Virginia Beach Oceanfront
The Virginia Beach Oceanfront district wows with lively beachfront restaurants that let you savor delicious food while soaking up seaside charm across the popular Virginia Beach Boardwalk.
Aloha Snacks
For a taste of the islands right here in Virginia Beach, head to Aloha Snacks. Whether you’re craving Hawaiian-style poke, ramen, burgers, or wraps, this spot has it all for you. Place your order at the walk-up counter, then take it outside on the twinkle-light-festooned patio. The feel is laid-back and eco-friendly thanks to compostable bowls, plates and cutlery. Aloha Snacks is open all day, even for breakfast, so you can stop in for breakfast burritos whenever hunger strikes. Make note Aloha Snacks is closed on Mondays.
Calypso Bar & Grill
Calypso Bar & Grill is the ultimate beachside hangout, boasting lively music, casual fare, stunning ocean views and a sprawling outdoor patio. Open daily, Calypso serves up wings, tacos, handhelds and a raw bar to satisfy every craving. The drink menu is packed with fun signature cocktails, like Mermaid’s Kiss and Coconut Cruiser, which are perfect for sipping as you soak up the sun. DJs rock the house every Thursday, then live music takes over Friday through Sunday. Stop in for happy hour every day from 2 to 6 p.m. to score fantastic food and drink specials.
Catch 31
Tucked inside the Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront, Catch 31 hooks you with its chill vibes and mouthwatering seafood dishes, like ginger soy glazed tuna and pan-seared scallops. Save room for dessert, as in dessert cocktails. Indulge in creative after-dinner libations like cheesecake martinis and tequila “chocotinis.” The open-air patio, complete with cozy fire pits, is the place to be for people-watching and salty ocean breezes. Live music runs wild inthe summer months.
Chix on the Beach
Kick back on the breezy outdoor patio at Chix on the Beach, where the ocean views are as irresistible as the seafood, burgers, salads, and grill favorites, like ribeye steak. The drinks menu brims with signature crushes, like the Chix Crush and Creamsicle Crush. A VB staple for more than 40 years, Chix effortlessly draws in hungry passers-by with its vibrant atmosphere, live bands and friendly service. Open daily, unwind during happy hour from 3 to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
Dough Boy's Pizza
With two prime spots on Atlantic Avenue – at 24th Street and 33rd Street – consider Dough Boy’s Pizza your go-to for delicious hand-tossed pizza, hoagies, pastas and salads. A surfside cocktail menu is loaded with fruity crushes and beach classics like Mai Tais and Rum Runners. Drop by for happy hour Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. to score specials like an orange crush or a cheese pizza for just $8.88 each. The cozy outdoor patio is perfect for dining al fresco as you revel in the vibes of this fun-loving surf town.
The Green Cat Juice Bar & Market
The Green Cat is the place to go for plant-based, gluten-free and organic goodness. Think fresh juices, smoothies, bowls and salads – even indulgent treats like oat milk soft serve ice cream. Outside, a charming patio beneath greenery-covered pergola brims with hanging plants and cheerful flowering vines, making it the perfect spot to relax. Open daily, The Green Cat is here to kick start your morning routine or give you a much-needed afternoon pick-me-up with colorful, made-to-order smoothies like The Mother Earth and Fountain of Youth.
Lager Heads
Lager Heads is a boardwalk favorite known for its laid-back atmosphere, craft beers and signature burgers. The outdoor patio is a hot spot during warm-weather months, thanks to live music, ocean views, salty breezes and swaying palm trees. Perfect for families and groups, the menu is packed with shareable favorites, like loaded fries, classic nachos and mozzarella sticks. Whether you want to soak up the sun or chill under the stars, Lager Heads is all about having a great time.
Murphy’s Irish Pub
Murphy’s Irish Pub is the go-to spot for good times and great pub grub. This lively watering hole is known for a welcoming outdoor patio, acoustic tunes and a drinks menu that’s overflowing with Irish beers and whiskeys, as well as fun cocktails like the Blimey Limey and Murphy’s Cosmo. The seasonal outdoor stage comes alive most nights with live music, while Tuesday’s pub trivia nights are a hit. Murphy’s is open daily for lunch and dinner, as well as for breakfast on Saturdays and Sundays.
Rockafeller's Restaurant
For unbeatable marina views, scrumptious entrées, and a double-decker outdoor patio, make your way to family-owned Rockafeller’s on Rudee Inlet. Dive into laid-back seafood fare, a kids’ menu featuring a half rack of baby back ribs, and homemade desserts, like the decadent chocolate éclair pie. Open daily, Rockafeller’s offers Early Bird Specials from 3-5:30 p.m., which include a salad, an entrée, and a dessert. Plus, don’t miss the daily happy hour from 3-6 p.m. for fantastic drink specials at the bar.
