The Après-Surf Guide: Best Bars in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, Alabama

*Blog Updated on April 29, 2022

I love winter. Once fall hits, I'm counting down the days until I'm back in the mountains, skis on, chasing that first real snow. But when the warm weather rolls in, something flips. I'm a beach bum through and through. It's how and where I grew up.

Every year I hold onto summer as long as I possibly can. And I still think about my trip to Orange Beach and Gulf Shores, Alabama more than I probably should. My family and I talk about going back all the time. We're not done with that stretch of coastline. Not even close.

I may be a ski bum all winter, but come summer, I'm all bare feet, board shorts and tank tops. It's the only way to roll up to some of the best bars in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach.

From the Jersey Shore to Alabama's Gulf Coast

It's no surprise that when you transplant me from one beach town on the Jersey Shore to another on the Gulf of Mexico, I end up right at home. Especially when that home is an Après surf paradise like Alabama's Gulf Coast. Visitors and locals alike spend the day on the water before cozying up to some of the best bars in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach.

Trust me, there are plenty of them.

With so many options for Orange Beach nightlife and Gulf Shores bars to choose from, picking the right one can be tough. So if you happen to be planning a trip to Alabama's Gulf Coast, I want to make sure your first night out is as good as it gets. Here's my updated list of the best bars in Alabama's Orange Beach and Gulf Shores. Okay, and maybe one in Perdido Key too.

A quick note before we dive in. This scene changes fast. Names shift, ownership changes hands, and a spot that was legendary two summers ago might be operating under a completely different sign today. I checked on every place below before publishing this update, so you're getting the current lay of the land, not a stale list from a few years back.

Tools for the Ultimate Gulf Coast Bar Crawl

Anyone can show up and grab a drink. But hitting every spot on this list, from Terry Cove to the Alabama Point beach, takes a little bit of a plan. Here's how to build a trip that gets you from the first golf cart parking lot to the last Bushwacker without missing a stop.

The Flight: Book through CheapoAir and get down to the Gulf Coast without burning a vacation day on travel delays. Pensacola or Mobile, either way, you want more time on the sand and less time in an airport.

The Vehicle: Grab a rental through DiscoverCars. This stretch of coast runs long, from Gulf Shores to Orange Beach to Perdido Key, and you'll want something reliable to get between all five stops on this list.

The Apparel: Rock Akova Gear for the beach days and All About Après gear once the sun goes down and it's time to post up at the bar. Board shorts by day, something you don't mind sweating through on a dance floor at Flora-Bama by night.

The Stay: Book with Booking.com and pick something central. You want to be within striking distance of both Gulf Shores and Orange Beach so a golf cart or a short drive gets you anywhere on this list.

The Cooler: Keep a RovR packed in the car or on the boat. Beach days between bar stops call for cold drinks on hand, and a proper cooler is the difference between a good afternoon and a great one.

The Experiences: Book dolphin cruises, charter fishing, or a sunset sail through Viator. Half the fun of this stretch of coast happens on the water, not just at the bar.

The Protection: Grab travel insurance through VisitorsCoverage. Gulf Coast summer weather can turn fast, and you don't want a storm blowing out your whole trip on top of your wallet.

The Recovery: Stock up on Liquid I.V. because a day of sun, saltwater, and Bushwackers will dehydrate you faster than you think. Hydrate between stops so you're actually ready for the next bar on the list.

The Best Bars in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach: Our Top 5 Picks

1. Tiki and Raw Bar by Barometer (formerly Pleasure Island Tiki Bar)

Photo Credit: Please Island Tiki Bar Instagram Account

When a local tells you to go somewhere, you should listen. When two locals tell you to go somewhere without knowing the other recommended it too, you need to listen. So we did. My only regret is that we didn't go earlier in the week, because we would have been back more than once.

Quick update since my last visit. This spot changed hands and got a new name. What we knew as Pleasure Island Tiki Bar is now Tiki and Raw Bar by Barometer, taken over by restaurateurs with real Gulf Coast pedigree. The good news is the bones of the place are exactly the same. Same open air tiki hut overlooking Terry Cove. Same marina full of golf carts and boats pulling right up to the sand.

Pulling into the parking lot still feels like driving into a scene from Weekend at Bernie's. Locals roll in on their EZ GO golf carts, or they float right up by boat and step straight from the water onto the deck.

The new menu leans further into fresh Gulf seafood with a proper raw bar now in the mix, alongside the tropical cocktails and tap list that made this place a favorite in the first place. Order a drink, take in the water views, and what starts as a quick stop will probably turn into dinner. That's just the kind of place it is.

