2025 American Guide

A popular spot for years with island residents and locals alike, The Flying Melon Café is known for its distinctive blend of Creole and Southern cuisine that’s amplified with a collection of locally and regionally sourced fresh...

Excellent, upscale food with a world-class view!

An Italian and American restaurant with a huge recreation room including pool tables. 

Aqua Restaurant and Spa in Duck, like the ocean its name represents, aims to provide a place of healing and rejuvenation. Aqua offers not only nourishment for the body, but the for soul and the environment as well.Along with providing the best...

A shop full of souvenirs, food, clothing with special services, too.

A pleasant, casual cafe with two locations offering seafood, sandwiches, salads, and coffee and frozen drinks.

Bacchus Wine & Beer Bistro is a great stop for a wide variety of tasty treats. Create a meal from their selections or take home a great bottle of wine and one or more of their tempting cheeses! Gourmet is the watchword here. You will enjoy...

Specializing in exquisite and refreshing island cuisine in a classy yet casual tropical ambience, Barefoot Bernie's Tropical Grill & Bar has become a true destination on the Outer Banks restaurant circuit. The bright and welcoming family...

Blue Moon is one of the hottest new restaurants on the Outer Banks. Scott and Melissa Shields opened the Blue Moon in the dead of the winter of 2009, when everyone else was running worried over the shaky economy. But the restaurant has...

Enjoy a long and lingering meal with the bustling on-the-water activity of Manteo as your backdrop at this spacious eatery that is renowned for fresh seafood and a beautiful coastal atmosphere. Blue Water Grill & Raw Bar has an ever-changing and...

If you’re looking for a delicious diner where you can find down home, southern-style cookin’, Bob’s Grill in Kill Devil Hills is a must visit. This unique, retro-style diner serves breakfast and lunch all day.  Just...

The most laid back beach grill on the Outer Banks featuring bistro quality Coastal Comfort Food all with a throwback to the surfboard shapers and wave riders on the break! The Shack has an inviting and warm old school driftwood atmosphere with an...

An onsite golf restaurant with full bar open for lunch year round and dinner seasonally.

Since its opening in early January 2012, Café Lachine has become a popular stop for fresh deli sandwiches and salads, and truly delectable homemade baked treats and breads. Better still, the menu, written on chalk on the wall, is interesting...

Capt’n Franks opened its doors in 1975, and since has been a local and visitor favorite. It’s laid back menu is perfect for picky kids, or a craving for an easy, delicious meal. If you need a change from the regular fast food...

If you’re vacationing, why not enjoy “all you can eat.” Captain Georges Seafood Restaurant offers an incredible buffet of over 70 items. Pile your plate high with snow crab legs, oysters, shrimp, salmon and mahi-mahi --- and all...

Chilli Peppers Grill & Pupuseria is a local favorite for great food and a fun nightlife. The restaurant serves great food from around the world with a southwestern influence and sandwiches for lunch, as well as seafood and hearty entrees for...

Coastal Cantina offers the best in open-air eateries and award-winning Tex Mex menu items. Customers can have the best in cantina cuisine while enjoying the breathtaking views of the Currituck Sound in the Waterfront Shops in Duck. 

Whether you’re in the mood for an easy-going breakfast, lunch, or dinner in the heart of Duck, or are looking for a big feast to enjoy at the vacation rental home, there’s a lot to crave at this eatery that has plenty of variety, and...

Tucked away just off of N.C. Highway 12 in Buxton, Cockeyed Clam is a popular restaurant with families, fishermen, and visitors of all tastes, thanks to its expansive and crowd-pleasing menu, and a variety of local staples and fresh seafood dishes...

The Colington Cafe is a unique and romantic upscale restaurant located off the beaten path in Kill Devil Hills off Colington Road. The Victorian house is nestled in shady oaks with beautiful gardens and southern ferns, offering a unique atmosphere...

There’s an art to doing a home-style chicken dinner right in the South. You need a chicken fried to golden, crispy perfection obviously. Then you need the appropriate fixings, like mac and cheese and coleslaw. Finally, you need that familial...

A natural grass mini golf course.

Family owned and operated since 1990 at the same location, this deli is not fancy, but it’s got what counts: good food at good prices.  And since Country Deli has been time-tested on the Outer Banks, where the word of mouth can kill off a...

Wow! A drive-up with great tasting and healthy food? That’s what this unique restaurant ---which had once been a Burger King ---offers, at least for breakfast and lunch. Dinner is just great food, and you’ll have to come inside to get...

Dairy Queen, endearlingly called “DQ” by fans, is a soft serve ice cream and restaurant chain serving tasty eats, treats and beverages. 

Located in the center of Ocracoke village, Dajio showcases the best of local ingredients in a fresh and distinctive menu that borrows inspiration from the heart of the island. With a mouth-watering array of brunch, lunch, and dinner items, food fans...

Dare Devil’s Pizzeria is the perfect beach town pizzeria, where you can enjoy good food and a casual atmosphere with a menu that will please anyone in your group. Whether you’re in the mood for pizza, or you prefer a salad, sandwich or...

