Culinary

Celebrate National Orange Juice Day with a Classic Orange Crush

Plastic cup with a yellow drink, garnished with an orange slice and cherry, placed on a wooden surface. The logo reads "Chix Seaside Grille & Bar.

With National Orange Juice Day on May 4, we’re celebrating with a cold, refreshing drink that is quintessential Virginia Beach. The Orange Crush is a refreshing mix of vodka, and orange liqueur, a splash of lemon-lime soda, and the most important ingredient of all – freshly-squeezed orange juice. This perfect summer drink first originated at Waterman’s Surfside Grille, but can be found on menus all throughout the city at places like Chix Seaside Grille and Bar and The Shack on 8th.

We’d always recommend cooling down with a Crush at some of our favorite hot spots, but sometimes, there’s just no place like home. This tried and true recipe will have you feeling like it is summer in no time. Just make sure to use fresh oranges for the true Virginia Beach experience.

Classic Virginia Beach Orange Crush Recipe

Illustration of an "Orange Crush" cocktail recipe with ingredients, a citrus juicer, and a glass surrounded by ice. Text emphasizes shaking or pouring for mixing before serving. — Illustration of an “Orange Crush” cocktail recipe with ingredients, a citrus juicer, and a glass surrounded by ice. Text emphasizes shaking or pouring for mixing before serving.

Crushed ice (a crucial ingredient of making the orange crush correctly)
3oz of fresh squeezed orange juice
1.5oz of orange vodka
1.5oz of Triple Sec
1oz of Sprite

Mix all ingredients together, either by shaking or pouring the drink into another cup to mix it up before serving!

Cheers!

Here are a few places to grab an orange crush around Virginia Beach!

The Shack

A group of six people sit and stand around a fire pit, laughing and holding drinks, with a mural and plants in the background.

An outdoor bar widely known by locals and visitors alike, the Shack is an oasis in the heart of the Ocean Front District. If you are looking for a place to kick back with friends by a fire pit, play some outdoor games, or turn things up a notch and enjoy their nightly entertainment, the shack is the place for you. They serve the traditional Orange Crush as well as a variety of specialty Crush’s with other natural flavors. Did I mention they use hand-squeezed oranges?

Waterman’s Surfside Grille

A plastic cup of orange drink with a straw on a ledge, labeled "Waterman's Orange Crush," against a beach background with a railing and ocean. — A plastic cup of orange drink with a straw on a ledge, labeled “Waterman’s Orange Crush,” against a beach background with a railing and ocean.

As mentioned, this is where the Orange Crush originated, making Waterman’s Surfside Grille a legendary destination for beachside cocktails and a great spot to grab a bite with a view of the boardwalk. Prepare for an unforgettable culinary adventure as you soak in the salty breeze and indulge in the flavors of the coast.