Gulf-front
Eating with sand under the deck. Both sides of the line. 9 places where the view does some of the work.
Bahama Bob's Beach Side Cafe
Gulf Shores institution just over the Orange Beach line. Beach-shack vibe, real Gulf seafood, the kind of place locals defend hard.
Coastal
Beachfront, open-air, and running from breakfast to live music after dark. Gulf seafood, tropical drinks, and a beach bar that doesn't pretend to be anything fancier.
Cobalt The Restaurant
Fancy version. At the Pass. Sushi bar, a real wine list, and a dining room you'd take a date to without apologizing.
Cosmo's Restaurant & Bar
Orange Beach's everyday upscale. Weekday lunch, weekend wait, decent at everything. The kind of menu where the table can't decide and everyone ends up happy.
Crab Trap Perdido Key
Gulf-front, family-volume, Royal Reds, and one of the better sunset patios on the Florida side of the Key.
Crabs - We Got 'Em
The stilted building with the long ramp. Gulf views from every table, every floor. The one tourists photograph and locals still go to.
Flora-Bama Lounge & Package
The state-line bar. Open since 1964. Multiple stages, multiple rooms, live music seven days a week, and the only building in the United States that the FL/AL state line runs through.
The Gulf
Open-air, shipping-container architecture, gulf-front. The Instagram spot — but the food and drinks earn the photos.
