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Capitol Oyster Bar

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A hidden gem on the Alabama River, Capitol Oyster Bar offers a unique seafood experience with live music and scenic views.

Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

Social content

Social

From TikTok & Reddit

Best Time

Wed/Fri 18-21h

Blue hour photography, calmer galleries

CrowdLow
More inside dining

Capitol Oyster Bar

Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

A hidden gem on the Alabama River, Capitol Oyster Bar offers a unique seafood experience with live music and scenic views.

"Best-kept secret for seafood with a beachfront restaurant vibe overlooking the river."

TIP

Party Seating

Ensure your whole party is present before being seated to guarantee you can sit together.

Parking Caution

Navigate the parking lot carefully due to potholes; drive slowly to avoid issues.

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Quick Facts

Open·Closes 7PM

Cuisine

Seafood, American

Price

Mid-range

Phone

(334) 239-8958

Address

617 Shady St, Montgomery, AL 36104, USA

Insta-Factor

Medium

Highlights

Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Waterfront Dining with Live Music

Waterfront Dining with Live Music

Savor fresh seafood with stunning views of the Alabama River, often accompanied by live blues or jazz music.

15 Best Restaurants In Montgomery AL You Must TryGoogle Review
Fresh Oysters and Seafood Platters

Fresh Oysters and Seafood Platters

Enjoy a variety of fresh oysters and generous seafood platters, including popular options like Royal Red shrimp.

15 Best Things To Do In Montgomery, AlabamaGoogle Review
Unique, Relaxed Atmosphere

Unique, Relaxed Atmosphere

Experience a laid-back, 'beachfront' vibe, perfect for casual gatherings and enjoying the river breeze.

15 Best Things To Do In Montgomery, AlabamaGoogle Review
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Insider Tips

from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit

When the Capitol Oyster Bar is life and you love crab paws(claws) #foodie #mamasmini
@lenoradent
83 likes • 1.2K views

Party Seating

Ensure your whole party is present before being seated to guarantee you can sit together.

Parking Caution

Navigate the parking lot carefully due to potholes; drive slowly to avoid issues.

They always have something new every time I go! This trip I mostly saw items from Mexican, Jamaican, Chinese, and Japanese cultures 🇲🇽🇯🇲🇨🇳🇯🇵. If I missed any, let me know in the comments 🫶🏾 #fyp #internationalmarket #montgomeryalabama #groceryshopping #affordable
@_anidal
59 likes • 970 views
come and visit our new open Oyster Bar and Restaurant hang out and chill with us our relaxing place
@richoysterbar04
45 likes • 5K views

GPS Detour

Avoid questionable GPS directions through trailer parks; continue straight on the main road.

Pay as you go

Consider paying for drinks as you order to avoid potential billing errors.

Tips

from all over the internet

Party Seating

Ensure your whole party is present before being seated to guarantee you can sit together.

Parking Caution

Navigate the parking lot carefully due to potholes; drive slowly to avoid issues.

GPS Detour

Avoid questionable GPS directions through trailer parks; continue straight on the main road.

Pay as you go

Consider paying for drinks as you order to avoid potential billing errors.

What Travellers Say

4.6
(491k reviews)

Reviews Summary

Capitol Oyster Bar offers a relaxed waterfront dining experience with a focus on fresh seafood, particularly oysters and shrimp. While many praise the delicious food and the scenic river views, some diners have noted inconsistencies in food quality and occasional slow or problematic service. The live music adds to the appealing, casual atmosphere, making it a unique spot despite its quirks.

"It was awesome. The best burger I have had in a very long time and the seafood lunch platter was incredible"

William Smith

"Cute place but would only return for the water front seating. The food was either super good or left on the plate due to flavor or cooking style. The okra has pokey stuff in it that got stuck in my throat and the rice pilaf left a lot to be desired. The gator bites and the corn balls were a standout though.

Notes:

You cannot be seated until your whole party is there.

Huge parking lot but lots of pot holes so slow down as you come towards it.

Google will try to send you through a trailer park, instead keep driving straight when it wants to to turn in. It will reroute you."

Jennifer White

"$14 gets you SIX pieces of shrimp. The fried shrimp platter came with two sides (I got double fries) and two (small) hush puppies.

The food itself wasn’t bad, though I didn’t care for the batter on the shrimp. I just can’t get over the fact that a $14 platter gets you six small to medium shrimps.

I definitely left hungry."

