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Red Drum Grille and Taphouse
NC 12, MP 10, Nags Head
(252) 480-1095
Red Drum pours 18 beers on tap, including
hard-to-find brews like Sierra Nevada, J.W.
Dundee's Honey Brown, Woodpecker Cider,
Black Radish, and Pyramid-Hefeweizen. You
can get wine by the glass or the bottle.
Red Drum also serves liquor from its beautiful long, redwood-colored bar.
Mulligan's Oceanfront Grille
NC 12, MP 10 1/2, Nags Head
(252) 480-2000
Mulligan's is heralded as a popular evening
hot spot and maintains its image as the
Outer Banks's own version of TV's Cheers.
A wooden partition separates the long,
three-sided wooden bar from the dining
room, and loads of local memorabilia
adorn the walls. Mulligan's serves micro-
brewed beer on tap or in iced-down
bottles. Wine and liquor are available.
Acoustic music plays on weekends in the
off-season and on Wednesday, Friday, and
Saturday in summer.
Kelly's Outer Banks Restaurant & Tavern
US 158, MP 10 1/2, Nags Head
(252) 441-4116
www.kellysrestaurant.com
Probably the most consistently crowded
tavern on the Outer Banks, Kelly's offers
live bands five nights a week in season
and an open-mike fest with a lip-synch
contest and cash prizes on Tuesday. During fall and winter, rockin' bands take the
stage, and fun people always fill this place. A full bar serves suds, shots, and
everything in between. Folks often line up
around its three long sides two or three
people deep. The big dance floor is usually shaking after 10:00 P.M. If you're in the
mood just to listen and watch, secluded
booths surround the dance floor a few
steps above the rest of the lounge, and
tables are scattered throughout the tavern. A dartboard and fireplace adorn the
back area. Featuring a tasty variety of
foods served late into the night, a lounge
menu offers appetizers and steamed shellfish. An old-fashioned popcorn popper
provides free munchies served in wicker
baskets throughout the evening. Singles
seem to really enjoy this tavern.
Slammin' Sammy's Offshore
Grille & Stillery
US 158, MP 10 1/2, Nags Head
(252) 449-2255
www.slamminsammys.com
Slammin' Sammy's is the area's only dedicated sports bar, with 43 TVs tuned to
the sports du jour. Sammy has even put
TVs in the bathroom. If you'd rather play
than watch, there are pool tables and
darts. It's right across the street from
Kelly's Tavern, so people often hop back
and forth between the two bars. Be careful crossing the highway at night! Slammin' Sammy's has a full bar, offers a
late-night menu, and is open until 2:00
A.M.every night.
Tortuga's Lie Shellfish Bar and Grille
NC 12, MP 11, Nags Head
(252) 441-7299
www.tortugaslie.com
Our favorite place to meet friends for a
laid-back evening-or to hang out with
long-lost local pals-Tortuga's offers probably the most comfortable atmosphere
you'll find on the Outer Banks most of the
year. The bar winds around a corner to
allow at least a half-dozen more stools to
slide under the refurbished countertop.
Old license plates are perched on the low,
wooden ceiling beams, and the sand volleyball court remains ready for pickup
games out back all summer. Bartenders
serve Black and Tans in pint glasses-that's right, Tortuga's has Guinness and
Bass Ale on tap. Beer is served by the Parents looking for some alone time
without the children should ask their
vacation rental company about baby-
sitting services and children's programs
in the area. These types of services are
quickly growing in popularity on the
Outer Banks. longneck bottle or by the iced-down
bucket. Shooters, mixed drinks, and tropical frozen concoctions are sure to please
any palate. The steamer is open until closing, so
you can satisfy late-night appetites with
shellfish or fresh vegetables. Whether
you're visiting or here to stay, Tortuga's is
one place you won't want to miss. Most
nights, it remains open until 2:00 A.M.Tortuga's closes for a brief spell in December
and January.
Bacu Grill
Outer Banks Mall, US 158, MP 14
Nags Head
(252) 480-1892
This Cuban-inspired restaurant and bar is
about the only late-night place in lower
Nags Head. Blues and jazz bands play
several nights a week in the summer and
occasionally in the off-season. You may be
charged a small cover for the bands. This
is the favorite end-of-the-workweek gathering spot for Nags Head locals, so Friday
nights are often packed. Bacu has a
worldly wine list and a European beer
engine that pours a perfect draft beer,
such as Harp, Guinness, or Sierra Nevada.
Appetizers and other food are served late. |
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The Green Dolphin Restaurant and Pub
Sir Walter Raleigh Street, Manteo
(252) 473-5911
If you're looking for late-night fun in
Manteo, this is the only place to find it.
Acoustic guitarists perform here on Friday
nights year-round, playing jazz, rock, folk,
and blues. A bar serves a variety of beer,
and there's never a cover charge for live
music. This pub is warm and comfortable.
Upon wooden floors and booths sit tables
made from old ship-hatch covers and
Singer sewing machine stands. The staff is
friendly, and locals like to hang out here.
It's a fun place with a pool table and
pockmarked dartboards set in a separate
room. The restaurant serves appetizers
and sandwiches late into the night. Call
for seasonal schedules of entertainment.
The Green Dolphin is open Tuesday
through Saturday until 1:00 A.M.
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