Waterfront dining space for private events is plentiful in Virginia Beach.
Here are a few waterfront dining spaces and slightly inland venues to consider.
Chix
Chix is one of the most popular spots for ocean views, ample outdoor dining and an orange crush, for which the restaurant is known. Groups may also want to try a freshly-squeezed shandy, with lemon, agave nectar and draft lager. Chix’s surf n’ turf shrimp tacos, jumbo lump crab cakes and fried fish are also the talk of the town here.
Ocean House
Crispy fried oysters doused with Old Bay cream sauce are the rave at Ocean House, which sources them from the nearby Eastern Shore, just a quick trip across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. Ocean’s second-story deck, combined with live music every night and a menu of specialty drinks, make this place a popular reception spot for small events.
The Back Deck
The Back Deck, meanwhile, looks out over Wolfsnare Creek, an inland offshoot of the Chesapeake Bay. Fish tacos and craft brews are the must-try items here.
Inland Venues
Traditional tiki bars were all the rage in the 50s and 60s and Auntie’s Tiki Bar & Restaurant is the perfect escape to end an inland day the island way. Groups generally start with a table cocktail here, like a scorpion bowl, which serves two to four people and is lit on fire, or the fog cutter, served in a conch shell. A highlight here is a Filipino- and Hawaiian-inspired menu, which serves up dishes like lumpia and pancit.
At the newly-renovated Cavalier Hotel groups can enjoy sips fireside by the meticulously restored grand fireplace, while a tiramisu martini is on the menu at the Italian-themed Pasta E. Pani. For larger events, a new 285,000-sf sports center set for 2020 is creating a lot of excitement for the city’s Oceanfront district. Among its booty of spoils will be 195,000 sf of programmable space, 117,000 sf of which is multi-purpose and column-free.
