Cancel

Open app

Search

The Vanguard Brewpub & Distillery

3.7 (299 reviews)
Open 11:30 am - 11:00 pm
Updated 3 months ago

Order The Vanguard Brewpub & Distillery Takeout or Delivery

The Vanguard Brewpub & Distillery Photos

Business Info

THE VANGUARD BREWPUB & DISTILLERY ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Classy
Loud
Happy hour specials

You might also consider

More like The Vanguard Brewpub & Distillery

Recommended Reviews - The Vanguard Brewpub & Distillery

Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
Yelp app icon
Browse more easily on the app
Review Feed Illustration

Reviews With Photos

Diane M.

I held an event here on Saturday evening and let me tell you they rolled out the red carpet for us. My sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. was in Hampton to see a performance by Wanda Sykes a world renowned comedian and graduate of Hampton University where we all attended and graduated from as well. The placement where they sat us up was wonderful. The food was amazing!!!!!! Our server was fantastic. The manager was so accommodating giving us forks and plates for a birthday cake we brought in. I have heard so many wonderful things about this place and they did not disappoint. The place is huge and on the weekend even has a band!!!!! Everyone was so pleased. It was at least 40 of us and they handled the entire group. Food served piping hot and nice quantities.

Raw meat in tacos
Jade H.

Ordered takeout from Vanguard and was unfortunately served raw meat in my bulgogi tacos. Taste was decent until I found the meat had an unusual texture which caused me to check and it wasn't just one piece, it was the majority. I took it back and they offered to make something else which was nice but just opted for a refund after the experience. Just check your food!

So. Much. Salt.
Kimber R.

Our service couldn't have been better. Our server was so helpful and seemed like she truly loved her job. She made small talk and made some great suggestions. Inside is massive. I love the old building turned into something new vibe, and while it seems weird to mention, the bathroom was big and really impressive! I got the soup special of the day, which was buffalo chicken and SO good. It was like a wing in soup form. I also got the pretzel with cheese and while it was good....it was absolutely covered in salt. I had to spend a good amount of time desalting it to make it even close to edible. It once again was tasty after I did that, but I shouldn't have had to. The server was super sweet when I mentioned it, and said she would tell the kitchen. I was only in the area visiting, but I'll make sure I mention it to anyone I know will be in that area.

Behind the scenes foto (very cool!)
Jessica L.

I went for "The Prince Project" (summer, 2024) and paid extra for the VIP section, only to leave after 2-3 hours of no Prince project. The seating was not great (we were in the first come, first seat balcony/VIP area), and the only good thing about it was we had our own walk up bar. I'm not sure what was going on that night, but I couldn't get ahold of anyone about my tickets before or during, as I was wanting to know if we would ever see the Prince project for the $100 I spent. There was never a response, and I was highly disappointed. We got there around 6 and left around 8:30/9. I've been to the vanguard before, but this experience negated any good things about it, as it seemed chaotic & unorganized. Very disappointing & unorganized, and I'll be hesitant to pay for anything here again with the lack of communication. I will say we did end up ordering food and at behind the bar, which was a fun experience (even though not $100 worth and never seeing anything Prince related). That's the 2 stars- bar staff was nice & the food was good.

Selwyn
Andy C.

Great intro to an amazing music venue which serves excellent food and quality brews. We visited Vanguard last night for a blues show featuring local talent Jason Cale and the amazing Selwyn Birchwood out of Florida. The stage setup provides a great closeup view of the bands and tho the historic brick structure bounces the sound a bit, it also adds a raw element to the music. I liked it... a lot! Room to dance or get up close as you wish. Food was surprisingly topnotch with the jambalaya and Bulgogi beef bowl rated 5stars for quality ingredients and nuanced flavors. Way above average for a micro brewery. And the beers were excellent, but that part we knew coming in from the Vanguard's active role in local events and award winning offerings. Def worth the trip from VB. Get you summadat!

Kim L.

6 years later and finally came back to try the food! The food was pretty tasty. We had the Pickle Chips, Chicken Spinach Mushroom Alfredo flatbread, and the Short Rib grilled cheese, and the Vanguard burger. I ordered a fish n chips to go (and my ol man really liked it). The server was very friendly and pretty spot on. There was a band that was playing which was a nice surprise. Will be back sooner than later to try their brunch menu!

Henry P.

