Happy Hour, Sunday Funday, the Lunch Beer… whatever your preference for knocking back a beverage, it can absolutely happen – and even be relaxing!- with your kids along for the ride. Here’s a quick roundup of our favorite kid-friendly spots on the Outer Banks to grab a drink or two and hang for a while.
The Outer Banks Brewing Station
This is probably our most-visited spot for drinks with friends and kids. It’s located right in the heart of Kill Devil Hills, and has a huge backyard area with a pirate ship play structure, corn hole, and plenty of room to run around. You can order drinks at the outside or inside bar and sit near the pirate ship, or grab one of the picnic tables for a meal. There’s live music every afternoon during the warmer months as well.
600 S Croatan Hwy, Kill Devil Hills
Drinks available: Full bar, the beer is brewed in-house
Food: Yes, full menu and plenty of kid-friendly stuff. The giant pretzel is a favorite!
Tips and Tricks: You have to be seated at a table to order food, but if you’re just getting drinks, you can land anywhere you want while the kids run around. It’s definitely a popular spot, but the backyard is pretty large, so it usually doesn’t feel terribly crowded.
Swellsa’ Brewing
Another local craft brewery, Swellsa’ is a fun, quirky spot to hang outside and enjoy a drink. It’s located right near the Kill Devil Hills/Nags Head line on the Beach Rd. Their yard is large and fenced, the upstairs patio has a great ocean view, and there’s cornhole and a convenient bathroom outside. This one is dog-friendly also, and there’s usually a nice pup or two hanging out!
1802 S Virginia Dare Trail, Kill Devil Hills
Drinks available: Beer and wine (beer brewed in-house, and a solid wine selection- definitely above average!)
Food: No, but you can bring your own OR order from somewhere else and enjoy in at one of the picnic tables outside
Tips and Tricks: Pro tip- order delivery from Nags Head Pizza while you’re there for some awesome local, family-owned pizza along with your awesome local, family-owned beer. Win-win!
Fish Heads
Everyone loves Fish Heads, period. In my opinion, it’s the best spot on the OBX to feel like you are in full-on vacation mode. Located way down in South Nags Head out on the Outer Banks Pier, this outdoor bar has great views, a good beer selection, surprisingly good food, and a very chill vibe. You do have to sit at a table, it’s not just open seating, but generally it’s not a crazy long wait, and you can get a beer and hang while you wait.
8901 S Old Oregon Inlet Rd, Nags Head
Drinks available: Beer and wine
Food: Yes, seafood, burgers, etc.
Tips and Tricks: Most of the seating is outside, and the tables have umbrellas, but if it gets windy they will take the umbrellas in. There is covered seating if the weather is bad, but usually there is a wait. Fish Heads also has ‘Shrimp Happy Hour’ from 4-6 every day featuring 20 cent shrimp, which is awesome, but tends to get packed, so plan accordingly!
Blue Moon Beach Grill
Blue Moon is one of the most popular restaurants in Nags Head, and their new location at milepost 14 has a great backyard and outside bar as well! The bar is on the smaller side, but during off hours it’s not crazy busy, and the yard is huge and has lots of extra seating, hammocks and more. The best part- there’s a sandy area that has been filled with shark’s teeth- kids can have fun digging while the adults relax with a drink.
Drinks available: Full bar
Food: Yes, but you have to be sitting at the bar to order food.
Tips and Tricks: Non-peak hours are best for finding a seat. You can order drinks at the bar and take them out to the yard, but food has to be ordered and eaten at the bar.
Watermen’s Bar & Grill
Watermen’s is a super unique restaurant located in Waves. It’s adjacent to a large surf shop, and located right on the sound. Order food and drinks inside, and find a seat in the huge area out back where you can watch kite surfers do their thing while you explore the grounds. There is some seating in a smaller covered area, and lots more picnic tables in the uncovered grassy yard. Kids can run around while you relax.
Photo courtesy of @watermensbarandgrill on Instagram
Drinks available: Full bar, rum drinks are a specialty
Food: Yes
Tips and Tricks: This is a great spot to stop and hang for a while. Even if you’re not staying in the area, it’s a fun place to visit if you are nearby or planning a day trip to Hatteras, etc. The views are awesome!
Corolla Beer Garden
If you’re in Corolla, you should definitely make a stop at the Beer Garden. This spot has a great beer selection (and prosecco on draft!), is nestled under the live oaks and is an awesome spot to grab a drink al fresco. They don’t serve food, but you’re welcome to bring your own as long as you pack out your trash afterwards. It makes it super convenient to post up with a picnic or some takeout, let your kids run around a bit (mine were quite taken with the “fake grass”), and enjoy some down time in Corolla.
Drinks available: Beer and Wine
Food: No
Tips and Tricks: Kid friendly until 8pm, then it’s 21+ only. We highly recommend grabbing pizza (slices available during lunch hours!) from adjacent Corolla Pizza and walking over to enjoy with a beer or two.
Hey, it’s your vacation too! We absolutely agree that you should be able to relax with a drink, even when your kids are with you. Hopefully you’re able to hit up one (or a few) of these spots while you’re on the Outer Banks!
