More than 49,000 ballots and over half a million individual votes were cast for readers’ favorite restaurants, shops, bartenders, gift shops, fishing charters, surf schools, and much more in our Best of the Beach 2022 contest. Click the links below to see the winners in each group, and stay tuned for details on celebrating our winners with banners and other promotions. Thanks to all who participated!
Around The Beach
- Best Radio Station: Radio Free Outer Banks
- Best Place to Work: Anderson Heating & Cooling
- Best Community Activist: Corolla Beach Cletus
- Most Colorful Character: Greg Smrdel
- Best Local Social Media Feed: Four If By Sea
- Best Nonprofit: Corolla Wild Horse Fund
- Best Place to Get Married: Elizabethan Gardens
- Best Local Radio Personality: Greg Smrdel
- Best Neighborhood: Manteo
- Best Local Website: OBXToday
- Best Weekend Getaway: Ocracoke
- Best Public School: First Flight High School
- Best Private School: Outer Banks Montessori Collective
- Best Preschool: Wilbur Gardens
- Best Place to Surf: Buxton
- Best Local Author: Greg Smrdel
- Best Scenic Spot: Jockey’s Ridge
- Best Psychic: Shree Fulcher
Arts & Entertainment
- Best Dance Studio: Outer Banks Dance Academy
- Best/Friendliest Pier Employee: Brandy at Fish Heads
- Best Mobile DJ: John Harper
- Best Museum/Aquarium: North Carolina Aquarium at Roanoke Island
- Best Weekend Getaway: Ocracoke
- Best Annual Event: OBX Jeep Invasion
- Best Art Gallery: Swell Ceramics
- Best Tourist Spot: The Beach
- Best Karaoke Place: Jolly Roger
- Best Local Band/Musician: Trick Fly
Eating & Drinking
- Best Cheap Meal: Fish Heads
- Best Hamburger: Five Guys Burgers & Fries
- Best Oyster Bar: Cousins’ Oysters
- Best Burrito: Bad Bean Baja Grill
- Best Fried Chicken: Biscuits N’ Porn
- Best Catering: Cousin’s Oysters
- Best Cocktails: Noosa Beach Grille
- Best Desserts: The Salt Box Café
- Best Family Restaurant: The Black Pelican
- Best Kid-Friendly Restaurant: Jolly Roger
- Best Seafood Restaurant: Tale of the Whale
- Best Wait Staff & Service: Blue Moon Beach Grill
- Best Cookies: Crumbl Cookies
- Best Donuts: Duck Donuts
- Best Bar: Fish Heads
- Best Beer Selection: Jack Brown’s Burger & Beer Joint
- Best Deck Dining: Mulligan’s
- Best Happy Hour: Hurricane Mo’s
- Best Locals Hangout: Fish Heads
- Best Outdoor Patio: Miller’s Waterfront Restaurant
- Best Waterfront Dining: Miller’s Waterfront Restaurant
- Best French Fries: Five Guys Burgers & Fries
- Best Food Truck: Fork Me Not
- Best Coffeehouse: Ashley’s Expresso Parlor
- Best Breakfast: Barrier Island Bagels
- Best Barbecue: Pigman’s Barbecue
- Best Romantic Restaurant: The Colington Café
- Best Soup: The Salt Box Café
- Best Bartender: Riley at Swellsa Brewing
- Best Bagels: Barrier Island Bagels
- Best Brewery: Swellsa Brewing
- Best Pub Food: Lucky 12 Tavern
- Best Chocolate/Candy Shop: Mom’s Sweet Shop
- Best Pet Friendly Restaurant: Fish Heads
- Best New Restaurant: Bankok Thai Sushi
- Best Seafood Market: Billy’s Seafood
- Best Bakery: Orange Blossom Bakery
- Best Brewery/Restaurant: Outer Banks Brewing Station
- Best Distillery: Outer Banks Distilling
- Best Mexican Restaurant: Plaza Azteca
- Best Bed & Breakfast: Roanoke Island Inn
- Best Winery: Sanctuary Vineyards
- Best Pizza: Nags Head Pizza Co.
