16 Best Cocktail Bars in Norfolk

“Omg where do I start!!! Me and my wife came Friday the 16th!! We didn’t have a reservation and I promise you I suggest making one especially on I house guess the weekend. We decided to sit at the bar instead of a window seat I also let the host know if someone cancels or if a Hi top come available please let us know. After 2 cocktails in which was amazing we got lucky got a seat! All you could see was the kitchen door flying open lol as the waitresses was bringing dishes I mean we only do fine dining when we eat out but I honestly wasn’t expecting something at this caliber seriously, you know we eat alot of places and sometimes the food just doesn’t be seasoned the way you expected especially if its plated nicely. Because it’s true we eat with our eyes first! But let me tell you!!! Goddd KISS THE CHEF!! The Owner, Owners whoever lol because every aspect was on point from service to atmosphere it really was unbelievable! I felt like I was in a major city!! Miami especially because I’ve had the oxtail lasagna there so I advised my wife to get that and I got the 37oz Tomahawk for 2 top with crab meat lol I love a good steak seriously. We didn’t get any appetizers because I wanted to save my appetite and my mental was in my pocket lol if you know what I mean but a $100 for a tomahawk with roasted potatoes it was no way I wasn’t gonna have that for dinner and some left for breakfast with cheese eggs in the morning lol Now when my steak came out! I ordered medium in which I expected to see pink because medium requires pink and who orders a well done steak anyway??? I mean it was cooked and seasoned to perfection with roasted potatoes and onions OMG I’M GOING BACK THERE!! Soon!! I taste my wife oxtail lasagna because she just kept saying how much better it tasted here lol so I did and she wasn’t exaggerating I mean the pasta sauce was sweet with garlic Omg how did they make a sauce that good and it had tomato chunks in it not the big crazy chunks but just perfect everything was PERFECT THIS PLACE DESERVES A MICHELIN⭐️ if thats possible in this area Ive ate in numerous countries because of my military background but this place is one for the books!!“

“Delicious, fantastic service, beautiful food presentation , smallish side of portions if you area huge eater but perfect for us. Price according to current 2025 inflation, about 300plus for 5 of us, no alcohol, couple appetizers, couple desserts. Would absolutely come again.“

“We were in town for the night and a friend told us a out this place. OH MY I am so glad we went. Its a plate of big flavor. My husband had the chicken I had the filet..We talked to the chef after, very impressed and alot of experience under his belt. Wow is all I can say. We wish this place the best of luck“

“Attended soft opening today. Ate at the bar. Food was great. Menu is filled with a great variety. Staff was well trained. Looking forward to trying more Menu items.“

“Thank you so much for the amazing food and sweet hospitality! We can't wait to come back for another wonderful breakfast when we return for a visit from Wisconsin! 🥰“

“Friendly, knowledgeable staff. killer drinks, and great food. hats off .. 🤙“

“Decided to stop by yesterday and l order the Pupusas, they were phenomenal. Not greasy/oily as other places, had the ones with beans and the traditional cheese ones as well. Staff was friendly, got to meet the owner, definitely see my self stopping at least once a week here for lunch. delicious food and the horchata was on point too“

“I just want to thank the manager and staff for my birthday experience last night. We got there after harbor fest and the kitchen was closed but they were nice enough to go shuck oysters for me for my birthday . It was definitely appreciated thank you guys Saltine“

“I’ve eaten meat longer than I haven’t. I’ve also cooked professionally for decades. Trust me when I say, Alkaline’s vegetarian ramen is some of the best I’ve ever had PERIOD. The broth is straight up magical!“

“I love this place, the servers help one another so you don't just have your waiter but a couple other and the Manager even helps just to make sure everyone and everything is running smoothly. The food is great from the tacos to the fajitas to the drinks. I can say enough about Jose's“

