Looking for a good breakfast while you’re vacationing along the Alabama Gulf Coast?
I’m sharing more about where to find the best breakfast in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach.
Your hardest decision will be deciding which local restaurant to visit first for your most important meal of the day.
This article is written in partnership with Visit Alabama’s Beaches. All opinions are my own and this article may contain affiliate links.
Duck’s Diner
120 E Fort Morgan Rd, Gulf Shores, AL
4560 Easy St., Orange Beach, AL
This cozy diner is a dining gem for breakfast and lucky for you it’s served until close.
You must try their Berry Biscuits! They’re French toast battered, deep-fried biscuits with butter pecan sauce, topped with fresh berries and powdered sugar.
Order them as an appetizer to share and everyone at your table will be happy. They also taste great as leftovers if you need to box them up for later. (I speak from experience.)
My son ordered their Chicken & Waffle for a blend of sweet and savory with hand-battered country-fried chicken served with a golden waffle.
For a savory dish, I can’t say enough good things about their Creole Shrimp & Grit Cakes. My son didn’t think he liked grits until he tried a bite of this dish.
It’s made with grilled Gulf shrimp over grit cakes, topped with sliced grilled tomatoes, drizzled with their homemade Creole sauce, and served with garlic toast.
Trust me when I say their amazing Creole sauce is memorable long after your visit.
There is also a gluten-free menu if someone in your party has special dietary needs.
Tacky Jacks
There are three waterfront locations for Tacky Jacks that serve breakfast every day.
- Gulf Shores 240 E 24th Ave, Gulf Shores, AL (My pictures are from this location)
- Orange Beach – 27206 Safe Harbor Dr, Orange Beach, AL
- Fort Morgan – 1577 AL-180, Gulf Shores, AL
Tacky Jacks is known for having a fun laid-back atmosphere, great for groups.
You can even write your name or leave a message in the restaurant on a colorful piece of duct tape supplied by staff.
My son ordered their French toast and I tried their shrimp and cheese grits because shrimp and grits are always better in the south.
Their Farmer’s omelet is award-winning if you’re in the mood for a savory menu item.
Tacky Jacks has a variety of breakfast cocktails. They’re known for a great Bloody Mary if you’re in the mood for an alcoholic drink with brunch.
CoastAL – Orange Beach
25722 Perdido Beach Blvd., Orange Beach, AL
CoastAL is a restaurant that’s a must-visit for any meal but if you visit for brunch, you’ll find great menu options on both the sweet and savory side.
CoastAL has seating for over 1200 indoors and outdoors with great views of Alabama’s Gulf Coast.
It’s important to note that CoastAL has a large restaurant and a Beachside bar with two separate kitchens.
Depending on where you dine some of the menu options are different.
My son chose the Giant House Baked Cinnamon Bun topped with homemade caramel icing. This could easily be an appetizer for the table.
Here is a picture of my son with the giant sticky bun for scale.
And yes, he ate all of it except for two small bites I snuck in.
I opted for the Country Benedict. It’s made with poached eggs and sausage patties served on top of biscuits with sausage gravy.
I chose the homestyle potatoes as my side instead of the house grits or fresh fruit. The brunch menu has specialty drink options if you’re in the mood for a cocktail.
I’ve also tried their delicious Southern-style Biscuits & Gravy, made with freshly baked buttermilk biscuits and homemade Southern-style sausage gravy. The dish is served with house grits, homestyle potatoes, or fresh fruit.
If you come back for lunch or dinner order their “Gulf Coast Chicken Sandwich” from the Beachside bar menu, that’s worth the hype.
Rumor has it that the chicken is brined in sweet tea. After you try it, you’ll understand why it’s one of their signature sandwiches.
CoastAL checks all the boxes for a beautiful brunch location and great food.
Woodside Restaurant
20249 State Park Rd, Gulf Shores, AL
Woodside Restaurant is located inside Gulf State Park. It’s open daily for breakfast, lunch, or dinner making it a wonderful place to fuel up before or after a bike ride on the bike trails.
I ordered the Muscle Shoals Omelet in honor of our recent visit to the city.
It’s made with 3 farm-fresh eggs, shaved ham, smoked gouda pimento cheese, and country potatoes or grits.
My son ordered the Armadillo Trail Biscuit N’ Gravy. It’s made with 2 scrambled farm fresh eggs, biscuits, sausage gravy, cheddar cheese, country potatoes, or grits.
Woodside Restaurant has plenty of seating areas for guests if you’re visiting with a group. You’ll be given a table number after you order your food at the counter.
There are even tables set up with games while you wait for your food to arrive.
BuzzCatz Coffee & Sweets
25689 Canal Rd., Orange Beach, AL
Buzz Catz Coffee & Sweets serves homemade pastries made fresh daily, in addition to great classic breakfast options.
According to Yelp reviews, they serve the best breakfast in Alabama so you’ll have to see if you agree.
Their homemade version of a Pop-Tart is worth checking out!
They serve egg and cheese on their famous cinnamon roll if you’re extra adventurous.
BuzzCatz serves locally roasted coffee if you prefer with more options. Their hazelnut latte was a wonderful way to start my day.
Their menu has made-to-order omelets, breakfast sandwiches served on housemade bread, biscuits or waffles, and more.
Breakfast at Sunliner Diner
100 E. 2nd Ave., Gulf Shores, AL 36542
You can step back into the 1950s during your meal at Sunliner Diner. This is a fun restaurant for all ages that serves breakfast all day.
The classic cars outside help set the tone of this throwback-themed diner. There is even booth seating inside a car in the diner.
