Bamboo Willie’s Beachside Bar has earned its stripes as one of Pensacola Beach’s famous landmarks. It is one of those iconic beach bars that define beach towns. Many such establishments dot the Scenic 98 Coastal landscape, harkening back to the youthful days of basking in the sun, catching a wave, or trying your luck casting from the beach. 

We all have memories of those isolated places, standing over time against the elements that have withstood hurricanes, oil spills, and, more recently, pandemics. They were places to escape where you knew you’d feel the burn of a sun-baked day of baby oil and iodine, before sunscreen became a thing and condos towered around you.

Bamboo Willie’s, founded in 1998, is part of the fabric of Pensacola Beach. Located within the Pensacola Beach Boardwalk, which is home to retail shops, dining establishments, and beautiful public beaches, it faces the Intracoastal Waterway and offers safe swimming waters. It’s truly a respite and escape from everyday life.

Robert Gleim is part-owner and opened Bamboo Willie’s with Larry Fox, who owns several notable Gulf Shores, Mobile, and Pensacola Beach establishments. Robert had worked with Larry in the hospitality and entertainment industry, and moved around frequently before settling at Bamboo Willie’s 27 years ago.

With stops in Atlanta, West Palm Beach, Tampa, and Miami, Robert cut his teeth with food service restaurants and was introduced to Pensacola when he managed a Steak & Ale restaurant years ago. When Larry approached Robert about opening a beach bar, he was ready to try something different.

Bamboo Willie’s began as a beachside bar with live music on Friday and Saturday nights. Today, it’s upped its game, offering a full bar with a view, 28 flavors of frozen daiquiris, bushwackers, and four non-alcoholic frozen “slushies” for kids. The bar stays busy with families enjoying the free white sand beach and other amenities within the boardwalk.

There is a T-dock with room for large and small boats to stop by for a libation and listen to music pretty much any time of the year. “We dial back the bands to just weekends in the winter months, but we’re pretty much wide open from early Spring through late Fall,” says Robert.

Robert, who has booked the bands for years, tells a story about a former Marine friend who called him in 2010 and said, “I got these six guys from New Orleans, and they are pretty good. I think you should bring them in to play.” Robert says he usually just booked local bands but trusted his friend and asked him where they would stay. “My house,” he said.

The band was called The Revivalists. “They got exposed here, and we brought them back several times. They ended up playing at Vinyl Music Hall in Pensacola and Soul Kitchen Music Hall in Mobile, and they blew up after that.”

As the reputation for live music with a cozy beach vibe grew, the music offerings expanded with a more regional focus. Robert mentions Pop Fiction from Jackson, Mississippi, and The Springs Band from Nashville. Bamboo Willie’s never has a cover charge to hear live music. “We want to earn your business with a beautiful venue on the beach, open air, and outstanding bar service.”

Years ago, Cat Country Radio, working with CMA and Mercury Records to promote Canaan  Smith's new single, Love You Like That, reached out. They were producing a Bands on the Beach concert series at several different parks in Pensacola, and wanted Bamboo Willie’s to be the main stage and host the final show. Canaan Smith was the headliner. “We felt fortunate to be asked to be the host,” says Robert.

They also served as the host venue for the Pensacola Beach Songwriters Festival, September 30 through October 12, 2025. The first week is held in downtown Pensacola, then the Festival moves to Pensacola Beach for the second week. “It’s a lot of fun, and some great musicians and songwriters participate.”

Shortly after they opened, 25 years ago, Robert launched the Pensacola Beach Crawfish Festival, a three-day event held in May at Bamboo Willie’s. This is a family-friendly, good time with a diverse lineup of local and regional music ranging from rock and blues to Cajun and zydeco. With lots of activities for the kids, it creates a festive and energetic atmosphere. “We will have 15 different acts throughout the weekend,” he says.

Robert enjoys being invested in Pensacola. They are active partners with both the Pensacola Beach and the Gulf Breeze Chambers of Commerce, and enjoy a good relationship with Visit Pensacola, the tourism arm. Bamboo Willie’s supports many charity events and festivals, and serves as the host venue for several, like the AHERO Warrior Hook-Up Fishing Trip and The Chamber’s Art and Wine Festival. They also participate in A Taste of Pensacola Beach, hosted at Casino Beach.

They host the End of Summer Pensacola Beach Elementary Bathtub Races on Labor Day. This year’s event is on August 31, with races beginning at 2 pm. Three bands will play, and the evening concludes with fireworks at 8 pm. “Of course, the Blue Angels Air Show in July is the biggest event of the year. Just to hear the roar of the jets as they race by. It never gets old!” Then, there is the occasional bikini contest hosted at Bamboo Willie’s.

Robert says the main attraction of  Bamboo Willie’s and its neighboring retailers is the Pensacola Beach Boardwalk with its spectacular views, pearly-white beach, and calm waters. “We offer a haven when the red flags are up on the Gulf side. The parking and beach access are free. We feed people with live music and good libations. Several restaurants are just steps away, like Senor Frog’s, Bayou Fox, Pensacola Beach Hooters, Papa’s Pizza, The Grand Marlin Restaurant and Oyster Bar, or Peg Leg Pete’s, just down the road.” 

I asked Robert how Pensacola Beach has changed over the past 25 or 30 years. He mentioned all the festivals and good times with things to do, like Foo Foo Fest in the Fall, new eateries, and all the great music throughout the area. “I’ve heard that when American Magic chose Pensacola as its home port, we could realize over a billion dollars in new economic investment in the area. That’s huge!”

“The growth of this whole area has exploded. With five bases surrounding Pensacola, Pensacola Beach, and Gulf Breeze, we are the bedroom communities for the military. It’s not just military anymore. The growth has been positive, but it’s put a lot of stress on the infrastructure. There is a moratorium on new hotels being built on Pensacola Beach unless you already own property here. We need the parking garage to be built to handle the increased traffic.”

He tells me his “right-hand” is Alex Ortiz, who works behind the bar.” I’ve begun to ease back a bit. She started in high school and has been with me for 16 years. She runs the place now.” He says Bamboo Willie’s should probably do more with their merchandise. “We have a lady who sets up a table three days a week, but other than that, we have a small display case next to the bar. I did have a friend from Atlanta who told me that he was riding up an escalator in Las Vegas and saw someone wearing a Bamboo Willie’s t-shirt. That’s pretty cool.”

‍Bamboo Willie’s has that groovy chill vibe. Everyone is welcome, and nothing is pretentious about it. Robert reflects for a moment, “I guess I was raised as an adult here.” There’s a reason Bamboo Willie’s was voted the best beach bar for live music!