New Outer Banks Restaurants & Bars to Try in 2024

Outer Banks businesses ebb and flow like the tides, and each season there’s a new wave of places to explore. Here are nearly 20 new places to enjoy food and drinks on the Outer Banks. Most are brand new, opened in 2024, a couple are remakes of an old favorite, and a couple opened in 2023 but might not yet be on your radar.

Meanwhile, there are close to 400 restaurants on the Outer Banks, and you can find them all in our comprehensive Outer Banks Restaurants listings. There is something for every taste and budget from Corolla to Hatteras so get out there and try as many as you can.

As is the case in many vacation areas, Outer Banks restaurants are super busy in the summer months Please keep this in mind when you’re dining out. Things may take a bit longer than you’re used to, but remember that everyone is working as hard as they can. Patience, kindness, good manners and a smile will make it fun for everyone.

Photo: Firetender brings an elegant setting and menu to Manteo. 

Corolla

Driftwood Coffee Company

520 A Old Stoney Road, Corolla

This one opened in 2023 so you might have already been here. It’s a beautiful space with all the coffees, teas and pastries and snacks you need to start your morning off right. It’s open daily starting at 7:30 a.m.

Seanna Tavern

1159 Austin Street, Corolla

From the same restaurant family as Broken Plate Kitchen in Corolla, Seanna Tavern also opened in 2023. The menus are a little more elegant than your traditional beach-town fare, and the atmosphere is casual and friendly. Seanna serves breakfast, lunch and dinner Tuesday through Sunday. They take reservations.

Duck Dive Bar is already a favorite hangout spot in Duck.

Duck

Duck Dive Bar

106 Scarborough Lane, Duck

Swells’a Brewing, the popular brewery in Kill Devil Hills, now has a second location in Duck. They serve all the Swells’a brews plus wine by the glass or bottle, and cocktails with locally distilled spirits. With a live music and a par 3 disc golf course, this is a fun outdoor gathering spot under a big live oak. It’s open every afternoon.

In other Duck restaurant news, longtime favorite Red Sky Café is back open for full service (after a little break). As would be expected, the lunch and dinner menus are outstanding. They’re open daily and take reservations.

Kill Devil Hills

Noosa Scoops

2003 S. Croatan Highway, Kill Devil Hills

Noosa Beach Grille recently opened an ice cream and acai shop next door to their main restaurant. They service acai bowls, smoothies, icea cream, milkshakes, floats, sundaes and espresso drinks. It’s open daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Over at the Jolly Roger Restaurant in Kill Devil Hills, their huge new bar is now open. You can choose to eat in the new bar instead of the restaurant if you wish. The bar is the site of a revived late-night scene with live bands, DJs, silent disco, trivia and more. It’s open until 1 a.m.

Nags Head

Dune Street Raw Bar & Grill

4104 S. Virginia Dare Trail, Nags Head

This one opened up in late 2023, so it’s their first summer. It occupies the space that used to be Blue Moon Beach Grill, and it’s quickly become a locals’ favorite. It has the feel of a lively neighborhood bar and restaurant with friendly staff, beer, wine, cocktails, a raw bar with local and regional seafood (the oyster with house mignonettes are divine), creative menus and well-prepared dishes are hallmarks. It’s open daily except Sunday.

Blue Moon Beach Grill

102 E. Dove Street, Nags Head

The restaurant has been in Nags Head since 2009 so you’ve probably had their delicious food. But if you have not seen their new building, which they moved into in 2023, it’s beautiful and worth checking out. Reservations are accepted.

Surfside Juice Co.

4104 S. Virginia Dare Trail, Nags Head

Surfside Juice Co. opened in 2023. It’s tucked into the shopping center next to Dune Street Grill. Their raw, cold-pressed juices, raw vegan desserts and gluten-free backed goods are outstanding. They’re open Tuesday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and you can find their juices at markets and a few shops around town.

Photo: A kiwi is the perfect mascot for Keyz New Zealand Ice Cream in Nags Head.

