When I’m not teaching yoga or writing, I’m running my Airbnbs in Outer Banks, North Carolina. These “OBX Best” posts are my personal travel guides to help anyone visiting OBX to have a wonderful visit.
Coffee Shops
Vacation is a time to step away from the routine of everyday life and enjoy a more relaxed pace. My first coffee recommendation is to make a pot of French Press and take it in a to-go tumbler down to the beach. That’s how I spend my own mornings in Kill Devil Hills. But the Outer Banks offers many locally owned coffee shops, so you can enjoy that coffee goodness each morning with a unique OBX style!
Front Porch Cafe
With locations in Kill Devil Hills at Milepost 6, Nags Head at Milepost 10.5 and in Manteo, Front Porch Cafe offers a full coffee menu, bagels and pastries. The Nags Head and Manteo locations are perfect for productivity, offering high-speed wifi and plug-in stations. There also are cozy couches and tables to meet and catch up with friends. The Kill Devil Hills location is smaller in a shared space with retails stores. Front Porch Cafe specializes in artisan “micro” small-batch roasting, which can be seen during roasting hours in the Nags Head location. Order a cup in-house or buy a half or full pound of coffee to brew in your rental cottage or home.
Morning View Coffee House and Roastery
Just blocks from the beach in Nags Head, Morning View offers an eclectic and cozy indoor and outdoor garden setting to enjoy relaxing with coffee or tea or spending time online with free wifi. The coffee shop is dog friendly, and offers a limited selection of snacks and fresh-baked pastries. You will often see and smell the coffee beans roasting as you enter the shop. In addition to ordering espresso drinks and fresh brew, you can purchase a variety of fair-trade, sustainable, farm-to-cup coffee bean varieties to brew back at your rental cottage or home.
Outer Bean Juice and Java
Outer Bean in Kitty Hawk offers fresh coffee along with a full breakfast menu and juice and smoothie bar. This is where the health conscious start their day. You can enjoy a creative variety of espresso drinks all day long, as well as healthy lunch and dinner options as the day progresses. The Outer Bean offers fair-trade and organic coffee as well as a large selection of vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free menu options and beer and wine.
Waveriders Coffee, Deli and Pub
Waveriders in Nags Head offers coffee and espresso drinks with just about any syrup flavor you can think of, fresh bakery items and a breakfast and lunch/dinner panini menu. The deli prides itself on offering a healthier alternative to fast food, featuring Boar’s Head meats and cheeses. Waveriders also sells beer and wine, and you’re likely to find live music entertainment at this casual hangout in the evenings.
Each of these coffee shops showcases local art and offers a unique OBX community experience! Dine-in for a full coffee house experience, or take that coffee to go and sip it at the beach watching the sun come up and the waves roll in. Either way, coffee is a delicious way to start your day in OBX!