Sunburn Sports Bar & Grill
US 158, MP 4, Kitty Hawk
(252) 261-7833
A popular nightspot for locals year-round, this restaurant features a large, three-sided bar and beautiful
terrariums and aquariums throughout the dining area. It's open seven days a week and has karaoke
on Friday and Saturday nights year-round. Sunburn is popular all year with the 30-plus crowd. It's open
until 2:00 A.M. in season and has a late-night munchies menu.
Black Pelican Oceanfront Cafe
NC 12, MP 4, Kitty Hawk
(252) 261-3171
With 12 TVs and an enclosed porch overlooking the ocean, this Kitty Hawk hangout is a fun place to
catch up on sporting events or relax at the bar. It's in a former Coast Guard station and still features
hardwood floors, tongue-and-groove appointments, and light gray accents reminiscent of days gone
by. In the evenings its upbeat atmosphere is anything but antique. Interactive TV trivia is available for
the contemporary crowd. Gourmet pizzas are a great treat for late-night munchies. Takeout is available,
too. The Black Pelican is open year-round.
Kill Devil Hills
Chilli Peppers
US 158, MP 5, Kill Devil Hills
(252) 441-8081
www.chilli-peppers.com
This restaurant's bar area always teems with partying people who often come here to eat and stay late,
especially on sushi nights (Wednesday and Friday year-round) and tapas nights (Thursday in the
off-season). Chilli's has live bands or acoustic acts every Tuesday all year. Seven nights a week, you
can enjoy fresh fruit margaritas, a nice wine selection, and dozens of domestic and imported beers
from the full bar. Bartenders also serve nonalcoholic beers and fruit smoothies. The outdoor patio
invites you to sip your drinks under the stars. Steamed seafood and vegetables are served until closing.
Goombays Grille & Raw Bar
NC 12, MP 7, Kill Devil Hills
(252) 441-6001
www.goombays.com
This popular nightspot is packed with tourists and locals and is open seven nights a week. It's fun and
colorful with a tropical island flair and flavor. Goombays is Caribbean and casual, where you feel right
at home even if you've never visited the Outer Banks. On Wednesday live bands play for an increasingly
crowded "Locals Night" year-round. Wednesday night shows begin at 10:30 P.M. A horseshoe-shaped
bar is set to the side of the dining area, so you can lounge on a stool or high-backed chair in the bar
area or have a seat at a nearby table after the dining room closes at 10:00 P.M. Goombays serves
imported and domestic beer, wine, and mixed drinks until 2:00 A.M.Try some of the special rum, vodka,
and tequila combos that come with toys to take home. Steamed shrimp and veggies are served until
1:00 A.M. i A good source for entertainment schedules on the Outer Banks and in nearby cities is 99.1
The Sound radio station, which airs daily updates on who's performing where and when. This
information is also on the Web at www.wvod.com.
Port O' Call Restaurant & Gaslight Saloon
NC 12, MP 8 1/2, Kill Devil Hills
(252) 441-7484
One of the area's most unusual places to hang out --and one of the few local nightclubs that attract
national bands in summer --the Gaslight Saloon is decorated in an ornate Victorian style complete with
overstuffed armchairs, antique wooden tables, and a long mahogany bar. The dance floor is a good
one and an upstairs lounge (with separate bar) overlooks the stage. Port O' Call hosts live
entertainment seven nights a week in season and every weekend while the restaurant is open from
mid-March through December. There's usually a cover charge here. Cover may be waived for diners. In
recent years, Port O' Call has hosted such national acts as Southern Culture on the Skids, Leon
Russell, Fishbone, Molly Hatchet, and an array of first-rate reggae artists. Beer, wine, and liquor are
served until 2:00 A.M.
