Ocean City beaches bring in countless tourists every day during the summer months, but we tend to forget that a small portion of people sitting next to you enjoying those crab cake sandwiches and orange crushes are full-time residents of the resort town year-round. We’ve pinpointed a list of the local favorites in Ocean City that entice them to keep coming back. If the locals love them, they must be worth trying! And if you consider yourself an Ocean City local, but haven’t tried all of these places out, it looks like you have some venturing to do this summer.

Bourbon Street on the Beach

A hidden treasure on 116th St. behind Fountainhead Condominiums, Bourbon Street is the only cajun restaurant at the beach. While it is a newer restaurant in town, the owners themselves are no newbies in the food industry. Barry and Gretchen Reichart have owned and operated a restaurant in Pennsylvania since 1994. Open every day of the week until 2am, along with serving both local and traditional favorites, Bourbon Street brings a “New Orleans flair to the Eastern Shore.”

Coconuts Beach Bar and Grill

An outdoor ocean-front restaurant patio bar and grille located on 37th street, Coconuts is hidden from the street view on the bottom of Castle in the Sand Hotel. Most visitors and tourists have no clue where this gold mine lays. Palm trees, sand dunes, tropical flowers, and live entertainment by local performers are just the start of what makes customers feel like they are living on island time. From 5-6pm everyday, drinks are 2 for 1! They also have a special permit that allows them to serve alcohol on Ocean City’s beach, so dig your toes in the sand and drink up!

The Sandbar

With over 25,000 songs to choose from, this is the ultimate Karaoke Bar in town. You won’t be able to stay in your seat! The Sandbar even has a fog machine to add to the perfect atmosphere, and transforms from a Karaoke Bar to a Sports Bar and back again. With pool tables available and sports playing on the flatscreen TVs, the Sandbar has an equally enjoyable nightlife as it does a kid-friendly environment.

Harrison’s Harbour Watch

There’s nothing better than knowing your food is fresh while taking your first bite. At Harrison’s Harbour Watch, as the name implies, you can watch in-season fish like Flounder, Swordfish, Tuna and Mahi Mahi pulled right off the boats onto the dock to then be served that same day. Overlooking the Ocean City Inlet and the tip of Assateague Island, Harrison’s prides itself in its award-winning Raw Bar and in having the “highest quality of hand tongued oysters from the local waters.”

Buxy’s Salty Dog Saloon

Known as the local’s hometown tavern, Salty Dog has been bringing Pennsylvania pride to Ocean City since 1999. Every Sunday night, this famous sports saloon, home to anything and everything Pittsburgh, transforms into the “Locals Night Party.” Familiar faces fill the restaurant as it becomes the go-to hangout for locals in town.

Fager’s Island

We know that Mondays can be the hardest day of the week for some. Fager’s knows that, too, so they decided to make them a little bit better. Throughout the season from 5-9:30pm, locals will fill Fager’s for its weekly Deck Party: a tradition since 1989! Get your fill of BBQ, cocktails, local DJs, live bands and lots of dancing.

The Pool Bar

Ocean City has a common theme of naming restaurants and locations to describe exactly what they are, so, as you can guess, the Pool Bar is a bar with a pool. Found on 2nd St., Pool Bar offers unbeatable specials and promotions. An outdoor pool, live music, a full-service bar, and bar food… what else do you need here at the beach? You’ll find locals constantly stopping by for a quick drink, or spending their days at the Pool Bar listening to Joe Smooth and other performers throughout the summer months.

There are too many great locations to mention, but we couldn’t forget to include the obvious: Seacrets, Macky’s, Fish Tales, Bull on the Beach, Tequila Mockingbird, Crab Bag and Crabcake Factory.

So whether you’re a local trying to branch out and explore more of the heart of Ocean City, or a vacationer trying to find just the right spot for your family and friends, check out these locations. We guarantee you won’t be disappointed.