Something’s always new in Seaside, from delicious restaurants serving food from around the world to fun new shopping experiences where you can pick up everything you need for a day at the beach. Here are a few great places to check out on your next visit to Seaside.

Quirky New Spots

For a lively way to spend an evening, stop by The Lyons Den, a great place to hear bands from across the North Coast and beyond, along with DJs, comedians, poets and even the occasional drum circle. Better yet, there’s a sangria bar with handmade fruit-and-wine blends, with flavors like watermelon jalapeno.

If you love gaming or want to get cozy with the family for game night at your vacation rental, head to Gaming Galley & Cove Cafe to check out a selection of unusual board games with historic themes such as the Norman Conquest of 1066. Kids love Go Fish, checkers and Dog-opoly, a canine-themed spin on the great American board game. Try out your new game at a Cove Cafe table while enjoying a fresh deli sandwich or a classic milkshake or malt.

For an immersive digital experience, head to Seaside VR, where you can explore more than 100 different worlds in a wireless virtual reality arena with friends and family. From virtual escape rooms to quick bursts of VR action, it’s a fun and unique way to experience something new together in Seaside.

In a world dominated by keyboards and touchscreens, there’s something almost romantic about a good, old-fashioned writing implement. Just ask the folks at Seaside Pen Shop, who sell a solid selection of fountain pens, from nostalgic vintage options to modern calligraphy pens imported from Japan. They also stock high-quality notebooks and adorable stickers, perfect for gift giving.

Travelers with four-legged companions in tow are in luck: There’s a new self-wash dog-washing spot, Tides & Tails, right on South Roosevelt Drive. It’s a great place to go after a sandy run (or roll) on the beach. Pups have access to five tubs of different sizes plus two blow-dry stations, towels, brushes and four types of doggy shampoo. Come on a Sunday between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. for a half-off happy-hour session.

Global Culinary Delights

Seaside’s international dining scene has a few new options. One of the newest spots in town is Best Taste of India, which you may recognize from its food carts in Portland. Here you can try a variety of classics from samosas to chicken tikka masala. It also has a few lesser-known dishes on the menu, including gobi Manchurian, an Indo-Chinese dish of batter-fried cauliflower in a tangy gravy.

Mexican food fans are in luck, too, with even more Mexican food available than ever before. Astoria’s beloved Taqueria Los Compas food cart now has a brick-and-mortar location in the heart of Seaside, serving a wide range of classics and a number of street-food treats based on birria, a meaty stew. Think birria-topped fries, birria ramen and birria pizza served with broth for dipping. 

More great news — Seaside now has a full-service, indoor Mexican plaza, complete with a market, butcher, bakery, counter-service restaurant and imported goods galore. You’ll find all of this at the recently relocated and expanded Kiosco Mexicano. Come in for casual meals at Axolotl Mexican Cuisine like tacos and enchilada plates, then peruse gift items and jewelry, trading cards and games at the Equinox Card Shop, traditional piñatas, groceries and more. Better yet, it’s open late.

Picnic-Ready Provisions

For nostalgic crisp-on-the-outside, juicy-on-the-inside broasted chicken, look no further than Billy Mac’s Broasters. The chicken is the star of the show, but you can pair your meal with a side of coleslaw, onion rings, breaded mushrooms or jojos (seasoned potato wedges). Top it off with a range of sauces from barbecue and Buffalo to dill, hot honey or mango habanero. Eat in or walk a few blocks down Avenue U for a picnic on the beach.

If you’re passing through nearby Gearhart, stop by for a glass of wine or grab a bottle to go from the friendly folks at Daughter’s Coastal Bistro & Bottle Shop. Then head over to Heirloom Deli for a sandwich or a take-and-bake lasagna or enchilada casserole to heat up back at your Seaside vacation rental. For dessert grab an ice cream cone or a locally made cake or pie at Ziggy’s Sweets and Treats.