How We Discovered the Coolest Spot on 30A

By Tammy Krewson

On the first night of a recent girls’ weekend in Rosemary Beach, my sister and I just wanted a relaxing dinner to catch up. She’s local to Walton County, I flew in from Dallas, and we met at Gallion’s—a spot she’d been wanting to try. The food was beautiful and comforting in that “you-picked-the-right-place” kind of way. I had the brown butter snapper, she ordered the rosemary-roasted lamb, and we lingered longer than planned over wine and conversation.

We thought the night was winding down—until we stepped out onto a main street and heard live jazz floating through the night air.

The music was coming from above, somewhere on the second floor of a building tucked between boutiques and bistros. A red glow shimmered in the windows like a beacon. We followed the sound, took the elevator up, and found ourselves in a space that felt like a secret—SOWAL House.

Inside, warm red light danced across the walls, jazz musicians played just feet away, and every corner felt like an art piece. We grabbed two Crimson Coast cocktails—blood orange vodka, rosemary syrup, a hint of jalapeño—and melted into the vibe.
That’s where we met Dave King, the owner, who explained that SOWAL House is more than just a venue. It’s a creative hub offering nightly events: live music, indie film screenings, art installations, chef pop-ups—and most of them are open to the public.

We left buzzing with inspiration and already booked our next visit for a one-night-only concert Dave told us about with a grin: “It’ll be the best show on 30A.”

If you’re looking for a hidden gem, a taste of local art and culture, or just a nightcap in Rosemary Beach that turns into something unforgettable—SOWAL House is it.

SOWAL House Events are listed on their website, https://www.sowalhouse.com