Excellent breakfast place…read more Exactly what you would expect from a place that serves your typical American breakfast. I had the eggs, sausage, hash brown and pancake. The side pancake is plate sized. Prices are reasonable. Can even pick up a cool t shirt. Definitely a place to try while on the island.

Friendly environment…read more If you enjoy IHOP or Dennys, you'll like this place. Even the coffee is lackluster. I left more than 75% of my breakfast uneaten....it was that bad. My companion said he'd never return, either. This place served iceberg lettuce! Points for frie

What a fantastic place! We stayed just one night in a room with two double beds and a single--it…read morewas incredibly spacious! Clean, comfortable, and affordable, with cozy beds that worked perfectly for all of us. It had everything we needed for a relaxing stay. The front desk clerk was so kind and offered great restaurant recommendations. We had such a great experience--can't say enough good things about the Pony Island Inn!

This is a clean, friendly, no frills, and inexpensive kind of place. We made a last minute…read morereservation by calling, and Kim at the front desk found us a room when the online reservations said they were all booked. We only spent one night but we will be back soon.

Very nice bar and restaurant in downtown Ocracoke NC. Fun decorated dinning space with sea and…read morepirate themes and lots of state plates. Cool angled interior space with a rustic feeling open post and beam roof. Grabbed a pound of peal and eat shrimp. Drinks were strong and savory however a bit pricy. They do close a bit early @ 10 or so. There was no live music however the bar was lively and friendly.

Absolutely excellent experience. Super friendly service, great atmosphere- seems like an…read moreinstitution without feeling touristy. Got the fresh catch, blackened and it was cooked and seasoned to perfection. All local beers on tap and a nice drink selection. Gluten free items are clearly marked and space is relatively accessible. Ramp (though very long!) to get in and relatively accessible restrooms. About a 15 minute drive once you get off the ferry. Would absolutely come back.

Usually when I'm in a beach town, I skip the restaurants and head into the hinterlands to find…read moresomething worthwhile. In Ocracoke, you don't need to do that. I highly recommend Dajio Restaurant. The meal was excellent. I had the blackened ahi on a salad. It was fresh and perfectly cooked. There's a decent but minimal selection of wines by the glass, and I went with a Sauvignon Blanc that paired perfectly. Most of the wines have good ratings by the major wine reviewers. Service was outstanding. The server had that classic beach-town ease (local or seasonal) but really knew the menu and did a great job. At one point, a woman who appeared to be management stopped by the table to check in. When she asked how things were, my answer was simple: "Incredible." The atmosphere is exactly right, relaxed but still polished, with just the right amount of energy without feeling crowded or chaotic. That balance is harder to get right than people think, and they've nailed it. I don't hand out compliments lightly, but this place delivers. Simple, fresh food, executed properly. No gimmicks, no shortcuts. This is absolutely a place you should try if you're in Ocracoke. I'll be back.

My wife and I are here now for drinks and appetizers, but the host told us that we can't sit inside…read moreat one of the empty tables unless we order food. It's starting to sprinkle rain, so we're are paying for our 2 drinks and leaving. Pity, seems like a nice place.

We stayed the night here spending the weekend in ocracoke. Clean room, comfy bed, hot shower. What…read moremore can you ask for? Usually I sleep terrible at hotels, but I slept pretty good here. Yes, the building is kind of worn, but you are at the beach. Everything is slightly worn. The front desk staff was kind and inviting. They have a game room downstairs if you want to play pool or fooseball. There is a mini fridge in your room and a coffee pot. If you are looking for super fancy, this isn't your place. But I'd stay here again.

If I could give this establishment zero stars, I would…read more I arrived at the property to a less than overwhelming scene. In the beginning, everything seemed to be alright. By no means did it seem to be a very nice establishment, but would have to suffice due to missing the ferry to Cedar Island. Oh well. Far worse destinations that I could be trapped- so I thought. I checked into a room with my wife and five month old around 6 PM and headed to the beach to enjoy the evening. At around 8 PM, I received a call from the front desk. As it would turn out, their "website had made a mistake," and I needed to return the room keys. When I returned with the keys almost immediately, I was met by the front desk attendant and a local sheriffs deputy- who looked just as confused about the situation as I did. My credit card was charged, and I had a confirmation. The attendant had quite literally checked me in earlier in the day with no issues-yet she called the sheriff's office to search the island for my family and I. So, let me get this straight. I book. I pay. I show up. I check in. You check me in. You hand me the keys. No issues. Then, you call the sheriff's office and say you "think I'm committing fraud." I return. You realize that your dumb a** f***ed up. You don't even apologize. Then, for damage control you try to rent me a room for twice the price. As if traveling with an infant isn't already hard enough. I should have read the reviews first, because it wouldn't have taken long to see what a sh***y establishment that this is. What a bunch of f***ing idiots!

Great little motel in Ocracoke. The rooms are basic but are immaculate. A fantastic find and as a…read morebonus the owners are super sweet. If you're in Ocracoke and looking for a clean and affordable place to stay then this is your spot.

Loved our overnight here! We decided last minute to stay in the island and snagged their last room…read more So clean and bright! Comfy bed, quiet room, great price, friendly staff. Perfect location, walking distance to restaurants and live music. Thanks for the hospitality!

Had an absolutely lovely time at the Bluff Shoal with my partner. The location is right in the…read moremiddle of the action (close to restaurants, water, and 10 minute walk from the lighthouse), and the room was clean and cozy. We parked in front of the motel and didn't touch the car again the whole time we were there. The highlight was the service - the motel staff were so welcoming and truly exemplify the southern hospitality that North Carolina is known for. All in all, we loved Ocracoke Island and Bluff Shoal was the perfect HQ for our vacation. Hope to come back again!

