Like many of our trips, we love to eat local, so eating & drinking in Mobile was no different. We found a fantastic blend of high-end Southern cuisine, casual dining spots recommended by locals, and some breweries. Let us share the 6 Restaurants & 2 Breweries we went to.
Table of Contents
Click here to check out our 7 day Southern Alabama Itinerary
Dauphins (Fine Dining)
This was our designated anniversary “splurge,” and it was a memorable experience. We were hesitant to book a reservation since we didn’t travel with very nice clothes, but we pulled it together and met the dress code. Located high up in the building, Dauphins boasts 360-degree views that are spectacular, though I would have preferred a different angle than the north side where we were seated. The waitress, whose nametag was comically upside down for most of the evening, was friendly and attentive.
The food was generally excellent: Justin raved about the classic Shrimp and Grits, while I opted for the Veggie Plate. It arrived with two perfectly fried, huge corn fritters and an overwhelming quantity of sautéed vegetables (zucchini, snap peas, cauliflower, etc.). While my red wine was just so-so, the end of the meal was spectacular: an unexpected, delicious chocolate after-dinner treat served in a cloud of dry ice. I was completely fascinated by the smoky visual effect—a simple moment of unexpected theater that elevated the entire meal.
Las Floriditas (Speakeasy Nightcap)
Located on the bottom level of the same building as Dauphins, this speakeasy provided the perfect, relaxed finale to an evening. Though the venue is advertised openly (we just needed to grab the daily password from Facebook), walking past the attendant at the desk and through the door felt like stepping into a hidden world.
The vibe was southern crisp with beige walls and dark trim and accents, marble like tables and wood/cloth armchairs. We were seated comfortably and ordered a few unique items. Justin enjoyed his Sazerac, and my Monserrate cocktail was excellent. The real standout was the Black Bean Dip served with Manchego cheese, accompanied by both yucca chips and plantain crisps. We easily spent 90 minutes to two hours here, just chatting and unwinding, with the short walk back to the hotel sealing the deal for convenience.
Bob’s Downtown Restaurant
This spot came highly recommended by our Mobile Historic Tour driver, which immediately gave it credibility with Justin. I was more skeptical, anticipating a heavy breakfast and meat-focused menu. We sat outside, and service was fast and welcoming.
I was pleasantly surprised. The prices were very reasonable, and they offered a hearty lunch special that included fish tacos with 2 sides (I got cooked carrots, sautéed zucchini) and a corn muffin—a huge portion! Justin’s hamburger and fries were spot-on. This was a great example of following local advice, and I was rewarded with a delicious meal.
Joe Cain Cafe
On our first Sunday in Mobile, many places were closed, we had just come back from a movie and it was a bit later and we were tired, so we stayed in the hotel for dinner. We ordered two small pizzas: Justin got the classic sausage and pepperoni, and I enjoyed a flavorful pesto pizza topped with artichokes, tomatoes, and generous dollops of creamy ricotta, all finished with a drizzle of balsamic glaze.
Our friendly waitress even provided us with local recommendations for the rest of our trip. They also thoughtfully boxed our leftovers in a smaller box that fit easily into our mini-fridge—a small but appreciated detail!
The Noble South
We booked a reservation here, which turned out to be unnecessary as the place was quite empty. The evening started on a tricky note for me. When I asked about the “Chef’s Choice Vegetable Plate,” I learned it consisted of three fried vegetables and allowed for no substitutions—even after mentioning I couldn’t eat mushrooms or okra. This was frustrating.
I ultimately ordered the small plate of Roasted Fall Squash (with persimmon, ricotta, and dukkah herbs). The dish itself was delicious and complexly flavored. However, the mood was already set, and we decided to skip dessert and head to Las Floriditas instead. Justin ordered the Duck Leg Confit (bok choy, dandelion greens, crispy sunchokes, sweet potato caramel, duck jus, truffle) and said the duck and jus sauce were very tasty and tender but the sunchokes were too hard to be enjoyable to eat.
The Original Oyster House
Located on the causeway after our long battleship tour, we were bordering on “hangry” and randomly picked this busy spot out of the five or so available. For me, it was one of the least favorite meals of the trip. The lack of true vegetarian options forced me to order a fried fish platter with fries and hushpuppies. It was just okay; the fish was unremarkable although fried nicely, the fries were mediocre, and it was certainly pricey for the overall experience. Justin, thankfully, enjoyed his meal of oysters and chowder much more than I enjoyed mine. And the place was packed so I am sure they do seafood well.
🍻 The Mobile Brewery Scene
Iron Hand Brewery
We visited Iron Hand Brewing, Mobile’s oldest brewery born in 2018, which is set inside a unique, old church building. The atmosphere was cool, though the service was a bit slow on the night we visited due to some internet issues the staff was handling. We enjoyed one beer each and took advantage of the quiet setting to simply relax and recharge after a busy day of touring.
Braided River Brewery
We stopped here on another evening to sample the local brews and enjoy some casual downtime. Like many other places it was quiet. But we liked the layout of indoor and outdoor seating and could easily see this place being busy with locals. After walking around town on a hot day, the cold beer was refreshing.
Overall, Mobile proved to be a vibrant city with great choices for dining, even if finding diverse vegetarian options sometimes required extra effort. We especially loved the friendly service and the unique atmosphere of the historic venues!
Related Stories: