Alys Beach is the town on 30A that looks like nowhere else on the Florida coast: white walls, white roofs, tall palms and quiet courtyards. If you are working out the best things to do in Alys Beach, the short version is this. Walk the town, eat well, shop the small Town Center and time your trip around one of its events. It is a small place, and you can see most of it in a relaxed afternoon.
The town sits near the east end of Scenic Highway 30A, between Seacrest and Rosemary Beach, in Walton County. Much of what makes it special (the pools, the beach club, the wellness center) is reserved for owners and rental guests. The streets, the restaurants and the shops are open to everyone. This guide focuses on what a day visitor can actually do, with a few notes for people staying in town.
Quick answer
- Best dinner: The Citizen for wood-fired coastal food and a raw bar, or George’s at Alys Beach for a relaxed porch meal.
- Best morning stop: Fonville Press Market & Café for coffee and breakfast on the plaza.
- Best sweet treat: Charlie’s Delights for rolled and filled donuts in the morning and ice cream at night.
- Best shopping: the short Somerset Street strip with Holiday Shop, Parasol and SummerStory.
- Best time to visit: during an event weekend such as the 30A Wine Festival in February or Alys Beach Crafted in November.
- Getting on the sand: Alys Beach has no public beach access, so day visitors use the Inlet Beach regional accesses a short drive east.
What makes Alys Beach different
Alys Beach is a planned town, laid out by the New Urbanism firm Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company, led by Andrés Duany and Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk. The land was bought by the Stephens family in the 1970s, and development began in 2004. The developer, EBSCO Gulf Coast Development, points to Bermuda for the architecture and to the courtyard houses of Antigua, Guatemala, for the layout. Every house is required to be white, and every home must be certified green by the Florida Green Building Coalition.
The result is a town built around walking. Houses turn inward to private courtyards, so the streets feel calm and enclosed. Small parks are tucked between blocks. Public art shows up in places like Turtle Bale Spring and Arboleda Park. At about 158 acres, it is compact, which is exactly why it works for a stroll.
A good first loop: park near Town Center, walk the Somerset Street shops, cut south toward the Gulf, then wander back through the side streets and parks. Bring a camera. The white walls look different at every hour, and late afternoon is the classic time for photos.
Things to do in Alys Beach
Walk the town and its parks
The town is the attraction. Visit South Walton points visitors to Central Park and the beachfront Gulf Green, Firepit Park with its shellstone fire pit, and the Alys Beach Amphitheatre, which hosts outdoor concerts and performances. Look for the edible landscaping too: the town has a Soup Garden of seasonal herbs, Mojito Alley planted with lime and mint, and blueberry bushes along Lake Marilyn.
Find the nature trail
On the north side of town, a roughly 20-acre nature preserve protects slash pines, cypress and wildflowers. The Alys Beach Nature Trail runs through it, and if you look closely you can spot carnivorous pitcher plants in the wetter spots. The preserve sits just outside the Caliza pool gates and includes artworks such as the Wooden Horses and the Tanzerin. It is a short, easy walk and a nice break from the sun.
Plan around an event
Alys Beach hosts three signature events, and each one changes the feel of the town.
- 30A Wine Festival: the 15th annual festival runs February 17 to 21, 2027, with tastings, dinners and parties at venues around town. Events are ticketed through BigTickets.
- Digital Graffiti: an art festival that projects about 70 digital works onto the town’s white walls, turning just under a mile of streets into a nighttime gallery. It is ticketed and has moved to an every-other-year schedule. The festival lists May 19 to 20, 2028, as the next dates.
- Alys Beach Crafted: a multi-day food, drink and makers event held in November. The 2026 edition runs November 11 to 15 with cask ale tastings, a holiday makers market and cocktail parties. Several experiences sell out early.
Thanksgiving is also busy on this end of 30A. The 30A 10K Thanksgiving Day Races start and finish in neighboring Rosemary Beach on November 26, 2026. Expect road closures and slow traffic that morning.
If you are staying in Alys Beach
Owners and rental guests get access to amenities day visitors do not. Caliza Pool, at Nonesuch Way and Somerset Street, has a 100-foot zero-entry pool and a poolside menu. ZUMA Wellness Center offers fitness classes, a spa and a lap pool, and there are two Har-Tru clay tennis courts. Rental guests can also book beach chair service and gear like kayaks and paddleboards. The town calendar lists many family events, such as the Sunday Social at The Silva, as owners and rental guests only, so check before you plan around one.
Alys Beach restaurants
For a town this size, the food is strong. Most places are within a few minutes’ walk of each other in Town Center. Hours below are as of November 2026; check before you go.
- The Citizen: a coastal tavern and oyster bar built around a seven-foot wood-burning hearth. Book through Resy, though some bar and raw bar seats are held for walk-ins. Daily oyster happy hour runs 2 to 5 p.m.
