The Shanty Beach Bar

Favorite summer hangout.

Fun place , with good food

Drove out of our way to go here because they had not updated their hours on Google. It was closed for the season and we missed a sunset because of the inconvenience.

Awesome place to bring a boat anchor up kids can play at the beach swim all day.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Chicken Tenders

My husband and I have been coming to Cape Charles almost every summer for the past 12 years. It’s been a tradition long before we got married. We go camping at Kiptopeke State Park and then we usually go to The Shanty for dinner one night out of the weekend we stay here. We’ve never had a problem in the past and It’s usually a good experience. We came a couple years ago with some friends and the parking lot was packed. We asked if we could sit outside, they told us it’d be a little wait so we had a drink at the bar and shortly after we were all seated outside and had a great dinner. This year was a different experience. My husband and I arrived at 7 pm on a Friday night. The parking lot was about half as full as to what it’s been like in the past. When arriving to the hostess area, we were not greeted. There was no one in front of us waiting to be seated. We stood there waiting for the standard “hello” or “welcome” or “how May I help you?” You know, the way you act when you work at a restaurant. But instead, she gave me a weird look and I felt like I was interrupting whatever conversation her and the other girls at the area were discussing. I say “Hi, how’s it going?” She replies by asking us if we want to eat there, or something along those lines. I remember thinking “ that’s a very weird way to greet someone who wants to eat at the restaurant you’re working at”. I then ask her if there’s any way we could eat outside, to which she tells us it’s going to be an hour and a half to two hour wait. Another odd answer because the restaurant closes at 9 pm. Or so the website says, so why even offer? Then I tell her we’ll sit wherever is easiest for them. She responded by telling us they have two full service bars; one inside and one outside so we head to the bar outside thinking we’d find a seat there. As we walk to the outside bar, we notice the inside has empty two tops and four tops and it doesn’t seem that busy on the dining side, but the bar was packed. We head to the outside bar and that’s packed too, no where to sit. But we did notice some empty dining tables outside too as we were figuring out what to do. So we left. As we were leaving, my husband noticed the girl greeting an older couple coming in to dine and seemed to be a lot more attentive to them. I don’t know what was going on that night, maybe they were short staffed? They don’t take reservations, so I know that wasn’t it. Maybe there was something about us that the girl at the front didn’t like? Her demeanor sure seemed like she didn’t want us there. I call her a girl because she looked like she was in high school and acted like it too. We ended up eating at a newer restaurant on 13 which turned out to be delicious and we could eat outside, so it was all good at the end of the night. But we won’t be going back to The Shanty.

It's a great spot and definitely will be back.
Great music.
Great drinks
Nice breakfast spot.
Pool for ya when you are staying with your boat for the night or weekend!
Deck hands and the service was awesome !

Thank you

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 5

I needed a few moments of clarity. Bestie took me here.

Atmosphere: 5

Friendly people. The beach. Live music. You can't beat it. Love the

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Blackened Fish Sandwich

Drinks were good and prices were pretty reasonable for the venue. We saw a couple of good bands with no cover charge. The evening sun produces some picture worthy sunsets....but bring sunglasses because if you are sitting watching the band it is right in your face.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 4

What's not to like? It has a Bar on the Beach with a live Band and they sell Food. You can dance, you can swim or just sit and watch the festivities. Everybody is either in their swimsuits or very casually dressed. It's a very relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere. I will definitely go back and bring my Family. I ate the Rockfish Basket that came with yummy French Fries, and a Caesar Salad and a Soda. Everything was very affordable priced. There are canopies over picnic tables which are many, and the food and beverage areas, in case of rain.

Vegetarian options: They have salads and other food besides meat.

Parking: If you're handicap and can't walk down to the beach they will send a golf cart to get you. A golf cart will also take you back to your car.

Kid-friendliness: Yes

Wheelchair accessibility: I don't know why not. It's all out doors.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Rum Bucket

Great vibe, ok food, awesome bar staff.

Bartenders are great! Orange crushes are good and Rob Fahey played there!

Atmosphere: 5

Service: 5

Nice place on the water

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Crab Cake Sandwich

Great spot to hang with friends..drinks were fabulous..food was average at

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 3

Service: 3

Nice place it's hot here no wind but it was

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 4