Got to try a advanced shot sample And really like the bourbon so I bought one The bartender and waitstaff provided excellent service Will be back when in town

The Vanguard is located in historic downtown Hampton and has a large room as well as comfortable lounge, sitting area behind the bar and an extra room with tables and chairs. The food was good and plentiful. Ashley, the event planner, worked with us and helped to make the party a great success. A bar was provide with two bartenders who served beer,wine, alcohol and non-alcoholic drinks. I can't give enough praise for this establishment. Everyone had a wonderful time.

Chelsi U.

This brewery is a pretty large building in downtown Hampton. I came here to meet a friend and try a new place. There is no happy hour here. So keep that in mind when you come. There was a cornhole tournament going on while we were there too, which was kinda cool. We decided to order a couple apps to share. We were interested in the salmon bites and the house wings. 6 wings came in their house bourbon sauce for $13 and they were pretty good. The salmon bites were disappointing to say the least. We thought we'd get more than three tiny balls for $10. We just stared at them when they got to the table like...wait is this it? lol. They were pretty good but I wouldn't order them again. Their sour beer on tap was pretty dang delicious. I'm a sour beer fan and that was one I'd go back for, if I were just going to drink. Other than that, it was a fun outing but we'd go elsewhere for apps.

Country Fried Chicken
Ashley D.

Today we decided to try something new for dinner. The service was great! Our food came out very fast. Very spacious on the inside, and they must host some sort of dance classes as Salsa was being taught today. There is a good amount of bar space, tables, as well as a stage and dance floor. Food: butterfly shrimp and fries were amazing. Seasoned well. Country Fried Chicken was really good. How ever, the green beans could use a little salt, and the potatoes were over cooked. The green apple cobbler stole the show! It was sooo good. I would definitely return.

Ariyana P.

Back in October, a buddy, my boyfriend, and I decided to try The Vanguard for brunch before homecoming. We picked this location since it was still close to campus but we expected it to be less crowded since it was also gameday. We were, indeed, correct. It wasn't very crowded while we were there. The venue is huge! Before they acquired it and transformed it into a restaurant, it was an abandoned military bunker. Bottomless mimosas and fried pickles were our first course. Both were fantastic, and I think I had three rounds of mimosas. Our waitress was quite kind and helpful, and she made several visits to check on us. I had a Vegi omelette, which was average and could have used more flavor. My friend had fried chicken bites with fries and my partner went with the grilled chicken sandwich with fries; both were happy. I'd love to return on a night when they have live acts because I'm sure the place gets busy later on such occasions.

Smoked Buffalo Lemon Pepper Wings

See all

Photo of Dan P.
0
15
11

4 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

9 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0

6 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Diane M.
0
148
401

3 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

10 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

1 year ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 1
Love this 2
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Mark B.
10
133
7

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Kim L.
6
143
342

1 year ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 1

3 years ago

Helpful 7
Thanks 1
Love this 6
Oh no 0

9 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

11 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 4
Thanks 0
Love this 4
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 0
Love this 6
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 4
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Jess H.
1
96
37

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 years ago

Helpful 10
Thanks 0
Love this 7
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1
Photo of Elda G.
2
56
60

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Mark G.
53
35
3

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

Page 1 of 8

Ask the Community - The Vanguard Brewpub & Distillery

You might also consider

Verify this business for free

People searched for Brewpubs 152 times last month within 10 miles of this business.

Verify this business

Elation Brewing - Bacon Gouda

Elation Brewing

4.3(120 reviews)
10.2 mi
$$

Elation Brewing has a fantastic atmosphere. The space is large and open with an airy indoor layout…read moreand plenty of outdoor seating. It's the kind of place that works for almost any occasion, whether you're hanging out with a big group, grabbing a drink solo, or meeting up for a casual date. There are lots of different seating options, which makes the space feel flexible and comfortable. They also host live music and trivia on certain nights, which adds to the overall vibe. I went on a Sunday around 6:30pm. It wasn't crowded, but there was still a good crowd if that makes sense. It felt lively without being packed. Their drink selection is great. They have plenty of beer options, but also serve wine, seltzers, cider, and non alcoholic drinks, which I really appreciate since I'm not much of a beer person. I ordered the frozen rosé slushie in wild raspberry and it was strong. I also had the black cherry fruited cider, which was delicious. For food, I ordered The Hive pizza and it was excellent. The crust was thin-ish and tasted homemade, and the ingredients were clearly high quality. No complaints at all. Service was friendly and efficient, and the bathrooms were very clean. Random detail, but the toilet paper was noticeably better quality than what you usually find in bars. It was not plush, but strong and not paper thin. Overall, I loved the atmosphere, the food, the drinks, and the service. I will definitely be back.

