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If you’re considering a trip to Orange Beach, you will be pleased to know that there is no shortage of incredible places to eat in some equally incredible neighborhoods.
From fine-dining seafood feats to mouth-watering ice cream treats, there is something for everyone to enjoy, and all budgets are catered for. Best of all, most places have stunning views over the water and are staffed by charming people ready to offer guests a taste of authentic Southern hospitality.
Here are the 17 most delish restaurants in Orange Beach.
1. Tacky Jacks
- Price Point: $$ – $$$
- Address: 27206 Safe Harbor Dr, Orange Beach, AL
- Website: tackyjacks.com
Tacky Jacks has come a long way from its humble beginning in the 1970s. Back then, Orange Beach was a small fishing community, and Tacky Jacks Grill & Tavern, just off Cotton Bayou, was the perfect place for fishermen to relax after a great day out on the gulf.
Nowadays, Tacky Jacks serves up dishes to suit all tastes, including full breakfasts, hearty appetizers, salads, wraps, burgers, fresh seafood, chicken, and steak entrees. Their fish tacos are truly delicious, and their Bushwacker has been voted the best on the Alabama coast.
Grab a seat on one of the outside decks, and keep your eyes peeled for jumping dolphins, which are known to frequent the waters near Tacky Jacks. And when you’re finished eating, be sure to check out the gift shop. Tacky Jacks is also home to live music and hosts a variety of artists, and there are parasailing and water sports rentals on site.
2. Voyagers Prime Steak & Gulf Seafood
- Price Point: $$$$
- Address: 27200 Perdido Beach Blvd, Orange Beach, AL
- Website: perdidobeachresort.com/voyagers
For delicious, sustainable seafood, spectacular views, and an award-winning wine list, look no further than Voyagers Prime Steak & Gulf Seafood. Voyagers offers a variety of innovative dishes to diners, including dry-aged steaks, fresh appetizers, and decadent desserts, all skilfully prepared and perfectly executed by chef Brody Olive.
Located in Perdido Beach Resort, the intimate setting has panoramic Gulf views and allows you to experience the true tastes and sights of the Gulf Coast.
3. Louisiana Lagniappe
- Price Point: $$$$
- Address: 27267 Perdido Beach Blvd, Ste 201, Orange Beach, AL
- Website: thelouisianalagniappe.com
Louisiana Lagniappe was opened in the SanRoc Cay Shopping and Marina Complex in Orange Beach in 1999.
Offering fine Louisiana seafood with a Creole flair, this casual yet upscale waterfront dining experience is guaranteed to provide a memorable meal for the entire family. The Louisiana Lagniappe has a delicious Chef’s Selections menu with some of the Gulf’s freshest seafood, including grouper, shrimp, and lobster.
This iconic restaurant is consistently ranked in the Top 10 restaurants on TripAdvisor and wins the Award of Excellence every year, so it is well worth adding to your Orange Beach itinerary.
4. Cosmo’s Restaurant & Bar
- Price Point: $$ – $$$
- Address: 25753 Canal Rd, Orange Beach, AL
- Website: cosmosrestaurantandbar.com
Cosmo’s Restaurant & Bar is a little off-the-beaten-path, but don’t let that put you off because this place is well worth a little detour.
This quirky place is situated in a standout green structure, where owners Brian and Jodi Harsany can showcase their extraordinary attention to detail. Serving fresh and eclectic food, Cosmo’s has been a Gulf Coast neighborhood favorite for over 14 years and features a wide-ranging menu, with everything from hand-cut steaks to local seafood and pasta on offer.
Traditional favorites such as chicken roulade, sesame-seared tuna salad, and crab cakes are all done with a twist at Cosmo’s, and The Year of Alabama Food named their banana leaf-wrapped fish as one of ‘the top 100 dishes to eat before you die’.
Louisiana po’boys are also available here with fish, shrimp, or oysters. Mouth-watering desserts include key lime pie and banana fritters, so make sure you leave room!
5. Big Fish Restaurant & Bar
- Price Point: $$ – $$$
- Address: 25814 Canal Rd, Orange Beach, AL
- Website: bigfishrestaurantbar.com
Big Fish Restaurant is owned and operated by Leck and Jana Lilayuva, and you’ll probably find that they’ll be on hand during your visit to ensure it’s a night you won’t soon forget.
In addition to Leck and Jana’s personal touch, this highly popular place is also famous for its classy atmosphere, deliciously fresh seafood, and some of the best sushi and Asian-inspired seafood dishes on the Gulf Coast.
