Beach Haven Bar Crawl
Credit: Tuckers
The best way to get a taste for the real LBI is by sampling all the unique drinks and cocktails that Beach Haven has to offer. Here’s our guide to bar hopping in the Queen City.
If you’re itching to explore Beach Haven in a new way with friends, the best way to do so is by bar crawl. Throw on a good pair of walking-friendly flip flops, grab your bike (and a helmet), or implore one of your friends to DD for the evening and get ready to explore LBI’s best bars.
While you might not be able to hit all the bars in one day (or even one weekend), you’ll definitely want to try all these spots at least once this summer. You can’t have a favorite LBI bar until you’ve tried all of them, right? We’re breaking down the best bars and our go-to drinks there so you can eat, drink, and dance all night long without worrying where to go next. Here’s our Beach Haven bar crawl guide (enjoy responsibly!).
Bird and Betty’s
Bird and Betty’s is an absolute staple on LBI and it seems like you can’t go anywhere on the island without hearing about the legendary cover bands and crazy good drinks they are serving up here. While we love tearing up the dance floor here on a Saturday night, the best time to stop by is Sunday afternoon for “Daqs on the Deck.” Pound $6 shipwreckers while you attempt to ward off the Sunday Scaries. Stay for a late dinner and enjoy one of the best sunset viewing spots on the island. Frozen drinks + sunsets= vacation vibes.
Black Whale
If you’re a cocktail snob (we are) and you’re looking for a place with a stiff Manhattan or an ice cold post-beach beer, Black Whale is the spot to be at. The vibes here are relaxed and the food is easily some of the best on LBI. The seafood-heavy menu is the perfect way to soak up some alcohol and keep the party going. The crab and artichoke dip is our favorite app to pair with an espresso martini (the best on the island — you can’t convince us otherwise). Located within walking distance of some of our other favorite BH bars, this spot is a must to incorporate into your bar crawl.
Engleside Sand Bar
If you’re looking to lean into the tiki-beach feel, the Sand Bar at the Engleside Inn is our go-to beach bar. The frozen drinks are what keeps us coming back. The smorgasbord of fried food appetizers are great for sharing — the hardest part is deciding between the fried pickles, onion petals, jalapeno poppers or clam strips. Their cocktail menu is huge enough to make you feel like you’re in the Caribbean with all the tropical drink options. The blood orange marg is a great way to kickstart a Sunday brunch or end a long day on the beach. They also offer a variety of non-alcoholic frozen beverages for our DD pals. ;)
Hudson House
OK, you’ve done the Black Whale and Bird and Betty’s, so now you’re ready for a spot with no frills (and no cover). The Hudson House is the dive bar you’ve been dreaming of. Don’t expect a food menu here or any frozen cocktails with little umbrellas. You’re here to drink and the Hudson House has beers and liquor, period. Order a shot and a beer for the full experience and get ready for this to be your favorite bar to bring all your friends to when they visit. The crowd is a mix of people getting off their shifts, locals who have been coming for years, and tourists there for the week. You never know who you’ll run into here and that’s half the fun.
Sea Shell Resort
The Sea Shell Resort or “The Shell,” as you’ll hear it commonly referred to, is another beach bar worth stopping in at. While the pool is reserved for guests of the hotel only, the tiki bar is open to the public and it backs right up to the beach. We always order the Ruby Lou when we stop in — it’s grapefruit vodka, lemonade, ginger ale and topped with some bubbly champagne to tie it all together. While the daytime vibes are relaxed and fun, nights at the Shell are for dancing all night long. There’s live music and DJs here on the weekends that are always a great time.
Ship Bottom Brewery
Tell your beer-hating friends to calm down (we get it you hate IPAs) because Ship Bottom Brewery isn’t just beer anymore! In addition to their new, amazing outdoor beer garden, they are also serving up a menu of homemade hard seltzers. We love the P.O.G.- passionfruit, orange, and guava. Watch the sunset over the bay and share some bevvys with beer and seltzer lovers alike.
Tuckers Tavern
We LOVE the indoor bar and outdoor deck at Tuckers Tavern and, of course, the relaxed vibe and stiff drinks. Tuckers is another great spot to catch the sunset over the bay with a classy drink in hand (or a beer, wine, whatever, go nuts!). Our go-to order here is the Tuckers Tikitini made with coconut and pineapple rum, pineapple juice and toasted coconut. The parking here isn’t ideal so take your bike or walk over so you don’t have to deal with it. :)
Bonus Tips for your Crawl:
Timing is everything: Start earlier in the day to catch drink specials, beat the crowds, and enjoy those golden hour views.
Hydrate between rounds: We love a good cocktail, but we love a full-functioning tomorrow even more. Grab a water at every other stop (your tomorrow self will thank you).
Snacks are strategy: Many of these spots have killer apps or food menus — don’t skip the crab dip at Black Whale or the fried pickles at Engleside.
Set your ride plan: Whether you’re biking, walking, taking the LBI shuttle, or assigning a DD, make sure the logistics are locked in so the good vibes keep rolling all night.
The beauty of bar hopping in Beach Haven is that every stop feels like a new little world — tiki bars with frozen drinks, dive bars with no judgment, elegant spots with craft cocktails, and everything in between. Whether you’re in it for the espresso martinis, the ocean breezes, or just some time with your favorite people, this crawl captures the spirit of a true LBI summer night. Grab your crew, hit the town, and make some memories you’ll talk about every summer after.
