Take a traditional Irish pub and set it down just beyond the dune line in North Myrtle Beach and you get a unique flavor you'll only find on the Grand Strand. With a menu that features traditional Irish fare like Shepherds Pie and Fish & Chips as well as a bar menu of chicken wings and nachos, Molly Darcy's provides patrons a full lineup of food and a wide selection of beers and beverages to wash them down. But the main draw is the ocean view and a large patio deck that allows guests to relax by the beach and listen to the waves roll in.
Recommended for Beach Bars because: Most beach bars carry the typical tropical theme, making an oceanfront Irish pub like Molly Darcy's a true one-of-a-kind find.
Terry's expert tip: Stake out a table on the oceanfront deck and spend the day and night mixing and mingling with the friendly folks who inhabit Molly Darcy's.
Shag dance on the outdoor deck overlooking the Atlantic Ocean while you sway to the sounds of the waves and the sweet tunes that have been rocking this beach bar for six decades. Although the music is heavy on the juke box during the week, Harold's is known for attracting some of the top beach music acts in the business - no small feat for a bar this size. But there's plenty of room to dance and spectate, even if it involves listening from a nearby blanket on the beach. Like the original Harold's, patrons are prone to shagging the night away.
Recommended for Beach Bars because: Harold's on the Ocean is a grest place for shaggers and beach-lovers.
Terry's expert tip: On crowded nights with popular acts, take a beach blanket and listen to the music without dancing elbow to elbow.
If you're looking for a big, loud hot spot, you won't find it here. But if you're idea of a beach bar is a small, friendly place to kick off your flip-flops and kick back with a cold drink, you've come to the right place. In fact, St. Clement's Beach Bar can be hard to find if you're arriving by car. It's tucked away behind the St. Clement's Hotel at the end of 70th Avenue North. But if you're arriving on foot from the beach, it's hard to miss this day-glow pink building with a handful of tables and chairs. The bar serves ice-cold beer, frozen drinks and more, and the grill serves up some of the best burgers, wings and cheesesticks on the beach.
Recommended for Beach Bars because: Beach bars have come and gone over the past quarter-century, but St. Clement's has stood the test of time.
Terry's expert tip: A somewhat hidden staircase leads to a spectacular view from the bar's rooftop deck.
Drop into Mako's Oceanfront Bar and Grill for good times and great food. The restaurant is a neighborhood favorite, and offers a casual, friendly dining atmosphere that you and your friends are sure to enjoy. Mako's Oceanfront Bar and Grill also features a friendly, professional staff of great people, who will make sure you enjoy your visit and that Mako's Oceanfront Bar and Grill lives up to its reputation for pleasant dining and superb cuisine. The menu offers an inspired array of selections that is sure to satisfy everyone in your group, every time. Whether you're in the mood for casual dining or a special occasion, Mako's Oceanfront Bar and Grill is sure to please.
Recommended for Beach Bars because: Mako's is as much of a restaurant as a bar, but its location is what really sets it apart.
Terry's expert tip: Beach-goers are only a short stroll away from this oasis, which serves cold beer and hot grub that's perfect after a day at the beach.
This longtime downtown watering hole went largely overlooked by tourists and locals before the construction of the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk in 2010. Following a major renovation to transform the pub into a true beach bar, including roll-up doors and outdoor tables, the "O.G." is now a hub of activity. The open-air design allows the ocean breeze to blow through the bar while providing shelter from the summer heat. The bottled beers are kept in ice tubs so theyre always cold, and the menu has undergone a major upgrade to go beyond traditional bar food, including fresh seafood and Caribbean dishes.
Recommended for Beach Bars because: Oceanfront Grill is the anchor bar of the downtown Myrtle Beach Boardwalk.
Terry's expert tip: The Plyler Park stage is just outside so it's a good place to take in a lot of free concerts and fireworks shows during the summer months.
