From the very first writings about the Outer Banks by 1585 explorers Phillip Amadas and Arthur Barlowe, we've been lauded for our natural surroundings -- "the goodliest land under the cope of heaven." Certainly, anyone who comes here does so mostly because of the gifts Mother Nature has bestowed on the Outer Banks. Where else could you stand on top of a giant sand dune and watch the sun both rise and set? So, it's no wonder that dining under this cope of heaven, without a roof over your head, has been an Outer Banks restaurant tradition since the start of tourism. Outer Banks outdoor dining takes advantage of the magnificent environment that hosts it. There's no way any restaurant lighting can compete with twinkling stars! Lots of the restaurants with open air dining are located on the soundfront, so the scenic beauty is amped up as you watch the different colors of the sunset reflecting on the water. And, as an added benefit, many Outer Banks outdoor dining restaurants also offer live music on their decks. Want a local’s tip: Order a meal for take-out from your favorite restaurant, then go climb to the top of that giant sand dune and have a picnic. It’s a view that you’ve never had before while dining, that’s for sure!
Outer Banks Restaurants by Area
Corolla | Duck & Southern Shores | Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills & Nags Head
Roanoke Island & Manteo | Hatteras Island | Ocracoke Island
Outer Banks Restaurants by Category
The Lunchbox offers a variety of delicious and healthy lunch options: sandwiches, salads, protein pots and baked goods all made fresh daily in the Back...read more
The Back Porch is one of the island's great restaurants, providing a consistently pleasant dining experience. Their open-air screened porch dining room...read more
New as of 2019, Ramada Plaza Nags Head Oceanfront opened their onsite restaurant Beachcombers Wood Fired Grille & Tiki Hut. The freshly renovated space...read more
Serving American coastal cuisine, Beachside Bistro at the Sea Ranch Resort is one of the few true oceanfront restaurants on the Outer Banks. Hang out inside...read more
Benny Tesoro's is the 30th location in the Benny's chain of pizzerias that includes locations in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Pennsylvania and...read more
In a marvelous, brand-new building a half-mile south of its original location, Blue Moon Beach Grill has evolved from a small, casual grill into a...read more
Run by Hatteras Island’s native Oden family, The Breakwater at Oden’s Dock offers the village’s most upscale atmosphere for dinner and a long-standing...read more
Broken Plate Kitchen brings a taste of the Caribbean islands to Corolla. Chef/owner Sean Caiden and co-owner Amaloi Crossman hail from Jamaica, and they...read more
This open-air restaurant overlooking the sound is a fabulous place to enjoy a great sunset view, Tex-Mex food and drinks for lunch and dinner. Gather around...read more
The newest establishment from a longtime Hatteras restaurateur, Cockeyed Clam focuses on locally sourced seafood and New American cuisine. The setting is...read more
