A casual Corolla brewery and bar for a cold beer, a full meal, or a break from the beach
First Light is a brewery and bar in Corolla, pouring drinks and serving food daily from early morning into the evening, with shorter hours on Sunday. It's a mid-priced, casual stop — the kind of taproom that works for a cold beer after the beach, a full meal, or just somewhere to sit that isn't a rental porch.
Corolla marks the end of the Outer Banks' paved road — past this point, the only way north is by 4x4 on the open beach toward Carova's wild horse territory — so First Light itself is easy to reach by regular car. It sits a short drive from Corolla's historic village area, where the Currituck Beach Lighthouse, the Whalehead Club, and Currituck Heritage Park cluster together, making it a reasonable stop before or after a day spent at the lighthouse or wandering the heritage park grounds.
833 reviews
3 months ago
We really enjoyed this place. We had the avocado toast and the shrimp and grits. Both were good. Toast was a little soggy with all the toppings but overall was good. Service at the bar was great. Nice location. Very busy place. I would definitely recommend this place.
3 months ago
Wow! So First Light has always been my first choice for an amazing breakfast in Corolla BUT it’s now my favorite place for dinner too!!! Chef Matt made one of the best crab cakes I’ve had in a long, long time. The hubby had delicious wings. Atmosphere and service are spot on! We will definitely be back 🦀
3 months ago
First Light has become my favorite go-to spot for breakfast and lunch in the Outer Banks. I recently tried their new dinner menu and was pleasantly surprised by how amazing the Chicken Fresco was—absolutely delicious! Great food, friendly service, and consistently a wonderful experience. Highly recommend!
7 months ago
Good lunch spot on a cold January day. The crab cake was perfect. Big and cooked perfectly. The coleslaw was delicious and I’m not a fan of coleslaw. Staff was attentive and helpful. Place has a good relaxed vibe.
4 months ago
My group of 12 Grannies ate breakfast here. I didn't take pictures of every meal but we all got different things and we all enjoyed EVERYTHING about First Light.The grits were the BEST I've ever had! We sat inside but they also have tables outside where they allow dogs. Our server, Henry, was the BEST! And Shay was a doll!