The interior of Big Fish Restaurant is well thought out, and the open-air kitchen helps to create a great atmosphere. There is also outdoor seating in a courtyard with a cozy wood-burning fireplace. Be sure to try the ginger-glazed shrimp skewers, which won the 2010 National Shrimp Festival Chef’s Challenge award.
6. Brick & Spoon
- Price Point: $$ – $$$
- Address: 24705 Canal Rd, Orange Beach, AL
- Website: brickandspoon.com
For a high-quality Southern experience, look no further than Brick & Spoon. This is the perfect place to start the day, with its vast breakfast and brunch plates that are guaranteed to fill you up. The atmosphere here is sophisticated enough for a special occasion but with a casual edge that’s ideal if you’re in the mood for something less formal.
The tacos here are fantastic and are topped with a tasty combo of spring mix, mango salsa, and sriracha aioli. You can even build your own Bloody Mary that’s sure to get your morning started right.
7. Luna’s Eat & Drink
- Price Point: $$ – $$$
- Address: 25753 Canal Rd Ste. B, Orange Beach, AL
- Website: lunaseatanddrink.com
Luna’s Eat & Drink, with its menu of hometown favorites and grassy courtyard, is the perfect family-friendly restaurant. The chefs here create authentic coastal dishes using simple ingredients with plenty of Southern culinary charm. Large-screen TVs show sporting events, so you can watch the game and have a bite while sampling one of their 32 craft beers.
Our favorites at Luna’s include Cajun Mahi Mahi, Nashville Hot Chicken, and their Shrimp-n-Grits. Make sure you leave room for one of their classic Southern desserts, like the delicious fried pecan pie.
Happy hour here is from 3 pm to 5 pm and features specials on draft beer, beer flights, house wines, and appetizers. Luna’s is also a great place for birthday parties, with plenty of indoor and outdoor space.
8. Villaggio Grille
- Price Point: $$ – $$$
- Address: 4790 Main St Suite F108, Orange Beach, AL
- Website: villaggiogrille.com
Villaggio Grille is an Italian fusion restaurant serving delicious Italian dishes and other classic favorites from its location in the heart of The Wharf.
The menu ranges from appetizers, salads, and sandwiches to fantastic pasta dishes, seafood, steaks, and other entrees. In addition, Villaggio Grille is known for its ‘flats’: delicious scratch-made pizzas prepared in a 10,000 lb, wood-fired oven.
Grab a table on the patio to be at the heart of the action. Here you’ll have a front-row seat for famous light shows, fireworks, tournament weigh-ins, and other fabulous events that occur in The Wharf.
Villaggio Grille also offers takeout and delivery if you’re in the mood to dine at home.
9. Doc’s Seafood Shack & Oyster Bar
- Price Point: $$ – $$$
- Address: 26029 Canal Rd, Orange Beach, AL
- Website: docsseafoodshack.com
Doc’s Seafood Shack has been serving great seafood since 1984 and has been voted in the top 10 Seafood Shacks in America.
They serve up the very best Orange Beach seafood here, including fried shrimp, seafood platters, seafood gumbo, oysters on the half shell, fish, and much more. Don’t expect anything fancy: this place is super-casual, and that’s all part of the charm.
10. Fisher’s At Orange Beach Marina
- Price Point: $$$$
- Address: 27075 Marina Rd #300, Orange Beach, AL
- Website: fishersobm.com
Fisher’s has two locations at Orange Beach Marina: Fisher’s Dockside and Fisher’s Upstairs. Here you can sample the finest Gulf Coast seafood and prime steaks in stunning surroundings. Executive Chef Bill Briand’s menu riffs on Southern coastal cuisine with Alabama chicken and Creole shrimp and grits among the favorites here.
Fisher’s has been named one of Southern Living’s Top Five Restaurants in the South, so be sure to make your reservation in advance to see for yourself why locals love this venue so much.
11. Ruby Slipper Cafe
- Price Point: $$ – $$$
- Address: 24151 Perdido Beach Blvd, Orange Beach, AL
- Website: rubybrunch.com
Ruby Slipper is all about brunch, and they take it very seriously here. This go-to dining spot has three other locations in Alabama and serves up fantastic Southern plates in a casual setting.
Check out the eggs cochon, slow-cooked, apple-braised pork debris served over a buttermilk biscuit, topped with two poached eggs, and finished with hollandaise. It’s absolutely sublime and even better when washed down with one of Ruby Slipper’s delicious cocktails!
