Best Happy Hour in South Walton – Fonville Press in Alys Beach
August 4th, 2007 Categories: Restaurant Reviews, Rosemary Beach Living
One of the coolest, laid back places to go in our area on a Friday afternoon is the Fonville Press at the entrance to the homes in Alys Beach.Â
Fonville Press is a combination book store, coffee/pastry shop and wine bar – all packed in to 645 square feet under roof, but plenty of additional room to lounge both in the front and rear of the building. Fonville Press has the best happy hour buffet on Friday afternoons that I’ve experienced on the coast.
Alys Beach is a unique and very upscale 160 acre complex in its early stages of development. There is a ten year build out time that will eventually see 599 homes in Alys Beach and 90,000 square feet of commercial space interspersed amongst the residential components.Â
Alys Beach is designed in the same mode as Seaside and Rosemary Beach and is using the same architects who designed those outstanding developments. Alys Beach is just a short walk or bike road to the west of the homes in Rosemary Beach.Â
Fonville Press is owned by the development company, EBSCO of Birmingham, and managed by a very efficient and happy staff. The wines are somewhat limited, but well selected, and are laid out for everyone to see. Â
After drinks are ordered at the bar, help yourself to the buffet and again – it is creative and excellent. 
On a recent Friday visit my guest chose a split of Perrier Jouet Champagne and I had a Spanish Albarino. The buffet had several meats including salami, ham, a kind of beef jerky (the only item that wasn’t excellent) and a pate.Â
There was a tremendous selection of cheeses including crumbled goat cheese in olive oil, brie, muenster, a variety of bleu cheeses and more. 
Our favorite was a salad of roasted garlic, sun dried tomatoes, olives and celery in a good olive oil. There were grapes, olives, carrots and real crisp seasoned croutons. Click picture > to enlarge and “backspace†to return to article.Â
 
We grabbed a cushion seat against the wall on the back deck and settled in for the Friday afternoon live music. Fonville has a rotating group of solo musicians who perform there, but on this recent Friday it was blues guitarist, Hans. I’ve heard Hans several times at Baytowne Wharf in Sandestin, and both Vicki and I really enjoy his music.Â
There are several homes for sale in Alys Beach, and the community is a work in progress. But we already highly recommend this unique little place whether it be for a cup of coffee, pastries, reading great books, magazines and newspapers from around the world – but most particularly you can’t beat Fonville Press for Happy Hour on Friday afternoon.Â
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