Nestled within the ViBe Creative District and housed in a 1920s-era building on the Virginia Beach Historical Registry, Esoteric is serving up European-influenced fare using local ingredients, many of them sourced from its on-site garden, which it shares with its neighbor, Commune. In addition to showcasing their passion for eclectic, well-curated foods and good craft beer and cocktails, the VB-loving wife-and-husband team behind Esoteric has been a driving force in building a sense of community within the local arts district. Open for dinner nightly Monday through Saturday, Esoteric dedicates its space to the art of food, beverage and conversation.

Nestled within the ViBe Creative District and housed in a historic and charming 1920s-era building, Esoteric is a hidden gem that delights its patrons with its European-influenced fare and locally sourced ingredients. The enchanting outdoor seating area, adorned with string lights and overlooking an eye-catching garden area, promises an immersive dining experience where you can savor dishes crafted with utmost care and precision. One unique element of this eatery is that the gardens you overlook provide a lot of the produce and accouterments you’ll find on your plate, adding an authentic and sustainable touch to your dining experience.

Sharing the same Virginia Beach Historic Registry 1940’s era building and garden as Commune, Esoteric pairs creative fare with an eclectic beer menu. The brainchild of owners Kristina and Tim Chastain, Esoteric aims to provide an intellectual yet playful dining experience while paying respect to Virginia’s local producers. Start off with a draft from one of the best curated beer menus in the area and while the menu is always changing, the house made pimento cheese or bacon sliders are always a good bet.

With “craft beer and eclectic, curated foods” and ” a space dedicated to the art of food, beverage and conversation” — Esoteric could be any millennial foodie’s second home. To match the vibe of their menu and their mission, the owners chose an old-school 1920s-era building listed on the Virginia Beach Historical Registry, and it’s easily spotted thanks to the inviting bright turquoise doors. The inside decor is modern and chic — think exposed brick pillars and dangling light bulbs.

Born from a passion for great craft beer, eclectic food and sustainability, Esoteric in the ViBe Creative District offers a great place to fill up amid cool décor and great conversation. Happy hour specials include the “Last Meeting of the Day” (from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday,) which features $6 wine and beer, $2 off cocktails and well drinks and food specials like 75-cent wings, $2 fried shrimp and more. Other weekly specials include Burger Night Tuesdays from 4 p.m.

When husband and wife duo Tim and Kristina Chastain joined hearts and heads to create their own restaurant, they had all the right things in mind. Craft beer, eclectic foods, and an especially diverse aesthetic all mixed together make up the backbone of Esoteric, and the product is worthy of high praise. Esoteric recognized a need for rich culture in an up-and-coming area, which gave them the passion to give back to the Virginia Beach community.

Esoteric is where you’ll find the best craft beer selection in Virginia Beach, along with a diverse and carefully curated menu. The restaurant shares a garden with Commune, so many of the ingredients used are sourced right from their own backyard. I ordered one of their amazing cocktails – the Boozy Apple, and we shared an order of their award-winning cinnamon sugar sweet potato donuts.

To truly understand Esoteric, you’ve got to pull up a seat at their outdoor chef’s table, situated right in their flourishing garden. This green space isn’t just for show; it’s where they grow many of the herbs, fruits, and vegetables that make their way onto your plate. Esoteric is a celebration of craft and culinary artistry, focusing on elevated comfort food with an inventive twist.

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account. A post shared by Esoteric (@esoteric_vb). Owned by a couple with a passion to cook and serve dishes made from locally sourced and the most organic ingredients, Esoteric is also one of the locals’ most favorite restaurants in Virginia Beach.

Esoteric is an extremely trendy hangout for Virginia Beach, with lots of craft beer options and a unique menu. They recently added a fully vegan entree option featuring black rice and quinoa, pickled cauliflower, shaved asparagus, confit tomatoes, peanuts, apple vinegar, grapeseed oil, and root “butter.

Esoteric - The husband and wife team behind Esoteric strives to be unique in everything they do. Two ways it comes to life here: the rare craft beer offered here and a beautiful green space. Small plates, salads, and other food to snack on is also available for pairing.

In terms of craft cocktail bars Atlantic on Pacific, Esoteric, Repeal Bourbon and Burgers and Pacifica all come to mind as restaurants that take cocktails seriously. Pink Dinghy and Baby Izakaya have good cocktails too, but their selection is a bit limited.

Some restaurants with a farm-to-table focus to consider trying while in town include Harvest, Commune, Hearth Wood Fired Cuisine & Craft Beer, The Rustic Spoon, Esoteric, Heirloom, and The Bee and The Biscuit, just to name a few.

Both Commune and Esoteric serve locally-sourced modern American cuisine. Their dishes are organic and seasonal with some ingredients coming straight from their backyard garden.

The Painkiller cocktail at Esoteric in Virginia Beach features a dehydrated pineapple garnish that tastes like candy and a cherry soaked in brandy.

Doc Taylor’s is a brunch favorite in an old cottage, that, yes, used to be the practice of the titular physician.