Rudee’s on the Inlet
For over 40 years, Rudee’s on the Inlet has been serving up good food and great fun in Virginia Beach. Set on Rudee Inlet, this local fave serves up some of the freshest, most delicious seafood around. The menu is bursting with sea-to-table favorites, like sea scallops, oysters, crab cakes and clam chowder. The open-air patio boasts prime views of fishermen gliding by in their motorboats. Speaking of gliding, Rudee’s wins with gliding tables for scenic water views across the marina.
Terrapin Restaurant
Terrapin Restaurant is known for delicious food, honest ingredients and a selection of family-style meals to please every member of the family. Italian-inspired entrées rule the menu, including short rib rigatoni and mushroom lasagna. As for those family-size meals, you can’t go wrong with pasta options, complete with a house salad and house-made sourdough bread. Grab a table on the open-air patio where strings of globe lights create the perfect evening ambiance. Make note Terrapin is open Tuesday through Friday for dinner only.
Chesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay district offers a serene coastal backdrop for relaxing waterfront dining, allowing you to pair fresh-caught seafood with stunning bay views.
Hot Tuna
For top-notch seafood, a vibrant bar scene, colorful cocktails, and a breezy open-air patio make Hot Tuna your go-to spot. Open from happy hour to late night, Hot Tuna is a favorite hangout with warm breezes, fire pit tables and live music rocking the house on Friday and Saturday nights. Swing by every day from 3 to 5:30 p.m. for happy hour specials, like $1 oysters and $6 crushes. On the dinner menu, you’ll find everything from street tacos and salads to burgers and lots of tasty starters, like blackened tuna bites and steak frites.
Leaping Lizard Café
Leaping Lizard Café is a gem on Shore Drive that serves lunch daily, as well as breakfast and lunch on Saturdays and Sundays. This charming café has an expansive outdoor patio where you can enjoy al fresco dining under shady trees on warm, breezy days. The menu is bursting with a variety of sandwiches, wraps, burgers and salads. Brunch is a treat with uniquely VB specials like crab quiche, crab cake benedict and duck hash. Don’t miss out on the deliciously fresh, cold-pressed juices.
Mermaid Winery
Mermaid Winery is open for lunch and dinner, starting with light fare and grazing boards (aka charcuterie boards) for lunch, then serving sophisticated entrées like lamb shank, bison burgers and blackened tuna after 4 p.m. Bring your furry friends to the spacious, dog-friendly patio, where they can partake in the Paw-Some Friends Menu featuring pup faves like chicken breast over white rice. The wine list is packed with fantastic varietals from both Mermaid Winery and renowned wineries around the world. Make note, Mermaid Winery is closed on Mondays.
Inland
VBs Inland district boasts a laid-back, suburban atmosphere where you can unwind and savor a delicious meal on a relaxing outdoor patio.
Steinhilber's
Since 1939, Steinhilber’s has been proudly serving VB with classic seafood dishes, tender steaks and fresh raw oysters. Open daily, the heated patio delights with white linen tablecloths, twinkling string lights, scenic water views and warm, friendly service. It’s no wonder Steinhilber’s is a go-to for birthdays and special occasions. The dessert menu, in particular, is a real treat thanks to sweet delights like blueberry pie, carrot cake, and old-fashioned apple pie topped with vanilla ice cream. Make note that Steinhilber’s is only open for dinner.
ViBe Creative District
The ViBE Creative District’s eclectic mix of flavorful eateries, artisan shops and public art makes it a perfect spot for a unique and delicious outdoor dining experience.
The Beach Bully BBQ
For finger-lickin’, down-home BBQ, head over to The Beach Bully BBQ. Trust us, you’ll be glad you did. Get ready for sweet and saucy faves, like pulled chicken BBQ sandwiches and tender racks of beef and pork ribs. Don’t forget about sides, like cole slaw, pasta salad and green beans. Enjoy your meal at a picnic table on the covered patio for a relaxed vibe. Before you go, make sure to snap a pic of the brightly-colored “Greetings from Virginia Beach” mural painted on the side of the restaurant.
Esoteric
Esoteric is an on-trend gastropub that’s all about culinary creativity. Feast on inventive dishes like charred octopus, poutine, duck tacos and house-made pretzels with stout beer cheese. The rotating beer tap boasts nearly two dozen craft brews, featuring local favorites from VB’s Reaver Beach Brewing Company and Chesapeake’s Big Ugly Brewing. Relax on the charming small outdoor patio nestled into Esoteric’s on-site herb garden, complete with wrought-iron patio sets and colorful umbrellas. Make note that Esoteric is closed on Mondays and is only open for dinner on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
About Our Writer
Erin Gifford
Erin Gifford is a Virginia-based travel and outdoors writer. She especially enjoys writing about road trips, outdoor recreation and national parks. Her credits include Parents, The Washington Post, Thrillist, TIME and AFAR.com. She has written three hiking guidebooks for Falcon Guides and has created a hiking website, GoHikeVirginia.com. She also runs half marathons and is working toward completing one in all 50 states (so far, she has checked off 36 states).
