5 Restaurants You Can Walk to from Ocean Keyes (No Car Needed)

The evening breeze carries the smell of brick-oven pizza and salt air. You’re walking barefoot past the Ocean Keyes pool, flip-flops dangling from one hand, the sunset painting the palmetto tops in copper and pink. The sound of live beach music drifts in from somewhere ahead. By the time you hit Main Street — about ten minutes of easy strolling from your front door at 601 Hillside Dr N — you can smell garlic knots, hear glasses clinking on a rooftop patio, and see the neon glow of a sushi bar spilling onto the sidewalk.

No car keys. No parking lot. No designated driver debate. Here are the five restaurants near Ocean Keyes North Myrtle Beach that make this walk worth doing every night of your trip.

The Walking Route

Before we get to the food, here’s how to get there:

The Quick Route (~7 Minutes)

Walk out the side of the Ocean Keyes complex to 2nd Ave N — it’s just two blocks to Ocean Drive and Main Street, about 0.4 miles. That’s it. Seven minutes, door to dinner.

The Scenic Route (~15 Minutes)

Stroll through Ocean Keyes on the landscaped paths past the pools and palm trees, exit at 3rd Ave N (0.65 miles), cross North Ocean Blvd to hit the sand, then walk up the beach or along the boulevard to Main Street. More steps, but you get a sunset out of it.

Either way, no car, no parking, no designated driver. Do it once and you’ll wonder why you ever drove to dinner on vacation.

1. Soho on Main Street — The Owner’s Pick for Sushi

214 Main Street | Sushi, Steak, Hibachi, Seafood

Soho is my go-to walk-to restaurant. When friends visit, this is where I take them — no hesitation.

The menu is genuinely impressive in its range. The sushi bar is award-winning and it shows — the tuna nigiri is jewel-red and silky, the specialty rolls are tight and clean with fresh avocado and a drizzle of spicy mayo that actually has heat. But Soho also does steak, hibachi, pasta, and seafood, so even if someone in your group isn’t a sushi person, they’ll find something they love. The Sesame Crusted Ahi Tuna arrives with a golden sesame crust and a ruby-pink center that yields under the chopstick. The New Zealand Mussels steam in a fragrant garlic-white-wine broth you’ll soak up with bread.

The vibe is trendy without being pretentious — moody lighting, lacquered wood, artwork on the walls, and a low playlist that lets you actually talk. It works equally well for date night or a family dinner. Over 16 years on the Grand Strand and 286+ Google reviews at 4.4 stars. Open roughly 10 AM to midnight daily, so you can hit it for a late lunch, an early dinner, or a late-night sushi craving.

What to order: The sushi (anything from the bar), Sesame Crusted Ahi Tuna, or the hibachi plates.

2. NY Pizza Kitchen — The Owner’s Pick for Pizza

227 Main Street | New York-Style Brick Oven Pizza

Sometimes you just want a great slice of pizza after a day at the beach. NY Pizza Kitchen delivers exactly that — real New York-style thin crust from a brick oven, hand-tossed with fresh ingredients. The crust has that signature fold-and-eat give with a satisfying char on the bottom, and the mozzarella pulls in long, stretchy ribbons. People who grew up in the New York area swear by it: “As a kid I grew up in NY area and this is the pizza I remember. Been coming here for over 30 years.”

It’s casual, it’s quick, and the kids love it. Get the garlic knots — warm, pillowy, slick with butter and roasted garlic — they’re the perfect appetizer while your pizza is in the oven. They also do calzones, Italian subs, fried ravioli, and loaded fries. Beer and wine available. The XL Supreme is the move for a hungry family — pepperoni, sausage, peppers, mushrooms, and onions on a crust that takes up half the table.

What to order: Brick oven pizza (any variety), garlic knots, and a cold draft.

3. Hoskins Restaurant — The NMB Landmark

405 Main Street | Southern Home Cooking Since 1948

Hoskins has been feeding North Myrtle Beach since 1948. That’s not a typo — this family-owned restaurant has been perfecting fried chicken and Southern home cooking for over 75 years. Every meal feels like Sunday dinner at grandma’s house: collard greens simmered until they melt, mac and cheese with a golden crust, and sweet tea that arrives before you ask for it.