Shucker's Pub and Billiards
Oceanside Plaza
NC 12, MP 8 Kill Devil Hills
(252) 480-1010
The Outer Banks has a rich music scene that showcases entertainers from around the country as well
as local talent. You can hear rock, bluegrass, country, heavy metal, classical, Creole, and reggae
played at concerts, pubs, and restaurants, or around bonfires at the beach. Check out the Outer Banks
Sentinel for listings. This pub and billiards room serves more than 75 types of beer and has the only
9foot pool tables on the Outer Banks. A dozen billiard tables offer people the chance to play by the
game or by the hour. Darts, foosball, and pinball are popular pastimes, and the many TVs keep sports
fans entertained. Would-be pool sharks who get beached by too much cigarette smoke will be happy to
know that Shucker's operates heavy-duty electronic "smoke-eaters" in every room. It's open year-round,
seven nights a week until 2:00 A.M.Wine is available, and Shucker's serves pizza and sandwiches until
closing. You must be 21 or older to play in this pub after 9:00 P.M.
Outer Banks Brewing Station
US 158, MP 8 1/2, Kill Devil Hills
(252) 449-BREW
www.obbrewing.com
Outer Banks Brewing Station is one of the hottest restaurants and nightspots on the beach. Outside, it
looks like a big white barn with silos at either end (the silos are for making beer). Inside, it's absolutely
inviting and city-chic, with a stretch-length bar, high ceilings, warm wood tones, an open kitchen,
innovative house-made beer, well-chosen wines, and sublime food. The brew is a big draw, with
selections like a Hefewiezen wheat beer, Mutiny Pale Ale, and Kolsch summer brew. After dinner
hours, the Brewing Station stays open late, treating a crowd of lingerers to "righteous music"; blues,
jazz, and funk bands and sometimes acoustic acts play all year. Both regional bands and national acts
are booked here, and the Sunday open-mike and sushi night is very popular. You can watch the band
from a table in front of the stage, from the bar area, or get a bird's-eye view from the upstairs loft. Expect
large crowds on band nights. Live entertainment is held Friday, Saturday, and Monday in season. You
can also expect music every night in the summer. Jazz dinners are held occasionally. The Brewing
Station is open until 2:00 A.M. seven nights a week. Call or check the Web site for entertainment
schedules.
The Pit Surf Shop, Bar and Grill
US 158, MP 9, Kill Devil Hills
(252) 480-3128
www.pitsurf.com
The Pit is a conglomerate surf shop, hangout, restaurant, cybercafe, bar, band venue, and teen scene.
It's a popular, casual hangout spot all day and all night and was named one of the best bars in the
world for 2003 in Men's Journal magazine. Every summer night, and most offseason nights, something
fun happens at The Pit. Thursday night is Mug Night with a DJ, when you pay $5.00, bring your own
mug, and drink $1.00 beers all night. Bands play every Tuesday and Sunday, and The Pit consistently
gets the biggest names in talent. Burning Spear, The Wailers, 2 Skinnee J's, The Connells, All Mighty
Senators, and Everything are just a few of the bands that play here. The sound and lighting production
are state of the art. Band covers range from $5.00 to $20.00. The Pit serves food until 9:00 P.M. and
has pool tables, foosball, videos, Internet access, and boardsport videos to keep you otherwise
entertained. The Pit is one of the only places on the beach welcoming the under-21 crowd. Underage
revelers have three summer nights of their own --Monday, Wednesday, and Friday --(once in a while in
the offseason) with no alcohol served. These nights feature DJs or occasionally a band. Cover is
$10.00.
Peppercorns
Ramada Plaza
NC 12, MP 9 1/2 Kill Devil Hills
(252) 441-2151
Enjoy a breathtaking ocean view from the plate-glass window wall while visiting with friends and
listening to acoustic soloists or duos in the Ramada Inn's intimate lounge area. Live music is
performed daily throughout summer and often starts earlier here than elsewhere on the Outer Banks
--sometimes they get started at 8:00 P.M.This is an open, laid-back place with booths, tables, and a full
bar. The music is never too loud to talk over. But if you'd rather listen, some of the best guitar talent on
the beach shows up here in season. There's also a comedy club and karaoke in the summer.
