10 Restaurants that Offer Outdoor Dining Dine al fresco in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach

Soak up the sun or stars during your next lunch or dinner in Gulf Shores or Orange Beach.

December 8, 2021

Looking to dine outdoors on a sunny day or evening at the beach? Gulf Shores and Orange Beach offer plenty of fantastic alfresco venues with stellar views.

With comfortable temperatures, a wonderful coastal breeze, and stunning sunsets, it’s hard to resist outdoor eating when dining in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach.

1. The Gulf

The Gulf Restaurant in Orange Beach is constructed of blue shipping containers with unique seating, impressive views, and two kitchens - one with a taco bar, and the other with a rotating menu. At this casual, self-service restaurant, order food or drinks from your kitchen of choice and take a number to your table. After you’ve finished eating, you can visit the on-site gift shop filled with gifts, décor and clothing.

2. Cobalt The Restaurant

Located just west of Caribe Resort, Cobalt in Orange Beach has a large patio with views of the marina, bridge and neighboring islands. Even with a large footprint, Cobalt provides an intimate setting worthy of any date night. Live music is featured nightly, and locals and visitors alike rave about their coastal cuisine and stone hearth pizzas.

3. Cosmo’s Restaurant & Grill

If fresh air and eclectic eats are what you’re after, you’ll want to check out Cosmo's. Using chef-inspired ingredients, their uniquely delicious menu features variations of local staples. Head to this Orange Beach spot during happy hour to enjoy deals on drinks and appetizers and catch the sunset from their outdoor patio.

4. Lucy Buffett’s LuLu’s

LuLu's is a guest favorite as it offers non-stop entertainment from the minute you arrive to your last moments there. Located on the Intracoastal Waterway in Gulf Shores, this open-air restaurant has waterfront views and live music every night. If you really want to immerse yourself in the beach lifestyle, opt to eat at one of the picnic tables on the sand. In addition to their tasty eats and coastal cocktails, LuLu’s features an arcade, climbing ropes course, Munchkin Mountain, gift shop and boat dockage.

5. Fisher’s Dockside

Bask in the beauty of our coastal waters at Fisher's Dockside in Orange Beach. Located at Orange Beach Marina, this restaurant offers plenty of dock seating overlooking the water and its beautifully landscaped courtyard. Open for lunch and dinner, Fisher’s serves up coastal classics with a modern flair, as well as kid favorites.

6. Flora-Bama Ole River Grill

Flora-Bama Ole River Grill in Orange Beach gives its guests the opportunity to dig their toes in the sand while they enjoy their meal. This restaurant is located on Old River and has open-air dining downstairs on the water as well as upstairs on its 2,500-square-foot deck. With forty TVs, frozen drinks and live music, it’s the ideal place for good drinks and an even better time.

7. Moe’s Original Bar B Que

Nobody does barbeque quite like the south, and one of the best places to get a plate full of this mouthwatering cuisine is Moe's Original Bar B Que in Orange Beach. Not only does Moe’s provide award-wining barbeque, it also has outdoor seating on its deck as well as in its “backyard.” Behind the restaurant is a sandy area filled with picnic tables and chairs and a stage for live music. It’s the perfect spot to grab some finger-licking barbeque while relaxing in the coastal breeze.

8. The Hangout

Located right on the beach in Gulf Shores, The Hangout is the ultimate spot for beach dining. This legendary restaurant is filled with fun and food for the whole family. In addition to lunch and dinner, you’ll find a courtyard with a ton-of-fun sand pile, games, retail shopping, stages for live music and bars. It’s a great place to grab a bite to eat while you’re soaking up the sun and relaxing on the beach.

9. Tacky Jacks's

With locations in Orange Beach, Gulf Shores and Fort Morgan, you have your pick of which Tacky Jack’s restaurant you wish to dine in. Each one offers both indoor and outdoor dining, but we suggest sitting al fresco as all three are waterfront and offer fantastic views. You’ll love listening to local live music while you sip your Bushwacker and watch the sun melt into the water.

10. GTs on the Bay

Offering lunch, dinner and even Sunday brunch, GTs on the Bay is an excellent spot to grab a delicious meal and catch the sunset. This family-friendly restaurant overlooks Wolf Bay on Canal Road and offers bay-side seating with stunning views of the water. GTs menu offers a blend of unique culinary choices and local favorites. While here, guests will also enjoy live music, a pirate playground for kids and great happy hour deals.