Favorite Outdoor Dining Spots on the Outer Banks

By Megan Nichols
May 01, 2025

Meals always seem to taste better in the open air, and our family notices it everywhere we travel for work. We love patio dining in just about any setting, and that is especially true near the coast.

The Outer Banks of North Carolina offers an abundance of excellent restaurants, with many pairing great food with memorable outdoor spaces. Some have water views, while others include family-friendly features like play areas right on site.

Here are several patio dining picks in The Outer Banks that we think you’ll love.

Miller’s Waterfront Restaurant

Miller’s Waterfront Restaurant in Nags Head sits beside the Roanoke Sound, so its patio delivers one of the closest waterfront perspectives in The Outer Banks. Sunset from this spot feels truly special. Fresh seafood leads the menu, though kids and anyone who prefers non-seafood choices will have plenty to choose from.

Fish Heads Bar & Grill

Fish Heads is a pier-based restaurant in Nags Head with a tiki-bar feel and an unbeatable setting directly above the ocean. Few things compare to enjoying nachos while surfers move through the waves below.

Surfin’ Spoon

Surfin’ Spoon is a frozen yogurt bar in Nags Head with a boho surfer feel that is worth experiencing. After time in the sunshine, it is an ideal stop for building your own sweet treat. Beautifully designed indoors and outdoors, Surfin’ Spoon delivers both charm and flavor.

Rundown Cafe

Rundown Cafe in Kitty Hawk serves tasty Caribbean-inspired food and features a second-floor deck with views of the ocean. On the lower level, guests can enjoy a pretty koi pond. Bring a quarter for fish food, and kids will have fun feeding the fish.

Outer Banks Brewing Station

Outer Banks Brewing Station in Kill Devil Hills offers an outdoor dining area that is hard to forget. Adults can relax at picnic tables tucked among the trees, enjoy live music from the stage, and visit the outdoor bar. Kids get a large pirate ship-themed playground. Parents can enjoy craft beer, hear the music, and keep an eye on their children playing close by.

American Pie

American Pie is an easygoing Kill Devil Hills spot serving hand tossed pizza and homemade ice cream. It is a comfortable place for families to eat together beneath the covered patio.

Category

Culinary

Author

Megan Nichols

Megan is the Founder of NC Eat & Play, which reaches 500,000+ followers a day through content that helps locals find great food and activities suited to reasonable budgets and everyday fun. As a chief curator and influencer for North Carolinians, NC Eat & Play showcases and supports local businesses and establishments across the state.