Hungry? Check Out These 9 Exceptional Eateries in Orange Beach and Gulf Shores
Orange Beach and Gulf Shores, which sit right next to each other, work well for an Alabama beach vacation. When you get hungry, the area has quite a variety of eateries to choose from.
Making a choice for lunch or dinner can be hard with the many Gulf Shores and Orange Beach restaurants available. To help, here are some of the top-rated restaurants to consider.
1. COASTAL Orange Beach
25722 Perdido Beach Blvd., Orange Beach, AL 36561
With waterfront dining and an open-air bar, COASTAL Orange Beach serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily from a team of award-winning chefs. This casual dining spot lets you take in the sights and sounds of the ocean while enjoying dishes made from fresh-caught seafood.
If you’re not in the mood for food from the Gulf, you’ll find burgers, steaks, and chicken as well. A favorite option is the oysters, which are available in multiple flavors. Live music on Thursday through Sunday adds to the laid-back vibe and fun of this restaurant.
2. Zeke’s Restaurant
26619 Perdido Beach Boulevard, Orange Beach, AL 36561
Located within the Zeke’s Landing Marina, Zeke’s Restaurant provides open-air dining on the Gulf as well as indoor dining for those who prefer it. Serving lunch and dinner, this award-winning restaurant is famous for its local seafood and cocktails.
A seafood tower option is a favorite choice, as it provides a chance to sample multiple Gulf-caught dishes. If you’re spending the day on a fishing charter, bring what you catch, and the restaurant will cook it for you and serve it with their fries and house coleslaw. This unique option makes it one of the favorite eateries in Orange Beach for those who come to the Gulf to enjoy fishing.
3. The Gulf
27500 Perdido Beach Blvd., Orange Beach, AL 36561
The Gulf offers a revolving menu that changes with the seasons. This means diners get a new experience every time they visit. The chefs focus on using local ingredients to highlight the flavors of the Gulf region. The unique dining establishment was created using reclaimed, recycled, and salvaged building materials, adding to the unique vibe of the restaurant.
Dining is outside under the palm trees with the water as your backdrop. You’ll order your meal from a recycled shipping container, then take it to a grassy spot along the white sands of the Gulf to enjoy it.
4. Cobalt the Restaurant
28099 Perdido Beach Blvd., Orange Beach, AL 36561
Cobalt the Restaurant sits under the Perdido Bay Bridge, providing expansive views for diners as they enjoy elegant seafood made in one of the three restaurants. Oysters in many flavors are a favorite dish here, or those who want something non-seafood can do a build-your-own pizza option or grab a burger made from elk, wild boar, wagyu, and bison.
This eatery has several boat slips, so you can ride up on the water, grab your dinner, and then head out to watch the sunset. Live music is common here, adding to the ambiance of your meal.
5. Big First Restaurant and Bar
25814 Canal Rd., Orange Beach, AL 36561
While most of the top-rated restaurants in Orange Beach feature open-air dining, Big Fish Restaurant and Bar is an elegant, white-table-cloth dining establishment. It has its share of delicious seafood, but a more upscale, elegant environment. You’ll also find mouth-watering steaks on the menu here.
If you do want to dine outdoors, the courtyard offers that option. An open-concept kitchen lets you watch the action while you wait for your meal. Be sure to check out the extensive sushi menu when you visit.
6. Sunliner Diner
100 E 2nd Ave., Gulf Shores, AL 36542
Step back to the 1950s with a visit to Sunliner Diner. The old-fashioned juke box, tables, and tall milkshakes are a tribute to a bygone era. Yet you’ll also find the food here quite scrumptious. Whether you get a stack of waffles for breakfast, a signature burger for lunch, or fish and chips for dinner, you’ll find down-home diner favorites here.
Even though the meals are simple, the flavor is excellent, and this restaurant is a great choice when you’re ready for a break from seafood.
7. Lulu’s Gulf Shores
200 East 25th Avenue, Gulf Shores, AL 36542
With delicious drinks and spicy, southern-style food, Lulu's Gulf Shores offers meals full of flavor and wholesome, local ingredients. Located on the water, Lulu's has an oceanside arcade and ropes course for families to use while waiting for their meal.
It also has an extensive allergy-friendly menu, making it a great choice if you have dietary needs in your group. Yet even if you’re choosing a dairy or gluten-free option, you'll find plenty of flavor here. Colorful, beach-inspired decorations, live music, and open-air dining make this a pleasant waterfront dining experience in Gulf Shores.
8. Picnic Beach Bar and Grill
128 E 1st Ave., Gulf Shores, AL 36542
Kick back and relax with one of the restaurant's board games while you wait for your meal. With this relaxed feel and a menu full of flavor, Picnic Beach Bar and Grill works well for family dinners out. Try the shrimp boil to enjoy fresh shrimp direct from the Gulf, or opt for the snow crab dinner for another seafood option.
Wraps and burgers are also a popular choice here, or you can choose to stay with seafood and dine on shrimp or fish tacos. Each plate features a rainbow of produce or purple tortilla chips to add color to your dining experience.
9. Sassy Bass
375 Plantation Road, Gulf Shores, AL 36542
Sassy Bass proves you don’t have to sacrifice views for an indoor dining experience in Gulf Shores. Wall-to-wall windows let in views of the Gulf, yet you can enjoy the comfort of indoor dining. The restaurant serves tropical dishes made fully from scratch.
Even their drinks include fresh-squeezed juices, and if you come for breakfast, you can get handmade donuts fresh from the fryer. Conch patties are a favorite seafood option at this popular restaurant.
Whether you’re weighing the best eateries in Orange Beach and Gulf Shores to choose from for dinner or want to find a breathtaking condo to base your vacation, our partners at The One Hundred Collection, Beachball Properties, are your local experts to help you plan your next trip to the Gulf.
