What would the perfect culinary day trip look like, if your destination is Fairhope, AL? Start on Scenic 98, slightly north of downtown. There you will find Coffee Loft, an eclectic little hole in the wall with funky music and a bohemian vibe. Opened in the year 2000 by Beth Goldberg, it was the first place in town to offer specialty coffee, thus revealing to residents how much, in fact, they need fancy coffee. Order a White Silk coffee, hot or cold, (or other beverage of your choice), and some of the freshly baked pumpkin bread. Grab it to go and make your way over to the Fairhope Pier, for a peaceful start to your day. After giving thanks for the beauty surrounding you, take a walk, enjoy the duck pond, or sit in a swing and watch the boats and birds out on the bay.
After your morning retreat, followed by a little shopping downtown, it is only a short 1.7-mile drive down South Section Street to Dragonfly Food Bar, owned by Doug and Briana Kerr. Recently relocated from the Central Business District, it is well worth the trek to taste the “marriage of Asian and Mexican Cuisine.” As their Facebook page accurately claims, “Prepare to have your taste buds rocked.” Offering meals paired with beverage options galore, try the Mango Habanero Wing Chops or Baby Green Salad to get started. For your main course, the popular Kung Pao Chicken Tacos or Firecracker Shrimp Bowls, and for a side, throw in the Tempura Turnip Fries. Current trends have many people driving from Pensacola, Pascagoula, and places beyond.
Heading back downtown, if your sweet tooth calls, turn left on De La Mare Avenue and find dessert at Mr. Gene’s Beans, a longtime local favorite. No longer under the ownership of Mr. Gene, Chris Bartz carries on the tradition of ice cream, cookies, gourmet popcorn, and the infamous Fairhope Float, a delicious frozen coffee beverage loved by many. Sit on the outdoor patio and watch the golf carts and shoppers pass by.
There are still plenty of shops nearby, to peruse, but a great way to wrap up your day, is to circle the block over to Fairhope Avenue until you see Tuscan architecture and flowers luring you to Locals, a quaint spot owned by Wade and Ashley Peryer bringing years of experience in the restaurant business. The gourmet burgers are made from bison or beef, and vegetarian options with fresh herbs and vegetables are all sourced from local farmers. Locals offers three indoor dining options, though many Fairhopians and visitors prefer the European cafe style seating on the cobblestone walkway, and the soft light of the gas lamps as they listen to live music and feel the breeze flow through the patio.
Deserving of mention for perhaps another full day in Fairhope, is one restaurant where you could literally spend your entire day. Featuring coffee, wine, gifts, and an open space large enough for mamas to push babies in strollers. Provision is owned by Elisabeth and William Hanes, and is a place to bring friends. With oversized bamboo chairs facing each other along the sunny window space, sofas and chairs in cozy squares for community gathering, Provision considers itself Fairhope’s Living Room and has space for almost any combination of guests. They offer a variety of seasonal coffee options such as Hawaiian Day Dream, or Honey Bee Latte. The gourmet breakfast offerings like Whipped Fig & Feta Toast, or the Breakfast Biscuit with a basic name, has a taste that is anything but basic. Popular lunch choices include the Fairhippie Bowl or the Conecuh Cuban Po’ Boy. Add a full wine bar with charcuterie options on the opposite end from those sunny windows, and it is hard to imagine a more ideal setting for people watching, while simultaneously delighting the taste buds. Bon Appetit!
Fairhope is a city in Baldwin County, Alabama, United States, located on the eastern shoreline of Mobile Bay. The population was 22,477 at the 2020 census. Fairhope is a principal city of the Daphne-Fairhope-Foley metropolitan area, which includes all of Baldwin County.