These Jersey shore spots have salt air, seafood, and amazing views.
The best kind of beach day ends with dinner and drinks outside — seated at a table on a roomy dock, deck, patio, sand bar, or rooftop at the type of restaurant with waterfront views that demand to be photographed.
The pandemic led many restaurants in and around Philly to expand or, in some cases, construct outdoor dining areas. Down the shore, though, many restaurants prioritized al fresco dining long ago, as eating and drinking outside is a favorite pastime.
Feeling a light breeze as you crack open fresh crabs and watch a cotton candy-colored sunset over the bay never gets old. Neither does sipping an ice-cold beer and breathing in ocean air from a seat at a beach bar, for that matter.
From Long Beach Island to Cape May, you’ll find a lot of waterfront spots that are deeply casual, in addition to a few fancier places where you can pair a nice glass of champagne with fresh, local oysters.
No matter what kind of vibe you’re looking for, we’ve got you covered. These restaurants stand out for their optimal outdoor space and waterfront views that enhance their dining experience.
Deauville Inn
The Deauville Inn has been a fixture on Corson’s Inlet in Strathmere since 1881 when it first opened as The Whelen Hotel. The name change came in the 1920s as the Deauville Inn thrived during Prohibition — it was even rumored to be home to an illicit casino. New ownership took over in 2019 and completely gutted the space, which was once known for its cheap beer, hot wings, and white plastic chairs. The renovation features a sleek new interior (dark hardwood floors, copper ceilings, a refurbished stone fireplace, and a pub bar), a massive outdoor patio equipped with lots of tables, and a 50-foot bar promising unrivaled views of the bay. The menu matches the atmosphere: Crowd favorites include the smoked oyster gazpacho, made with local oysters and Jersey tomato puree and whole fried red snapper. Next to the patio is a laid-back sand bar area with picnic tables, Adirondack chairs, and a full-service bar on an elevated deck that attracts a younger crowd as well as families, with casual bites (tacos, hot dogs, flatbreads) and drinks like the popular lemon crush (Skyy lemon-flavored vodka, fresh-squeezed lemon juice, and club soda) or the 32-ounce rum bucket (a dangerous mix of four types of rum and fruit juice).
???? 201 Willard Rd., Strathmere, ???? 609-263-2080, ???? deauvilleinn.com, ???? @deauvilleinn, ???? Mon.-Thu. 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Fri. 11 a.m.-midnight, Sat.-Sun. 9 a.m.-midnight. ???? Reservations? Yes: Indoor only
The Point
This lively bar on the bay in Somers Point is such a hit, they decided to open a second location this year in the footprint of the former Springfield Inn and its outdoor Carousel Bar, an iconic Sea Isle landmark, and beloved post-beach pit stop for “no shower happy hour.” While it has big shoes to fill, The Point in Sea Isle seems poised to attract a similar fresh-off-the-beach crowd for happy hour with its open-air sand bar and rum-based frozen drinks. In Somers Point, you’ll find a similar setup — festooned with faux palm trees — but with a sublime view of the bay. Come here for live music, ranging from classic rock to soca jams, and drinks, like one of the simple-yet-satisfying crushers — a chilly cocktail made with fresh fruit juice (orange or strawberry), vodka of the same flavor, and a splash of club soda.
????998 Bay Ave., Somers Point and Pleasure Ave, and 43rd St., Sea Isle City, ???? dothepoint.com, ???? @thepointspnj, ???? Somers Point: Mon.-Fri., 3 p.m.-2 a.m, Sat.- Sun., 11:30 a.m.-2 a.m.; Sea Isle; City: Mon.- Sun., 10 a.m.-11 p.m.
Water Star Grille
If you’re feeling a bit fancy, there’s the Water Star Grille — located within stylish Stone Harbor hotel The Reeds at Shelter Haven — to sip champagne while watching the sunset from the restaurant’s bayfront patio. Pair your bubbly with fresh Stone Harbor pearl oysters, harvested nearby around Money Island where the Nantuxent Creek and the Nantuxent Cove empty into the Delaware Bay. Or, if you want to splurge, they also sell a seafood tower, which comes with a whole Maine lobster, four crab claws, eight chilled shrimp, 12 oysters, and tuna ceviche for $180.