You’ll find classic breakfast menu items and breakfast staples with a twist.
Their Chicken and Waffle Benedict is a filling option or there are plenty of healthier options if you want a lighter breakfast.
Ruby Slipper Cafe
24151 Perdido Beach Blvd, Orange Beach, AL
I typically wouldn’t promote a chain but Ruby Slipper Cafe has expanded beyond New Orleans because of their incredible food!
The first time I tried one of their biscuits was on a food tour in Mobile, AL and I’ve been a fan ever since.
For an appetizer, I recommend trying the French toast bites. The French toast bites are fried, tossed in cinnamon sugar, and served with cream cheese icing and praline sauce.
Their fried green tomatoes and pig candy bacon bites are also popular appetizers.
Be on the lookout for their rotating seasonal selection menu items too.
Their Cinnamon swirl pancakes are filled with cinnamon & sugar and topped with cream cheese icing.
I opted for their biscuits and gravy, served with eggs any style, and a side of their sweet heat-style fried chicken which was so good!
They also have “Eye-opening Cocktails” including a mimosa flight on the breakfast menu.
Brick and Spoon
24705 Canal Rd, Orange Beach, AL
Brick and Spoon is open for breakfast, brunch, and lunch.
They have a build-your-own Bloody Mary bar if you like to experiment or have direct control over how yours is made.
I was torn between the Bananas Foster French toast or a menu item with more of a Cajun flair.
I ordered the Bayou Benedict made with shrimp, onions, and bell peppers in a Cajun cream sauce, served on a biscuit, topped with poached eggs and housemade hollandaise.
I have zero regrets about my selection because it was delicious!
We visited on a busy day and were impressed with how FAST our food came out.
City Donut
25751 Perdido Beach Blvd suite a5, Orange Beach, AL
You can’t go wrong with a donut run to City Donut.
They have freshly made donuts, 20 flavors of ice cream, and ice cream treats. Their donut sliders have ice cream inside a donut!
You’ll find traditional cake and glaze flavors along with some creative offerings.
My son’s favorite donut was the Bavarian creme. My favorite was a glazed donut with chocolate frosting and Butterfinger topping. Their old-fashioned donut was also a close second.
There are freshly made cinnamon rolls, glazed croissants, and apple fritters.
They don’t sell coffee but do sell 16 flavors of Boba drinks. If you want coffee there is a Starbucks across the parking lot.
Foam Coffee
313 E 22nd Ave, Gulf Shores, AL
If you’re looking for a good option to get caffeinated, Foam Coffee is a great place.
In fact, I’m still dreaming of their salted coconut mocha.
This cute little coffee shop has indoor and outdoor seating.
If you’re in a hurry you can start your order online.
There aren’t a lot of breakfast items on the menu but they offer an assortment of toasts.
If you’re in the mood for savory, try their avocado toast. For sweet, try the Nutella toast or Peanut Butter toast with sliced banana, coconut flakes, and honey.
Or share all 3 types of toast for the best of both worlds.
The Southern Grind at INDIGO
22843 Perdido Beach Blvd, Orange Beach, AL
Coffee drinkers will appreciate the abundance of drink options including their House Blend, Single Origin, Cold Brew, Nitro Draft, and Dublin Cold Brew (Guinness, cold brew, cream.)
There are plenty of non-coffee drinks too.
if you want savory try the Mexican Omelette. It’s made with 3 eggs scrambled, diced tomatoes, chopped onion, sausage, chopped jalapenos, and cheddar cheese, served with 2 flour tortillas and a side of salsa.
If you’re in the mood for sweet try the Belgian Waffle with Fresh Strawberries & Cream.
The Belgian Waffle is topped with powdered sugar & raspberry drizzle and served with your choice of bacon, sausage, or ham.
Parlor Doughnuts
600 Gulf Shores Pkwy, Gulf Shores, AL
If you haven’t tried a donut from Parlor Doughnut before you need to! Their famous layered doughnuts are made in small batches all day long.
Their proprietary product is made with layers of buttery dough fried to be crisp on the outside and light/fluffy on the inside.
It’s visually reminiscent of a “cronut” on the outside but the layered doughnuts have a unique flavor DNA makeup inside.
There are over 20+ flavors to choose from in addition to seasonal and secret menu items.
Your biggest challenge is narrowing down all of the delicious options to choose from.
Each Parlor Doughnut location has a location-specific specialty.
The specialty item at the Gulf Shores location is the “Bushwacker,” made with coconut, rum, coffee, and chocolate.
I also ordered the Turtle flavor for us to split but I don’t think we could go wrong with any flavor selection.
Additional Breakfast Spots in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach
I haven’t visited these breakfast spots yet, but they’re on my list for next time.
Hazel’s Nook
120 E Fort Morgan Rd, Gulf Shores, AL
Hazel’s Nook has a daily Breakfast Buffet, Omelet Bar, and Fruit Bar Station. You also have the option to order from the breakfast menu if you don’t want items from the buffet. Don’t miss their “Official Biscuits of Alabama.”
Island Pancake House
(Inside the Best Western on the Beach) 337 E Beach Blvd, Gulf Shores, AL
This is a popular breakfast spot for guests staying at the hotel. Their breakfast menu is way more extensive than pancakes with savory and sweet options.
Kitty’s Kafe
3800 Gulf Shores Pkwy #100, Gulf Shores, AL
Kitty’s Kafe offers a southern-style country breakfast menu.
Tacky Jacks has always been a family favorite of ours. We also really enjoyed the Ruby Slipper! Such a great list of recommendations!