- George’s at Alys Beach: Gulf seafood and local produce in a converted beach cottage with screened porches and a rooftop deck. It is first-come, first-served most days, with reservations only on select holidays. Lunch runs 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and dinner 5 to 9 p.m. Note that George’s adds a 1% Alys Beach Arts & Entertainment fee.
- Fonville Press Market & Café: a market, café and cocktail bar on the plaza, open from 7 a.m. Good for coffee, breakfast, picnic supplies and an early evening drink.
- Raw & Juicy: cold-pressed juices, smoothies, acai bowls and plant-forward plates from 8 a.m., with dinner Wednesday to Sunday. Gluten-free options run throughout the menu.
- Charlie’s Delights: 1920s-style rolled and filled donuts, made at the owners’ original bakery in Bonifay, plus pastries and ice cream. Open 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- NEAT Bottle Shop: a bottle shop and tasting room with outdoor seating under the palms along 30A. Tuesday’s Wine & Song pairs tastings with live music.
Want more choices? 30Avenue, a village center at Highway 98 and 30A, is within walking distance of Alys Beach and has restaurants like Cuvée 30A. For the bigger picture, see our best restaurants on 30A.
Alys Beach shops
Shopping in Alys Beach is small and curated. You can browse the whole Town Center in an hour. Most shops open at 10 a.m.
- Holiday Shop: a locally owned boutique for swimwear, easy vacation clothing and light jewelry. Stock moves fast on busy weekends.
- Parasol: women’s clothing and accessories from artisan brands, in the same short stretch as Holiday Shop.
- SummerStory: furniture, lighting, textiles and home decor, plus interior design services. Call ahead if you want a specific large piece.
- Alys Shoppe: the town’s own boutique at The Della, with Alys Beach logo apparel and designer pieces for men, women and kids.
- Barefoot Princess: a family-owned shop with one of the largest Lilly Pulitzer selections on the Gulf Coast.
- MERIT by Willow: a locally owned, women-owned fine jewelry boutique.
Where to go to the beach
This is the part that surprises first-time visitors. Alys Beach has a beautiful stretch of Gulf, but there is no public beach access in the town. Visit South Walton lists Alys Beach and Rosemary Beach as neighborhoods without public access.
The easy answer is Inlet Beach, a few minutes east. Walton County runs three Inlet Beach regional accesses on West Park Place Avenue with free parking (roughly 10, 50 and 50 spaces). Arrive early on summer weekends. Our 30A beaches guide covers every public access along the road.
| Option | Who can use it | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Alys Beach beachfront | Owners and rental guests | Chair service available to guests |
| Inlet Beach Regional Accesses | Everyone | Free lots, restrooms, a few minutes east |
| Seacrest neighborhood accesses | Walkers and cyclists | Limited bike parking at three access points |
Before you go
- Storm recovery: Hurricane Isaias brought fallen trees and debris across South Walton on October 9, 2026. By mid-October most 30A restaurants and shops had reopened, including in Alys Beach, and beaches reopened. A few beach accesses along 30A stayed closed for repairs into late October, so check posted signs and the Walton County access list.
- Parking: spaces in Town Center are limited at peak times. Coming by bike on the 30A path, or walking over from Rosemary Beach or 30Avenue, is often easier.
- Private areas: Caliza, ZUMA, The Silva and The Beach Club are for owners and guests. Respect the signs.
- Hours change: restaurant and shop hours shift by season. Call ahead, especially in winter.
- Where to stay: Alys Beach rentals book through the town’s own vacation rental program. For hotels nearby, see where to stay on 30A.
Planning a longer trip along the road? Our guide to the 30A towns compares every community from Dune Allen to Inlet Beach, and the Alys Beach area page lists every place in town. You can also browse all of 30A or neighboring Rosemary Beach.
Alys Beach FAQ
Is Alys Beach open to the public? Yes. Anyone can walk the streets, eat at the restaurants and shop in Town Center. The pools, beach club, wellness center and beachfront are reserved for owners and rental guests.
Can you go to the beach at Alys Beach? Not as a day visitor. There is no public beach access in Alys Beach. The closest public option is the Inlet Beach Regional Accesses a few minutes east, which have free parking and restrooms.
Why are all the buildings in Alys Beach white? White is a town rule. Every house must be white, a look drawn from Bermuda architecture. The town plan also borrows the courtyard houses of Antigua, Guatemala.
What are the best restaurants in Alys Beach? The Citizen for a wood-fired dinner and raw bar, George’s at Alys Beach for porch dining, Fonville Press for breakfast and Raw & Juicy for a healthy lunch. Charlie’s Delights covers dessert.
When is Digital Graffiti? Digital Graffiti is held in May and has moved to an every-other-year schedule. The festival lists May 19 to 20, 2028, as the next dates. Tickets are sold online.
How long do you need in Alys Beach? Half a day is enough to walk the town, shop and have a meal. Add an evening if you want dinner at The Citizen or George’s.