There’s a moment at the end of a great dinner when nobody is quite ready to call it a night.
Fortunately, around Daytona, the evening doesn’t have to end when the check arrives. You can discover a locally distilled spirit, sample a flight of craft beer, linger over a bottle of wine or finish the night with a creative cocktail.
Whether you’re looking for something intimate, adventurous, casual or unmistakably Daytona, these four local destinations offer very different answers to one simple question:
Where should we go next?
Something Distilled
For an after-dinner experience with a distinctly local flavor, Copper Bottom Craft Distillery in Holly Hill offers something you simply can’t find everywhere: spirits made right here in our community.
Family-owned and located just steps from the Halifax River, Copper Bottom creates small-batch spirits from raw sugar cane, drawing inspiration from Florida’s long connection to rum and maritime history.
Rum takes center stage, from Silver and Single Barrel varieties to limited releases finished in beer, wine, port and sherry barrels. But the experience goes beyond what’s in the glass. Tastings and distillery tours offer a chance to learn how the spirits are produced and discover some of the craftsmanship behind them.
It’s a great next stop for couples who enjoy trying something new together.
Copper Bottom Craft Distillery
998 N Beach St, Holly Hill
www.copperbottomspirits.com
Something Brewed
For a decidedly more casual change of pace, Drunken Duck Brewing Company offers a different kind of local experience.
The Holly Hill brewery and taproom has an easygoing personality that starts with its name and carries through to the beer. Its taps combine Drunken Duck’s own creations with guest brews covering a range of styles, while flights provide an easy way to explore several.
After dressing up for dinner, sometimes there’s something particularly enjoyable about going somewhere relaxed, ordering a couple of beers and simply hanging out.
Drunken Duck is local, unpretentious and fun—which might be exactly what date night needs next.
Drunken Duck Brewing Company
101 2nd St, #401, Holly Hill
www.drunkenduckbrewingcompany.com
Something Uncorked
Sometimes the perfect end to date night is simply finding someplace that makes you want to stay another hour.
Madeline’s Wine Bar, at Beach and Bay streets in downtown Daytona Beach, is made for exactly that kind of evening.
The locally owned wine bar pairs a curated selection of wines and champagnes with made-to-order charcuterie and chef-created small plates in an intimate lounge setting. Owner Meghan Duran brought more than 16 years of food-and-beverage experience to the concept, combining her appreciation for travel, food and wine with a desire to create a gathering place centered around community.
Its downtown location adds to the appeal. Across from the News-Journal Center and Riverfront Esplanade, Madeline’s is an easy destination after dinner, a show or a walk along the riverfront.
Order a bottle. Share a board. Find a comfortable seat—and forget about the time.
Madeline’s Wine Bar
200 N Beach St, Daytona Beach
www.madelineswinebar.com
Something With Horsepower
For a final stop with a little more energy, Blue Flame at The Daytona, Autograph Collection brings the personality of ONE DAYTONA and the racing heritage across the street into the evening.
The setting embraces its proximity to Daytona International Speedway with automotive touches and racing memorabilia, creating an atmosphere that feels polished while remaining unmistakably Daytona.
That personality extends to the bar, where moonshine plays a starring role in cocktails such as the Blood Orange Moonshine Mule, Moonshine Mojito and Blue Flame Ritual.
It’s a fitting place to put an exclamation point at the end of the night.
Blue Flame
1870 Victory Cir, 2nd Floor, Daytona Beach
www.blueflamedaytona.com
Maybe that’s the real secret to a great date night. Dinner doesn’t always have to be the entire event.
Start somewhere special. Then change the scenery. Try a local rum. Discover a new beer. Linger over wine. Finish with a cocktail.
Because when the company is good and the night is young, there’s no reason the check has to signal the end.
A great dinner may start the evening, but sometimes the best memories are made when you decide the night isn’t over yet.
Dinner sets the stage, but where you go afterward can become the part of the evening you remember, talk about and want to do again.