Outer Banks Dock and Dine Destinations

Now that spring is here, Outer Bankers are getting their boats back on the water. Besides fishing, island hopping and exploring the sounds, one of the best boating traditions on the Outer Banks is pulling up to a restaurant by water. There’s something about arriving at your dinner destination with windblown hair and salty skin after a day in the sun behind that makes the food taste even better. Coming by boat just turns an ordinary meal into a mini adventure.

From waterfront tiki huts and dive bars to favorite local hangouts and nice seafood establishments, there are numerous places from the Northern Outer Banks to Ocracoke where you can boat up for a meal. Tie up, step off the boat and walk straight to your table.

Photo: The view from Blue Water Grill & Raw Bar and Mimi's Tiki Hut at Pirates Cove Marina in Manteo

There’s one caveat: While many of our dock and dine restaurants are located at marinas that accommodate boats of varied sizes, many of these restaurants are accessible by shallow-draft boat only.

And of course at restaurants not adjacent to a channel or deep water, approach depths can vary depending on wind direction and tides. Some of these establishments also have limited slips available for docking. Be sure to call ahead if you are concerned about access.

With or without a boat, all of these restaurants are great Outer Banks dining options. Since all of them are waterfront, it goes without saying that they all offer excellent views of the water, birds and on-the-water activity.

Coinjock Marina

Currituck Mainland

Coinjock Marina Restaurant

Dockage is usually available for local boats, but this place can get really busy with ICW travelers in the spring and fall. There’s indoor or outdoor dining, and the food ranges from appetizers to sandwiches and entrees and their infamous 32 oz. prime rib. 321 Waterlily Road, Coinjock, (252) 453-3271 

Barry’s Walnut Island Restaurant & Lodge

Barry’s is a casual waterfront dining spot specializing in local seafood, steaks and sandwiches. It features a full-service restaurant and a sports bar. 169 Island Boulevard, Grandy, (252) 453-2261

Duck

The Village Table and Tavern

On the northernmost end of duck, The Village Table and Tavern is relaxed restaurant with great service, great food, beer and wine and a stunning view. Indoor and outdoor dining are available. The dock at the restaurant is part of Nor’Banks Watersports, which operates from the same building. If Nor’Banks is open and busy, they’ll assist with dockage. Otherwise you can dock yourself. 1314 N. Duck Road, Duck (252) 715-1414

Sunset Grille and Raw Bar

On the Currituck Sound, perfectly oriented to those nightly sunset shows, Sunset Grille has a Caribbean theme and fun, family oriented atmosphere. The lunch and dinner menus focus on seafood with many Key West- and Caribbean-inspired dishes. There is plenty of dockage. 1264 Duck Road, Duck, (252) 261-3901

NC Coast Grill & Bar

Duck Town Docks

Two docks along Duck Town Boardwalk, one set on the southern end near Aqua Restaurant and another on the north end near the Waterfront Shops allow access to the waterfront restaurants of Duck. You can also tie up and walk into town to access other Duck restaurants and shops.     

Tie up on the southern end to access: 

Aqua Restaurant, serving lunch and dinner in a casual yet elegant setting. Indoor and outdoor dining are available. 1174 Duck Road, Duck (252) 261-9700

NC Coast Grill & Bar, offering impressive Currituck Sound and sunset views as well as boat dockage and outdoor dining right on the Duck boardwalk. The restaurant is modern, fresh and fun, with an eclectic, chef-driven menu, a snazzy concrete bar serving craft beers and creative cocktails. Expect cutting-edge coastal cuisine and be sure to try the tasting boards. 1184 Duck Road, Duck (252) 248-3211 

Eventide OBX Think artisan cheeses and charcuterie boards, craft beer and wine. Sit inside or on the deck along the boardwalk. 1190 Duck Road, Duck (252) 715-1216

Tie up on the Northern end to access:

Coastal Cantina, with all outdoor seating, Tex Mex food, cold beers and tasty agave wine margaritas. 1236 Duck Road, (252) 480-0024

The Blue Point for fine dining and fine wines and cocktails indoors or cocktails, beer and wine, music and more at the outdoor BackBar. 1240 Duck Road, Duck, (252) 261-8090

Kill Devil Hills

Blue Crab Tavern

For drinks only – beer and wine and very light bar snacks – the Blue Crab is a local color legend. Boat up to drink a beer, play pool or listen to occasional live music. 1180 Colington Road, Kill Devil Hills, (252) 441-5919

Nags Head

Miller’s Waterfront Restaurant

Miller’s offers indoor and outdoor dining for lunch and dinner. The menu has something for everyone from sandwiches and salads to surf and turf and pasta.  6916 S. Croatan Highway, Nags Head, (252) 441-6151

Sugar Creek Restaurant

Sugar Creek is a family-oriented seafood restaurant serving lunch and dinner. They’re know for their deals on shrimp. 7340 S. Virginia Dare Trail, Nags Head, (252) 441-4963

Sugar Shack Fish Market and Grill

Sugar Shack is a seafood market and kitchen serving seafood dishes alongside a full bar. 7344 S. Virginia Dare Trail, Nags Head, (252) 441-3888