12. GTs on the Bay
- Price Point: $$ – $$$
- Address: 26189 Canal Road, Orange Beach, AL
- Website: gtsonthebay.com
GTs On The Bay overlooks Wolf Bay on Canal Road, right in the heart of Orange Beach, and has beautiful nature views. Their extensive menu has something for everyone, including specialties like shrimp-n-grits, pepper-seared tuna, and GTs grouper.
Happy Hour here is daily from 3 pm to 5 pm and features specials on draft beer and house wines, as well as some delicious appetizers. Check out the firecracker shrimp or ginger calamari, served with signature GTs dip: it’s absolute perfection!
13. Gulf Shores Steamer
- Price Point: $$ – $$$
- Address: 27267 Perdido Beach Blvd, Ste 115, Orange Beach, AL
- Website: gulfshoressteamer.com
Gulf Shores Steamer has been a family-owned restaurant since 1989 and cooks up some of the best steamed seafood in the area. Their menu features an amazing selection of dishes, including royal red shrimp, Alaskan snow crab legs, several varieties of fresh fish, and much more.
The location has a great view of SanRoc Cay Marina, making this a picture-perfect place to enjoy a delicious meal.
The Gulf Shores Steamer has been featured in many magazines and daily newspapers, and it was also voted a Top Three Restaurant in Southern Living, a Top 20 Seafood Restaurant in Coastal Living, and ‘Best Place to Eat in Gulf Shores’ in the Houston Chronicle. With all those accolades, it’s a must-visit during any trip to Orange Beach.
14. Playa
- Price Point: $$ – $$$
- Address: 27842 Canal Rd, Orange Beach, AL
- Website: playaoba.com
Playa is brought to you by the team at Fisher’s at Orange Beach Marina. It is situated on the waterfront in Sportsman Marina and produces excellent seafood plates such as conch fritters and fish tacos made with fresh tortillas.
A favorite dish is the fried coconut grouper, with tangy flavors from its coconut-lime vinaigrette base, served with romaine lettuce, arugula, and pickled peppers.
Happy hour is the best time to try some of Playa’s stellar tropical cocktails, wines, or beers. The views of Orange Beach are absolutely stunning, so grab a drink, take a seat, and soak up the carefree vibes.
15. Big Mike’s Steakhouse
- Price Point: $$ – $$$
- Address: 25638 Canal Rd, Orange Beach, AL
- Website: bigmikessteakhouse.com
Big Mike’s Steakhouse is owned by three friends — Mike Cole, Scott Powell, and Caine Conway — who have combined their thirty-plus years of business ownership experience to come up with this fantastic quality steakhouse. They offer wood-fired grilled steak, seasoned and cooked to perfection, all in a relaxed, rustic atmosphere. Get here early to avoid waiting for a table!
16. The Gulf
- Price Point: $$ – $$$
- Address: 27500 Perdido Beach Blvd, Orange Beach, AL
- Website: thegulf.com
The Gulf restaurant exemplifies the casual chic atmosphere that draws people to Orange Beach from all around the world.
Its stunning waterfront setting offers unrivaled views of the water and provides the perfect spot to recline with your toes in the sand. There is even a shop here where you can pick up a souvenir or two. The Gulf has incorporated a shipping container into its design and uses recycled, reclaimed, and salvaged building materials wherever possible.
The food here is as good as the view, with an ever-changing menu that reflects the freshest seasonal choices available in the area. From local oysters to seasonal fish, chefs at The Gulf take the latest catch and turn it into truly delectable dishes.
17. Del’s Ice Cream
- Price Point: $
- Address: 25405 Perdido Beach Blvd, Suite 1, Orange Beach, AL
- Website: delsicecream.com
No trip to the beach would be complete without ice cream! Del’s Ice Cream serves award-winning, homemade ice cream, with 80 flavors available at any one time.
Del’s also offers sundaes, banana splits, milkshakes, and floats. Classics like vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry are all on the menu, but visitors love the more unusual options, like banana moon pie and glazed donuts. Dairy-free, gluten-free, and sugar-free options are also available.
Orange Beach, a Foodie Dream
You are so spoiled for choice in Orange Beach that this list could easily be twice as long! But, in our humble opinion, these are the 17 most delish restaurants in Orange Beach.
The general ambiance in Orange Beach isn’t super-formal, so there’s no need to dress up to the nines (even at the best restaurants in the area)! Instead, it’s all about the relaxed vibes, and that is reflected in the restaurants.
Featured Image credit: Andrey Bayda
