Family Friendly Restaurants Orange Beach AL
You’ve had an awesome day at the beach.
Everyone is sun-kissed and high-spirited, so you shower and dress for dinner, thinking there’s nothing that could spoil this great day.
That is, until you get to the restaurant, and there’s a wait, and the kids are tired, and fighting over crayons, and no one wants to sit still.
And then Mom gets unhappy. And when Momma’s not happy …
To avoid this unsightly scene, we’ve compiled a list of our favorite family-friendly restaurants near the hotel:
Cobalt
28099 Perdido Beach Blvd
(251) 923-5300
Located just off the Perdido Bay Bridge, Cobalt features cuisine inspired by the Emerald Coast. Every seat in the house has incredible views of the bay, making Cobalt a perfect spot to catch dinner and a show from mother nature.
Fin & Fork
24131, 6003, Perdido Beach Blvd
(251) 981-1213
With plenty of seating both indoors and outdoors, Fin & Fork highlights the best cuisine from land and sea on Alabama’s Gulf Coast. Be sure to follow up on their events page for upcoming live music.
LuLu’s
200 E 25th Avenue, Gulf Shores
(251) 967-5858
With an arcade, a ropes course, a trampoline, live music and a view, there’s no shortage of activities to keep the kids busy at LuLu’s. Jimmy Buffett’s “Crazy Sista” Lucy founded this fun establishment, where you’ll feel like you’re on island time all the time. The Kid’s Menu features a cheeseburger, grilled cheese, fish or shrimp that can be fried or grilled (SCORE!) and more.
The Hangout
101 E Beach Blvd, Gulf Shores
(251) 948-3030
This place is exactly what it sounds like – a cool place to hang out. There’s a giant sandpit, courtyard games like ping-pong and foosball, a foam party on the hour, and lots of great live music acts. Plus, the food’s delish at the indoor restaurant, and you’re right on the beach, so you can eat before or after you hit the water. Get the kids pizza, hot dogs, chicken strips and more, with a side of fries or fruit.
The Original Oyster House
701 Highway 59, Gulf Shores
(251) 948-2445
A local’s favorite, the Oyster House loves kids. The sweet staff will make you feel like you’re having a meal at a friend’s home. It’s also a great place for large parties, because the restaurant seats 300 people, but still somehow feels cozy. The servers are very engaging with children, even letting them make their own cocktail sauce at the table. If there is a wait, there’s plenty to do at the attached boardwalk, where kids can feed the fish with pellets available for purchase.
Cosmo’s
25753 Canal Road, Orange Beach
(251) 948-9663
Here’s one Moms and Dads and kids alike will appreciate. The colorful atmosphere and outdoor open deck are perfect for families, and the Southern and global fare do not disappoint. From pizza to pasta to sushi, you’ll get a great meal off the beaten path here.
Tacky Jack’s
240 East 24th Avenue, Gulf Shores
(251) 948-8881
This is a fun place for families to be together overlooking the water. During the summer, Tacky Jack’s hosts awesome weekly events like animal exhibits, art projects, oyster bakes and competitive beach games. The atmosphere is casual – you can come in your suit – and there’s a small playground for little ones. Dine on fish, steak, burgers, fried seafood and more.
Lambert’s
2981 S McKenzie St, Foley
(251) 948-8881
If you need a break from the beach, head to Lambert’s just north of the beach near the Tanger Outlets. (So Mom has an excuse to shop!) Known as the “Home of the Throwed Rolls,” the servers love to mess with diners, pretending to spill tea or ketchup, and literally tossing bread at your table. Kids will have a blast with all the antics. Portions of down-home Southern fare are HUGE.
We get it. Having a meal at a restaurant with kids can be challenging. But it shouldn’t be when you’re on vacation at the beach.
We hope this list helps.
(Did we mention these places have Happy Hour?)
– Ashley Kahn Salley
Lead Storyteller, Innisfree Hotels