Bikes & Tacos Go Together at Piper's Kitchen in Alys Beach

Visitors to SoWal spend a lot of time along Scenic 30A, and a MUST visit to Alys Beach is always in order. Located on the east end of South Walton (just west of Rosemary Beach), locals and out-of-towners are always amazed at the unique architecture, courtyards, green spaces, gardens and parks found within the Alys Beach community.

Traffic slows to a crawl when entering Alys Beach between the twin butteries as onlookers take on the magnificent display of stark-white structures and palm trees that transform you into an alternate reality. And, this magnificent vision can be greatly enhanced while on a bicycle rented from Alys Beach Bike Rentals. Located at Alys Beach on the south side of Scenic 30A next to Piper’s Kitchen (more on Piper’s below), a variety of bicycles for adults and children can be rented by the hour, day, or week. The bicycles are all basic, non-gear cruisers and include 16”-26” Heron Bicycles, adult trikes, pull tandems, and two-seater carriages to transport children. Training wheels can also be attached to the smaller bikes.

The bike shop will also deliver and pick-up your rental bikes if you are staying in the proximity of Alys Beach. While the shop is not set-up for major bike repairs, they can handle the basics (even if you show up on your own bike) including fixing or replacing flat tires and other minor bike adjustments. They will be more than happy to add air to your tires or beach inner tube.

Alys Beach Recreation Manager Colton Cross

The shop also stocks a variety of accessories including Maui Jim sunglasses, sunscreen, shirts, hats, kids beach toys, flip-flops, water and other non-alcoholic beverages. For folks staying at Alys Beach, the bike shop also has a beach chair (2), table and umbrella rental program with rates from $45/day to $225/week. For more bike information, call 850-213-5599, or go to www.alysbeach.com/bike-shop. The Bike Shop is open daily from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Located next door to Alys Beach Bike Rental is Piper’s Kitchen, a unique Fresco-kinda-meal food truck set to re-open for the season on Monday, March 2nd. They share an open space that works out perfectly for folks on-the-go in the great outdoors. The two businesses thrive harmoniously with one another as customers bounce back and  forth from bike retail to the delicious fragrances emitting from Piper’s Kitchen.

Picnic tables out front provide just what’s needed for sit-down customers or “grab n goers” not wanting to slow down their quest for the best in the Alys Beach community. Piper’s opens for breakfast at 8 a.m., serves until 10 a.m. and then lunch takes over until 4 p.m. The breakfast items include a much-favored Chorizo Breakfast Burrito (Black Beans, Corn, Egg ,Jack Cheese, Cilantro and Lime Crema); a Breakfast Bowl (Chorizo, Sunny-Side-Up Egg, Tots, Tomato, Corn Salsa, Cilantro, Cotija Cheese); A Sausage, Egg & Cheese Biscuit with Tabasco Honey;  and breakfast sides of a basic Fruit Cup or Tater Tots.

Beverages include Coffee, Water, Sparkling Water, Coconut Water, Powerade and Coke, Diet Coke, or Sprite. Agua Fresca is also available by the glass or bottle (Watermelon or Pineapple Jalapeño). A variety of Domestic, Imported or Craft Beer and Canned Wine will round out the Breakfast Menu.

The new expanded Piper’s Kitchen Lunch Menu will still offer customer-favorite Tacos, some with added ingredients to further entice their already- decadent allure. A few of the Taco offerings: Grilled Chicken with creamy corn salsa, cotija, cilantro and lime; Smoked Brisket with roasted corn salsa, creamy queso and cotija; Mahi Mahi with lime crema, red onions, tomato, cucumber and cilantro; Cumin Spiced Beef with tomato romaine and jack cheese; and their Impossible Taco, a “plant based” dish with tomato, romaine and jack cheese. A variety of salads are available and include a wide assortment of greens, assorted veggies, beans, rice and dressings.

The Quesadilla and More menu is back with: Quesadilla, (jack cheese, black beans, corn salsa, cilantro and sour cream); Loaded Nachos (tortilla chips romaine black beans, tomato, pickled jalapenos and queso); the Grilled Chicken Wrap, with Mexican street corn, romaine, tomato, onion and cilantro; and Chicken Empanadas with chipotle ranch. Your choice of protein can be added to these menu items.

Kids are always part of the mix and have their own menu: Fruit Cup, Chicken Fingers, Cheese Quesadilla, Corn Dog, and Nachos and Cheese. Lunchtime beverage offerings are the same as those on the Breakfast Menu. If you are fortunate enough to be staying at Alys Beach, all Piper’s Kitchen menu items can be delivered to you beachside. For mor information, please call (850)213-5595, visit www.alysbeach.com.

SoWal Insider's Tip - The food is very good and the tacos are a favorite of the SoWal staff. Local regulars count the days until they re-open on March 2nd. It's a lovely place to sit right next to the 30A bike path and watch the world roll, stroll, run and skateboard by.

Piper's Kitchen in the early days wheeled around town, seen here at an event next to the Gulf in May 2008.

Piper's Portrait