Vacationing on Ocracoke usually beckons buzzwords like serenity and tranquility, but equally important to a holiday is a good dose of fun. No matter what time of year you’re visiting Ocracoke, and whether you’re looking for breakfast, lunch, dinner or late-night, Gaffer’s meets your need for delicious food, entertainment and hospitality. Live bands play every weekend year-round and every night in the summer season. With two full bars and a staff that’s focused on making guests feel welcome, this little pub is a standout. “There’s always something going on,” says owner Ashley Harrell.
The food at Gaffer’s features house-made soups, desserts, dressings and sauces. They’re known for their burgers and wings, and all their seafood is local — fish, clams, oysters and scallops all come from Outer Banks waters. “If we can’t get it locally, we’re out of it,” Ashley says. She jokes that their freezer is the smallest piece of equipment they own since they make everything fresh. So whether you’re looking for a late-night cocktail and music show, a homemade omelette or fresh, local seafood, check out Gaffer’s anytime of the day or year.
(252) 928-3456
1050 Irvin Garrish Highway, Ocracoke
gafferssportspubocracoke.com
About the Author Heather Frese
Heather Frese fell in love with the Outer Banks when she was three years old. She grew up camping every summer on Hatteras Island, and her writing is deeply influenced by the history and wild beauty of the area. Her debut novel, The Baddest Girl on the Planet, won the Lee Smith Novel Prize and is set on Hatteras Island. 
