Where to Drink with a Water View on Long Beach Island

Aug 22

For a drink overlooking the ocean or bay.

Long Beach Island is, in its truest form, a shore town. That means we’re all on “island time,” even us locals. It’s been a treat to spend more time with the family, whether that means cooking at home or dining out, but we’re craving some adult fun.

It can be tricky to find restaurants and bars on Long Beach Island with an actual view, so we did a little bar crawl to find our local favorites. It’s hard work, you guys. Finally, the best waterfront restaurants and bars to drink with a water view on Long Beach Island. Cheers.

Polly’s Dock

Polly’s is a no-frill, no-fuss dockside dive, and we wouldn’t want it any other way. It’s a true dock-and-dine establishment, so boaters take note, but the charm makes it worthwhile no matter how you’re getting there. It’s BYOB so pack a cooler with your favorites and snack on some clam strips as the sun goes down. It really does have one of the best views in the house.

Sea Shell

A notorious party spot, the Seashell Tiki Bar or “The Shell” as the locals call it, sits right up against the beach so you have a view of sand and sea. By day, it’s mostly families and hotel guests, but by night it’s anyone in vacation mode. They have an incredible drink list so order up and stick around or bring your own blanket and hit the beach. Peep their website for live music updates, they’ve got quite the roster of musicians that pass through. Beachfront hangs just got way better.

Bird & Betty’s

Reminiscent of the 1950’s when Rolling Rocks were 25 cents, cut off shorts and tube tops were a new trend, and road trips were a way of life, Bird & Betty’s serves up frozen drinks alongside hardcore nostalgia. The upper deck is the place to be, and while the space is limited, the good times are not. For watefront, bayside views and shareable bites, this place is a keeper.

Buoy Bar

Tucker’s Tavern has over 360 socially distant seats up for grabs, including an outdoor beer garden, but we love the views from their rooftop, Buoy Bar. Overlooking the bay and the yacht club, the deck is a prime spot for water viewing with a cocktail in hand (Watermelon Mint Martini, perhaps?) and a dreamy sunset to boot.

Boatyard

New-ish to the scene, The Boatyard sits smack in the middle of the Causeway Bridge, serving as a “Welcome” sign to visitors making their way to the island. The waterfront beer garden is super casual, enough so that you can come off your boat in a swimsuit and no one bats an eye. There are food trucks, outdoor games and anything that can be served in a can, so it’s a great gathering spot that anyone can enjoy.

Christina Cherry

Christina Cherry is a marketing consultant and writer based in Beach Haven West and Brooklyn. She spends most of her time eating carbs, taking long walks to nowhere and trying to be a good human. You can peep her travel blog at everywherewithcherry.com and her consulting work at cherrycreativestudio.com.