Mama Kwan's Grill and Tiki Bar
US 158, MP 9 1/2, Kill Devil Hills
(252) 441-7889
www.mamakwans.com
This retro-Hawaiian restaurant and bar is always packed late with young partiers. It's often the place
local restaurant workers go when they get off work. In summer, Tuesday and Thursday nights either a
band or a DJ plays. Mama's keeps things going in the off-season too, usually with a band on Thursday
night. Tiki lights create an island atmosphere. The bar's specialty is frozen drinks served with
surprises. It's open every night until 2:00 A.M.
Nags Head
Red Drum Grille and Taphouse
NC 12, MP 10, Nags Head
(252) 480-1095
Red Drum pours 18 beers on tap, including hard-to-find brews like Sierra Nevada, J.W. Dundee's
Honey Brown, Woodpecker Cider, Black Radish, and Pyramid-Hefeweizen. You can get wine by the
glass or the bottle. Red Drum also serves liquor from its beautiful long, redwood-colored bar.
Mulligan's Oceanfront Grille
NC 12, MP 10 1/2, Nags Head
(252) 480-2000
Mulligan's is heralded as a popular evening hot spot and maintains its image as the Outer Banks's
own version of TV's Cheers. A wooden partition separates the long, three-sided wooden bar from the
dining room, and loads of local memorabilia adorn the walls. Mulligan's serves micro-brewed beer on
tap or in iced-down bottles. Wine and liquor are available. Acoustic music plays on weekends in the
off-season and on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday in summer.
Kelly's Outer Banks Restaurant & Tavern
US 158, MP 10 1/2, Nags Head
(252) 441-4116
www.kellysrestaurant.com
Probably the most consistently crowded tavern on the Outer Banks, Kelly's offers live bands five nights
a week in-season and an open-mike fest with a lip-synch contest and cash prizes on Tuesday. During
fall and winter, rockin' bands take the stage, and fun people always fill this place. A full bar serves
suds, shots, and everything in between. Folks often line up around its three long sides two or three
people deep. The big dance floor is usually shaking after 10:00 P.M. If you're in the mood just to listen
and watch, secluded booths surround the dance floor a few steps above the rest of the lounge, and
tables are scattered throughout the tavern. A dartboard and fireplace adorn the back area. Featuring a
tasty variety of foods served late into the night, a lounge menu offers appetizers and steamed shellfish.
An old-fashioned popcorn popper provides free munchies served in wicker baskets throughout the
evening. Singles seem to really enjoy this tavern.
Slammin' Sammy's Offshore Grille & Stillery
US 158, MP 10 1/2, Nags Head
(252) 449-2255
www.slamminsammys.com
Slammin' Sammy's is the area's only dedicated sports bar, with 42 TVs tuned to the sports du jour. If
you'd rather play than watch, there are pool tables and darts. It's right across the street from Kelly's
Tavern, so people often hop back and forth between the two bars. Be careful crossing the highway at
night! Slammin' Sammy's has a full bar, offers a late-night menu, and is open until 2:00 A.M.every night.
Tortuga's Lie Shellfish Bar and Grille
NC 12, MP 11, Nags Head
(252) 441-7299
www.tortugaslie.com
Our favorite place to meet friends for a laid-back evening --or to hang out with long-lost local pals
--Tortuga's offers probably the most comfortable atmosphere you'll find on the Outer Banks most of the
year. The bar winds around a corner to allow at least a half-dozen more stools to slide under the
refurbished countertop. Old license plates are perched on the low, wooden ceiling beams, and the
sand volleyball court remains ready for pickup games out back all summer. Bartenders serve Black
and Tans in pint glasses --that's right, Tortuga's has Guinness and Bass Ale on tap. Beer is served by
the longneck bottle or by the iced-down bucket. Shooters, mixed drinks, and tropical frozen concoctions
are sure to please any palate. The steamer is open until closing, so you can satisfy late-night appetites
with shellfish or fresh vegetables. Whether you're visiting or here to stay, Tortuga's is one place you
won't want to miss. Most nights, it remains open until 2:00 A.M.Tortuga's closes for a brief spell in
December and January.
