Discover the Unique Charm of Flora-Bama Lounge: A Gulf Coast Icon

Straddling the Alabama-Florida line along the Gulf of Mexico, the Flora-Bama Lounge, Package and Oyster Bar has stood as a cultural crossroads since 1964.

Equal parts beach bar, music venue and local institution, Flora-Bama earned its name from its position on the state line between Orange Beach, Alabama, and Pensacola, Florida. Though its location is split by geography, the establishment has long unified locals and visitors under one roof with live music, cold drinks, and a storied history.

Originally opened as a small package store in the wake of Alabama’s decision to allow alcohol sales in Baldwin County, the business evolved over decades into a sprawling complex of indoor and outdoor bars, stages and beachfront decks. Its rustic appearance — layered with decades of graffiti, stickers and memorabilia — remains part of its charm.

The bar is perhaps best known for its role in Gulf Coast music culture. It regularly hosts regional acts and serves as one of the key venues for the Frank Brown International Songwriters’ Festival, which draws artists from around the country.

Beyond music, the venue’s most visible tradition is the annual Interstate Mullet Toss. Participants hurl a dead mullet from the Florida side into Alabama, with proceeds from the event supporting local charities. It draws thousands to the beach each spring and has become a regional spectacle.

On Sunday mornings, the Flora-Bama hosts Worship on the Water, a non-denominational Christian service held on the beach stage behind the bar. Organized by Central Flora-Bama Church, the service draws hundreds each week — locals and tourists alike — many arriving in flip-flops, folding chairs in hand. With live music, scripture-based teaching, and a casual, come-as-you-are approach, it’s become a signature part of the bar’s identity and a reflection of its deeply rooted Gulf Coast community.

Flora-Bama has also weathered its share of challenges — including damage from multiple hurricanes and regulatory hurdles. Yet the business has consistently rebuilt and expanded, now including merchandise operations, a marina, and several adjacent businesses under the Flora-Bama brand.

Its reputation has grown well beyond the Gulf Coast. The bar has been referenced in country songs, visited by celebrities, and profiled in travel publications, earning a reputation as one of the most famous beach bars in America.

Despite the fame, the core experience remains: a flip-flop-friendly atmosphere, a schedule packed with live music, and a crowd that ranges from spring breakers to retirees. Flora-Bama is, above all else, a place that values community, tradition and Gulf Coast identity — one beer and one song at a time.