{"id":28894,"date":"2025-02-05T16:26:39","date_gmt":"2025-02-05T16:26:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.visitvirginiabeach.com\/trip-ideas\/eat-drink-and-play-like-a-local-at-the-virginia-beach-oceanfront\/"},"modified":"2025-02-05T16:26:39","modified_gmt":"2025-02-05T16:26:39","slug":"eat-drink-and-play-like-a-local-at-the-virginia-beach-oceanfront","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.visitvirginiabeach.com\/de\/trip-ideas\/eat-drink-and-play-like-a-local-at-the-virginia-beach-oceanfront\/","title":{"rendered":"Eat, Drink and Play Like a Local at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In Virginia Beach, our marquee attraction is a three-mile-long, 28-foot-wide boardwalk along the Atlantic Ocean. Wowza. This action-packed zone \u2013 and the stretch along Atlantic and Pacific avenues and bisecting streets \u2013 constitutes the Virginia Beach Oceanfront District<\/a>. This is where the major festivals happen, and visitors can eat, drink and play with the most laid-back locals on the Eastern Seaboard. Here\u2019s a look at some of the places on the Oceanfront that locals love best.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Virginia
Virginia Beach Oceanfront Boardwalk.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Getting Around the Oceanfront District<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you book a hotel on the Oceanfront<\/a> (niiiice!), you can get to lots of great spots on foot, or in one of those super-cute beach cruisers. Plus, Uber and Lyft are available.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And here\u2019s a handy transportation fact: The VB Wave Trolley<\/a>, operated by the Hampton Roads Transit Authority (HRT.), offers an Atlantic Avenue Trolley (Route 30) which goes to restaurants and oceanfront attractions. There\u2019s daily service every 15 minutes or so, from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m., from mid-May through the Neptune Festival in late September. HRT also operates two other seasonal trolley routes, so check out the full schedule<\/a>. Single fares are $2 or less.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, a free, on-demand ride service called Freebee VA Beach<\/a> (via downloadable app<\/a>) covers much of the city using electric vehicles. You may have to wait a bit for your ride, but the price is right (do plan to tip!).\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A
A burger from Aloha Snacks with cheese, pickles, and red peppers paired with waffle fries topped with avocado, cheese sauce, and green onions.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Where to Eat Along the Oceanfront
\n <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Atlantic meets Pacific at Aloha Snacks<\/a>, a casual spot with an island vibe and tasty poke bowls, burgers, sandwiches, and spicy poke tots (yes, it\u2019s a thing.) Chef\/owner Jesse Wykle beat Iron Chef Bobby Flay on \u201cBeat Bobby Flay.\u201d Respect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the fine-dining side, top-rated Orion\u2019s Roof<\/a> at the Marriott Virginia Beach Oceanfront hotel offers a fab duo: Great views of the Atlantic and<\/em> a tempting menu of Asian-fusion dishes, including some of the city\u2019s best sushi. Oh, did we mention the vast sake selection, and the open kitchen? Locals love it for closing deals and impressing dates alike.\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"People
Doc Taylor’s is a local favorite for brunch.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\nBrunch and Baked Goods<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\nIn Virginia Beach, there\u2019s one \u201cdoctor\u201d that everyone wants to visit: Doc Taylor\u2019s<\/a>. They serve breakfast and brunch favorites (think grits and Bloody Marys) in a beachfront cottage that once held a doctor\u2019s office. On vacation, you\u2019re required by law to do brunch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Few can resist the sweet and savory baked goods at May\u2019s Parlor<\/a>. Yes, you need a \u201ccruffin\u201d (croissant + muffin) in your life. This is where no-carb diets go to die.\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Two
Enjoy a drink at Waterman Spirits.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Where to Drink an Orange Crush<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\nBright, zippy, and the color of sunshine, the Orange Crush is Virginia Beach in a glass. The city\u2019s signature drink is a blend of fresh O.J., vodka, and orange liqueur, plus a splash of lemon-lime soda. Go to the source, Waterman\u2019s Surfside Grille<\/a> (they invented this swanky sister of the screwdriver, as the story goes), or grab your potion at Chix on the Beach<\/a> or The Shack on 8th<\/a>. You\u2019ll definitely rub elbows with locals (challenge them to a game of cornhole at your own risk.)\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A
Sommer Fling Hefeweizen Beer from Smartmouth Pilot House.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Where to Go for a Few Beers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\nLove beer<\/a>? You\u2019re in good company here. The Oceanfront is home to a couple of locally beloved breweries, Back Bay Brewing Co<\/a>. (where the options include an Orange Crush IPA) and Smartmouth Pilot House<\/a>, a former post office-turned-brewery where folks now hoist mugs rather than mailbags.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where to Tiki<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If a tiki bar on the beach sounds like your perfect outing (and it sure does to us), head directly to Tortuga\u2019s Caf\u00e9 & Tiki Bar<\/a>. Their Spicy Beach cocktail is made with cucumber-jalapeno tequila, so technically, it\u2019s a vegetable. They make a good smoothie, too\u2026 which reminds us: The local mocktail game is improving by the minute.\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Four