2. Big Beach Brewing Company

This one is not technically a beach bar in Gulf Shores. It's a brewery, and it's not on the water. But there's water across the street, and it's got "beach" in the name, so that counts in my book.

Located a bit inland in Gulf Shores, Big Beach Brewing is a must visit. It's the first place we went when we arrived in town, and we liked it so much we went back a second time before the trip was over.

The atmosphere is family friendly and genuinely fun. My girls loved the popcorn machine, filling up their bags more than once. The oversized Jenga set keeps everyone engaged, kids and adults alike.

The space itself has a cool coastal vibe that flows from the wood furnished indoor taproom out through the open garage doors into the rustic outdoor courtyard. Live music runs on the weekends, but honestly, it's the beer that keeps people around. Visiting twice in one week, I'm pretty sure I sampled just about everything on the menu. The go to is still their flagship 100 Daze IPA. If you want to branch out, their rotating sours and seasonal ales are worth exploring too.

3. The Hangout

The Hangout remains one of the best bars in Gulf Shores, sitting right on the "Big Beach." It's a great choice when you need a break from the heat with some apps and a cocktail, but where it really shines is late afternoon into evening.

Unlike the FloraBama, which clears out for adults once night falls, The Hangout stays family friendly all night long. Starting in the late afternoon, a DJ broadcasting from an indoor lifeguard stand turned booth gets the place moving, with an MC keeping the energy up.

The kids foam party kicks off every hour on the hour, turning the space into a bubbly wonderland while parents grab a cocktail and catch a band on one of the two courtyard stages. It's the kind of place that sucks everyone in, kids and adults both, and nobody's in a hurry to leave.

4. Flora Bama

How could this list not include the Flora-Bama? The address is technically in Florida, but it sits right on the line between Perdido Key and Orange Beach, hence the name. This place is still every bit the legend it's always been, and it just keeps adding to its resume. It's been in the running for USA Today's Best Beach Bar honors, and it's still packing five stages with live music, 365 days a year.

If you haven't heard of it, put on some Kenny Chesney. It'll come up eventually.

Walk in and you'll be handed a Sharpie to sign your name on the wall alongside decades of others. Grab a drink (the Island Girl is my pick, but the Bushwacker is the famous one for a reason) and take it all in. Live music runs from early afternoon straight through the night, with everything from local acts to national touring names.

During the day, the Flora-Bama is completely family friendly. My girls loved the daily bingo, called by a local who makes the whole thing worth watching even if you're not playing. Grab the chicken strips too, served up on a Flora-Bama frisbee.

Once evening hits, send the kids elsewhere. The bar becomes wall to wall, and the party is real. If that's not your speed, head across the street to the Flora-Bama Yacht Club for more live music in a calmer setting.

5. The Gulf

The Gulf is built from a series of repurposed shipping containers, and it remains one of the most distinctive bars on this entire stretch of coast. Walk in and you're instantly somewhere else, then turn the corner and you've got a straight shot view of the Gulf of Mexico with Alabama Point beach out front.

The bar serves up creative cocktails, local craft beer, and some of the freshest seafood around, built around whatever was caught that day. Order the fish tacos. They were the best thing I ate all week, and that's saying something on this list.

Grab a picnic table scattered through the palms and sand, play a round of cornhole, and browse the gift shop on your way out. It's all part of the experience, and it still delivers exactly the laid back Gulf Coast atmosphere that put it on the map.

Honorable Mentions: More Top Gulf Shores Bars to Visit

Cobalt remains a beautiful waterfront restaurant with equally beautiful bay views, live music, and cocktails from their own tiki bar setup. Still a strong pick if you want dinner and drinks in one stop.

Avenue Pub takes the spot once held by the old Anchor Bar and Grill at Hudson's Marina on Terry Cove. New ownership took over the location and eventually rebranded fully, and it's worth knowing the new name so you don't go looking for a place that no longer exists under its old sign. Expect a made fresh daily menu, live music Thursday through Sunday in season, and water views of Terry Cove and the Perdido Pass bridge.

Luna's is still slinging craft beer by the dozens along with Southern comfort food that will leave you good and full when you leave. A true neighborhood favorite that both locals and visitors keep coming back to.

Do you have a favorite bar in Gulf Shores or Orange Beach, Alabama? Let us know in the comments below.

Why Après-Surf is the Next Great Coastal Movement

Après isn't just for ski season. There is a whole untapped world of après-surf out there just waiting for you to dive into. When you do, just be sure to have your après apparel on lock. Rock our Après-Surf T-shirt. It's our tribute to those who enjoy paddling out, riding in and bonfires and beers after.

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