12 must-visit Alabama beach restaurants

When visiting Alabama’s beaches, you have plenty of meal-worthy restaurants to pick from. So many, in fact, that choosing just one is no easy task.

That’s why This is Alabama recently asked the followers on it’s Facebook page to fill them in on what their favorite must-visit beach restaurants are. The responses ranged from iconic eateries that have been in business for decades to hidden gem dive bars, stylish spots with waterfront views and so much more.

You can check out 14 of the submissions below, and you can see all of them on the This is Alabama Facebook page.

Duck’s Diner has been a fixture in Orange Beach since 2001.Lawrence Specker | [email protected]

Duck’s Diner

4560 Easy Street in Orange Beach; 120 E. Fort Morgan Road in Gulf Shores

With more than 20 years in business, Duck’s Diner (which has a location in Gulf Shores as well) has become a favorite among families from across the country who visit Alabama’s beaches each summer. It’s eclectic breakfast menu, served seven days a week, includes everything from country fried steak with gravy to banana-stuffed French toast, Creole shrimp and grit cakes and more. In addition, you can dine on classic Southern fare, with all the fixins’, during the meat-and-three-style lunch.

Sea-n-Suds Restaurant and Oyster Bar

405 East Beach Boulevard in Gulf Shores

Sea-N-Suds Restaurant and Oyster Bar has been attracting hungry diners in Gulf Shores for nearly 50 years by offering a little bit of everything from fresh oysters, sweet heat shrimp, fried crawfish tails, gumbo, chicken wings and more — and that’s just the appetizers. For dinner and lunch, which is served Tuesday through Sunday, options range from Nathan’s famous hot dogs to fried oyster sandwiches, stuffed crab and seafood platters. Of course, there’s also the popular all-you-can-eat salad bar to keep in mind.

Sunliner Diner

100 East Second Avenue in Gulf Shores

For a one-of-a-kind meal served in a one-of-a-kind atmosphere, head over to the Sunliner Diner in Gulf Shores. It’s become a favorite among visitors due to its retro 1950s’ look and its all-day, every-day breakfast menu. While there, you can enjoy waffles with all kinds of toppings, omelettes, steak and eggs and more. There’s also a lunch and dinner menu that offers specialties like meatloaf, chicken fettuccini alfredo and shrimp platters. Just be sure to save room for one of their decadent milkshakes!

Mikee’s Seafood

205 East Second Avenue in Gulf Shores

When asked about their must-visit beach restaurants in Alabama, readers mentioned Mikee’s Seafood early and often. In business since 1987 and open seven days a week, Mikee’s has become known for its all-you-can-eat specials, which include catfish, whitefish, shrimp, clams and snowcrabs, as well as its wide selection of po’ boys, salads, pasta dishes, steaks and seafood. Whatever you order, be sure to save room for some of their peanut butter pie or key lime pie as well.

Wolf Bay Seafood and Steak

24131 Perdido Beach Boulevard in Orange Beach

Wolf Bay Seafood and Steak is a family-owned restaurant that has become a favorite among tourists and locals alike during its more than 50 years in business. Whether you visit the Orange Beach location or the Foley one, you’re bound to enjoy a meal filled with fresh seafood, like oysters served every kind of way, stuffed shrimp and the filling captain’s platter, as well as steaks, pasta, sandwiches and more. There’s also a large salad bar and the specialty sides, like smoked gouda grits and truffle parm fries, to keep in mind.

Big Fish Restaurant

25814 Canal Road in Orange Beach

For a more upscale vibe that’s still close to the beach, Big Fish Restaurant and Bar in Orange Beach offers diners fresh seafood served in a comfortable and stylish atmosphere. Open for dinner Monday through Saturday, the restaurant’s seasonal menu includes unique, Asian-inspired seafood dishes like meatloaf muffins, sesame seed seared ahi tuna, award-winning ginger glazed shrimp skewers and more. There’s also plenty of fresh sushi rolls, nigri and sashimi to choose from.

May 2022 — The Flying Harpoon in Gulf Shores has a lot of history on its walls. And its ceiling.Lawrence Specker | [email protected]

The Flying Harpoon

23479 Perdido Beach Boulevard in Orange Beach

If you’re looking for a good place to score an even better po’ boy any day of the week, The Flying Harpoon in Orange Beach is the place to go. Served on New Orleans Leidenheimer French bread, you can have your pick of everything from Conecuh sausage to roast beef, oysters, flounder and more. In addition, the menu also includes crab and crawfish cakes, oysters every kind of way, salads, gumbo and other Cajun-seasoned favorites, all made from scratch.

Cosmo’s Restaurant and Bar

25753 Canal Road in Orange Beach

For more than a decade, Cosmo’s Restaurant and Bar has been a popular upscale eatery for those visiting Orange Beach as well as locals thanks to its unique dishes. Open for lunch and dinner daily, you have your pick of tuna poke nachos, pecan redfish, lobster andouille mac-n-cheese and more, which you can enjoy in Cosmo’s cozy dining room or out on its spacious outdoor deck. Just don’t forget to try one of our mouthwatering desserts like banana fritters, key lime pie and Cosmo’s chocolate creation.

The Bushwacker has been the signature cocktail of the central Gulf Coast for 49 years, but it comes in a lot of varieties. — GT’s on the Bay serves a stellar bushwackers.Lawrence Specker | [email protected]

GT’s on the Bay

26189 Canal Road in Orange Beach

For a memorable meal with a gorgeous view, GT’s on the Bay in Orange Beach has you covered. Overlooking Wolf Bay on Canal Road in the heart of Orange Beach, GT’s offers diners a large menu filled with dishes that offer a little Cajun flare, like seafood gumbo, Creole linguini and po’ boys. In addition, there’s also Southern favorites like shrimp and grits, burgers, salads, pizzas and plenty more up for grabs too. Whatever you order, be sure to have one of their popular bushwackers along with it — it doubles as a drink and dessert.

Original Oyster House Boardwalk

701 Gulf Shores Parkway in Gulf Shores

In business for more than 40 years, The Original Oyster House Restaurant in Gulf Shores has garnered a strong reputation for being a favorite among locals and visitors alike, and it has a lot to do with their large menu filled with fresh seafood and Southern sides. Whether you’re craving fried shrimp, broiled flounder, steak, crab legs or a classic cheeseburger, you’ll find it on the menu at Original Oyster House. Just don’t skip dessert. That chocolate chip peanut butter pie isn’t going to eat itself.

Desoto’s Seafood Kitchen

138 West First Avenue in Gulf Shores

Another popular pick among readers is DeSoto’s Seafood Kitchen, which has been in business for more than 20 years. Open for lunch and dinner daily, the award-winning restaurant includes a little something for everyone, including its popular Hawaiian Ribeye steak as well as fresh seafood, pasta dishes and more. Their lunch menu also includes a meat-and-three-style option with a rotation of Southern favorites and sides, like fried chicken and fried green tomatoes.

Bahama Bob’s Beach Side Cafe

601 West Beach Boulevard in Gulf Shores

Looking for a restaurant offering waterfront views and a full menu? Bahama Bob’s Beach Side Cafe in Gulf Shores has it, which is likely why so many readers said it’s their must-visit eatery when visiting Alabama’s coast. Open for lunch and dinner seven days a week, their menu offers sandwiches, salads and fresh seafood cooked every kind of way, but keep their specialties, like the paradise island fried pecan flounder and the crab cray baked flounder, in mind when deciding your meal.

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