Eat & Drink
Restaurants and bars across the Key — both sides of the line. Curated, not exhaustive. We write up the places we actually go to. 19 on the list so far.
Gulf-front
Bahama Bob's Beach Side Cafe
ALGulf Shores institution just over the Orange Beach line. Beach-shack vibe, real Gulf seafood, the kind of place locals defend hard.
Cobalt The Restaurant
ALFancy 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
ALOrange 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
FLGulf-front, family-volume, Royal Reds, and one of the better sunset patios on the Florida side of the Key.
Crabs - We Got 'Em
FLThe 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
FLThe 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.
Restaurants
Bahama Bob's Beach Side Cafe
ALGulf Shores institution just over the Orange Beach line. Beach-shack vibe, real Gulf seafood, the kind of place locals defend hard.
Cobalt The Restaurant
ALFancy 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
ALOrange 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
FLGulf-front, family-volume, Royal Reds, and one of the better sunset patios on the Florida side of the Key.
Crabs - We Got 'Em
FLThe stilted building with the long ramp. Gulf views from every table, every floor. The one tourists photograph and locals still go to.
Doc's Seafood Shack
ALRoyal Reds, fried shrimp, no view, no wait, no nonsense. The locals' answer to 'just give me good shrimp.'
Ginny Lane
ALThe Wharf's upscale-ish anchor. Wood-fired oven, real menu, marina-side patio. The 'we're at the Wharf but we want a real dinner' answer.
GTs On The Bay
ALBay-side deck, the steamer pot, and a sunset that justifies the wait. Easy answer when 'bay-side dinner' is the brief.
Lambert's Cafe (Foley)
ALHome of throwed rolls. They throw the rolls. At you. From across the room. It's a thing and it's been a thing for forty years.
Bars
Flora-Bama Lounge & Package
FLThe 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.
Flora-Bama Yacht Club
FLThe Bama's quieter sister across the highway. Bay side. Restaurant + bar with a real menu and a real deck.
Hub Stacey's at the Point
FLBay-side dive bar with a deck on the water, a clientele older than Innerarity itself, and Tuesday karaoke that is either the highlight or the low point of your week.
Pirate's Cove
FLBoat-up dive bar with goats. Real goats. On their own island. You can wave at them from your stool.
Sandshaker Lounge
FLBirthplace of the Bushwacker. Oldest bar on the Drive. Live music outside, regulars inside, and a frozen drink that has personally ruined more vacations than any other beverage on the Gulf Coast.