As the first beachfront restaurant in Orange Beach, Alabama, CoastAL rolled out in 2023 like a luxurious beach towel before spectacular Gulf views. The restaurant and bar's fresh local seafood, colorful cocktails, live music, and an upscale, modern vibe now greet beachgoers almost immediately in what was already one of the best coastal beach towns in the country.

A happy twist? Had it not been for a private/public partnership between the city and business founders, people would be seeing a 600-unit condo tower there instead. During the COVID pandemic, Flora-Bama part-owners John McInnis and Cameron Price worked with the city of Orange Beach to split the purchase of 800 acres. Situated at the major intersection of Beach Road and Highway 161, it's less than a mile west of the state-owned Cotton Bayou Public Beach Access.

The deal meant Orange Beach residents got their first city-owned beach, including a designated parking area and access for city residents only. (Don't worry if you're not a resident! There's plenty of space for non-residents to park and enjoy the restaurant, bar, and retail store.) Meanwhile, visitors and locals alike have been loving the entertainment, food, and other amenities of CoastAL.

The restaurant and bar combine indoor and outdoor seating and regularly hosts local artists to perform live music. Enjoy the beach breezes, tunes, and a refreshing drink as you peruse a menu full of the Gulf's bounty – fresh grouper, mahi-mahi, red snapper, shrimp, and blue crab dishes galore.

Oyster lovers will be especially happy here. CoastAL sources them from Island Time Oyster Farm in nearby Dauphin Island. Preparations include raw on the half shell; traditional baked with garlic, butter, and parm; baked with pimento cheese, jalapeno relish, and bacon crumbles; or topped with roasted red pepper cream and smoked gouda.

If you're craving something other than seafood, you can count on fresh and Southern-sourced ingredients in these dishes, too. Turkey is brined and smoked in-house before it's layered into a scrumptious club sandwich with cherrywood smoked bacon, aged white cheddar, lettuce, tomato, and avocado mayo. The restaurant's beef comes from Texas and shows up in signature burgers as well as dinner entree options of filet or bone-in ribeye.

Open daily from 8 a.m. to close (which varies), CoastAL Restaurant serves breakfast and brunch until dinner service begins at 4 p.m. CoastAL Beach Bar opens at 11 a.m. No reservations taken or needed. If there's a wait, you can always hang out and admire the views from the boardwalk or go for retail therapy in the huge beach lifestyle apparel and merch shop, CoastAL Clothing Company.

You can view the full menus and live music calendar on the CoastAL Orange Beach website stay tuned for news on the Coastal Orange Beach Facebook page.

While this new gathering space for locals and visitors evolved from a property originally slated for condos; there are plenty of great ones ready for you nearby. Check out this guest-favorite beachfront Orange Beach condo rental that's practically next door to CoastAL and the Cotton Bayou Public Beach Access.

Have you had a chance to visit this new beachfront restaurant in Orange Beach, Alabama? We'd love to hear about your time there and tips about your favorite drinks and dishes.