Michael's Guidebook to the Outer Banks
Food Scene
Bad Bean Baja Grill
4146 N Croatan HwyMy favorite place for delicious tacos and margaritas!
Great local seafood, fancy cocktails, and beautiful sunsets. It's on the pricey side but well worth it!
121 locals recommend
The Blue Point
1240 Duck RdGreat local seafood, fancy cocktails, and beautiful sunsets. It's on the pricey side but well worth it!
Really cool backside bar with a great drink selection and nightly live music in the summer. Their food is also top-notch!
68 locals recommend
Roadside Bar & Grill
1193 Duck RdReally cool backside bar with a great drink selection and nightly live music in the summer. Their food is also top-notch!
Best pizza on the beach in my opinion - definitely try the Rip Coyles (appetizer). They deliver too!
31 locals recommend
Southern Shores Pizza & Deli
1 Ocean BlvdBest pizza on the beach in my opinion - definitely try the Rip Coyles (appetizer). They deliver too!
Treehouse Coffee Co.
1177 Duck RdGreat place for breakfast and coffee in downtown Duck
Best burger on the beach! Also, they have a great breakfast. There's limited seating inside, but there's a backyard seating area and a deck bar with ocean views. Nightly live music in the summer!
161 locals recommend
Art's Place
4624 N Virginia Dare TrailBest burger on the beach! Also, they have a great breakfast. There's limited seating inside, but there's a backyard seating area and a deck bar with ocean views. Nightly live music in the summer!
Delicious Italian restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating in Corolla.
14 locals recommend
La Dolce Vita
798 Sunset BlvdDelicious Italian restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating in Corolla.
Delicious nightly specials with local seafood and great steaks.
226 locals recommend
The Kill Devil Grill
2008 S Virginia Dare TrailDelicious nightly specials with local seafood and great steaks.
Country Deli
1900 S Croatan HwyBest sandwiches on the beach!
Great waterfront lunch and dinner spot. Indoor and outdoor seating. Local seafood and creative cocktail menu!
73 locals recommend
NC Coast Grill & Bar
1184 Duck RdGreat waterfront lunch and dinner spot. Indoor and outdoor seating. Local seafood and creative cocktail menu!
Grocery Stores
Centrally located - also additional locations in Kill Devil Hills and Corolla.
137 locals recommend
Harris Teeter
5400 North Croatan HighwayCentrally located - also additional locations in Kill Devil Hills and Corolla.
Centrally located and a bit cheaper than Harris Teeter - also additional locations in Corolla, Duck, Kill Devil Hills, and Nags Head.
159 locals recommend
Food Lion
1720 N Croatan HwyCentrally located and a bit cheaper than Harris Teeter - also additional locations in Corolla, Duck, Kill Devil Hills, and Nags Head.
You can only buy liquor in NC at the ABC stores. Closed on Sundays! Additional locations in Duck, Corolla, and Nags Head.
ABC Liquors
5400 N Croatan HwyYou can only buy liquor in NC at the ABC stores. Closed on Sundays! Additional locations in Duck, Corolla, and Nags Head.
Walmart Supercenter
5400 N Croatan HwyCentrally located and also has groceries
Sightseeing
427-acre State Park with the tallest active sand dune system in the eastern US. Hike to the top and get incredible panoramic views of the Ocean and the Sound!
395 locals recommend
Jockey's Ridge State Park
300 W Carolista Dr427-acre State Park with the tallest active sand dune system in the eastern US. Hike to the top and get incredible panoramic views of the Ocean and the Sound!
Climb to the top for breathtaking views of the Outer Banks
176 locals recommend
Currituck Beach Lighthouse Museum Shop
Climb to the top for breathtaking views of the Outer Banks
Rent fishing equipment, walk the pier, enjoy the views, check out the aquarium inside the pier house - tons to do here and great for the whole family!
215 locals recommend
Jennette's Pier
7223 S Virginia Dare TrailRent fishing equipment, walk the pier, enjoy the views, check out the aquarium inside the pier house - tons to do here and great for the whole family!
Really fun and easy hikes! You'll see tons of the region's plant and animal life. There are even plaques with descriptions of plants and animals along the way. It's a great thing to do after a few long days at the beach!
122 locals recommend
Nags Head Woods Preserve Dedicated Nature Preserve
Really fun and easy hikes! You'll see tons of the region's plant and animal life. There are even plaques with descriptions of plants and animals along the way. It's a great thing to do after a few long days at the beach!
