Staff Pick: Best Place for Drinks with a View
Recently, I had the pleasure of going out on the town in downtown Southport. As I walked along the waterfront of the Yacht Basin, I came upon a newish looking place called the Mullet. No, it’s not a seafood stop or an 70’s barbershop. It is a super casual, members-only, open-air club right on the water in Southport. Now, when I say members only, this exclusive club is open to anyone with a driver’s license and a dollar. Members only clubs are not uncommon in NC. In fact, many bars require a membership if they serve alcohol on-premises and make less than 30% of their revenue from food and non-alcoholic drinks. So don’t be surprised if you are told you need to be a member to enter. Believe me, the dollar membership is worth every penny.
The bar has a rustic, tiki bar appearance, and a million-dollar view. Situated right on the water you can smell the salt air and watch the boats go by. There is also a top deck where you can really see the beauty of the yacht basin and catch an amazing sunset. The Mullet is an open-air bar so there is no air conditioning, but it is partially covered to keep it cool and it does feature a nice waterfront coastal breeze all year long.
Just below the top deck, facing Yacht Basin Drive, you’ll also find the Southport Water Tours ticket office. Coincidently, the Southport Water Tours boat, the Sally Ann, conveniently launches right from the dock at the Mullet and offers tours of Southport, Oak Island and Bald Head Island throughout much of the year. You can start your afternoon with a water tour and end it with drinks by sunset at the Mullet. Not a bad day.
Another great feature of the Mullet- next to the great view, is that most every weekend you can catch live music here. This is a real treat. It’s not often you get to enjoy live, local music, great views and your favorite libation, right on the water. The libations menu has a good selection of craft beers, imports, and domestics as well as wine and seltzers. Plenty of items to keep you cool on a hot summer day.
We highly recommend checking out the Mullet on your next trip to Southport. The Mullet is located 112 Yacht Basin drive just 7 minutes from the Home Place of Southport, Southport’s newest gated community.