ORANGE BEACH — The Last Mango Bar and Chill has opened at The Wharf as Margaritaville prepares to move in right across the canal.

The Last Mango title comes from the name of the late Jimmy Buffett's boat, which was named after his 1985 album "Last Mango in Paris." Caleb Billingsley, assistant project manager for Top Shelf Management, the developer behind the Margaritaville Resort project, said Vincent "Vinnie" LaSora, Buffett's boat captain, was very involved in the design along with the rest of the Margaritaville team.

"I was told a story that one of Jimmy's last wishes was seeing the concept of Last Mango come to life, and that's what the space represents," Billingsley said.

The establishment also serves as a gateway to the larger Margaritaville resort at The Wharf currently under construction. Billingsley said the project is on track for a fall 2027 completion. When the resort opens, there will be a ferry that will pick guests up at The Wharf Marina.

The Last Mango's menu features a variety of locally caught seafood such as red snapper and katsu, along with dishes such as burgers, fish tacos, sandwiches and salads. As you may guess, there are plenty of margarita options to choose from, including a classic "Perfect Margarita" along with other flavors such as "License to Chill," made with a blend of tequila and blue Curaçao, and "Last Mango in Paris," which is blended with tequila, Cointreau Orange liqueur and cranberry juice.

They also have a selection of "Boat Drinks," which are sweeter cocktails influenced by that tropical Jimmy Buffett lifestyle of enjoying life on the water, such as their signature "5 O'Clock Somewhere," a cocktail mixed with silver rum and passion fruit tequila, Cruzan Hurricane Proof rum, orange and pineapple juices, sweet and sour and grenadine.

While patrons can dine inside, what makes The Last Mango stand out is that there is also an outdoor bar area called the Boat Bar right on Marlin Circle. Billingsley said they want it to be a go-to hangout spot, whether you are coming after a long day at work, a tourist visiting The Wharf or looking for a place to drink after a concert.

"It's not a tourist trap," Billingsley said. "It's designed for locals. Our team, we all live here and we all take part in the restaurants and the community here, and we want the food to be amazing. We want the experience and the drinks to be amazing as well because we're customers, too, and it's very important to us that we have another restaurant to go to that we love and enjoy and are comfortable at, and that's exactly what Last Mango is."

The Last Mango Bar and Chill is open Sunday through Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. The Boat Bar opens at 11 a.m. and on nights during events at The Wharf, will be open until midnight.