- Best Takeout: Food Dudes Kitchen
- Best Ice Cream/Frozen Yogurt: The Chill Spot
- Best Sushi: Single Fin
- Best Asian/Thai: Thai Room
- Best Lunch: Kill Devil Grill
- Best Salad: Barefoot Bernie’s
- Best Brunch: Barrier Island Bagels
- Best Vegetarian Restaurant: The Salt Box Café
- Best Smoothies/Acai Bowls: The Spot
- Best Chef: Randolph Sprinkle at The Salt Box Café
- Best Wine Bar: Trio
- Best Wine Selection: Trio
- Best Wine Shop: Trio
- Best Restaurant Server: Kelly Kenny at Fish Heads
Health & Fitness
- Best Dental Office: Atlantic Dentistry
- Best Hearing Center: Blue Water ENT
- Best Doctor: Cara at Sumners
- Best Chiropractor: Casey Titus
- Best Massage: Outer Banks Salt Cave
- Best Health & Wellness Center: OBX Martial Arts
- Best Yoga Studio: OBX HOT YOGA
- Best Martial Arts Studio: OBX Martial Arts
- Best Health & Fitness Club: Outer Banks Sports Club
- Best Personal Trainer: Rick Bateman
Recreation & Fishing
- Best Fishing Charter: Carolina Girl – Jessie Anderson
- Best Fishing Headboat: Miss Oregon Inlet II
- Best Campground/RV Park: Frisco Woods
- Best Pier: Jennette’s Pier
- Best Watersports Company: REAL Watersports
- Best Surfing Lessons: Endless Summer Surf OBX
- Best Marina: Oregon Inlet
- Best Golf Course: The Pointe Golf Club
- Best Wild Horse Tour: Corolla Outback Adventure Tours
Services
- Best Plumber: Absolute Plumbing
- Best Home Improvement/Handyman Company: Wake Zone Services
- Best Hardware Store: ACE Hardware
- Best Landscaper: Clean Cut Tree & Landscaping
- Best Tree Care Company: OBX Tree Doc
- Best Heating & Air Conditioning Company: Anderson Heating & Cooling
- Best Association Management Company: Association Consultants
- Best Carpet Cleaners: Atlantic Carpet Cleaning OBX
- Best Large Boat Builder: Bayliss Boatworks
- Best Towing Company: Seto’s
- Best Lifeguard: Kill Devil Hills Rescue
- Best Wedding Boutique: Heather’s Hair
- Best Real Estate Sales Agent: Michael Milteer
- Best Residential Real Estate Agent: Carolina Designs Realty
- Best Vacation Rental Company: Carolina Designs Realty
- Best Commercial Real Estate Company: Twiddy
- Best Customer Service: Carolina Designs Realty
- Best Housekeepers/Cleaning: Davis Cleaning
- Best Property Management Company: Carolina Designs Realty
- Best Auto Service/Repair: Coastal Fast Lube
- Best Kitchen & Bath Remodeler: Cozy Kitchens
- Best Jeweler: Creative Jewelers
- Best Spa/Skincare/Esthetician: Advanced Skin Care
- Best Church: Liberty Christian Fellowship
- Best Propane Company: T. Jones
- Best Hotel: Sea Ranch Resort
- Best Cab Company: Lady Jane
- Best Appliance Repair: Next Door Maintenance
- Best Photographer: OBX Family Photography
- Best Computer & IT Services: Outer Banks Computer Repair
- Best Vehicle Rental Company: Enterprise Rent-A-Car
- Best Digital Marketing: Bright & Social Co.
- Best Pest Control: OBX Pest Control
- Best Local Construction Company: Soundside Construction
- Best Pet Boarding/Grooming/Daycare: Coastal Animal Hospital
- Best Veterinarian/Vet Clinic: First Flight Veterinarian
- Best Paramedic/EMS: Dare County EMS
- Best Pool & Spa Services: Riptide Pool & Spas
- Best Long-Term Rental Company: Southern Shores Realty
- Best Insurance Agency/Agent: Kimberly Carroll State Farm
- Best Hair Salon: Salt Hair
- Best Hairstylist: Panda
- Best Electrician: Next Door Maintenance
- Best Firefighter: Omareon Combs
- Best Tattoo Studio: Vertigo
- Best Law Enforcement Officer: Rodney Rawls
Shopping
- Best Hardware Store: ACE Hardware
- Best Wedding Boutique: OBX Bride
- Best Antique Store: Class & Trash
- Best Florist: Coastal Blooms
- Best Bookstore: Downtown Books
- Best Boutique Store: Rock-A-Bye Baby OBX
- Best Clothing Store: Foxy Flamingo
- Best Department Store: Home Goods
- Best Thrift Store: Hotline Too
- Best Vape Shop: Island Dyes
- Best Flooring/Carpet Store: Kitty Hawk Carpet
- Best Boat Sales/Service: Kitty Hawk Marine
- Best Furniture Store: Manteo Furniture
- Best Home Appliance Store: Manteo Furniture
- Best Garden Store/Nursery: Nature’s Harmony
- Best Auto Dealership: OBX Chevrolet Buick
- Best Auto Salesperson: Cory Piddington at Outer Banks Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram
- Best Beach Equipment Rental Company: Ocean Atlantic Rentals
- Best Bicycle Shop: Outer Banks Bicycle
- Best Grocery Store: Publix
- Best Gun Store: OBX Guns
- Best Baby Store: Rock-A-Bye Baby OBX
- Best Toy Store: OBX Toys & Engraving
- Best Surf Shop: WRV
- Best Shoe Store: Sound Feet Shoes
- Best Sporting Goods Store: T.W.’s Bait & Tackle
- Best Tackle/Bait Shop: T.W.’s Bait & Tackle
- Best Pet Store: PetSmart
- Best Mall/Shopping Center: Nags Head Outlets