If you’re looking for fresh North Carolina seafood, Dinky’s will hit the spot. Chef Dwight Callahan cooks up a new seafood dinner special for every night of the week, with menu changes each season. Also on the menu are duck, steak and...

Serving Hickory-Smoked Barbecue & Deli Sandwiches for over 25 Years, Duck Deli is as popular and as quaint as its location. The Deli was opened in 1988 by a retired PA dentist, Ronald Forlano, and his son Ken. Today it remains a family venture...

Duck Pizza Company’s menu features a huge selection of creative pizza combinations with 24 varieties to choose from. They also offer a variety of ice cold beer. Eat in, take out or take advantage of free delivery from Pine Island to...

Opened since the 1950s at the same Whalebone Junction location,  although no one seems to know exactly when, Dune Burger is one of the oldest drive-up burger joints on the Outer Banks. It’s just a cinder block square, painted red and...

Cap off a long day on the beach and toast an Outer Banks sunset with a visit to this gathering spot that’s perched on the edge of the Currituck Sound. Eventide features a selection of cheese and charcuterie boards, sandwiches, salads, and...

What’s great about Fatboyz is you can stroll over to it from the beach in your bathing suit, get some tasty food and ice cream, and sit right down on their outside porch and enjoy it. No worries about your wet bathing suit or sandy bare feet...

WELCOME TO OBX’S HOTTEST GATHERING SPOT—a celebration of craft, comfort, community, & conversation. LOCATED IN THE NEWLY RESTORED HOTEL MANTEO, we’re serving up stone-oven pizzas & hearth-fired skillets, along with Weeping...

Start your day with a tasty breakfast and keep them in mind for lunch and dinner, too. A real mix of American foods. 

Since it first opened in June 1995, Fishbones has offered the best in creative Caribbean style Cuisine combined with fresh local Outer Banks Seafood to complement its upbeat casual dining atmosphere. It is is also the home of the "Best Clam Chowder...

This 50's style burger joint is loved by many because it offers simple, delicious, made-to-order burgers, hot dogs and fries. Five Guys Burgers and Fries is well-known for offering some of the best burgers in town, and in many towns for that matter...

This chilled out surfer restaurant is a hot spot for locals, and for good reason. Food Dudes offers casual dining with a gourmet menu of fresh, local and delicious homemade food. Two chefs/owners are the“food dudes” themselves. They cook...

A past winner of the Outer Banks Food Truck Showdown, this takeout, catering, and delivery establishment proves that great things can come in small packages. Fork'et Me Not has more than 30 years of experience and a new mobile kitchen to call home...

A year-round restaurant, bar and gift shop.

Delicious sauce and crust make for delicious pizza! 

Nothing sets a hotel apart like a good restaurant. At Hilton Garden Inn Outer Banks/Kitty Hawk, we’re proud to serve our guests and visitors at Garden Grille & Bar.Our chef prepares an American-style breakfast buffet each morning and...

At Good Winds Restaurant, we proudly serve tasty and inventive beach cuisine, fresh-caught local seafood, and the widest selection of wine and regional craft beer and in the Tri-Villages. Located above Kitty Hawk Kites on the second floor of the...

Great Gut Deli is located in Wanchese at the southernmost tip of Roanoke Island. It’s a small family-owned and operated deli that prides itself in its homemade specialties and its use of only the freshest available ingredients.The deli...

This charming breakfast and lunch restaurant is the Outer Banks version of an old-fashioned diner, complete with a counter and stools, retro pink or green vinyl and metal chairs and tables, and big comfortable booths.   With affordable...

Located on the southern edge of Hatteras Island, and surrounded by water in multiple directions, Hatteras Sol is an ideal destination for a romantic evening out with a steller view of the Pamlico Sound. Serving a variety of classic Hatteras dishes...

A legendary Ocracoke spot since 1991, Howard's Pub & Raw Bar Restaurant continues to be a favorite destination for longtime visitors thanks to its fun and engaging atmosphere, huge selection of post-beach worthy drinks, and delicious fare that...

Huanchaco Lounge in Kill Devil Hills brings a fresh and flavorful twist to the Outer Banks dining scene, blending vibrant Peruvian flavors with a laid-back coastal vibe. Named after the famed surf town of Huanchaco, Peru, this cozy lounge is a...

Hurricane Mo’s, a local favorite, is a perfect place to grab some grub after hitting the beach. Serving lunch, dinner, and even happy hour, Hurricane Mo’s will satisfy your hunger pangs anytime of the day.  

The Inn on Pamlico Sound is a full body experience. They offer the services of a European boutique hotel, the amenities of a small resort, and the comfort and charm of a North Carolina coastal bed and breakfast. What this translates as is waterfront...

JK’s offers exquisite fine dining with live wood fire grill cooked aged western beef, fresh seafood, domestic lamb, baby back ribs, grain-fed veal and chicken. JK's prides itself on excellent service and in offering the best in the raw...

John’s Drive-In is legendary in the Outer Banks. This little beach stand gets a lot of love by offering locals and tourists the best in beach food and milkshakes. 

Great dining prepared by an experienced chef with paired beverages to match. 

