Just two and a half hours away from the Hill lies cream-colored sandy beaches hugged by panoramic skies and billowy clouds where you can relax and release the stress that comes with living in the city. For several years, The National Resource Defense Council has named Delaware’s beaches the “best beaches in the US for clean water and clean beaches,” singling out Rehoboth Beach as the cleanest.
After a day at one of these pristine beaches, where can you go for good food, good music, unique treasures and rockin’ live music that won’t empty your wallet?
West Side Creative Market on Central Street in Rehoboth is a great place to go after the sun goes down. On Mondays and Fridays 5 to 9 p.m. more than 20 local artist vendors, live music, food trucks and craft cocktails fill the parking lot.
All artistic products are handmade. On Sundays it can be a destination for those who love local food and need a day off the beach. This year the Market is open on Sundays, 11-3 p.m. and features five rotating food vendors and performances of creative musicians. The Creative Market is the creation of local artist Leah Beach, who founded the Developing Artist Collaboration (DAC) of which the Creative Market is a part.
In 2021 as part of a grant from the Longwood Foundation, she turned the empty parking lot into an outdoor public arts market highlighting emerging artists. It has become one of the coolest places to see local art, eat good local food and hear the top local bands perform.
Lefty’s is a unique kid-friendly escape for a rainy day or a respite from the hot beach sun. Located off Route 1 in Lewes, it’s a bowling alley (with mini duck pin lanes), a bar, a restaurant, an arcade, an axe-throwing venue and a live music venue with a dance floor. The food is a notch above bar fare and the dance floor is ample. The bowling alley has the latest state-of-the-art equipment and can accommodate kids bowling.
Brush Factory on Kings Highway in Lewes is the perfect place to find an original beach gift. Shoppers can discover local produce, baked goods, furniture, coffee, plants, clothes, jewelry, antiques, art and just about anything you can think of.
Eight years ago, Christine Chura and her husband Mark transformed the abandoned building which was once a factory that manufactured brushes such as the ones atop glue bottles, into a market where they and showcase 50 local merchants, many of whom have gotten their start at the Brush Factory. The Churas offer services such as marketing, branding and pricing to the small business owners in the Brush Factory. They are open daily from 10 to 5 p.m.
Palm Beach Bar & Grill on Route 1 in Midway Shopping Center (formerly Shrimpys), is a new restaurant (less than a year old) that delivers a Caribbean vibe to all who visit. Its creation is the t effort of Katherine and James Robinson who met in Palm Beach, FL. The newly renovated venue displays an original hand-painted mural that spans a wall which is the length of the establishment. It also has video screens behind the bar that show relaxing beach videos, including my favorite—majestic sea turtles floating in turquoise crystal-clear water. Head chef James Robinson, who is Haitian, has brought his heritage to the Palm’s menu. Dishes like Miami Griot, a fried pork dish with plaintains, jasmine rice and spicy slaw, reflect his country’s palate. The couple have designed a spacious, comfortable meeting place for locals that not only offers a unique dining experience but also gives patrons a place to listen to music played by top local musicians.
The Cultured Pearl, tucked upstairs in a two-story building on Rehoboth Ave., has been voted the Best of Delaware for Japanese fusion food and sushi every year since it opened in 1993. The Cultured Pearl recently completed a renovation that that upgraded their Japanese dining experience for customers. Ponds of koi are scattered throughout the outside gardens. Inside you can choose a private room, a rooftop gazebo overlooking koi ponds and gardens, semi-private tables or the sushi bar in which to dine. Newly added cherry blossom trees surround diners throughout the restaurant. It also has an excellent happy hour with discounts on its more popular sushi dishes.
All the places I described have plenty of free parking except for The Cultured Pearl. However, the immersive Japanese dining experience is well worth the four dollars an hour it costs to feed a meter.
Whether you are chasing the surf, savoring bold flavors, dancing to live music or hunting for one-of-a-kind treasures, the Delaware beaches offer more than just a beach day – they offer a full escape from the everyday grind. This vibrant coastal haven blends natural beauty with artistic flair, culinary creativity and warm community vibes. So, pack your flip flops, your curiosity and your appetite. Southern Delaware’s best kept secrets are waiting to welcome you.
Pattie Cinelli is a journalist who has been writing her column for more than 25 years. If you are interested in learning more about where the locals hang out at the Delaware beaches, her at: [email protected].
