In the annals of iconic Gulf Coast Alabama bars, Pirates Cove ranks right alongside the Flora-Bama: but while the Flora-Bama sits on the main beach highway, Pirates Cove is emphatically not where the GPS tells you to go. Follow County Road 95 through the boonies south of Elberta toward the community of Josephine and you’ll find it on Arnica Bay: a tiki hut, sandy beach, picnic tables, and the best Bushwacker on the Alabama Gulf Coast served to a crowd that arrives by car, bike, kayak, pontoon, and paddleboard. Open since 1957, dog-friendly, no reservations, no ceremony. Just cold drinks, live music on Saturday evenings, and the particular reward of finding something genuinely worth the detour.