The Narrows at First Landing State Park.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Where to Enjoy Some Outdoor Fun<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\nCraving a Zen moment? Do as locals do, and settle into the leafy embrace of Mother Nature at First Landing State Park<\/a>, a marvel of lagoons, marshes, bays, and mega-sized cypress trees. Hike it, bike it or take a guided kayak tour to enjoy total immersion in this pristine habitat.\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Statue
King Neptune Statue on 31st Street at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront Boardwalk.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Where to Find New Fitness Friends<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The buffest bodies in town hang out at Hillier Ignite Fitness Park<\/a>, located on the beach at the north end of Atlantic Ave near 36th Street. This al fresco gym is outfitted with climbing ropes, parallel bars, a balance beam, slackline posts and more. (Tip: Arrive early.) For inspiration, check out the King Neptune statue<\/a>,* located at 31st St. and Atlantic Avenue. Created by artist Paul DiPasquale, the 34-foot-tall specimen is pretty ripped (sorry, officially, that\u2019s \u201ca majestic symbol of the city\u201d).\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Band
17th Street Stage, Virginia Beach Oceanfront<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Look, Ma, it\u2019s a festival<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The summer season<\/a> is jam-packed with events and festivals along the oceanfront. Don\u2019t miss Live! On Atlantic<\/a> which brings music and entertainment to stages on 13th, 15th, 17th, and 25th streets nearly every night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Held in late September, the Neptune Festival<\/a> is the city\u2019s major bash, with concerts and an Arts & Crafts Show that is ranked as one of the top 10 in the country. And wait \u2018til you see the eye-popping art created by international sculptors at Neptune\u2019s International Sandsculpting Championship. A parade, road race, regatta and other events add to the fun.\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A
31st Street Stage at King Netpune’s Park, Virginia Beach Oceanfront.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Live Music Venues<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Come nightfall, the Oceanfront thrums with live music<\/a>, spanning the genres. Reliable haunts include Calypso Bar & Grill<\/a>, The Blind at Back Bay Brewing Co<\/a>., Waterman\u2019s Surfside Grille, The Shack on 8th<\/a>, and Murphy\u2019s Grand Irish Pub.<\/a> (Pro tip: Catch 31<\/a> is a great spot to catch summer concerts at Neptune Park.) If you’re looking for a bigger night out, The Dome by Rutter Mills<\/a> at Atlantic Park brings nationally touring artists to an indoor-outdoor venue just steps from the Boardwalk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saltwater Taffy and Other Necessities<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Any beach town worth its sea salt offers a medley of places to buy mermaid-themed tchotchkes, colorful beachwear and inflatable alligators. In the Oceanfront District, Atlantic Avenue<\/a> takes top honors for tourist-friendly shops, plus a beloved local favorite, Forbes Candies<\/a>. Claiming kids\u2019 allowances since 1934, they still use original recipes to create their irresistible saltwater taffy. Their dark chocolate sea salt caramels are unforgettable.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Experience the vibrant Virginia Beach Oceanfront District, featuring a three-mile boardwalk, local eateries, live music, and exciting festivals. Enjoy outdoor activities and unique drinks like the Orange Crush.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":28893,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"enable_ai_generated_excerpts":true,"ai_model_name":"","ai_prompt_id":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[252],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-28894","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-unkategorisiert"],"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-09-19 02:23:13","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitvirginiabeach.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28894","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitvirginiabeach.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitvirginiabeach.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitvirginiabeach.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitvirginiabeach.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=28894"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitvirginiabeach.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28894\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitvirginiabeach.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/28893"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitvirginiabeach.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28894"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitvirginiabeach.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=28894"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitvirginiabeach.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=28894"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}