Kill Devil Grill is a one-of-a-kind diner located in a 1939 Kullman dining car.  Kill Devil Grill offers a nostalgic dining experience with table top juke boxes and other old-fashioned decor.  

Why scream for ice cream when you can enjoy old-fashioned frozen custard? This wonderfully beachy outdoor take out stand is the perfect stop on a beautiful summer day for delicious frozen custard as well as beach fries, sandwiches, hotdogs and...

Kilmarlic Golf Club and the Black Tartan Tap Room offer a full entertainment experience. The Kilmarlic course was named among GOLFWEEK’s 15 top courses in NC and was chosen to host the North Carolina Open both in 2004 and 2009. It was also...

Enjoy an elegant meal with a waterfront backdrop at this world-class restaurant that utilizes the fresh ingredients and flavors of the Outer Banks and beyond. Kimball's Kitchen has an ever-changing menu to delight patrons of all tastes, and the...

New in 2012, King Tut’s offers a casual place to get a tasty meal without having to worry about the kids getting bored. Quality hot dogs can be enjoyed while the young ones --- or adults ---play some arcade games, pool, ping-pong, Wii games...

Unwind after a long day at the beach with a little entertainment, an ice cold drink, or even a bit of uniquely delicious fare with a trip to one of Buxton’s best kept local secrets, the Lighthouse Sports Bar. Situated in a small building...

Lovie's menu is a garden of earthly delights.

Lucky 12 Tavern, located at Milepost 12 Beach Road has everything a great restaurant and bar should have: great food, great beverages, tons of personality and lots of TV's.  Lucky 12 prides itself on serving the freshest North Carolina Seafood...

A traditional seafood restaurant that also serves steak and chicken dishes.

Mahi Mahi’s Island Grill started as a dream of building something amazing for both the Outer Banks community and visitors alike. Mahi Mah's serves fresh, classic seafood dishes, as well as plenty of classic American options for landlovers.

Take a break from a busy day of shopping at Corolla’s Timbuck II Shopping Village and enjoy a casual lunch or dinner at this local destination that has a little something for everyone in the crew. Mama Easley's is a fun and laid-back eatery...

Mama Kwans Grill and Tiki Bar is a favorite restaurant and hang out for locals and visitors. Famous for fish tacos and a Bushwackers (a frozen, alcoholic milkshake that's to die for!), Mama Kwans is a must-stop during your time in the Outer...

Outer Banks visitors on the hunt for something tasty, filling, and unique may want to plan a lunch or dinner stop at McGrath's Burger Shack, an Irish American burger bar that has a hearty menu and a cool and easy-going atmosphere that’s...

Metropolis is open for dinner year round. Their menu changes with the season. They have a creative take on food allowing the customer to envision their own meal through ordering a series of small plates or tapas. There is great variety in the...

We're celebrating 40 years at Morris Farm Market and it's another beautiful day to hang out on the farm! There's so much to do here; the music is setting up for your entertainment and the craft and food truck vendors are also setting up so you can...

Located at Milepost 13 in Nags Head, across from Jockey’s Ridge State Park, we have unbelievable views from our second floor deck of the Atlantic Ocean and the historic Nags Head cottages. As a matter of fact, we don’t believe that you...

Nags Head Pier offers some of the best fishing on the east coast. Its proximity to the Gulf Stream provides access to a great variety of inshore fish, and the Pier Shop furnishes all the equipment needed to catch them. The Shop’s experts can...

Nothing beats the glow of a nice suntan, so why not put that to use, get a dolled up and head to Ocean Boulevard for some fine cocktails and gourmet dishes? The restaurant features a quiet and classy atmosphere great for a romantic evening. You can...

Though oysters are naturally always on the menu, Ocracoke Oyster Company offers a lot more than locally sourced seafood, and their menu is brimming with exceptional fare that can satisfy the largest of appetites. Located in the heart of Ocracoke...

Off the Wall Tap House brings a fresh blend of technology, community, and great food to the Outer Banks. Our restaurant, located in Corolla, provides an interactive craft beer experience and dining  that is memorable and fun. Our innovative...

A delicious stop filled with sweets, snacks and sandwiches. 

Taste the flavors of Greece right here in Downtown Manteo. Welcome to Olives A Greek Kitchen !!

When Lisa and Marcel Ortega opened their year-round restaurant, a cheer went up on the Outer Banks. Ethnic food was a much-needed addition to the downtown Manteo scene. They call their food southwestern style cooking. From Latin-influenced spring...

Located at the Outer Banks Mall since 2004, Outback is an Australian-themed chain restaurant that offers enough choices to please everyone in the family, served in an attractive atmosphere.  Vegetarians in the crowd can enjoy pasta and salad...

The Outer Banks Brewing Station, established in 2001, is the first wind powered brewpub in the U.S. and an icon on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Look for the 92 foot wind turbine in the backyard beer garden. A pub by the classic European style...

Located in southern Hatteras Island, Pamlico Deli is one of the Outer Banks’ newest and most acclaimed spots for an easy lunch, a collection of freshly prepared meals and goodies, and fun events that everyone in the crew will adore. Hosting...