Perdido Key, Alabama/Florida
August 2026
By Polly Dean
Located on the state line between Orange Beach, Alabama and Pensacola, Florida, the Flora-Bama is one of the world’s most unique and best-known beach bars. A landmark since 1964, the Flora-Bama has five stages for live music featuring country, rock or beach music. One can dance the night away or simply relax in any of the areas, including quiet bars located beachfront.
Photo by Jimmy Jacobs.
The honky-tonk originated as a small bar and package store shortly after the completion of the Perdido Pass Bridge to its west. When established Escambia County, Florida in which it is located was “wet,” while across the state line Baldwin County, Alabama was “dry.” In its earlier days, the lounge was the only watering hole in the area, so traffic flowed in in its direction across the new bridge from Orange Beach. As flow increased on the new highway, the Flora-Bama grew by piecemeal to accommodate the growing crowds. We teasingly say that debris that follows each hurricane in the area adds a new room to the Flora-Bama Lounge.
Photo by Polly Dean.
Over the decades and through changes in ownership, the Flora-Bama remains known for having camaraderie rarely found in a gathering of persons of all ages and all walks of life. Popular events such as the “Interstate Mullet Toss” and the “Frank Brown Songwriter’s Festival” have been added over the years as well.
Photo by Polly Dean.
Located in the building is Flora-Bama’s World Famous Oyster Bar, which offers a great way to start your visit. The beachfront bar offers oysters prepared in a variety of ways, burgers, wraps, and fried shrimp. Add a Bushwacker creamy cocktail and your meal is complete! Food is served each day from 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 a.m.
My most memorable visit to the Flora-Bama was attending their Sunday morning worship service. Yes, it was church in a bar! I learned about it from the locals. It has live music and everyone is welcome, where their saying is “it’s okay to not be okay.” The service lasts an hour and includes live worship and Bible-based teachings. And yes, the bar is open. I thoroughly enjoyed the service and sharing the experience with the wide variety of worshipers that also attended that morning.
If fishing Big Lagoon State Park, Perdido Bay or anywhere else nearby, a visit to the Flora-Bama is the ideal place to complete your day, or your week. Souvenirs of your visit can be purchased in their gift shop. Check out their website at Florabama.com and if you’re so inclined take a peek at their gallery of photos to get a real flavor of the Flora-Bama experience and you may even notice a few celebrities that have done the same!