1 mile-long boardwalk along the sound in downtown Duck - it connects to tons of restaurants and shops. Local tip: walk it at sunset!
70 locals recommend
Duck Town Park Boardwalk
Duck Town Park Boardwalk1 mile-long boardwalk along the sound in downtown Duck - it connects to tons of restaurants and shops. Local tip: walk it at sunset!
Nearby Small Towns to See
The Historic Corolla Village - home to the Currituck Beach Lighthouse, the Corolla Chapel, the Corolla Schoolhouse, the Whalehead Club, and great shops. There is a lot of history and restoration here - park and walk through the historic village!
Corolla Village Road
Corolla Village RoadThe Historic Corolla Village - home to the Currituck Beach Lighthouse, the Corolla Chapel, the Corolla Schoolhouse, the Whalehead Club, and great shops. There is a lot of history and restoration here - park and walk through the historic village!
Downtown Manteo is a small, charming town just a short drive away on Roanoke Island. You can walk around the waterfront, check out all of the boats, eat at local restaurants, shop at local stores, and grab a beer at the Lost Colony Brewery. Highly recommend!
148 locals recommend
Manteo
Downtown Manteo is a small, charming town just a short drive away on Roanoke Island. You can walk around the waterfront, check out all of the boats, eat at local restaurants, shop at local stores, and grab a beer at the Lost Colony Brewery. Highly recommend!
A bit of a drive but great for a day trip! You'll drive South along Highway 12 through Oregon Inlet, Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, and Hatteras Island. You pass two lighthouses along the way (Bodie Island Lighthouse and Cape Hatteras Lighthouse) and you'll board a ferry (free of charge) to Ocracoke Island. Ocracoke Island is home to 16 miles of beautiful beaches, tons of quaint restaurants and shops, and tons of history. It was one of Blackbeard's (famous pirate) hideouts in the early 1700s!
49 locals recommend
Ocracoke
A bit of a drive but great for a day trip! You'll drive South along Highway 12 through Oregon Inlet, Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, and Hatteras Island. You pass two lighthouses along the way (Bodie Island Lighthouse and Cape Hatteras Lighthouse) and you'll board a ferry (free of charge) to Ocracoke Island. Ocracoke Island is home to 16 miles of beautiful beaches, tons of quaint restaurants and shops, and tons of history. It was one of Blackbeard's (famous pirate) hideouts in the early 1700s!
Bar Scene
TRIO Restaurant & Market
3708 N Croatan HwyWine bar with incredible selection!
New brewery with great, local beer and tons of outdoor seating. They don't serve food, but you can bring food there and it's family-friendly. Definitely a local favorite!
53 locals recommend
Swels’a Brewing Beer Company
1802 South Virginia Dare TrailNew brewery with great, local beer and tons of outdoor seating. They don't serve food, but you can bring food there and it's family-friendly. Definitely a local favorite!
The Jolly Roger Restaurant
1836 N Virginia Dare TrailDive bar with karaoke every night - very fun place!
Deck bar with nightly live music in the summer. Their happy hour from 3-5 pm every day is very popular - 10 cent shrimp, 25 cent wings, and $1 tacos!
91 locals recommend
Hurricane Mo's Beachside Bar And Grill
120 W Kitty Hawk RdDeck bar with nightly live music in the summer. Their happy hour from 3-5 pm every day is very popular - 10 cent shrimp, 25 cent wings, and $1 tacos!
Outdoor bar with nightly live music in the summer - right in the middle of downtown Duck!
13 locals recommend
Tap Shack
1209 Duck RoadOutdoor bar with nightly live music in the summer - right in the middle of downtown Duck!
Sports bar with at least 20 TVs. Great bar food too!
104 locals recommend
Barefoot Bernie's Tropical Grill & Bar
3730 N Croatan HwySports bar with at least 20 TVs. Great bar food too!
Fun, outdoor beer garden in Corolla with tons of beer on tap!
20 locals recommend
The Shack Coffee Shop & Beer Garden
1148 Ocean TrailFun, outdoor beer garden in Corolla with tons of beer on tap!
Ice Cream
Best ice cream on the beach! Great flavor selection, homemade waffle cones, and friendly staff.
The Chill Spot
610 Currituck Clubhouse DriveBest ice cream on the beach! Great flavor selection, homemade waffle cones, and friendly staff.