Sloop John B

You know how sometimes your friends will recommend a place y’all can go to for next double date night? Then you go and you don’t have a good time, the food is bleh, the drinks are just the mixers and the staff is very unattentive?

Well that’s the complete OPPOSITE of how Sloop John B Bar is. When our friends said hey we really like this place, you have to have their tacos and drinks to start with, we hopped on board because hey. Drinks and tacos are 3 of my favorite words. Not only this this clean bar make you FEEL like your food was safe, but the open island vibe inside transports you to a beach or island bar. A place I feel right at home.

After being ALMOST the last people in there, making friends with one of the servers in the kitchen as he heard our jokes and loud laughter from our table, we had a super nice gentleman come over to our table to check on us and see how we’re doing and if we were having fun. Yes’s were said ALL around the table and we started talking with the owner, Garland who is just the nicest person. We quickly raved about this place and he delighted in telling us that they were getting close to opening their rooftop area. I about fell out. I LOVE rooftop bars and spaces. There’s just something about holding some tropical drink, under twinkle lights with the night breeze in your hair. I think Garland saw my eyes light up because he offered to take us all on a lil behind the scenes tour to show us where and how that rooftop dream was going to happen.

I was SO excited and thrilled for him. Being a business owner myself, I know the happiness and excitement that something new for your business brings to your heart, and I love being happy for others successes.

Flash forward to about a month ago, I got a DM on Instagram from the Sloop John B account and the lovely words lit my eyes up. “Would you be up for coming and having a drink on the house in exchange for a social media post about our new rooftop space that opened.”

YALL SAY NO MORE IM THERE.

We set a date and I headed over to treat this like a paid shoot. They deserve to have the attentiveness to detail and focus of a professional photoshoot, even if it started out as a social media post. I met with Callie, the manager and she is a delight. If you ever get to meet her when you go, you’ll see exactly what I mean. She had some delicious drinks made and brought up to me on the rooftop as we chatted about out OBX trips and astro photography. It was insanely hot but the breeze that the rooftop catches up there is bliss. The rooftop is partially shaded and protected from the elements so you do have escape from direct sunlight if you desire. There’s a beautifully stocked bar and tap upstairs so no need to walk down the stairs to get a refill on your coconut dream or Darker and Stormier (DIVINE btw).

I am so thankful that they opened their rooftop to me and invited me to come out for photos. Their prices on food and drink are so reasonable and you get SO much for your buck. I haven’t had a bad thing yet and I plan on trying everything on the menu.

I genuinely hope I get to work with them again in a professional way. And even if not, I am SO making them a regular stop for date night!