In 1971 Louie Signorelli’s oceanfront Victorian home was transformed into Louie’s Backyard restaurant.

It’s a destination watering hole overlooking the water for local and visiting personalities.   Also a great spot for drinks before heading out for a trek down Duval Street.

The restaurant deck is where Jimmy Buffett started playing gigs for beer and meals as he lived in the apartment next door upstairs with a menagerie of crazy friends including Hunter Thompson.

Hunter would yell into his duct tape bullhorn “get off the fucking beach or I’ll slit your throats” at the kids as they crossed the yard down to dog beach.

One of Tennessee Williams’ boyfriends worked at Louie’s and on several occasions Jimmy was hired to play a pool party at Tennessee’s.

With a hangover and a hurricane coming Jimmy wrote the song “Trying to Reason with Hurricane Season”

“I hoped I wouldn’t have to move far, sure could use a bloody mary so I stumbled over to Louie’s backyard.”

There’s great Cajun Margaritas here and the best conch fritters on the island.