Three Best Beachside Bars in New Smyrna Beach, Florida

Nearly all the beachside bars in New Smyrna Beach offer great drinks and entertainment, but some are better than others. Where you should go depends on personal preference. Several beachside bars cater to locals, while others offer activities for tourists. Some offer loud rock music, while others keep the volume down so guests can engage in conversation.

The following are my personal favorite beachside bars in New Smyrna Beach. Each bar has a unique atmosphere, offers live entertainment, and the opportunity to mingle with the locals. These beachside bars are suitable for people of all ages, as long as they are 21 or older.

Merk's Bar and Grill in New Smyrna Beach

Merk's Bar and Grill is touted as the place "where locals gather for food, fun and friends." Located at 193 North Causeway, Merk's offers a wide assortment of bar food including their famous steak sandwich consisting of shaved Ribeye, grilled onions, pickles, pepper rings and a special sauce. Guests can munch on deep fried pickles, fried mushrooms, jalapeno poppers, chicken quesadilla rolls and Ahi tuna while watching NASCAR races on the enormous flat screen, playing NTN trivia, or listening to karaoke.

Drink specials are offered at Merk's every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. Indulge in $5 pitchers of beer or $2 Vodka Lemonade drinks every Wednesday or suck down $2 Bloody Mary's each Saturday or Sunday.

If you love karaoke, stop by Merk's on Thursday evening to participate or listen in. Local talent is abundant and you never know when a celebrity might stop in!

In addition to good beach food, drink specials and karaoke, Merk's offers two pool tables, one shuffle board table, boxing machine, pinball machines, darts and NTN Trivia that can be played directly at your table.

Merk's offers daily food and drink specials which can be enjoyed indoors or al fresco. It's a popular spot during Bike Week, Biketoberfest and racing events. The atmosphere is laid-back, casual and friendly.

Merk's Bar and Grill
193 North Causeway
New Smyrna Beach, FL
Phone: 386.427.1177
Hours of Operation:
Monday - Saturday: 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.
Sunday: noon to 2 a.m.

Traders Nightclub in New Smyrna Beach

Traders Nightclub is the place to go if you enjoy drinking, dancing and loud, live music. The party doesn't get started until around 9 p.m., but if you love live music it's worth the wait. Traders has earned the reputation of having some of the best entertainment on the beach and features many local bands such as the infamous Crashrocket.

Traders is one of the few beachside bars that allow indoor smoking. Non-smokers should be forewarned that Traders attracts smokers, so if you are allergic or don't like smoke, you probably won't enjoy the atmosphere.

Traders nightclub in New Smyrna Beach does not offer food, so it's best to eat dinner before heading out. This nightclub is popular amongst locals and tourists and fills up fast. If you want a table, it's best to arrive before 9 p.m. Parking is available on the street in front of Traders, as well as a parking lot behind the club.

Traders Nightclub
317 Flagler Avenue
New Smyrna Beach, FL
Phone: 386.428.9141
Hours of Operation:
Monday - Saturday: 8 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Sunday: 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Flip Flops Grill and Chill in New Smyrna Beach

Flip Flops Grill and Chill has become somewhat of an icon within the New Smyrna Beach community. One of the founders, Danny Veltri, found his claim to fame on the popular TV series, Hell's Kitchen.

I had the pleasure of meeting Danny two weeks prior to the Hell's Kitchen finale. At the time, Flip Flops was a small restaurant that seated about 40 people. Today, Flip Flops Grill and Chill has relocated a much larger facility at 725 East Third Avenue.

Although Flip Flops isn't technically a bar, many of the locals gather around the horseshoe shaped bar for after dinner drinks and friendly conversation. Flip Flops offers entertainment on the weekends consisting of classic, southern and blues rock.

Additional entertainment includes karaoke with Tom Clements every Wednesday between the hours of 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. and an open mic contest each Thursday evening from 6 p.m. to close.

Flip Flops Grill and Chill offers award-winning food including the famous Mahi Mahi Gone Bananas which Chef Gordon Ramsay proclaimed Danny had "gone bananas" for preparing. It's one of my favorite entrées at Flip Flops.

Flip Flops Grill and Chill is casual and relaxing. Attire ranges from shorts, tee shirts and flip flops to dressy-casual. Dining is available indoors and at the outdoor patio. Parking is never a problem because the restaurant is located in front of Publix grocery store and a retail shopping center.

Flip Flops Grill and Chill
725 East Third Avenue
New Smyrna Beach, FL
386.424.0161
Open daily for lunch and dinner