Virginia Beach Oceanfront
The Virginia Beach Oceanfront is known for its lively beachfront scene and a plethora of waterfront dining options that make for a memorable culinary experience by the Atlantic Ocean.
Chix on the Beach
Chix on the Beach is a must-visit staple, reigning supreme on the renowned Virginia Beach Boardwalk at 7th Street. With its fresh seafood, spectacular oceanfront views, live music, and signature crushes, there are countless reasons to love Chix. Whether you drop by at the lunch hour or for late-night fun, a great time is guaranteed. Happy hour takes over Monday through Thursday from 3-6 p.m. with fantastic snack and drink specials. On the main menu, you’ll find a mouthwatering selection of salads, seafood, handhelds and coastal tacos.
Catch 31 Fish House & Bar
Located in the Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront, Catch 31 Fish House & Bar wows with elevated seafood dishes and an outdoor patio perfect for taking in those coastal views. Open for every meal of the day, stop in for silver dollar pancakes, surfer tacos, or whole-fried snapper. Situated at 31st Street, Catch 31 offers prime views of the iconic 34-foot-tall statue of King Neptune. Plus, it boasts one of the largest and most impressive raw bars on the boardwalk, serving up shucked clams, shrimp and scallop ceviche and tuna poke bowls.
Waterman’s Surfside Grille
For more than 40 years, family-owned Waterman’s Surfside Grille has been a Virginia Beach favorite. Think wildly fresh seafood, a breezy outdoor patio and a drinks menu bursting with refreshing tropical cocktails. This aqua-colored cottage, right on the world-famous boardwalk, woos with a mix of sea and land options, like she-crab soup, yellowfin tuna and Cajun chicken pasta. A super-sized kids’ menu packs a punch with more than a dozen pint-sized options that range from sirloin steak to fish tacos. Swing by for happy hour Monday through Thursday from 2-5 p.m. for specials on crushes (for which Waterman’s is known) and light bites.
Ocean Eddie’s Seafood Restaurant
You can’t get much closer to the water than Ocean Eddie’s Seafood Restaurant. This casual seafood shack sits right on the sand, making it a fan favorite in VB. Perched on the fishing pier at 14th Street, it’s the perfect spot to enjoy seafood chowder, crab cakes and peel-and-eat shrimp, as well as tasty burgers and sandwiches. Settle in on the deck with a craft beer or a refreshing cocktail, like the Ocean Eddie’s Sunset, and watch the waves roll in. It’s the ultimate in waterfront dining.
Calypso Bar & Grill
Calypso Bar & Grill is your ultimate destination for salty sea breezes and endless ocean views from a delightful covered outdoor patio. Open from breakfast to late at night, the menu offers favorites like buffalo wings, crab cake sandwiches and beach burgers—all of which you can enjoy while staring down miles and miles of Atlantic water. A sports bar at heart, Calypso’s features an epic tailgate menu with specials on starters and drinks available during live NFL games and nearly all day on Saturdays (college football, let’s go!) Bands and DJs rock the patio on weekends, while happy hour is on tap every day from 2-6 p.m.
Lager Heads
Lager Heads may be tucked into the Hilton Garden Inn Virginia Beach Oceanfront, but this is far from an ordinary hotel restaurant. A boardwalk fixture, Lager Heads keeps visitors and locals coming back for more due to nice ocean views, a lively outdoor patio and craft beers galore. Enjoy live acoustic melodies as you dig into a menu chock full of burgers, like the Big Bacon Burger and Cowboy Burger. There’s even a Burger of the Month. They’ve got loads of refreshing cocktails too, even dessert cocktails resembling the taste of a delicious peach cobbler or Key lime pie.
Ocean House Waterfront Restaurant
At 19th Street, Ocean House Waterfront Restaurant is the casual Oceanfront spot you need to add to your must-go list. Think crab legs, fried shrimp, live music and a rockin’ two-story open-air beachfront patio. Plus, there’s cornhole. Oh yes. The menu is packed with delicious favorites like hush puppies, crab cake sandwiches, fried oysters and boiled shrimp. Whether you’re stopping in for dinner or just a drink on the patio, you’ll be glad you did. It’s the perfect place to unwind, soak in the salty air, and enjoy stunning ocean views.
Rockafeller's Restaurant
At the far end of Rudee Inlet, Rockafeller’s Restaurant boasts unmatched views from its double-decker outdoor patio. The food is just as impressive, living up to their tagline: “Where the food is as amazing as the view.” With a menu featuring oysters on the half shell, classic crab cakes and baby back ribs, they’re spot on with that slogan. The dessert menu, which boasts sweet treats like chocolate éclair pie and key lime pie, invites you to linger a little longer while watching boats glide in and out of the inlet.
