point Harbor serves fresh seafood and drinks, like toasted coconut mojitos, with harbor views.

OSO at Bear Point Harbor

Dinner

Take in epic views of the beach and Gulf State Park Pier from the second-story terrace of Perch at The Lodge at Gulf State Park. It’s a perfect spot to watch the sunset while enjoying handcrafted cocktails and dishes like Country Deviled Eggs and Ponzu Glazed Gulf Fish. Fisher’s Upstairs at Orange Beach Marina boasts a James Beard-nominated chef and fine dining with coastal flair. The menu changes seasonally, but be sure to order the marinated crab claws and Alabama’s own Murder Point oysters. For a more casual vibe, head to King Neptune’s Seafood Restaurant to try fresh-caught Royal Red shrimp, a local delicacy.

Dessert

Gulf Shores adopted a taste of New York in 1996 when Hope’s Cheesecake opened.Using a perfected family recipe from New York, the store sells cheesecakes by the slice or whole. The best way to try them all is a sampler with slices of six flavors.

Drinks

Cheer to a great trip with a Bushwacker, a boozy milkshake-like concoction from the famous Flora-Bama bar on the state line. Enjoy a

blackberry mojito with your toes in the sand at The Gulf restaurant. Or spend an afternoon sipping a pineapple wheat or hoppy IPA at Big Beach Brewing Company.

Southern Charm Picnic Company

Flavor-Focused Experiences

Level Up Your Stay

For an unforgettable evening, book private chef David Pan of Orange Beach Concierge to cook a four-course, in-home meal. Dishes like grilled fish with Forbidden Rice and lemon beurre blanc are divine. Combine sightseeing and snacking on a cruise with Anonyme Cruises and Southern Charm Picnic Company. The pop-up picnic company works with Martha May’s Charcuterie to create a photo-worthy spread—which you can document with the supplied Polaroid camera—on board.

Fun in the Sun

There’s more to Gulf Shores and Orange Beach than just eating. Bike or hike to see wildlife in Gulf State Park. Take a glassblowing class at

Coastal Arts Center. Sharpen your sand sculpting skills during a lesson with Sand Castle University. And of course, make time to relax on the beach.

Visit Gulf Shores and Orange Beach to discover more.