Attn: Pirate Lady and Others - Need Dock Bar Recommendations

The Dark Side

The Dark Side

Active Member
Oct 16, 2020
145
Middle River, MD
Boat Info
2008 Larson 370
Engines
Volvo 8.1's
I am still dealing with continued failed long blocks (new) from Volvo (long, painful story, lol) and will be chartering a boat (Jeanneau NC 33) for 1.5 weeks in the end of July.

Looking for your top 3 dock bar recommendations in and around Middle River.

Cheers,
TDS
 
In order of favoites…
Cross bay to Tolchester The Shanty Bar is by far the best. 1/2 hour run, Great bands on weekends, and a lot of free transient day slips. 130 compass heading from MR will put you right there. Use Google Earth to view so you can see entrance. Its kind of hidden.
Bowleys on the Bay is real nice, sand beach, tables, tiki bar, inside bar, but transient slips are scarce. You could just drive, right down road from your marina at Long Beach Marina.
Tiki Lees on Back River is really nice, good bands. A little pricey. About same distance as Shanty but on this side.
Crazy Tuna (Hopkins Creek) is nice. Not too expensive.
Sunset Cove (Maryland Marina) is nice. I find staff to be rather arrogant.
Start with those.
 
While not around Middle River,

Tolchester The Shanty Bar and also Fairlee Creek Jelly Fish Joels.

I prefer JFJ's over the Shanty bar mainly because of docking. I can never get a spot in the free docking area of Tolchester and have to take a slip in the back and walk around to the bar. Very long walk. Or anchor off of the beach and dinghy in.

I also prefer Fairlee Creek because of the Marina and anchoring out possibilities. one of my go to spot's.

Those two are close to MR.

A bit further down in Kent Narrows are Red Eye's (http://redeyesdb.com/) and the Jetty (https://jettydockbar.com/).
Both are supper popular and usually very busy.

A bit further is Lowes Warf (https://loweswharf.com/)

Here's a great reference in PropTalk https://www.proptalk.com/dock-bars
 
Sky, holiday weekends we wont go to Shanty because they burn up transient slips for overnighters.
However, regular weekends we always get a slip BUT we get there 11 to 11;30 am latest. As I’m sitting at the rail by bar we watch all the boats coming in and think they ain’t getting slips.
I’ve never not gotten a slip.
Get there earlier.
 
Pirate Lady said:
In order of favoites…
Cross bay to Tolchester The Shanty Bar is by far the best. 1/2 hour run, Great bands on weekends, and a lot of free transient day slips. 130 compass heading from MR will put you right there. Use Google Earth to view so you can see entrance. Its kind of hidden.
Bowleys on the Bay is real nice, sand beach, tables, tiki bar, inside bar, but transient slips are scarce. You could just drive, right down road from your marina at Long Beach Marina.
Tiki Lees on Back River is really nice, good bands. A little pricey. About same distance as Shanty but on this side.
Crazy Tuna (Hopkins Creek) is nice. Not too expensive.
Sunset Cove (Maryland Marina) is nice. I find staff to be rather arrogant.
Start with those.
Click to expand...

thanks. For Bowleys on the Bay, I was told that if you go to the fuel dock after 5pm (when it is closed), you can use that as a transient slip if know one else is there already, but have not tried it yet. Wife and I went there for dinner/drinks by car last fall, really cool place.

NO mention of River Watch next to Crazy Tuna? Wasn't the place recently sold to a new owner? I have not been there since last summer, but I could usually find a spot of the T docks.
 
SKybolt said:
While not around Middle River,

Tolchester The Shanty Bar and also Fairlee Creek Jelly Fish Joels.

I prefer JFJ's over the Shanty bar mainly because of docking. I can never get a spot in the free docking area of Tolchester and have to take a slip in the back and walk around to the bar. Very long walk. Or anchor off of the beach and dinghy in.

I also prefer Fairlee Creek because of the Marina and anchoring out possibilities. one of my go to spot's.

Those two are close to MR.

A bit further down in Kent Narrows are Red Eye's (http://redeyesdb.com/) and the Jetty (https://jettydockbar.com/).
Both are supper popular and usually very busy.

A bit further is Lowes Warf (https://loweswharf.com/)

Here's a great reference in PropTalk https://www.proptalk.com/dock-bars
Click to expand...

Good info, thanks. I need to get back to Fairly Creek, heard a lot about JFJ!
 
Pirate Lady said:
Sky, holiday weekends we wont go to Shanty because they burn up transient slips for overnighters.
However, regular weekends we always get a slip BUT we get there 11 to 11;30 am latest. As I’m sitting at the rail by bar we watch all the boats coming in and think they ain’t getting slips.
I’ve never not gotten a slip.
Get there earlier.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I'm not retired like you, so weekdays are really tough. But the other issue is those free slips are too small for me I stick out too much. My LOA with the dinghy is 54'.
 
The Dark Side said:
Good info, thanks. I need to get back to Fairly Creek, heard a lot about JFJ!
Click to expand...

JFJ's is a very good time especially if you stay at the marina, there are also bands at night at Great Oak. And they just installed new floating docks in what was the bad half (docks) of the marina.
 
I dont like JFJ. Too many drunked up girls and wanna get laid guys.
Prefer laid back, not crazy. Too old for that place
IMG_2218.jpeg
IMG_2217.jpeg
 
The Dark Side said:
wow, so they are closed all summer?
Click to expand...
Yes, got bought by Looneys. Totally gutted and rebuilding. Marina open for slip holders but bar closed til at least September, maybe longer.
If you ever been to a Looneys and you over 35 you will not want to go there. I know Markley owners right next to it. The neighbors are dreading the opening. Neighbors are freaking out.
Wrong crowd for area.
 
Pirate Lady said:
I dont like JFJ. Too many drunked up girls and wanna get laid guys.
Prefer laid back, not crazy. Too old for that place ...
Click to expand...

Funny I've actually seen that exact crowd there. There bouncers from Baltimore and they bring the strippers over on a go fast boat.

That's about when I get back on the dinghy with dog and head back to the boat. ...
 
A little further but nice, Hard Yacht, Rumor Reel, Broken Oar, all good
 
Pirate Lady said:
Yes, got bought by Looneys. Totally gutted and rebuilding. Marina open for slip holders but bar closed til at least September, maybe longer.
If you ever been to a Looneys and you over 35 you will not want to go there. I know Markley owners right next to it. The neighbors are dreading the opening. Neighbors are freaking out.
Wrong crowd for area.
Click to expand...

that's a bummer. I guess I will try Tuna next door then.
 
@SKybolt is The Jetty the place behind where my boat was slipped on Kent Island when I bought it and met you?

They had three to four bands on weekend nights, food wasn't too bad.
 
mrsrobinson said:
@SKybolt is The Jetty the place behind where my boat was slipped on Kent Island when I bought it and met you?

They had three to four bands on weekend nights, food wasn't too bad.
Click to expand...

That isn't Kent Island on that side, it's Grasonville (Kent Narrows), but yes. That's the Jetty.
 
I bought my boat there, and seriously considered buying a house there after seeing how amazing the boating was, and moving there, just to boat.
 
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