You're on the Gulf Coast. The morning light is doing that thing where it turns everything gold. The coffee is ready. And the only question that matters is: where are we eating?
Whether you want a full Southern spread with biscuits and gravy, a boozy brunch with a bayfront view, or just a great cup of coffee and a pastry before you hit the sand, Baldwin County has you covered. Here are the breakfast and brunch spots we keep going back to.
The Full Southern Breakfast
Kitty's Kafe -- Gulf Shores
3800 Gulf Shores Parkway
This is the kind of breakfast place your grandmother would have opened if she'd moved to the beach. Kitty's serves honest Southern breakfast -- biscuits and gravy, country-fried steak and eggs, omelets built with actual portions of filling -- at prices that feel like a time warp. The Southern Benedict (biscuit, sausage, over-medium egg, smothered in gravy) is the move. Open Monday through Saturday, 7 AM to 2 PM. Closed Sundays. Get there early on Saturdays; the wait gets real.
What to order: Southern Benedict. Don't overthink it.
Ruby Slipper Cafe -- Orange Beach
25122 Perdido Beach Blvd
Ruby Slipper came up from New Orleans and brought its brunch credentials with it. The menu leans Southern with enough creativity to keep things interesting -- cochon de lait eggs Benedict, BBQ shrimp and grits, bananas Foster pain perdu. The restaurant opens at 7 AM daily and fills up fast, especially on weekends. No reservations, so plan accordingly.
What to order: The BBQ shrimp and grits. It's the New Orleans dish that translates perfectly to the Gulf Coast.
Sunliner Diner -- Gulf Shores
225 E 24th Ave
A 1950s throwback diner that serves breakfast all day. Chrome barstools, checkered floors, and a menu of pancakes, waffles, omelets, and burgers that doesn't pretend to be anything it's not. Kids love it. Adults love it for different reasons (namely: strong coffee and no pretense). It's fun, it's affordable, and the portions are absurd.
What to order: The pancakes. They're the size of hubcaps.
The Boozy Brunch
Brick and Spoon -- Orange Beach
24705 Canal Rd, Suite 101
Brick and Spoon has built its entire identity around brunch, and it shows. The menu is loaded -- crab cake benny, shrimp and tasso mac-n-cheese, chicken and waffles with a bourbon maple glaze -- and the cocktail list is serious. Bloody Marys, mimosa flights, espresso martinis before noon. The space is bright and lively without being obnoxious about it. Open daily 7 AM to 2 PM.
What to order: Crab cake benny and a build-your-own Bloody Mary. That's a morning.
Barometer Waterfront Grille -- Orange Beach
28101 Perdido Beach Blvd
Saturday and Sunday brunch on the bay, 9 AM to 1 PM. The setting alone is worth showing up for -- you're right on the water with views across the back bay. The menu is more upscale brunch than diner: crab cake Benedict, bananas Foster French toast, Nashville hot chicken and waffles. Good cocktail program too. This is the brunch you get dressed for (beach casual dressed, but still).
What to order: Bananas Foster French toast if you want sweet, crab cake Benedict if you want savory.
Coffee and a Pastry
Southern Grind -- Orange Beach
4700 Wharf Parkway (at The Wharf, below Hotel Indigo)
Southern Grind is the coffee shop at The Wharf and it takes the job seriously. Proper espresso drinks, cold brew, specialty lattes, and a pastry case that gives you a reason to walk in even if you don't drink coffee. The vibe is clean and modern with a local edge. Good spot to start the day before exploring The Wharf or heading to the beach.
What to order: Whatever seasonal latte they're running, plus a pastry. Keep it simple.
Another Broken Egg Cafe -- Orange Beach
24644 Canal Rd
More of a sit-down breakfast spot than a quick coffee stop, but the coffee is solid and the menu covers the full spectrum from light (avocado toast, fresh fruit) to ambitious (cinnamon roll French toast, Mardi Gras omelet). Open 7 AM to 2 PM daily. A reliable choice when the group can't agree on what kind of breakfast they want.
What to order: Cinnamon roll French toast. It sounds like too much. It is. Order it anyway.
The Beach-Morning Breakfast
Foodcraft -- Gulf Shores
101 W Beach Blvd #100
Open-air deck overlooking the Gulf. Banana bread French toast. A build-your-own Bloody Mary bar with all the toppings. Foodcraft is the breakfast spot that feels like vacation even if you live here. The views are genuine -- you're looking right at the water -- and the food is better than it needs to be for a place with that location. Open for breakfast and lunch daily.
What to order: Start with the Bloody Mary bar. Then the banana bread French toast. Then sit there for another hour because you can see the waves from your table.
Tacky Jacks -- Gulf Shores and Orange Beach
Multiple locations on the waterfront
Tacky Jacks is a Gulf Coast institution, and while most people know it for lunch and the waterfront decks, the breakfast is strong. The Farmers Omelet -- stuffed with potatoes, onions, peppers, mushrooms, sausage, ham, and cheese -- made Alabama's list of 100 dishes to eat before you die. The Orange Beach location on Cotton Bayou has the better water view for morning; the Gulf Shores location on the Intracoastal is more of a locals' scene.
What to order: The Farmers Omelet. It earned its reputation.
Worth the Drive
Panini Pete's -- Fairhope
42 1/2 S Section Street
If you're staying on the Eastern Shore or don't mind a 45-minute drive from the beach, Panini Pete's in downtown Fairhope is worth the trip. Chef Pete Blohme is a Culinary Institute of America grad who's been featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, and the breakfast here reflects that pedigree -- house-roasted meats, house-made mozzarella, beignets, and paninis that are legitimately great. Open for breakfast and lunch in a cozy French Quarter-style space.
What to order: Beignets and a breakfast panini. Then walk downtown Fairhope. You've earned it.
Check our events calendar for food festivals and restaurant openings across the Gulf Coast.