Bacu Grill
Outer Banks Mall
US 158, MP 14 Nags Head
(252) 480-1892
This Cuban-inspired restaurant and bar is about the only late-night place in lower Nags Head. Blues
and jazz bands play several nights a week in the summer and occasionally in the off-season. You may
be charged a small cover for the bands. This is the favorite end-of-the-workweek gathering spot for
Nags Head locals, so Friday nights are often packed. Bacu has a worldly wine list and a European
beer engine that pours a perfect draft beer, such as Harp, Guinness, or Sierra Nevada. Appetizers and
other food are served late.
Manteo
Weeping Radish Brew Pub
525 N Virginia Dare Rd.
Manteo, NC 27954
(252) 473-1157
The Weeping Radish Brew Pub features authentic German food and music, and a fine menu of
award-winning ales, brewed on site. Designed to resemble a Bavarian village and beer garden, the
Weeping Radish also delights small children with its ice cream stand, duck pond, and playground.
Roanoke Island
The Green Dolphin Restaurant and Pub
Sir Walter Raleigh Street, Manteo
(252) 473-5911
If you're looking for late-night fun in Manteo, this is the only place to find it. Acoustic guitarists perform
here on Friday nights year-round, playing jazz, rock, folk, and blues. A bar serves a variety of beer, and
there's never a cover charge for live music. This pub is warm and comfortable. Upon wooden floors
and booths sit tables made from old ship-hatch covers and Singer sewing machine stands. The staff
is friendly, and locals like to hang out here. It's a fun place with a pool table and pockmarked
dartboards set in a separate room. The restaurant serves appetizers and sandwiches late into the
night. Call for seasonal schedules of entertainment. The Green Dolphin is open Monday through
Saturday until 1:00 A.M.
Hatteras Island
Froggy Dog & Lounge
NC 12, Avon
(252) 995-4106
Late-night acoustic music plus bands and karaoke singers take the stage at this casual Hatteras
Island nightspot. Froggy Dog Lounge is open nightly in season, serving beer and wine and
entertainment on most Sundays; call for schedule.
Ocracoke Island
Howard's Pub & Raw Bar Restaurant
NC 12, Ocracoke Village (252) 928-4441
www.howardspub.com
This is our absolute favorite place to hear live bands. Featuring the friendliest crowd of locals and
visitors around, Howard's Pub has an atmosphere and feeling all its own. Once you've visited, you'll
always plan to stop at this upbeat yet casual place at least once during every visit to Ocracoke.
Howard's is open every day of the year until 2:00 A.M. --the only place on the Outer Banks that can make
that claim --and has done so for more than 10 years. The pub serves more types of beer than any
place we know --more than 200 varieties are available. There's a second-floor outdoor deck with
breathtaking, ocean-to-sound views, perfect for catching sunsets or falling stars. A huge, screened
porch --complete with Adirondack rocking chairs for relaxing in the evening breezes --borders an entire
side of the spacious wooden building. The dance floor has more than doubled in recent years. Two
big-screen TVs and numerous smaller ones offer sports fans constant entertainment. Howard's has a
dartboard, a pool table in the off-season, board games, and card games available free for playful
patrons. The full menu, including pizza, sandwiches, and raw bar items, is offered until closing time.
Bands play most nights during summer season and several times a week during winter. Music covers
rhythm and blues, bluegrass, jazz, rock, and originals. The occasional open-mike and karaoke nights
are favorites for locals and visitors alike. Howard's Pub never charges a cover, and even when
electricity fails the rest of the island, this place is equipped with a generator so the crew keeps cooking
--and the beer stays cold.
Jolly Roger Pub & Marina
NC 12, Ocracoke Village
(252) 928-3703
A waterfront eatery with an open bar overlooking Silver Lake, this pub has a huge outdoor deck that's
covered in case of thunderstorms. Local acoustic guitarists perform Caribbean and country music with
no cover charge Thursday and Friday nights. Jolly Roger serves beer, wine, and great food throughout
the warm summer months.
