Restaurants:
Cassidy’s, Barnegat Light: In the Viking Village Fish Market, Cassidy’s is all about fresh local seafood. 18th and Bayview Avenue; 609-494-8140
Black-Eyed Susans Cafe, Harvey Cedars: It opened last year primarily for breakfast and lunch; this year it will concentrate on dinner. 7801 Long Beach Boulevard; 609-494-4990
Plantation Restaurant and Bar, Harvey Cedars: With its Cuban theme, this is the spot for good food and amazing mojitos and martinis. 7908 Long Beach Boulevard; 609-494-8191; plantationrestaurant.com
Yellowfin, Surf City: For fine dining, Yellow Fin is hard to beat. 24th and Long Beach Boulevard; 609-494-7001; yellowfinlbi.com
Daddy O, Brant Beach: With its New York City style, Daddy O epitomizes the emerging chic LBI, for dining as well as lodging. 4401 Long Beach Boulevard; 609-494-1300; daddyohotel.com
The Black Whale, Beach Haven: Near the bay, quintessential LBI, both high-end and laid back. 100 N. Pennsylvania Avenue; 609-492-0025; blackwhalebar.com
Green Gables Inn, Beach Haven: Two words: jazz brunch. This Victorian inn and restaurant offers appealing atmosphere and food. 212 Centre Street; 609-492-3553
Bars and Taverns:
Surf City Hotel, Surf City; and Joe Pop’s, Ship Bottom: These are the two biggest places for live music on the island. The scene is always jumping. Surf City Hotel, 800 North Long Beach Boulevard; 609-494-7281; surfcityhotel.com; Joe Pop’s Shore Bar, 2002 Long Beach Boulevard; 609-494-0558; joepops.com
The Dutchman’s Brauhaus, on Cedar Bonnet Island: With a schmoozy, dockside vibe and plenty of characters, the Dutchman is the best place for an outdoor cocktail or beer. 2500 E. Bay Avenue; 609-494-6910
Buckalew’s, Beach Haven: The oldest original bar on LBI. On weekends it gets packed and crazy—live music, youthful revelry—but it’s an essential part of LBI nightlife. 101 N. Bay Avenue; 609-492-1065; buckalews.com
The Sea Shell Resort and Beach Club, Beach Haven: It’s right on the beach, with a Tiki bar, palm trees, a pool, and someone always playing Jimmy Buffett songs. Very chill. 10 S. Atlantic Avenue; 609-492-4611; seashelllbi.com
The Marlin and the Ketch, both Beach Haven: Owned by Beach Haven mayor Mike Battista, both places are great for live music and drinks. Ketch, 2nd Street and Dock Road; 609-492-3000; Marlin, 2 S. Bay Avenue; 609-492-7700
Casual Eats:
ScoJo’s, Surf City: Great diner food, with fun breakfast specials. 307 N. Long Beach Boulevard; 609-494-8661; scojosnj.com
Okie’s Butcher Shop, Surf City: Sparkling cuts of meat, as well as wings, enormous sandwiches and steaks. 2107 Long Beach Boulevard; 609-494-5577; okiesbutchershop.com
Skipper Dipper Ice Cream, Long Beach Township: Best milkshake on the island, maybe the best in South Jersey. 9305 Long Beach Boulevard; 609-492-9680; skipperdipper.com
Panzone’s Pizza, Surf City and Beach Haven: Best pizza on the island, hands down. 22 Long Beach Boulevard, Surf City; 609-494-1114; 1106 North Bay Avenue, Beach Haven; 609-492-5103; panzones.com
Pearl Street Market, Beach Haven: An island treasure. This Nantucket-style fish and fine food market offers everything from caviar to $9 soft-shell crab sandwiches. Or you can order mahi-mahi steaks or bushels of crabs. 229 Pearl Street; 609-492-3910; pearlstreetmarket.com
Tucker’s, Beach Haven: Tavern fare, but really good tavern fare. 101 S. West Avenue; 609-492-2300
M&M Steam Bar, Beach Haven: This clam bar hasn’t changed since the 1950s. You can sit at the bar and get a beer, fries and fresh raw oysters shucked for you on the spot. Delaware and Bay avenues; 609-492-9106
Chicken or the Egg, Beach Haven: The variety of buffalo wings will make your head spin—and when it stops spinning and you eat, your taste buds will jump for joy. During the summer, “the Chegg” is open 24 hours a day. 207 North Bay Avenue ; 609-492-3695; 492fowl.com