As of tonight, July 31, 2019, around 10:00 I will officially (for realz) be back in Virginia Beach with no (okay, very limited) travel for the next several months. WOAH.
As I sit in the airport and get ready to fly home, I’m thinking about all of my favorite places to eat and how I can’t wait to hit up each of these spots ASAP. Whether you’re traveling to Virginia Beach and looking for the best places or are a local and need a refresher on what’s around, this list is sure to make your mouth water.
In order to put some logical order to my list, I have put in order of the time of day that you would likely frequent said spot (from breakfast > dinner + dessert).
1. The Bee and the Biscuit
Where it’s located: Pungo
Hours: Monday: closed
Tuesday – Sunday: 7:00 am – 2:00 pm
My recommendations: “Salute to the South” (biscuits and gravy), Cinnamon Roll, Bucket Mimosa Flight, and Cinnamon Toast Crunch latte
Unless you show up when the doors open at 7:00 am, expect to wait for a while. There is a large outdoor seating area for the parties waiting with tables and chairs (and some shade) and an outdoor bar to keep you hydrated while you wait. They have tons of different games available to customers to grab and play!
2. Bay Local Eatery
Where it’s located: Shore Drive or Laskin Road
Hours: Sunday – Saturday: 7:00 am – 3:00 pm
Thursday – Saturday: 5:00 pm – close (whatever that means)
My recommendations: Brunch – Jumbo Mimosa (to share with friends) and the “Hangover” meal (steak and eggs served with a Bud in a brown paper bag) or Fried Chicken and Waffles
Dinner – Pineapple Express Crush, Loaded Tots, and Tacos (create your own)
The decor of Bay Local is one of my favorites of all of these spots! Similar to the Bee and the Biscuit, unless you arrive first thing in the morning, expect to wait. There is some standing room at the bar, but the servers will take drink orders while you wait. The food is delicious and the drinks are pretty damn good too!
3. Taste Unlimited
Where it’s located: All over VB! Oceanfront, Shore Drive, Hilltop
Hours: Oceanfront – Monday – Sunday: 9:00 am – 7:00 pm;
Hilltop – Monday-Saturday: 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
Sunday: 11:00 am – 5:00 pm;
Shore Drive – Monday – Sunday: 9:00 am – 8:00 pm
My recommendations: Chicken Caesar Wrap and Sassy Pimento Cheese with Homemade Crostini Crackers (both available in the store)
Taste is a cafe, but also has a store that sells food, wines, and other gifts (and gelato!). The food is top-notch and Taste is a staple for most locals in the area. Order your cafe meal online to skip the line and pick up your meal and snacks on the way to the beach!
4. Mermaid Winery
Where it’s located: Shore Drive
Hours: Monday – Thursday: 11:00 am -11:00 pm
Friday and Saturday: 11:00 am – midnight
Sunday 10:00 am – 9:00 pm
*These are the winery hours and the tasting room hours may vary.
My recommendations: My Peach Beach (Peach Chardonnay). Also, go before 4:00 pm and order from the Light Fare menu and you get a free glass of wine with your meal!
The winery/restaurant is pretty spacious with a wide selection of different foods. If you go on a nice day, I would opt for sitting on the outdoor patio. There are a couple of tables and some couches with fire pits! I don’t think I’ve ever had to wait for a table, which is always a plus. Also, there is this beautiful mural on the side of the building that is the perfect photo op.
5. Chick’s Oyster Bar
Where it’s located: Shore Drive
Hours: Sunday – Thursday: 11:00 am -10:00 pm
Friday and Saturday: 11:00 am – midnight (later during certain times of the year)
My recommendations: Firecracker Shrimp Tacos, Hushpuppies, and Colada Crush (or just a regular Orange Crush if you don’t like super sweet drinks)
Chicks is a very casual dining spot and bar on the water with an incredible view. It’s a local favorite for nights out and there are three different bars, plus a new two-story “Beach Club,” complete with sand, fire pits and lots of lounging spots. This is my go-to bar for evenings out, but I always start my nights with dinner because the tacos are one of my all-time favorite meals.
