Our vacation rentals in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach offer the perfect blend of coastal charm and modern convenience, giving you a home base that’s as inviting as the beaches themselves.
Condo rules, beach safety and local tips for Gulf Shores and Orange Beach.
Restaurants recommended by Ultimate Relocation Vacation Rentals in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach AL
September 16, 2025
Restaurants recommended by Rick and Danette Kieffer
Many of our guests have asked for our opinion of local restaurants, so we developed this list. Of course we have no self-interest in any of them, and if you have a restaurant not listed that you think should be recommended or dropped, let us know so we can incorporate them into our list.
My abbreviations are GS for Gulf Shores and OB for Orange Beach.
American
The Beach House, GS: far down West Beach. Good bar, variety of food, great burgers. $$
Big Mike’s Steakhouse, OB: on 180 west of 161. Opens at 4 PM. $$$$
Lambert’s Café, Foley: on 59 and AL 20. They throw the rolls; lots of food, reasonable prices. $$
Longhorn Steakhouse, GS: on 59 above the bridge near Target. $$$
O’Charley’s, Foley: on 59. $$
Paula Deen Family Kitchen, at OWA: fixed-price multiple-course menu, no doggie bags allowed. $$$
Jesse’s, Magnolia Springs: allow 40 minutes to get there. Reservations required; expensive but worth it. $$$$
Sunliner Diner, GS: on 59 just north of the beach. A ’50s diner. Good breakfast food, Reubens and desserts, but the hamburgers are lousy — avoid them. $$
The Gulf, OB: close to Perdido Pass. Outdoors, order and pick up, good burgers. $$
BBQ
Moe’s, OB and Foley: the Orange Beach location recently burned but is operating a truck on site; the Foley location is near OWA on 20, east of 59. $$
Buc-ee’s: good BBQ and low prices on gas, at I-10 and the Baldwin Beach Express. We stop on our way to and from the beach. $
Breakfast
Brick & Spoon, OB: Canal Rd west of 161. $$$
Café Beignet, OB on Beach Blvd near Rouses Market, and GS on Ft. Morgan Rd west of 59. $$
Hazel’s Café, GS: at Ft. Morgan Rd and 59. They have all breakfast items and a buffet; open for breakfast and lunch only (uncrowded). $$
Sunliner Diner, GS: on 59 just north of the beach. A ’50s diner. Good breakfast food, Reubens and desserts. $$
Kitty Café, GS: north of the bridge in the Pelican shopping center. Big donors for rescue pets. $$
Ruby Slipper, OB: just east of Four Winds, on Perdido Beach Blvd. $$$
Italian
Crico’s Pizza and Subs: right on 59 close to the Hangout. $$
Papa Rocco’s: on 59 just north of the beach. Very good food at reasonable prices, music most nights, good bar. $$
Rotolo’s Pizzeria, OB: near Perdido Beach, behind the CVS. Good pizza. $$
Mexican
Cactus Cantina: GS north of the bridge on 59, and OB on Perdido Beach Blvd at Loop Rd. $$
El Paso Mexican Grill, Foley: behind the Shoe Station. $$
Seafood
Angry Crab Shack, OB: near Rouses. $$$
Big Fish, OB: on 180 just west of 161. $$$$
Cobalt, OB: near Caribe. Expensive but good. $$$$
Desoto’s, GS: a block north of the beach, just west of 59. A Gulf Shores staple for years. $$$
Doc’s Seafood, OB: on Perdido Beach Blvd, and at Canal Rd and 161. Mostly fried seafood. $$
Fisher’s, OB: at Orange Beach Marina. Downstairs burgers etc.; upstairs white tablecloth, expensive. $$$$
GT’s on the Bay, OB: just east of 161 on 180. $$$
Gulf Island Grill, GS: on Beach Blvd just east of 59. $$$
Live Bait, OB: on Perdido Beach Blvd. Reasonable; live bands Wednesday to Saturday. $$$
Louisiana Lagniappe, OB: on Perdido Beach Blvd. Reservations required; expensive but good. $$$$
Luna’s: on 180 (Canal Rd). $$$
Playa, OB: at Sportsman Marina on 180. $$$$
Oyster House, GS: on 59 just north of the beach. Very busy; has all kinds of oysters. $$$$