Clean, friendly staff good location, nice atmosphere, not fancy. Back deck on the harbor.read more

Love this quaint place. It is clean and quiet. We stayed in room #305. A large king suite. It had a…read morenice size deck over looking the harbor. There isn't an elevator but there is a luggage elevator. Check in was quick with great customer service by Lisa. She is awesome! Best way to get around if you don't want to walk is by bike or golf cart. If you're staying there in the high season, I suggest to rent a golf cart early as there may not be any available. Bonus: From this rooms bathroom, you can see the Ocracoke Lighthouse. Enjoy!

Absolutely wonderful location! We had a great harbor view from our deck, (room 303). Everything is…read morewithin walking distance from here. Easy and safe parking Great people, easy check in. Our room was clean, spacious, quiet, and comfortable.

We ended up at Captain's Landing more or less by accident (at the last minute we decided to take…read morethe Cedar Island-Ocracoke ferry instead of driving via Manteo to Hatteras Island, and this was the only hotel we found with room -- most hotels on Ocracoke close in winter, and one that was open, Pony Island, didn't answer its phone or return our calls.) A helpful person at NC Ferries gave us the tip on Captain's Landings. We're so glad we did! We got the next to last room available at this inn, and probably on the island, a one-bedroom, one and a half bath suite for just $110. Rates in summer rise to $280, but there's a discount for weekly stays, and I would guess that this place stays fully booked much of the time. The inn, painted a light yellow and patterned after another, long-gone hotel on the island, the Ponzer Hotel, is owned by a ninth generation Ocracoker, Betty Chamberlin, and her husband. It is perched right on Silver Lake (the Ocracoke harbor) in the heart of the village, within walking or biking distance to just about everything, including one of the best and most pristine stretches of Hatteras National Seashore beach on the entire Outer Banks. In a Frommer's guidebook I wrote to the coast of the Carolinas and Georgia years ago, I rated this 14 miles of Ocracoke beach the best beach in the three states. In my view, it still is. You're also just a short bike or hike away from the lighthouse and the shops and restaurants in and around the village. Although they are closed in winter, you'll probably find as most do that the Flying Melon and the Back Porch are the two top restaurants on the island, and that Howard's Pub is a great watering hole. On this visit, we ate at Jason's for dinner -- it has good, fresh seafood and probably the best pizza anywhere around. The views across the harbor, including the Ocracoke Lighthouse, are wonderful. Our first-floor suite had everything we needed -- fully equipped kitchen, a balcony overlooking the inn's 10 boat slips and the water, a pleasant living room with a large flat screen TV with DirecTV and DVD player, and a comfortable bedroom with a quality queen bed. There's free Wi-Fi. The manager is very friendly and helpful, and she gave us good advice on the three restaurants that are open for dinner this time of year. We've visited Ocracoke many times during annual stays at Avon or Rodanthe on Hatteras Island, but I have only stayed overnight on the island only a couple of times. This visit, in late February, we lucked out on the weather. It can be surprisingly cold on the OBX in winter, but this time it was sunny and around 70 degrees in the day, perfect springlike weather. Ocracoke is one of the jewels of the North Carolina coast, and in our book Captain's Landing is the top place to stay on Ocracoke.

loved my nine days on ocracoke. captain's landing apartments provide a fabulous view of hte…read moreharbor, at teh same time they are three steps from everything in town

Every vacation town needs a visitor center and for Ocracoke Island this is the place. Everything…read moreon Ocracoke is fairly small and compact which is cool because in premise everything is easy to find and this place is no different. Just head towards the Cedar Island & Swan Quarter Ferry dock and you'll find a small parking lot with the visitor center located across the road. The one odd thing worth mentioning is that this visitor center is managed by the NPS. This is due to the large presence that the NPS has on the island with the pony pens, the lighthouse and all of the beaches falling under it's jurisdiction via the Cape Hatteras National Seashore umbrella. So if you come what will you see here? There are two buildings with public restrooms on the right and the actual visitor center on the left. The visitor center has exhibits on the main island attractions like the British Cemetery, the Ocracoke Ponies, the lighthouse and the history of pirates in the area which of course involves Blackbeard. Also note the large map on the outside wall of the building which puts everything in the village in a good context as to where it is and how far. The VC also serves as a gift shop with a plethora of books being the main offering along with a good display of pamphlets, brochures and catalogs for Ocracoke accommodations, restaurants, shops and attractions. This is also the launching point for any and all seasonal ranger activities that take place on the island for adults and children. The day we visited we didn't see any ranger presence but the manager who was at the visitor center was great. She was a funny as hell and a great resource for information. She was also a great help in particular with how to find the best parking for going to Spinger's Point. If you need some help getting around on the island (help but not recommendations for lodging or food as policy dictates anyone working here can't do that) or for some kind of trinket of Chinese plastic to take home with you this is your stop. According to the below page the visitor center is open daily 9-5 with the exception of Christmas Day. www.nps.gov/caha/planyourvisit/hours.htm

Bottom Line: Free parking, a nice bathroom, friendly people and a decent gift shop…read more The Ocracoke Island Visitors' Center is run by the National Park Service and is proportionate to the size of the island - small. The facility is nice but there's not much to it. I enjoyed looking around the gift shop and picking up a few items to commemorate my trip to the island. I also got a map of the island and I always appreciate a nice, clean bathroom! I suspect there are periodic ranger talks but I didn't see the schedule for them.