At some beachside bars, a piña colada comes in a real pineapple. At others, a daiquiri comes with a rocket launch.
From Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina to Cocoa Beach, Florida these 10 beach bars pair frozen drinks and oceanside seating with something a little unexpected, like boats pulling right up to the sand or cheeky bar stools shaped like women in polka-dot bottoms.
Jimmy’s Wrightsville Beach
Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina
Jimmy’s has just one slushy on the menu, and apparently, that’s all it needs. The Rebel Grapefruit Tongue Slapper mixes grapefruit vodka with yellow Red Bull for a tangy kick, while regulars like to add a liquor floater, such as banana vodka. Order it in a 16- or 24-ounce cup, or go for the bucket when it’s available. It’s even on Uber Eats, but it’s worth the short walk from Wrightsville Beach to check out the place itself. Dollar bills cover the ceiling, local bands and musicians take the stage and Carolina Panthers games are on the screens in season. Cruiser, the owner’s dog, is often around to say hello, too.
Pink Pony Pub
Gulf Shores, Alabama
Pink Pony Pub has been serving bushwhackers on the Gulf Shores sand since 1956, decades before TikTokers started filming covers of Chappell Roan’s “Pink Pony Club” against its pastel pink walls. The theme continues inside, where a life-size cutout of a pink pony hoisting a pint greets visitors and a neon sign glows behind the bar. Beyond the pink decor and themed merch, frozen cocktails and made-to-order beach fare draw a crowd. Menu standouts include a Bob Marley daiquiri served in a souvenir glass, fully loaded nachos, gator bites and fried shrimp baskets. Karaoke nights keep the party going.
Bamboo Willie’s
Pensacola Beach, Florida
Only at Bamboo Willie’s can you sip on daiquiris, dock your boat, catch a live band, race a bathtub and go to church all in the same place. The Pensacola News Journal named it the Best Bar on Pensacola Beach, and with so much going on, it’s easy to see why. But what really makes this waterfront hot spot a local favorite is its slushy lineup, with 12 flavors swirling in machines behind the bar. Order the Bushwacker or a Mango Chile, or try the Swampwater, made with Silver Bayou Rum, a Louisiana rum made from cane sugar and molasses.
Shaggy’s Biloxi Beach
Biloxi, Mississippi
Shaggy’s Biloxi Beach gives you two decks to choose from, and both have a view. Settle into a lawn chair on the lower deck, with the sand and boardwalk just beyond, or head upstairs to the top level for a wider look at the Gulf. Either way, order the frozen tie-dye margarita, a colorful pour that’s made for a vacation photo. If you’d rather go for resort-style classics, the Miami Vice and Electric Lemonade are just as colorful. The menu goes beyond typical beach-bar fare, with redfish over Mexican street corn, crab-stuffed fish and fried mashed potato balls filled with cheese and bacon. Dogs are welcome on the deck, too, and have a menu of their own.
Pinky’s on the Beach
Folly Beach, South Carolina
Whether you follow the flamingo footprints or head straight in from the sand, you’ll find plenty of room at Pinky’s on the Beach, with seats at the bar, a covered outdoor patio and a massive indoor space. The frozen drinks come with extra personality, like the Cherry Chapstick, which mixes cherry vodka, lime and grenadine, or the Malibu Barbie, a blend of rum, guava vodka and mango daiquiri. Toss in the retro Cadillac booths, pinball machines, a pool table and a disco ball, and it’s clear there’s nothing subtle here.
Fannie’s on the Beach
Tybee Island, Georgia
It’s hard to ignore Fannie’s on the Beach, the candy-colored building on Tybee Island with “Eat at Fannie’s” splashed across the front. After a day in the sun, it’s exactly the right place to stop. The showstopper on the blended-to-order drink menu is the Frozen Pineapple Cocolada, a piña colada served in a real pineapple and topped with coconut shrimp. Another favorite is the Big Ol’ Mary, a Bloody Mary topped with a barbecue bacon cheeseburger slider. With three floors of indoor and outdoor seating overlooking the Atlantic, there’s plenty of reason to linger. The cheeky bar stools, shaped like women in polka-dot shorts, are one more reason to pull out a camera.
Beachside Frozen Cocktails & More
Emerald Isle, North Carolina
No matter what you’re in the mood for, whether it’s bourbon, frosé, vodka, tequila or rum, Beachside Frozen Cocktails & More in Emerald Isle has a boozy slushy to match, plus rotating flavors to keep things interesting. The shop has oceanfront access, so a drink is never far from the water, and to-go frozen cocktails make it easy to carry one back to the sand. Skipping the alcohol? Shaved ice is on the menu, too.
Tiki Hut
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Zac Brown Band’s “Toes” may or may not be about Tiki Hut on Hilton Head Island, but it might as well be. The barefoot bar has been on Coligny Beach since 1977, with sand underfoot and the Atlantic just beyond. The frozen drinks bring the song to life, especially the Local Secret, a bourbon, lemonade and raspberry purée blend that breaks from the typical rum-and-fruit lineup. Under the palm-thatched roof, one round can easily stretch into the night.
Pirates Cove
Elberta, Alabama
Pirates Cove keeps things simple, and that’s part of the appeal. The waterfront hangout on Arnica Bay in Elberta has won Best Bushwacker on the Beach from Best of Baldwin two years running, along with a Nappie Award for Best Boat Bar, a fitting honor for a spot where boaters can pull right up to the sand. Order a frozen drink (the Bushwacker is the clear winner) and grab a seat on the sprawling covered deck or down by the water. The kitchen serves casual favorites like cheeseburgers, sandwiches, corn dogs and wings, plus breakfast sandwiches in the morning and wood-fired pizzas on weekends. With live music, holiday events and dog-friendly accommodations, it’s no surprise it’s earned a loyal following.
Coconuts on the Beach
Cocoa Beach, Florida
Not many beach bars can offer a rocket launch with your frozen drink. At Coconuts on the Beach, you can watch one during a viewing party when there’s a launch from nearby Cape Canaveral. The rest of the setup has everything you’d want: an oceanfront deck, direct beach access and an extensive seafood menu. But don’t skip the daiquiris. Build your own, then take the hand-carved coconut cup home as a souvenir, or go dessert-style with the Strawberry Shortcake, a creamy blend of amaretto, rum, strawberry and ice cream.