One of my favorite things to do when it's nice out is go to a brewery, restaurant, or park and sit…read moreoutside! Tonight my sister took me to Elation Brewing, and I will absolutely be back! Elation Brewing has a huge indoor and outdoor area with plenty of different styles of seating! It is family and pet friendly, and they have fire pits for cooler days/nights. I love that the inside still has huge open windows to allow that fresh cross breeze in. They are known for their pizza, but they also have a variety of other things to eat on their menu. There is also a number of different beers, seltzers, IPAs, and wines to try. Tonight I had the White Cranberry Sangria from Water's Edge Winery (also in Norfolk) and the Downeast Black Cherry! While both were really good, I prefer the Downeast because it was sparkling and just more refreshing. We also had the bacon Gouda pizza and the Hive pizza with hot honey. Both were great! I had never had a hot honey pizza but would definitely get it again! Tonight was trivia night and they had a good size crowd come out. I like that you could actually hear the questions despite so many people. A lot of times I can barely hear! Also inside the same place is Voyager Coffee. They're only open 7-4. I would love to give them a try. Oh and Elation does offer military discount but only on their to-go beers! The ONLY reason I did not give Elation five star is because I wish they had actual servers. You have to go up to the counter to order each time, and the lines get pretty long. Being able to order from the table, even if from a QR code where you could order and pay online would be a plus. Lastly, for such a large space, the parking lot is tiny. You'd either have to find street parking or there is additional parking at the CEO building on Colley.

Photos
Elation Brewing - Bar

Bar

Elation Brewing
Elation Brewing - Downeast Black Cherry

See all

Downeast Black Cherry

COVA Brewing Company

COVA Brewing Company

4.2(185 reviews)
11.1 mi
$$

Wow! COVA Brewing it's been so long and finally! I frequent the area and feel bad I've neglected…read morethis awesome Norfolk establishment for so long. This review actually has two great businesses because I visited Klassic Doughnut's food truck too! Ok first things first. Every Wednesday through this Summer Klassic Doughnuts food stand will be available at COVA 8-11 AM. They are in my opinion the best cake doughnuts in our area. They are a major draw for COVA. I purchased a few to go. With COVA I specifically wanted to try their coffee. I was blown away upon arrival to see their outdoor space. It's huge and beautiful. On a weekday at 11 AM without school even out was busy! The counter service was helpful and friendly. I told the staff I wanted a black coffee and was directed to what beans were being offered. I opted for an Ethiopian pour over. The coffee comes in a large and priced competitive. It took a bit with being busy and a pour over, but boy was the wait worth it. Probably the best coffee I've had in any recent memory and I drink a lot of coffee. The space inside is compact, but they offer a side patio that's covered too! COVA is late to offering coffee, maybe 5 years or so. However, they are established with brewing award winning beer. I chatted with a female brewer a minute who was so sweet and invited me back for a glass. They also have a bakery case with offerings that looked good. So I need to return. So exciting to share such a gem in East Beach. Parking may be an issue, but off street neighborhood streets are available.

I wanted a place I could go and have coffee but also just enjoy outside, and Cova is exactly that!…read moreWhile they are a brewing company, during the day, they sell coffee and lattes. I like that while it is in Norfolk technically, it is super close to where I live in Virginia Beach. We tried their seasonal blueberry crumble latte and also had their Irish coffee. Both were very good ! I will say, they do not have a liquor license, so the Irish coffee does not come with Whiskey. Perfectly fine with me but wanted to set the expectation! I also tried their seasonal blueberry sweet cream and ohhh my goodness I wish I could buy a some to take home. So fresh, so good! The staff was super nice, and the outside area is a huge space with a variety of seating arrangements. It was a chillier morning and I do wish the fire pits were going but otherwise, super great, relaxing place to be! I really enjoyed my morning with my sister thanks to Cova!

Photos
COVA Brewing Company - Indoor

Indoor

COVA Brewing Company - Award winning beer

Award winning beer

COVA Brewing Company - Insight Seating

See all

Insight Seating

The Vanguard Brewpub & Distillery - brewpubs - Updated May 2026

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...