The Myrtle Beach Boardwalk continues to bring new businesses to the downtown district, and the 8th Avenue Tiki Bar & Grill is the latest addition to this increasingly hottest spot in town. Taking over a historic building previously occupied by legendary night clubs like Mother Fletcher's and Club Myst, 8th Avenue Tiki Bar & Grill hopes to bring a new attitude and atmosphere to the Myrtle Beach Oceanfront - a more festive, beach environment instead of the dance-club reputation of the building's previous owners and operators. Using bright colors and a new patio deck addition, 8th Avenue Tiki Bar & Grill plans to hold luaus and other beach-related festivities to the Boardwalk area, something that has been missing from the area since the 1.2-mile walkway was opened in 2009. 8th Avenue Tiki Bar & Grill also looks to add more emphasis to food, featuring a full menu of bar-food fare and seafood, such as fish tacos and buffalo shrimp. Burgers, steaks and other standard fare are on the menu, as well as frozen dessert drinks and a Reese's Cup Cheesecake that tastes as sinful as it sounds.
Recommended for Beach Bars because: 8th Avenue Tiki Bar is conveniently located to Plyler Park, the heart of the Boardwalk and the site of many downtown festivals.
Terry's expert tip: Grab a front-row seat to the free weekly fireworks shows over the ocean that are launched from a nearby pier.
The name says it all for this casual, come-as-you-are bar and grill, where patrons often stroll up from the beach with sand on their feet for a bite to eat and a cold one. Ocean views, frozen concoctions, live music and great food is what it's all about at Bummz Beach Cafe, which offers all these and more in a fun-filled and family-friendly atmosphere just steps away from the ocean. Situated in a 1930's beach house setting, guests can sip on a cocktail while lounging in beach chairs and hammocks on the back patio deck, or get their grub on via a host of tasty burgers, sandwiches and salads.
Recommended for Beach Bars because: Bummz is an ideal place to have a nightcap or a late snack on the patio deck while enjoying the ocean breeze and view.
Terry's expert tip: Happy hour offers great drinks specials, a nice view of sunset and live music during the warmer months.
Take a dash of Mexican cantina, a splash of Caribbean cuisine and three parts beach bar, add crushed ice and put it in a blender, and you get Bandito's, the latest and hottest oceanfront bar and grill on the Grand Strand. Featuring a wide selection of frozen drinks as well as a unique menu of fresh seafood and south-of-the-border favorites, Bandito's has become a popular hangout by day and night since its opening in 2012. Patrons hit the beach just a few feet away and migrate to the patio deck around sunset for drinks and a bite to eat. Live music is common during happy hour in the warmer months.
Recommended for Beach Bars because: With more than 3,000 square feet of space, Bandito's is the biggest and best beach bar on the Grand Strand.
Terry's expert tip: Located at the northern end of the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk, a 1.2-mile wooden walkway that parallels the Atlantic Ocean, Bandito's is the ideal place to start or end your coastal pub crawl.
Art Burger Sushi Bar is an eclectic mix of art gallery, burger joint, sushi bar and party spot all rolled into one. Located on the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk, this modern hangout brings a new vibe to Ocean Boulevard. Serving a diverse menu for lunch, dinner and after hours, Art Burger Sushi Bar also host an art gallery featuring the works of local artists and a unique liquid-fusion powered bar that uses liquid nitrogen to create amazing frozen drinks and desserts. Art shows and social gatherings attract young, hip crowds to the downtown district.
Recommended for Beach Bars because: Just look at the name. How can an art, burger, sushi bar not make the list.
Terry's expert tip: Grab a table on the outdoor patio deck to see a real work of art - the Atlantic Ocean.
For more than two decades, this beachfront bar has served as one of the hottest spots in all of Myrtle Beach. Featuring fun under the sun, cold drinks in the shade and a party atmosphere that lasts into the night, Ocean Annie's attracts large crowds from the nearby resorts and locals alike. Located behind Sands Ocean Club, the large pool deck includes a stagel for live music and dancing beside - and even inside - the enormous swimming pool. Guests can take a stroll down to the beach for some sun and surf then step back to the bar for a drink or a snack.
Recommended for Beach Bars because: There aren't many places in town where you can dance in the daytime with an ocean view.
Terry's expert tip: Grab a lounge chair by the pool early in the day and hold on to it. Ringside seats at Ocean Annie's become prime real estate as the party progresses.