6. The Porch on Long Creek
Where it’s located: Shore Drive
Hours: Monday: closed
Tuesday: 4:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Wednesday: 4:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Thursday: 4:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Friday and Saturday: 11:30 am -11:00 pm
Sunday: 11:30 am – 9:00 pm
My recommendations: Porch Roll (salmon sushi roll) and Limeade Crush!
Expect an incredibly long wait if you want a table (we are talking 2 hours+). My recommendation is to go early (before 4:00-5:00) if you’re planning on spending some time there and head out to “The Porch” which is the back deck where the garage doors are likely opened up. There are some seats around the bar and lounging areas that are all first-come. You can order food and drinks from any of these spots. The deck is right on the water and the view is pretttty nice!
7. Union Ale House
Where it’s located: Virginia Beach Blvd.
Hours: Monday – Friday: 11:00 am – 2:00 am
Saturday and Sunday: 9:00 am -2:00 am
My recommendations: Surf and Turf Nachos and the Spent Grain Pretzel. Go for Happy Hour between 3:00-7:00 every day for $2 off!
Union Ale House took over the building of the pretty popular Tubby’s Tavern that closed about a year ago. We decided to give it a try and the food is just incredible. I actually take everyone there when I have to pick a restaurant. It’s a spacious restaurant with a large bar and does have that “tavern” feel.
8. Waterman’s Surfside Grille
Where it’s located: Oceanfront
Hours: Monday – Thursday: 11:00 am – 12:00 am
Friday: 11:00 am – 2:00 am
Saturday: 9:30 am – 2:00 am
Sunday: 9:30 am – 12:00 am
My recommendations: Original Orange Crush, Hushpuppies, and Waterman’s Original Pasta
9. Chix on the Beach
Where it’s located: Oceanfront
Hours: Monday – Thursday: 11:00 am – 12:00 am
Friday: 11:00 am – 2:00 am
Saturday: 9:30 am – 2:00 am
Sunday: 9:30 am – 12:00 am
My recommendations: Caribbean Crush and the Beach Nachos with Chicken
10. The Shack
Where it’s located: Oceanfront
Hours: Monday – Thursday: 4:00 pm – close
Friday – Sunday: 12:00 pm – close
My recommendations: Passion Fruit Crush (same as the Caribbean Crush at Watermans or Chix)
I’m going to speak to Waterman’s, Chix, and the Shack as a collective group because all three are owned and operated by the same owners and are located within 3 blocks of each other at the oceanfront. Waterman’s is the home of the original orange crush, but all three spots feature the same delicious crush menu (with slightly different names at The Shack). If you’re planning an evening at the oceanfront and the weather is nice, The Shack is going to be the place to be. Plan to stop in at Watermans (for a fancier meal) or Chix (for more casual bar food) [or grab some tacos at The Shack] for dinner and make your way to The Shack on the earlier side to ensure you get in without having to wait. The Shack is an outdoor bar with tons of outdoor games, swings and fire pits so you don’t want to miss this. Don’t feel like spending your evening outside? Both Waterman’s and Chix often have live music, large bars and a decent amount of seating, but expect to wait.
11. Gelati Celesti
Where it’s located: Hilltop
Hours: Sunday – Thursday: 12:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Friday and Saturday: 12:00 am – 11:00 pm
My recommendations: Banana ice cream in a waffle cone. Best banana ice cream I have ever had!
Gelati Celesti is a family-owned shop that started in Richmond. I ate their ice cream on at least a weekly basis while I was at college and have been having severe withdrawals for the past six years. The opening of this shop in May was the best thing to ever happen in my life! (Maybe that’s an exaggeration but it’s pretty damn far up that list.) There are always tons of flavors on rotation and they are all amazing. You can buy pints to go or just get a large in a waffle cone, like me, and eat probably an entire pint worth in that one sitting.
What are your favorite local spots that I didn’t include?