Keyz New Zealand Ice Cream

100 E. Dune Street, Nags Head

New Zealand-style ice cream is to when you blend fresh fruit with ice cream. You pick your base, fruit and toppings and they mix it all up for you in a cup or cone. Try the hokey pokey topping or ice cream flavor, a honeycomb toffee made from a golden syrup.

Almost Heaven Bakery OBX

3022 S. Croatan Highway, Nags Head

Now located in Pirates Quay Shopping Center, this bakery does not hold back on the deliciousness. You’ll find pies, cakes, cookies and pastries in the cases at all times, and they make custom cakes. They’re open Wednesday through Saturday.

Los Antojitos OBX

3022 S. Croatan Highway, Nags Head

Alongside Almost Heaven and Greentails in Pirates Quay, you’ll find this new Mexican restaurant serving up tasty street tacos, Mexican street corn, tortas, fajitas and all the Mexican favorites. They also serve desserts and aguas frescas. They’re open daily.

Cookie Shack OBX

7531 S. Virginia Dare Trail, Nags Head

Located on the Nags Head Causeway, this cookie shop offers homemade cookies, soft serve and a combination of the two: ice cream cookie sandwiches. These are big, sharable-size cookies with tasty toppings, and the menu of flavors rotates often.

Photo: Sea Chef Dockside Kitchen offers a full bar and great food with fantastic views.

Sea Chef Dockside Kitchen

8770 Oregon Inlet Road, Nags Head

The new restaurant at Oregon Inlet Fishing Center was well worth the wait. In the fishing center’s stunning new building with spectacular views of the marina, Pamlico Sound and Oregon Inlet, this restaurant lives up to the hype. It’s a casual seafood restaurant operated by trained chefs who know how to do local seafood right. Salads, crab soup, a crazy good shrimpburger and crab cake BLT, burgers and entrees hit the spot, and you can enjoy them indoors or on the spacious deck. There’s also a full bar. It’s open Monday through Saturday.

P.S.

If you love South Beach Takeout, Catering & Delivery in Nags Head, you'll be glad to know they have reopened an eight or so month break. They're in the same location in Surfside Plaza serving the same incredibly good burgers, wraps, bowls and more for meat eaters and vegans. It's still owed by the same family, but while the original owners are focused on their Fork'et Me Not food truck, their nephew is carrying on everything at South Beach.  

Roanoke Island

Firetender Stone Oven Cooking + Bar

The newest restaurant in Manteo, Firetender has been very well received by the locals. A full bar, including a Weeping Radish Brewery taproom, plus pizzas, small plates, skillets, entrees and sandwiches are available for lunch and dinner. Based at Hotel Manteo, the restaurant also serves breakfast. The interior is elegant and sophisticated, and they can seat large parties. It’s open daily.

Mia’s Bake Shop & Tea Room

101 Sir Walter Raleigh Street, Manteo

New in Downtown Manteo, this sweet little shop offer sweet and savory options for breakfast, plus cupcakes, cakes and pies. It’s a nice place to catch up with a friend over coffee or tea. You can also reserve the space for events and custom order baked goods.

Johanna’s at the Tiki Hut

708 Harbor Road, Wanchese

Johanna’s, operated by a longtime favorite local restaurateur and caterer, is a food truck based at Wanchese Tiki Hut at Safe Harbor Outer Banks. Open Wednesday through Sunday, she serves fresh hot and cold wraps, salads, seafood baskets, sides and a poke bowl. The seating is right by the water.

Hatteras Island

Cape Cork and Bottle

40530 N.C. Highway 12, Avon

The founders of the hattiebuilt boutique and brand opened Hatteras Island’s first bottle shop and beer and wine lounge. Pick up wines, beers and snacks to go or enjoy them onsite. They serve draft beer, canned and bottled beer, wines by the glass or bottle, zero proof beverages and snacks, and there’s a pet-friendly outdoor deck.

Frisco Bay Coastal Grill

54214 N.C. Highway 12, Frisco

New in 2023, Frisco Bay Coastal Gril is open for lunch and dinner daily. They serve a big menu with something for everyone, from shareables and personal pizzas to steamers, seafood baskets, sandwiches and entrees featuring local seafood. The fish tacos are a big hit.