Locals and fisherman flock to Simple Eats for all-day brunch service. Opt for the plentiful Shipwreck platter (scrambled farm eggs, sausage, peppers, home fries) or North Carolina blackened shrimp and stone-ground Virginia grits loaded with Edwards sausage and bacon. Playful drinks include mimosa (or sorbet) flights and a caprese-flavored bloody mary.

A waterfront staple since 1998, this high-energy hangout with live music donates all of its oyster shells to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation to replenish local waterways. Along with its destination raw bar, the versatile menu includes tacos, jumbo fried shrimp, crabby burgers, and a dozen creative crushes in varieties like creamsicle, Ranch Water, and cherry limeade.

The catch-all menu at the Porch includes a fried flounder BLT, mains like herb-crusted rack of lamb, and selection of sushi like a Cali-Virginia roll packed with lump blue crab.

Around since 1927, the reimagined Cavalier Hotel is the epitome of sophistication and elegance. At its chic, lobby-level restaurant Becca, feast on citrus-scented rockfish ceviche, crab cakes, and its wood-grilled catch of the day. Move downstairs to enjoy rustic American fare at its handsome Hunt Room tavern, well-executed cocktails in the stylish Raleigh Room, and poolside eats at Cavalier Beach Bar (open May to October).

Paul Gonzalez, the former head bartender at D.C.’s acclaimed cocktail bar Allegory, moved down to Virginia Beach during the pandemic. He brings his expert mixologist skills to Pacifica, as seen in complex cocktails like the Antidote (Laird’s apple brandy, Licor 43, green grape soju, pineapple, lemon, and vanilla tiki bitters). Hot and cold tapas include goat cheese and olive tapenade, crispy pig ears, and potstickers, plus a flatbread and pasta that rotates daily.

Local produce, meats, fish, and seafood shine at this “coastal Southern” seasonal restaurant with two Virginia Beach locations. During the summer, Bay Local serves hand-picked crab from Virginia’s Eastern Shore and strawberries from nearby Pungo, and collard greens and kale from nearby farmers come winter. Crowd-pleasing orders include fried chicken sandwiches, smoked salmon or soft shell crab BLTs, and breakfast burritos. Vintage light fixtures and reclaimed barn wood contribute to a lived-in look.

Modeled after a big ocean liner, Virginia Beach’s 10,000-square-foot adult playground pairs beach-y mojitos and beers with floor shuffleboard, bocce, and board games in a bright and tropical setting. Starters swing from lumpia to cheese curds, and mains include handhelds and flatbreads.

Virginia Beach’s Key West-loving dive, billed as “7 bars, 1 location,” just turned 25 this summer. Weekly specials include $5 margaritas on Thursdays, fajita Fridays, Western Wednesdays with a $21 ribeye special, and a pup-friendly Sunday brunch. The indoor-outdoor island getaway packs in various vibes, with a huge central sand pit for corn hole.

The beach’s beloved brewery brings flavor-packed American ales, fruity seltzers, and balanced European lagers to the Virginia shore. The versatile venue in the ViBe Creative District hosts ongoing events (think: boozy book clubs and drum circles), chef pop-ups, and food trucks.

Husband-wife restaurant vets Tim and Kristina Chastain brought this welcoming addition to the ViBe Creative District in 2015. Nestled in an Art Deco-era building, Esoteric showcases dozens of local brews on tap alongside a stellar surf-and-turf menu full of charred octopus, duck (tacos), a burger of the month, ribeye, and Southern staples like muffuletta and homemade pimiento cheese. Plated produce is as fresh as it gets; herbs, veggies, and fruit are plucked from an on-site garden.

Anchored in the heart of Virginia Beach’s oceanfront since 1981, Waterman’s remains a local favorite for fresh seafood and orange crushes built with vodka from woman-owned distillery Waterman Spirits.