Experience Manteo

Manteo sits at the center of Roanoke Island and serves as a hub for visitors. Calling this small coastal community on protected Shallowbag Bay scenic hardly captures it. Its marina and waterfront, the replica Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse, and the quiet residential streets around town are lovely enough that some travelers end up imagining life here full-time. Incorporated in 1899 and named for Chief Manteo of the Croatan Native American Tribe, the town’s story is closely connected to The Lost Colony of Roanoke and to the rich surrounding waters. Chief Manteo and Chief Wanchese traveled to England after English explorers arrived and friendly ties were formed. For generations, local families made their living by fishing and farming, a history explored in greater depth at Island Farm and the Roanoke Island Maritime Museum, where visitors can see boats built specifically for these waters. A stroll to Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse offers a look at how fishermen, including those aboard larger vessels, used screwpile lighthouses to navigate the area.

Just across the bay from the Manteo waterfront, Roanoke Island Festival Park hosts festivals and community events throughout the year. The park also includes a museum, costumed interpreters who bring early colonial life into view, and the Elizabeth II, a full-scale replica of the vessels that carried colonists from England to these shores. Step aboard to see the shipboard conditions those men and women endured on their westward crossing, and appreciate the courage it took.

Downtown Manteo offers more than a dozen places to dine, along with a rum distillery. A tasting gives a sense of the inventive culinary spirit found here, and a meal shows even more of it. 1587 Restaurant and Lounge pairs waterfront dining with signature cocktails, craft beer, and wine. The Hungry Pelican, Poor Richard’s Sandwich Shop, and Lost Colony Tavern serve sandwiches, handheld favorites, and beer flights. Olives focuses on Greek cuisine with fresh catch at the center. Ortega'z Southwestern Grill and Wine Bar adds a southwestern flair to Downtown Manteo. For coffee and breakfast, Charis Coffee Co. and Front Porch Café are nearby options. Outer Banks Distilling is where you’ll find the rum and more, all within walking distance of the waterfront. There are still more bites to uncover, because part of any getaway is finding something new.

Manteo is not the place for mini-mansion beach houses or the hotels and motels often associated with the Outer Banks. Here, Victorian and Craftsman-style homes line the streets, and among them is the largest collection of B&Bs and Inns on the Outer Banks. Choosing an Inn or B&B offers a more charming, personal base for experiencing Manteo, Roanoke Island, and the Outer Banks. Roanoke Island Inn, Island Guesthouse and Motel, Scarborough Inn, and White Doe Inn Bed and Breakfast are among the lodging choices in Manteo.

No matter where you stay, the waterfront is only a short walk away. From there, visitors can board a sailboat, catamaran, or pleasure cruiser for a sunset outing, dolphin watching, or a mix of both, often with local legends and lore included. Fishing charters may also be available for pickup in town, though many leave from Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, Pirate’s Cove Marina, and other area marinas in nearby Wanchese. It is still worth asking.

Manteo, and Roanoke Island in general, does not offer beach access. The sand, waves, and shells are a few minutes away in Outer Banks towns such as Nags Head, Kill Devil Hills, Kitty Hawk, and Duck, as well as along Cape Hatteras National Seashore. What Manteo does offer is access to the Roanoke and Croatan Sounds and the surrounding marshes. Downtown outfitters can provide kayaks and standup paddleboards for exploring by water. For land-based exploring, a long mixed-use bicycle and walking path runs from town to the north end of the island, and those same outfitters can help with bike rentals. Before renting, check with your B&B, since some keep gear available for guests.

Explore more in Manteo

Places To Stay

Whether you want a nostalgic feel, a downtown setting, or a soundfront retreat, Manteo offers places to get away from the bustle and settle into a quieter stay.

Restaurants

Roanoke Island offers memorable dining options, shaped in part by the same creative spirit that draws artists to Manteo.