“We had such a great experience getting married at The Harbor Club! Just about everything about the planning experience and the day of was perfect as far as the venue and food was concerned.
Communication with the venue via Jenn, the venue coordinator was quick and professional. She was able to answer all of our questions before we booked, and was very informative when we did a tour. Communicating throughout the planning process after we had booked was the same. Jenn also served as our day of coordinator for the other vendors, kept our timeline on track throughout the day. Everything ran smoothly!
The venue itself was lovely, the perfect size for our wedding. Easy access to the restrooms, and the whole venue is handicap accessible. The view of the Elizabeth River is gorgeous, and all of our guests loved the balcony where we had our cocktail hour.
Several guests complimented the appetizers that were passed, as well as the food we had for dinner. The service and bar staff were top notch, very professional and good at what they did.
We had a perfect wedding day, and the Harbor Club and all of the wonderful staff and hard work that was put in was a large part of what made the day so amazing.“

“Shout out to Yummo Bucko! A party of 4 we all spent close to $100, please know a 15% gratutity is added to each person no matter the size of group. This place will fill up fast (small and quaint), opens at noon on Sunday. I checked online to see if reservations could be set up and didnt see where that was an option, upon entering we were asked if we had a reservation. Even though we didnt we were told to select wherever we wanted to sit.

Food ordered: Sampler - grits where stiff and saudage links appeared and tasted as if straight out of (brown & serve box)

Fried shrimp - seasoned well and fried perfect

Eggs Benedict (2x) - one with fried, one scrambled it comes with two crab cakes and 2 lamb chops (lamb chops were supposed to be grilled medium well. Lamb chops was a new born baby lamb chop and so tough to bite)

Side order of original French Toast - ( one piece of bread cut in half $6.00)

Lamb chop brunch meal - comes with 3 lamb chops, smothered in brown gravy (I missed that part on the menu, I just wanted med well grilled lamb chops which came out the same as above. The menu stated mashed potates came with; however received cheesy grits with lobster meat. NO on the grits and the lobster was OK).

Lemon Pepper wings to go - brought order out and gave to the wrong person with no bag, just plopped down and walked away.

4 Mimosas which was ok.

Will we try this place again??? - Possibly on another day, just not BRUNCH.“

“06/10/05I had a blast at this bar. Go during a car race. They give drinks for crashes. I asked for a menu in this place, they gave me a pizza shop that would drop off. The balls on these people.So much fun. Be respectful and you will have fun.“

“Amazing dinner. Great price.“

“Craft on Colley is a yes for me. I really appreciate that they offer a decent amount of parking in their lot, with easy access from both Colley and 42nd Street. They even have a bike rack, which is a nice touch for cyclists.

The space isn’t huge, but it’s a good size with both indoor seating and a cozy outdoor patio—perfect for enjoying these summer evenings. It’s a great spot for everyone—friends, couples, and families alike. We arrived before the crowd, but the place filled up quickly, which says a lot about its popularity.

From the moment we walked in, the hostess/waiter was very attentive, and I noticed this level of service was consistent with all guests. He greeted everyone promptly and checked in on tables regularly without being intrusive. Since we were celebrating my birthday, our waiter even surprised me with a free pineapple shot—such a thoughtful and fun touch that made the experience even better.

The vibe was great—good background music, a relaxed atmosphere, and solid food and drinks. We both ordered the “Life is a Peach” margarita, which was perfectly balanced in flavor and strength. One drink lasted us the entire two-hour visit.

For food, we ordered the calamari, Buddha buns, bang bang shrimp, Cobb salad, and a side of fries with queso. Everything was tasty, but my favorites were definitely the bang bang shrimp and the Buddha buns—they had a nice little kick.

I’ll definitely be back—and soon.“

“staff is amazing! Made a reservation for a birthday party. They made us a custom menu and drink in honor of the Birthday! food was so good, and the upscale atmosphere was second to none. We will be renting out their upstairs bar/lounge for upcoming birthday! Recommend Mike and Laura for amazing service! 6 stars out of 5.“