Rudee's on the Inlet Restaurant & Cabana Bar
Tucked away in the Rudee Inlet is Rudee's on the Inlet Restaurant & Cabana Bar—a go-to for outdoor dining, featuring an open-air patio with unique gliding tables overlooking the inlet and marina. Sip on a signature cocktail, like a Rudee Runner or Cabana Crusher, while watching boats sail in and out of the harbor. There’s a fresh catch every day, as well as burgers, steaks, and pastas. Open for lunch and dinner, Rudee’s shines with its Sunday Brunch menu, featuring eggs benedicts, beignets, and fried chicken and waffles. It’s the perfect place to relax, dine, and enjoy the coastal vibes.
Tortugas Café & Tiki Bar
Tortugas Café & Tiki Bar is the beachfront bar you didn’t know you needed. Seriously, this place is a winner. This stylish and laid-back poolside café offers light fare and tropical cocktails that are perfect for any beach day. Watch the waves roll in as you nosh on crab dip or crispy fish tacos. As you relax under a palm tree, you’ll realize just how easily you can while away the day, frozen drink in hand. Fire pits add to the chill vibes, putting you into a perfect vacation state of mind. Open daily, Tortugas Café offers seasonal live music and views across the Atlantic Ocean.
Tulu Seaside Bar & Grille
For chill oceanfront views and breezy patio service, set your sights on Tulu Seaside Bar & Grille. Open from breakfast to late night, this waterfront gem serves up local and sustainably-sourced seafood. Located inside the Marriott Virginia Beach Oceanfront Resort, Tulu wins rave reviews for healthy, delicious plates, like quinoa-crusted rainbow trout and charred cauliflower florets, as well as vibrant craft cocktails. Kickstart your day with a cold-pressed juice or a refreshing smoothie at this open-air spot or out on the lawn, soaking in ocean views from a comfy Adirondack chair.
Chesapeake Bay
Enjoy picturesque views and a serene atmosphere as you dine at a waterfront restaurant with delectable views across the Chesapeake Bay.
The Back Deck
Set on Lynnhaven Inlet, The Back Deck is a casual, open-air eatery that wins you over with its relaxed vibes and stunning sunsets across the Chesapeake Bay. You’ll feel like you’re lounging on the back deck, sipping a craft brew as kayakers and motorboats glide by on the horizon. Open daily for lunch and dinner, the menu tempts with irresistible handhelds, shrimp tacos, flatbread pizzas and a bounty of seafood, like steamed clams and peel-and-eat shrimp. Don’t miss daily happy hour specials, from half-price bottles of wine on Mondays to $3 fish tacos on Tuesdays.
Buoy 44 Seafood Grill
Buoy 44 Seafood Grill is an easy-going seafood restaurant with a mouthwatering menu that ranges from bar bites, like bacon-wrapped scallops, to entrées like the fried flounder platter. Stop in any day of the week for happy hour from 3-6 p.m. with $6 crushes and $4 house wines. On Saturdays and Sundays, dive into a brunch menu that delivers, featuring all-you-can-eat pancakes for just $13, seafood omelets and crab cake bennies. Fill up then enjoy the views across the Chesapeake Bay. Note: Buoy is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
The Porch on Long Creek
Settle in for waterfront dining on the Lynnhaven River at The Porch on Long Creek, where a vibrant sunset awaits if you time it just right. This spot offers delicious southern-coastal cuisine with a menu featuring mini poke tacos, seared scallops, and shrimp scampi, plus land favorites like prime filet mignon and herb-crusted rack of lamb. Unwind on the open-air porch, savoring salty breezes and a glass of wine from a curated list that includes reds, whites, and rosés from top wine-producing regions around the world.
Inland
While not on the Atlantic Ocean or Chesapeake Bay, you’ll still find delightful waterfront dining in the inland district of Virginia Beach thanks to scenic inlets.
Steinhilber's
Steinhilber’s, the oldest family-owned restaurant in Virginia Beach, has been delighting hungry patrons since 1939. With its classic vibe, water views, fire pits and fantastic food, it’s a local favorite. While fresh seafood is a highlight, a fine dining menu also shines with dishes like sautéed crab cakes, filet mignon and beef Wellington. Raw oysters and charcuterie boards are also on the menu. Steinhilber’s is family-friendly, too—paper kids’ menu features fried shrimp, root beer floats and a fun restaurant-themed word search.
About Our Writer
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).
