Bee & the Biscuit, Pungo, Virginia Beach
No matter what’s on your Virginia Beach agenda, starting the day with a satisfying breakfast — or brunch, for those of you who have wisely reset your personal clocks to beach time — is always a smart first step. We’ve rounded up the best beginnings on the beach and beyond…bon appétit!
The Pink Dinghy
ViBe Creative District
Why We Love It: Standout newcomer The Pink Dinghy brings a sweet sophistication to the ViBe Creative District. Founded by friends Stephanie Dietz and the late Chase Pittman, it offers a marvelously mercurial menu of thoughtful small plates, natural wines and tropical cocktails.
What to Order: Pleasant surprises abound on this frequently updated slate, but you can count on a daily selection of housemade donuts — plus seasonal innovations like chilaquiles con salsa roja and masa pancakes with blueberry compote and horchata butter. ¡Disfrute!
Commune
ViBe Creative District
Why We Love It: Blending the word’s dual meanings of “a small territory” (French) and “to gather together” (English,) Commune takes its locavore mission seriously. A flexible menu enables them to serve what’s freshest on any given day, spanning all four seasons.
What to Order: It’s not every day that a veggie burger woos meat eaters away from their beef. But that’s precisely what the Commune Burger does, time and again; this flavorful patty of rice, potatoes, field peas, baby greens and pickled mustard seeds remains a brunch MVP.
Java Surf Cafe & Espresso Bar
ViBe Creative District
Why We Love It: Always fast and always fresh — that’s Java Surf Cafe & Espresso Bar! Most Virginia Beach visitors end up visiting more than once during their trip; quick counter service meals and a full-service coffee bar make this laid-back spot a vacay mainstay.
What to Order: There’s a jolt for every java lover here, but we’re partial to the Dirty Chai: sweet, milky tea with a double shot of espresso. For breakfast, you’re gonna want the Big Kahuna, a hefty panini-grilled breakfast burrito with pepper jack, house pico and sriracha.
Session
Chesapeake Bay
Why We Love It: An airy breakfast-and-lunch bastion brimming with houseplants, good vibes and vintage hip-hop, Session is committed to inclusivity of all appetites — which means there are delicious meals for vegetarians, vegans, celiacs and omnivores alike.
What to Order: You don’t need to be vegan to enjoy the absolute flavor explosion that is Session’s Mushroom Banh Mi. We also love the Herbie — perfectly crispy herbed potatoes with the chili crunch egg of choice — with a Boozy Bubbly (vodka-spiked mimosa) on the side.
Leaping Lizard
Chesapeake Bay
Why We Love It: An enduring Virginia Beach favorite, the Leaping Lizard Cafe serves up imaginative meals amid a charming “beach chic” clutter, just off Lake Joyce. But don’t let the folksy atmosphere fool you; the daily menus are both surprising and sophisticated!
What to Order: New menus are printed every day to accommodate the catch of the day — and the chef’s creativity. If you have the opportunity to enjoy the Duck Hash, served with basil hollandaise over a house-made sweet potato biscuit, we strongly suggest you take it.
Bay Local Eatery
Chesapeake Bay
Why We Love It: This “coastal southern” standby, founded by local waterman Adrian Colaprete, maintains a flexible menu with plenty of room for daily “fresh-ials” — from just-caught seafood to freshly picked collard greens, virtually nothing here comes out of a bag.
What to Order: There’s no shortage of eggs benedict dishes in Virginia Beach, but Bay Local dedicates a whole section of their menu to Bennies — which include crab cake, fried chicken, cold-smoked salmon, garden PLUS smoked sausage, bacon and cheddar varieties.
Citrus
Chesapeake Bay
Why We Love It: A dog-and-kid-friendly, booze-forward patio just a block off the bay? Citrus. Has. Everything! This reliable diner serves breakfast and brunch standards with a dash of Virginia Beach flavor in a bustling atmosphere catering to virtually any kind of crew.
What to Order: On the savory side, we love the Mediterranean Bowl, a massive, feta-filled scramble served over potatoes with garlic-buttered focaccia. But for brunchers who have a sweet tooth, the Mango Almond Croissant French Toast is practically mandatory.
Anchor Allie’s
Chesapeake Bay
Why We Love It: Veteran-owned and steeped in 1940s diner kitsch, complete with a pinup waitstaff, Anchor Allie’s is a longtime favorite for family groups and large parties. A thorough drinks menu featuring elevated standards and gotta-try novelties makes boozy brunch a given.
What to Order: If you brunch on hard mode, start with a Breakfast Shot (Jameson’s, butter and bacon) and chase it with the Frogman Burrito: six eggs scrambled with bacon, sausage, tomatoes, onions, peppers, jalapeños and cheddar cheese wrapped in a toasted flour tortilla.
Simple On Shore
Chesapeake Bay
Why We Love It: After three decades in restaurant management, local couple Sandy and Eddie Schmidtmann realized a lifelong dream with Simple on Shore — a cozy, casual farm-to-table restaurant serving fresh, ultra-sustainable food from surrounding areas.
What to Order: Simple’s streamlined all-day brunch menu is traditional but never basic. We can’t say “no” to their Egg Pie or Loaded NC Shrimp & VA Grits, but it’s important to save room for dessert: the Sorbet Margarita, available in mango, raspberry, lemon and blood orange.
The Bee & the Biscuit
Pungo
Why We Love It: The Bee & the Biscuit oozes Southern charm like…well, honey! We especially love that you can sip a mimosa in the dappled shade of the garden before adjourning to the lively, light-drenched dining room in their 1919 cottage for a memorable meal.
What to Order: They had us at “Colossal Cinnamon Roll.” Share some gooey goodness around the table before digging into Papa Joe’s Breakfast Tostada: a flame-roasted blue corn tortilla topped with eggs, avo, black beans, cheddar and your choice of chorizo or pulled pork.
Tupelo Honey
Town Center
Why We Love It: One of OpenTable’s 100 Most Popular Brunch Spots in America, Tupelo Honey serves up scratch-made, responsibly sourced regional dishes with artisan cocktails, local craft beers and a generous helping of Southern hospitality.
What to Order: Start off with some treats “for the table” (sharing optional!): the famous fried green tomatoes and biscuits for a cause; the latter benefits Tupelo employees in need. Next, it’s not Southern brunch without chicken and waffles — we prefer the sriracha honey chicken variety, natch!
Staci Amend
As a Californian living in Colorado, writer Staci Amend takes a “why not both” approach to the whole mountains vs. oceans debate. She covers travel, nature, beauty and fashion for a variety of publications and brands — and is happiest when surrounded by hand-painted tile, struggling to pronounce her next meal. A Huntington Beach native and longboarder, she tries to time her Virginia Beach visits with the East Coast Surfing Championships.
