The Grand Strand’s main attraction is the beach, and many vacationers also come for the opportunity to let loose for a little while and forget about whatever it is they left back at home. The perfect combination for this: Myrtle Beach beachfront bars. Enjoy the sights and scenes of the beach while sipping a cold beer or cocktail. It doesn’t get much better than that. Whether you’re dancing the night away at an oceanfront beach club, sipping cocktails at a tiki bar with a view or just throwing back a few beers at one of the finest dive bars in Myrtle Beach, there are lots of places that offer beachfront charm and plenty of fun.
Wicked Tuna at Second Avenue Pier in Myrtle Beach offers cold beverages, great food and spectacular views from their two-story oceanfront building on the pier. The seafood- and sushi-heavy menu features hook-to-plate fresh fish as well as a variety of salads, sandwiches and steaks. Specialty drinks include the Wicked Pineapple and Co-Co-Nuts cocktails. Beer and wine are also available.
Much more than just a bar, Sea Captain’s House Restaurant is a staple among loyal Myrtle Beach visitors. Serving up a diverse menu with plenty of sea- and land-food, Sea Captain’s House is a hotspot for brunch, lunch and dinner. The view is perfect whether you’re enjoying a hearty meal or a cold drink on the oceanfront deck. Sea Captain’s House serves up a variety of house-made cocktails and specialty drinks along with beer, wine and liquor.
For sweeping, scenic views of the Atlantic while you’re eating, it doesn’t get much better than this downtown Myrtle Beach pier. Open for lunch and dinner, this oceanfront eatery offers something for pretty much everyone, so long as you’re in the mood for seafood, steaks, pasta, or salads. Pier 14 Restaurant & Lounge The appropriately seafood-heavy dinner menu is divided into seven categories. Options for Appetizers include standard seafood restaurant fare like Calamari, Lowcountry Peel-n-Eat Shrimp, Shrimp Cocktail, and Oysters on the Half Shell, in addition to unique starters like Shark Bites and Fried Green Beans. If a cup of soup is more your speed, Pier 14 has housemade secret-recipe Seafood Bisque, Clam Chowder, and Soup of the Day. The From the Grill menu mostly offers land-based meats like Grilled Chicken Breast, “Best of the Beach” award-winning Pork Chops, several steaks (Prime Rib, Filet Mignon, New York Strip, Ribeye), and a Burger/Cheeseburger option, too. From The Seven Seas is their seafood section, and the options include Flounder (recommended lightly fried), Salmon (baked or grilled), Fantail Shrimp (12), Scallops (10), Seafood Combo (shrimp, oysters, scallops, deviled crab, flounder, fried), Crab Legs, and Lobster Tail. Pier 14 also has several Specialty dishes, for those looking for the house-favorites. Highlights include their most complimented dish, Chicken Crustaceans (fried chicken breast, topped with fresh shrimp, scallops, and crab meat with a creamy sherry sauce), Bubba’s Crab Cakes (two 4oz housemade cakes with lemon dill), and Seafood Pasta (mini penne, shrimp, scallop, crab, Alfredo). Two Vegetarian dishes are also available – 5 Cheese Ravioli and Veggie Primavera – as well as Lighter Side salads available with Salmon, Red Tuna, Shrimp, Grouper, or Chicken Breast. Pier 14 Restaurant & Lounge Atmosphere This is as beachy as dining gets in Myrtle Beach. There are other restaurants with ocean views, but unless someone builds a structure in the actual surf (probably impossible and illegal), there won’t be a way to top the experience of pier-dining. The indoor dining room is cozy, and is usually full of locals and tourists alike. And during the warmer months an outdoor seating area is opened, giving diners the opportunity to stare directly at the ocean while having some good seafood. And afterwards, guests can take a stroll on the pier and check out what the fishermen and women are catching. Anglers can walk out over the top of the ocean to cast their rods and reels close to where the big ones swim. Various species of fish are caught regularly from Pier 14, including Spanish mackerel, sea bass, spot and many more. The wooden deck features pole holders and seating so anglers can take a break from baiting their hooks in hopes of landing a few keepers to take home for dinner. Pier 14 also features a bait and tackle shop that can accommodate all your fishing needs, including rod and reel rental, live and artificial baits and all the equipment you need to bring a big one up on deck. Pick up some snacks and cold drinks, or scratch a few friends off your shopping list with some classic souvenirs from Myrtle Beach. It all adds up to a great day on the ocean without leaving dry land.
Cherry Grove Pier is one of those classic spots along South Carolina’s Grand Strand that just feels like the beach. Stretching way out into the Atlantic, it’s perfect for everything from fishing to simply soaking in the views. Whether you’re an experienced angler or just there for a peaceful walk, you’ll find plenty to love—think ocean breezes, incredible sunrises, and that easygoing coastal vibe. There’s also a tackle shop, rod rentals, and a casual café, so it’s easy to spend a whole day just hanging out by the water. Right in the middle of it all, Driftwood Bar & Grill is a great place to kick back and grab a bite. You can enjoy fresh seafood, classic beach favorites, and cold drinks while looking straight out over the ocean. It’s an easy choice whether you’re stopping in for lunch, winding down with a drink at sunset, or refueling after some time on the pier.
A favorite among repeat visitors, Sands Ocean Club’s wooden patio bar gives beachgoers a chance to live it up just a stone’s throw from the waves. With a full schedule of live bands each summer, Ocean Annie’s is also a great place to catch some local music while enjoying the rays and beverage of choice.
One of the oldest bars in Myrtle Beach, this Boardwalk eatery and drinkery is a great spot to stop in when you need to get out of the sun but don’t want to stray too far from the ocean. They also have live music pretty much every day of the week during the summer season, so just follow your ears to the party.
Centrally-located in downtown Myrtle Beach, this family-friendly restaurant and bar offers a scenic space out back that’s just steps from the beach. Guests can hear the waves roar as they enjoy a drink or one of Bummz specialty food items. There’s also plenty of live music in the summer, which adds to the Island-vibes already present.
This Surfside beach bar is a popular hangout for locals both day and night. It’s a convenient place to grab a cold beverage to beat the heat, and it’s also a relaxing spot to sip a cocktail at night and join in on the lively conversations that tend to take place. Another bonus is that Scotty’s has indoor and outdoor areas so that guests can decide what kind of climate best suits their mood.
Restaurants that take the time to prepare everything in-house are usually worth a visit, and 8th Avenue Tiki Bar & Grill is one of those restaurants. The menu here is divided into several categories – Starters, Wings, Salads, Chicken, Burgers, Steaks and Seafood, Skewers, Pizza, Sides, and Desserts. Yep, it’s a lot to take in, so you might find yourself needing to go again and again.
Located on the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk right at Plyler Park near the Skywheel in downtown, Moe Moon’s is a surf-themed “beach grill & chill” that offers a great place to grab lunch, dinner or just sit and relax with a few drinks. The fishbowl cocktails are a crowd pleaser.
Tin Roof is about giving musicians a place to play and and a place to hang when they aren’t onstage. The tasty food, fun, eclectic environment, community of Regulars, and friendly Crew have established the Roof as the place to be for musicians and non-musicans alike. The oceanfront views from the patio are unbeatable.
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