The fried chicken is legendary — a seasoned, crispy coating that crunches loud enough to turn heads, wrapped around juicy dark meat that’s been cooked low enough to stay tender. The fried seafood combination (flounder, oysters, crab cake, shrimp, scallops) is a greatest-hits platter. The she-crab soup is rich, creamy, and laced with sherry, and the peanut butter pie — dense, cool, with a chocolate drizzle — is not to be missed. With 444 Yelp reviews and consistent high ratings, Hoskins earns its reputation every meal.

Fair warning: Hoskins gets crowded, especially at dinner. Expect a line. It’s worth the wait, but plan accordingly. Closed Mondays. Breakfast 7-10:45 AM, lunch 11 AM-2:30 PM, dinner 4:30-9 PM (Tue-Sat). Sunday is breakfast and lunch only.

What to order: Fried chicken, the seafood combination platter, or broiled seafood. Save room for peanut butter pie.

4. OD Arcade & Lounge — The Main Street Institution

100 S Ocean Blvd (corner of Main Street & Ocean Blvd) | Bar, Restaurant & Arcade

OD Arcade has been a Main Street fixture in the heart of the Ocean Drive shag district for years — and the burgers are the reason people keep coming back. Review after review calls them the best in North Myrtle Beach, and at $6.95 lunch specials (meatloaf, fried chicken, flounder, pot roast), the value is hard to beat. The atmosphere is lively and unapologetically local: pool tables, darts, air hockey, arcade games, a spacious dance floor with live bands and DJs, and karaoke on Thursday and Sunday nights.

Happy hour brings peel-and-eat shrimp and crab leg deals. If you time it right, you’ll catch a shag dance night — this is where South Carolina’s official state dance was born. Open daily 11:00 AM to 2:00 AM.

What to order: The burger. Everyone orders the burger.

5. Sky Bar — The Rooftop Nightcap

214 Main Street | Multi-Story Rooftop Bar

Sky Bar is your nightcap destination. This multi-story rooftop bar brings a Ft. Lauderdale/Miami vibe to Main Street — nightly DJs spinning Top 40, Dance, and R&B while colored lights sweep across the open-air rooftop. The warm ocean breeze hits you the moment you step onto the top level, and the view stretches over Ocean Drive’s neon glow to the dark Atlantic beyond. It’s the premier nightlife spot on the Grand Strand, and it’s walkable from your front door.

The bartenders (Kylie and Zac are frequently praised) pour strong cocktails — the frozen drinks are sweet and dangerous, the craft selections are solid — and the energy builds as the night goes on. It’s 21+, casual dress code, and sometimes has a cover depending on the night. When the kids are in bed and you want to go out without dealing with cars, Sky Bar is the move.

What to order: Whatever the bartender recommends. You’re here for the vibe and the view.

Bonus: The Shag Clubs

While you’re on Main Street, you’re also steps from Fat Harold’s Beach Club and Duck’s — the legendary shag dance clubs where South Carolina’s official state dance has been alive since the 1940s. Even if you don’t dance, the energy and the beach music are worth experiencing. Read more about the shag and Ocean Drive’s nightlife.

Sushi, Pizza, Fried Chicken, Rooftop Cocktails — All Without Touching Your Car Keys

Soho’s sesame-crusted ahi tuna on Monday. NY Pizza Kitchen’s garlic knots on Wednesday. Hoskins’ legendary fried chicken on Friday. OD Arcade’s famous burgers whenever the mood strikes. Sky Bar’s rooftop on Saturday night. Not once do you sit in traffic, hunt for parking, or argue about who’s driving home. From our 3BR/2BA condo at 601 Hillside Dr N, the walk through Ocean Keyes to Main Street is about 10 minutes of palm trees and ocean air — and the walk home under the stars is even better. This is the only vacation rental where dinner is an evening stroll, not a logistics problem.

Check Availability & Book Your Stay

For the complete dining rundown beyond Main Street, check out our full dining guide.