Down here on the Alabama Gulf Coast, we know breakfast isn’t just the most important meal of the day, it’s practically a love language. Whether you like your mornings slow and easy with a biscuit in hand or prefer to dig into a plate of shrimp and grits before hitting the sand, our beach towns know how to start the day right. So, grab your coffee, loosen your waistband, and let’s talk about the gritty truth, the kind that’s buttery, salty, and best served with a view of the white sands of the Gulf.

Grits, Grace, and Gulf Views

If you’ve ever ordered grits north of Tennessee, you might’ve been handed something that’ll make a true Southerner say, “bless their hearts.” But down here, we take our grits seriously.
At The Ruby Slipper Café in Orange Beach, shrimp and grits are the star of the show. They’re creamy, peppery, and topped with Gulf shrimp sautéed in just enough butter to make your diet wave the white flag. Their French toast flight and breakfast cocktails don’t hurt either, especially when you’re easing into vacation mode.

Over in Gulf Shores, Sunliner Diner brings that vintage flair with its old school chrome booths and big as your head pancakes. Sure, it looks like the ‘50s, but everyone knows that sausage gravy is timeless. And if you’re feeling a little extra, go for the chicken and waffles. Vacation rules say treat yourself.

Bless Your Biscuit

A good biscuit can solve just about anything from a rainy beach day to a sunburn or even that one family member who “doesn’t eat seafood.” Here on the coast, a good biscuit is as comforting as a hug from Grandma.

Start with The Southern Grind Coffee House in Orange Beach, where the biscuits are flaky perfection, the coffee is strong enough to wake a pelican, and the décor is every bit as coastal cute as you’d expect. Their breakfast sandwiches, loaded with bacon and melted cheese, are the perfect pre-beach bite.

Then there’s Kitty’s Kafe in Gulf Shores, where “home-cooked” isn’t a slogan, it’s a promise. Their fluffy, oversized biscuits and sausage gravy are about as close to Sunday morning heaven as you’ll find anywhere on the coast. Locals know to come early because once they’re gone, they’re gone.

Bananas for Breakfast (Literally)

If your idea of breakfast leans a little sweeter, we’ve got you covered like syrup on pancakes. At Brick & Spoon in Orange Beach, the bananas in pajamas French toast stuffed with fresh bananas, caramel, and a dash of cinnamon is a local legend and one of our personal favorites. Pair it with their build your own Bloody Mary bar, and you’ve got a breakfast that’ll make you say “mercy!”

Duck’s Diner, tucked in the heart of Orange Beach, is a little local gem where breakfast feels more like a friendly gathering than a fancy affair. Their banana stuffed French toast is so decadent you’ll wonder if you should call it dessert. We won’t judge. After all, vacation calories don’t count, and even if they did, it’d be worth every single one.

Caffeine and Coastlines

Forget alarms. Coffee is the real wake up call. It’s the lifeblood of early risers, fishermen, and parents who stayed up too late chasing ghost crabs with the kids, and how every Gulf morning ought to begin.

BuzzCatz Coffee & Sweets in Orange Beach is where locals and visitors mingle over cappuccinos, cinnamon rolls, and homemade pop-tarts. Their daily rotating specials, like praline pecan scones or maple bacon doughnuts, keep things interesting, and their patio is dog friendly, so your four-legged beach bum can tag along.

Meanwhile, Foam Coffee in Gulf Shores has that laid back surfer vibe that makes you want to linger. Their honey lavender latte is the kind of drink you wake up dreaming about, smooth, floral, and just sweet enough. Pair it with a breakfast sandwich while you scroll through sunrise photos and pretend you’re not due back at work in three days.

Rise, Shine, and Dine the Beachball Way

Around here, breakfast isn’t a pit stop, it’s a pause. Locals linger over coffee, laugh about yesterday’s sunburn, and plan the day’s adventures with no rush at all. Maybe that’s why so many beach spots open early but don’t mind if you stay late. Breakfast on the Gulf Coast feels like family, even if you just met. So make it your mission to taste the town one morning at a time. Try shrimp and grits one day, biscuits and gravy the next, and something sweet before you head home.

If all this talk of biscuits and beachfront coffee has you craving your own coastal morning, BEACHBALL PROPERTIES has the perfect place waiting for you. From cozy condos to family friendly beach houses stretching from Orange Beach to Fort Morgan, you’ll be close enough to smell the bacon frying. Book your stay today and wake up the Southern way with sunshine, salt air, and a plate full of grits.

Come Have A Ball At The Beach!

– Ginger & Hunter Harrelson