Samantha Bass

What People Like

Fresh oysters and seafood
Waterfront views and ambiance
Live music on Sundays

What People Dislike

Inconsistent food quality
Slow or inattentive service
Portion size concerns

Frequently Asked Questions

Popular choices include fresh oysters on the half shell, Royal Red shrimp, gator bites, corn balls, and various seafood platters.

Google Review+2

Yes, the restaurant often features live music, especially blues and jazz, with Sundays being a regular performance day.

15 Best Restaurants In Montgomery AL You Must Try

Yes, there is a large parking lot, but be cautious of potholes.

Google Review

The restaurant policy is that your entire party must be present to be seated.

Google Review

It's described as a casual, relaxed 'beachfront' vibe, perfect for enjoying the river views.

15 Best Things To Do In Montgomery, AlabamaGoogle Review

Avoid GPS routes that suggest turning through a trailer park; continue straight on the main road.

Google Review

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Located on the Alabama River the Capitol Oyster Bar is the perfect place to dine when looking for restaurants in Montgomery with ambience. With outdoor dining on the deck, live Blues music and some of the best seafood in Montgomery this is the perfect place to head for an afternoon or evening!. They even offer pontoon boat rentals for before or after your meal for you to explore the river.

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To truly be transported outside the city, follow locals to hidden gem Capitol Oyster Bar. Overlooking the Alabama River, this classic seafood shack has all the makings of a favorite beachfront restaurant—just minus the ocean. Order a dozen oysters on the half shell or a pound of Cajun-seasoned Royal Red shrimp, and enjoy the view (and frequent live music) from the expansive back deck.

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Sit down to order fresh and delicious Montgomery seafood like Argentina Shrimp, Alaskan Snow Crab Legs, or a Scallop Po-Boy Sandwich at Capitol Oyster Bar. Enjoy the tastes of Central America with the Coctel de Camaron, Puerco Verde, or Alambre de Bistec at Sol Restaurante. Get some Southern comfort with Fried Chicken, Oxtail, and Catfish at Mrs B’s Home Cooking.

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Capitol Oyster Bar was probably my favorite place (or at least one of my favorite places). Overlooking the Alabama River, Capitol Oyster Bar definitely has the freshest and best seafood in the area. We started with raw oysters (I did not have any, but Ian said they were amazing!) and then ordered the combination platter and frog legs for our main entrees.

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Enjoy the best seafood in the city while overlooking down-town Montgomery, AL and the Alabama River. The City Oyster Bar is considered the best kept secret of all restaurants in town. For a romantic meal, choose the shrimp sampler, in which you have a choice of seasoned shrimp, Argentina shrimp, or red royal shrimp weighing in a 2 pounds, enough for two.

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Another place for music this coming weekend is Lewis Mashburn's Capitol Oyster Bar, 617 Shady St. Mashburn's beautiful spot along the Alabama River in Montgomery, opened up for a busy Mother's Day Weekend, and now they're ready to bring more music and dine-in customers. They'll have Montgomery band Sabadas playing Sunday from 5-8 p.m.

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Service here can be ridiculously slow and they get your order wrong sometimes but you aren't going to get closer to the oyster house beach vibe than this place when the band is kicking on the back porch, and you have a mess of roys in front of you. I like aw shucks a little better for quality- but this place will do in a pinch.

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Montgomery Zoo and Mann Wildlife Learning Museum Capitol Oyster Bar 07-17-2022. Conveniently located near downtown Montgomery, our hotel provides easy access to numerous attractions and businesses. This initial event grew to become an annual event and even take on a new name: Zoo Weekend.

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- Rating: 4.0 / 5 (163 reviews)- Detailed ratings: Food (4.0/5), Service (4.0/5), Value (4.0/5), Atmosphere (4.0/5)- Type of cuisine: American, Bar- Price: $$ - $$$- Address: 617 Shady St, Montgomery, AL 36104-2338- Read more on Tripadvisor

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Get to Capitol Oyster Bar by car, by boat, or on horseback–just get here, because on a Sunday afternoon, this is the place to be. Locals come in droves to enjoy live music, the setting sun, and even the occasional riverboat passing by.

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Capitol Oyster Bar – If you’re looking for deep South ambiance, look no further than Capitol Oyster Bar. Overlooking downtown Montgomery as well as the Alabama River, Capitol Oyster Bar is usually full of locals.

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Seafood, live music and a view of the Alabama river, what more could you ask for?. With clear patio enclosures and warmers, this is the ideal spot to grab some authentic southern seafood.

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