One of Florida’s most stunning places to stay, Alys Beach is a planned community on the Florida Panhandle. Located between Panama City and Pensacola, its unique architecture has created some amazing vacation rentals. Designed and built from scratch by renowned planners Duany Plater-Zyberk, Alys Beach is a pedestrian-friendly beachfront village that boasts an active town center of shops, restaurants, and outdoor cafes. Its pristine white sand beach and ocean-facing streets lined with Bermuda-style courtyard homes are bordered by a nature preserve. A Central Park, plenty of pocket parks and beautifully landscaped roads make it easy to get back to nature on your beach getaway.
Alys Beach Rentals Florida
Alys Beach is unique among Florida vacation rentals, as the entire town consists of private homes. You won’t find any hotels or condos for rent here. One of the best parts of renting a beachfront vacation home is having all the amenities of home at hand. You’ll have a full kitchen, private bedrooms and bathrooms, and plenty of outdoor space. The beach is just a short walk.
Homes for Rent
Alys Beach boasts three different styles of homes for rent:
Courtyard Homes
Courtyard homes are organized around a private central court or patio, with rooms that open onto outdoor galleries, gardens, fountains, and pools. These inward-facing homes offer complete privacy and cooling water features for a relaxing stay. Patio or courtyard homes are an architectural style that date back to Moorish construction in Spain – so these homes resemble courtyard homes in Antigua and other Spanish-influenced vacation spots. A courtyard vacation rental home is like a trip to an exotic island, without ever leaving the United States.
Villas
Alys Beach Villas are the most common style of vacation rental. These homes are freestanding and have landscaped yards, much like a cottage rental. Bermudan architectural features like stucco finishes, stepped roofs, and fountains give them unique character.
Compounds
Compounds in Alys Beach feature large lots with several pavilion-style buildings connected by loggias and garden walls. These vacation rentals are where the Bermudan architectural design really shines. Stepped roofs recall the traditional Bermudian roofs that work to catch rainwater. Separate pavilions allow ocean breezes to circulate. Garden walls provide privacy for sunbathing, and give young family members (and pets) a safe yard in which to play. Compound homes for rent have private pools, courtyard areas, gardens, and multiple spots for your large group to hang out together or relax separately.
Alys Beach’s interior design style features open, whitewashed spaces. Cypress beams and millwork, combined with limestone floors, evoke the textures and colors of the local Florida landscape. White stucco finishes inside and out recall the traditional white limewash popular in Bermuda. Many homes for rent are accented with brightly patterned tiles that add an exotic touch.
What are those minaret style towers that define the entrance to Alys Beach? They’re a traditional Bermudian architectural feature called a buttery. Butteries were used in Bermuda before refrigeration. Food and drinks were stored off the ground in the buttery, where the shape of the building created air currents to keep them cool. Today, the butteries are purely decorative and contain murals depicting local Florida history.
Things to Do in Alys Beach
Relax on the Beach
Hit the beach, of course! All the streets in Alys Beach run perpendicular to the ocean, so you can look down the street and feel the beckoning breezes. The Gulf Coast’s white, powdery sand is the perfect place to park your chair and soak up the rays.
Ride Bikes
Rent a bike, or a bike-like vehicle – you can ditch the car while you’re in Alys Beach. The Bike Shop rents colorful beach cruisers as well as bicycle surreys for a crowd. Ride the Timpoochee trail off Florida Highway 30A, or explore the adjacent 21-acre nature preserve.
Hit the Water
Rent a kayak or stand-up paddleboard (The Bike Shop has them too) and hit the water. You don’t have to be an expert, but lessons are available too.
Recline at Caliza
After a day of adventure, cool down at Caliza – this famous restaurant’s reflecting pool is also a saltwater swimming pool. Settle in under the loggia and relax poolside, fancy cocktail in hand. There’s also a spa, a 75-foot lap pool (if you must exercise), and a shallow play pool for young families.
Cocktails at NEAT
Go for a tasting at NEAT. This bottle shop and tasting room stocks a vast array of spirits and cocktail equipment. Offerings include select bottles, draft beers, wines by the glass, and rotating specialty cocktails. The tasting room also hosts regular events featuring a variety of wines, brews, and spirits.
Get Out & Explore
Explore the surrounding area – you’ll find unique shopping, scenic drives and plenty of natural beauty to explore by foot, bike or boat.
Best Restaurants in Alys Beach
Being a small town doesn’t keep Alys Beach from providing great dining options. Have breakfast at the local, all-day cafe Fonville Press or hit the donut truck! Charlie’s Donuts is an Alys Beach tradition, serving hand-rolled red velvet cake, blueberry cake, sour cream pound cake donuts from a converted bread truck.
Fonville Press
Fonville Press serves breakfast, pressed sandwiches, salads, snacks, and heartier entrées, along with coffee, wine, and beer. A wall of cookbooks makes for fun browsing and shopping. Hang out on the patio while the kids play at Fonville Park just outside.
George’s
Drop by George’s for a casual meal in a beachy atmosphere. Located near the Alys Beach Amphitheatre on Highway 30A, George’s creative, fresh coastal menu is served in a cozy, vintage beach cottage. Enjoy the view of Alys Beach from the screened patio or outdoor deck.
Caliza
For fine dining at its best, don’t miss Caliza. The architecture is not-to-be-missed. This elegant restaurant sits right at the edge of a pool that creates stunning reflections. The Moroccan-style lounge has a dramatic colonnade that’s awash in rich color. And don’t miss the views from the rooftop deck – this venue is truly jaw-dropping. Caliza’s menu and service are consistently ranked among the best in the area. Locally sourced seafood and Southern contemporary cuisine are featured on the diverse menu.
If the local Alys Beach restaurants aren’t enough to keep your taste buds satisfied, there are plenty of other options just a short drive away in Rosemary Beach or Seaside.
Alys Beach Events
Alys Beach keeps its social calendar full throughout the year. Concerts, plays, and movies fill the grass amphitheatre. Wine and beer festivals bring the streets to life. And don’t miss the annual spring Digital Graffiti event, when the town becomes a blank canvas for colorful, innovative light displays created by regional artists. From the arts to culinary events, there’s always something going on.