Tale of the Whale

Tale of the Whale has a casually elegant setting, water view and the expertly prepared seafood, pasta, steaks and chicken. There’s often live music in the waterfront gazebo in season. 7575 S. Virginia Dare Trail, Nags Head/Manteo Causeway, Nags Head, (252) 441-7332

Basnight’s Lone Cedar Café

Basnight’s Lone Cedar Cafe is a true Outer Banks original, blending breathtaking waterfront views with a deep-rooted commitment to fresh, local boat-to-table seafood. Perched along the Nags Head–Manteo Causeway, every seat in the house offers sweeping vistas of the Roanoke Sound, and the bar is a fun place to hang out. 7623 S. Virginia Dare Trail, Nags Head, (252) 441-5405

Freshfit Cafe

Nags Head Waterfront Shopping Center

7531 S. Virginia Dare Trail, Nags Head-Manteo Causeway

Pull up to these limited docks in a shallow-draft boat to access:

Freshfit Café, serving health-oriented breakfasts and lunches like smoothies, bowls, juices and wraps, (252) 715-3211

Lost Colony Brewery Waterfront Beer Garden. a tasting room for beers from Lost Colony Brewery, (252) 715-3211

Benny Tosoro’s Pizza, a pizzeria serving giant pizzas and slices with water views, (252) 715-1227

Sea Chef Dockside Kitchen

Oregon Inlet Fishing Center

Sea Chef Dockside Kitchen

Located inside the Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, Sea Chef features breathtaking views of the Pamlico Sound and the iconic Marc Basnight Bridge. Enjoy casual, counter-service dining with both indoor and outdoor seating options, all while taking in the stunning views of the Oregon Inlet Channel. Limited dockage is available, but it’s deep water. 8770 Oregon Inlet Road, Nags Head, (252) 441-3543

Manteo

Blue Water Grill & Raw Bar / Mimi’s Tiki Hut

The very popular upstairs restaurant and the dockside tiki bar are available for boat-up dining after 7 p.m. Dock at the Pirates Cove fuel docks. Blue Water serves lunch and dinner year round. Mimi’s is open in the afternoons and evenings from May through November. Pirates Cove Marina, 200 Sailfish Drive, Manteo, (252) 473-1955

Salt & Cypress Kitchen + Cocktails

Slips are available for dining indoors in the upscale restaurant, sitting at the bar or outside on the waterfront deck. Shallowbag Bay Marina, 1100-A S. Bay Club Drive, Manteo, (252) 248-5230

Downtown Manteo Restaurants and Bars

Dockage at the Manteo town docks offers access to the restaurants and bars of Manteo: Poor Richards Sandwich Shop, 1587, Vicki B’s, Olives A Greek Restaurant, Ortega’z, Lost Colony Tavern, Nouvines, Old Tom’s Tavern and Outer Banks Distilling

Landing Grill at Wanchese Marina

Wanchese

Great Gut Deli

Serving delicious homemade deli-style lunches along with beer and wine. Plenty of dockage is available. 219 Thicket Lump Drive, Thicket Lump Marina, Wanchese, (252) 473-2479

O’Neal’s Sea Harvest

A seafood market and restaurant serving the freshest seafood and sandwiches for lunch. It’s right in Wanchese Harbor. 618 Harbor Road, Wanchese, (252) 473-4535

Johanna’s at the Wanchese Tiki Bar

The tiki bar is a popular hangout serving beer and wine. On-site, Johanna’s serves tasty lunches and early dinners. 708 Harbor Road, Safe Harbor Outer Banks, Wanchese

The Landing Grill at Wanchese Marina

A casual restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. There’s also a steam bar. Plenty of dockage is available at Wanchese Marina. 4447 Mill Landing Road, Wanchese Marina, Wanchese, (252) 473-3247

Buxton/Frisco

Cafe Pamlico

A fine dining restaurant with an award-winning wine list, craft cocktails and excellent dinners. Limited dockage is available the dock. Reservations are encouraged to dine here so ask about dockage when you call. 49684 N.C. Highway 12, Buxton, (252) 995-7030

Cafe Pamlico

Hatteras Village

Breakwater Restaurant

Breakwater offers upscale dinners, has a full bar and offers amazing views. They often have live music. 57878 N.C. Highway 12 at Oden’s Dock, Hatteras Village, (252) 986-2733

Harbor Grill and Deli

Harbor Grill offers fried seafood, burgers, tacos and sandwiches. Bag lunches are available for quick takeout. Hatteras Harbor Marina, N.C. Highway 12, (252) 986-2500

The Wreck Tiki Bar

Indoor and outdoor seating with a laid-back, fun atmosphere. There’s a full bar and the menu has something for everyone. 58848 Marina Way, Hatteras Landing Marina, Hatteras village, (252) 986-5251

SmacNally's

Ocracoke

SmacNally’s Waterfront Bar and Grill

An entirely outdoor establishment on the docks along Silver Lake. It’s a popular spot for lunch and dinner and for hanging out with a beer after fishing. 180 Irvin Garrish Highway, Anchorage Marina, Ocracoke, (252) 928-9999

Stockroom Street Food and Deja Brew Coffee Shack

A takeout restaurant for quick eclectic and healthy fare. Seating is available outdoors. Deja Brew Coffee Shack offers takeout coffee and pastries. 294 Irvin Garrish Road, Ocracoke (252) 928-0627