Hanging out in Virginia Beach...

Virginia Beach is a great little east coast town. I first visited there for a professional conference about a decade ago and I have visited friends and done business there many times over the years since. When I decided to move out of the Rockies and back to the east coast in 2008, I set my sights on Va B for professional and social reasons... and I wanted to get back to the ocean. I grew up on the east coast and have always enjoyed being near the water. I lived in Va B through most of 2009 and early 2010 before starting the HBC experiment.

Chick's at mid-morning during the off season... it is much livelier in the Summer!

Va B really has a few distinct things going on... it sits at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay surrounded primarily by urban areas that you probably wouldn't want to spend a lot of time in. The exception is to the south, where you can sneak through Pungo and make it to North Carolina and the Outer Banks without seeing much more development than the occasional subdivision. Va B has a huge Navy Presence, including two key Naval Special Warfare installations. Much of the community is driven by military personnel and their families.

To many people, Va B is a touristy area of boardwalk and beach with the typical hotels, crappy restaurants and souvenir shops that one would expect. And it certainly can be that... but I spent most of my time on the north end of town... the "Shore Drive" and "Hill Top"areas. Here are some of my favorite spots:, starting in the south end:


Mahi-Ma's: This restaurant down around 9th St on the beach tries to be all things to everyone.. and actually does a good job. Excellent Sea Food, Great Sushi, Impressive Wine List and a Crowded Bar with lots of locals.... all in one! But, it is in tourist central... you were warned.


Abbey Road: This bar is in the heart of the tourist district, near 22nd St and Pacific. Service almost always sucks, but the music is good, the pub food is good and the beer list is the best in town. Over 100 different bottles including some hard to find (and worth finding) stuff, like Xingu. 


Catch 31:  Located at the Hilton Hotel on 31st street and the beach, Catch 31 is at the north end of the tourist strip and it is a great place to go for a "nice night out"... I don't think they really have a dress code, but put on something nice and expect to pay fairly for a really good meal. Throughout the summer, their outdoor bar is always busy and there are often live bands playing at the open air stage adjacent to the hotel.

Pacifica: This is a GREAT tapas restaurant with an ever changing menu. Pacifica is world class and the service is always good... it is at the far north end of what most people consider the proper "Virginia Beach", near the old Cavalier Hotel on Pacific Ave. Roll the dice on the specials and you will probably be impressed.

Heading up Pacific Ave past Fort Story (site of the first Public Works project in US History, a Lighthouse commissioned by George Washington!) and the road magically becomes Shore Drive through a unknown feat civil engineering and/or label gerrymandering. Some Important Locations in this part of town:

Virginia Beach Resort & Conference Center: This is THE no frills hotel to stay at when you visit Va B. Large rooms with ocean views and mini-kitchens. Great for families traveling together and FAR AWAY from tourist land. A large indoor/outdoor pool, small bar and restaurant and plenty of meeting space. Rates are downright cheap during off-season and reasonable at the height of the summer.

Hot Tuna Bar & Grill: I cannot list the events and antics that have taken place at this location (really, I can't... statutes of limitation, blood oaths, good taste, etc...). Oscar the Grouch party?  Yes. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Appearance? Yes. Octoberfest Party with men in lederhosen? Yes. Parked my Harley inside the bar one night when it was definitely not a good idea to try to drive home? Yes.  You have to stop in... the food isn't really that good, but the staff is World Class, the Atmosphere is fun and the drinks are... drinks. The She-Crab Soup, a local favorite, is definitely worth trying.

Shore Break: S-Break is Tuna's little brother restaurant for the casual sports-bar crowd. Lots of pool tables, great pizza and about a 87 TV screens. It also tends to stay open later than Tuna on most nights A good place for after after-dinner-drinks drinks.

Citrus: When you wake up in the afternoon, head to Citrus. Good food with a healthy twist. It is a breakfast diner type place, but high quality and good service. If you make it for lunch, their soup and sandwiches are top shelf.

Chick's: This is the best casual seafood place in the area. The best fried shrimp, great local oysters and a laminated plastic menu full of other options (both sides!). Service can be challenging and they have a very odd policy for such a casual waterside place of mandating Valet Parking. The only logic I apply to it after a couple years of trying to figure it out is the Limited Parking. Chick's sites on a tidal river around the corner from Lesner Bridge and the actual Chick's Beach. The lot is usually full and I guess they figure they can get 10 or so extra cars in their without dinger fenders by having their crack valet team handle the parking. Many people choose to pull their boats right up to the long dock and spend summer evenings on the expansive patio area eating and drinking with a crowd that is 90% locals at any given time.

One Fish, Two Fish: This is the classy seafood spot in the Shore Drive area. It also happens to look out of over Long Bay Point Marina, the home of The Bullfrog. many a night we would sit on the Bullfrog after a long day of what appeared to be fishing without the intended results associated with that activity and have the 1F2F staff deliver food right over the transom. Try the Tuna Tataki Appetizer.

In my Fishing Office.. on The Bullfrog with the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel in the background.

That oughta keep you busy and well fed (and, quite possibly, drunk) the next time you are in Va B. The next time I go, I'll outline my choices in the Hill Top and Town Center areas...

-RJP