Sage Bistro is a restaurant first, but it's open until 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday, making it also popular among the later-night crowd. It's like multiple restaurants in one, due to its exciting and varying theme nights throughout the week. Throughout the week, you can enjoy fine dining, with your surf-and-turf favorites: fresh seafood, pasta, steaks. And on Fridays and Saturdays,Sage converts into a mini Deutschland, with a full German menu — even German Bier (including two for one Warsteiner drafts when you BYOS — that's bring your own Stein). The lobster pot pie and chili-crusted pork tenderloin with a mango-tequila glaze are two of Sage's best signature menu items. Don't miss Tuna Tuesdays, where Sage showcases a variety of different tuna creations. Bonus: Kids eat free on Thursdays.
Recommended for Cape Canaveral's Best Nightlife because: Sage's Bistro is open until 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday, making it a choice for the slightly later crowd.
Aimee's expert tip: Get two-for-one Warsteiner drafts on Fridays and Saturdays when you bring your own Bierstein.
Preacher Bar is one of the newest nightlife destinations in Cape Canaveral, and it brings nightlife like no other. First, the decor. Imagine Gothic and stained glass, jewel-toned accents, a room that is elaborate and dark, like a historic church. But instead of religious figureheads, the face is a round-glasses-wearing hippie. The long bar counter glows green, the lanterns sparkle and the ambiance is both otherworldly and a bit ironic, in its extravagance. The Preacher Bar serves more than 40 kinds of ever-changing beers, sangria, housemade cocktails and wine. The menu here will surprise you. Try the Scotch Egg or bacon mac and cheese.
Recommended for Cape Canaveral's Best Nightlife because: Preacher Bar has a great atmosphere and an ample list of beverages.
Aimee's expert tip: Try the Scotch Egg for a snack with your drink.
Papa Vito's Italian Restaurant in Cape Canaveral is not the cheapest Italian restaurant on the Space Coast, but it does have the best specials. Which means if you time it right, you can have high-quality food for cheap prices. Papa Vito's serves up fresh-to-order Italian food and pizza 365 days a year, open 11 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. every day. It also delivers. Lunch specials here start at just $2.99. Happy hour features 30-cent wings and a buy-one-get-one-free dinner. Beer is just a buck. Every day, Papa Vita's has different lunch specials. Get sandwiches, chips and a drink starting at just $2.99, and calzones for less than $5. Also check out the "early bird" and "late night" happy hour deals. The list of bargains goes on.
Recommended for Cape Canaveral's Best Nightlife because: Papa Vito's is open late, until 1:30 p.m., and it serves beer.
Aimee's expert tip: Ask about the late night happy hour deals.
Hogan's is a traditional, family-run, Irish-run bar on the Space Coast, featuring craft beer and the biggest selection of Irish whiskey in the area. In true Irish pub style, you can also get a pint of Guinness, Smithwicks and Harp, as well as harder-to-find Irish craft beers. Hogan's has more than 50 types of bottled beer, too. Come by Hogan's Irish Bar for live music, a game of pool and darts and to stretch back in the 200-plus-year-old antique furniture that gives this place unique character. The owners of this pub are from Ireland, where they also have experience in the pub scene. Hogan's started in 1977 in a small town in Ireland, so like its furniture, this bar also has an interesting history.
Recommended for Cape Canaveral's Best Nightlife because: Hogan's is an authentic Irish pub that actually has roots in Ireland.
Aimee's expert tip: The old pieces of furniture all have a story. Ask the owners. In true Irish style, a story is always flowing here.
Pick your favorite location: Melbourne Riverside or on the Port. But whatever you do, don't judge this restaurant by its curb appeal. Grills looks like a standard waterside shack (complete with its own party deck and tiki bar, of course!), but then it's that intentional shabbiness that helps give the place its character. Of course, the kitchen crew does its part, too, a fact made clear once you've tried the grilled fish of the day (mahi mahi or cobia one day, maybe dolphin the next), bacon-wrapped scallops, or steamed deep-water crab legs. Forget all of that battered and fried nonsense! If it's fresh fish and seafood you seek, Grills serves up some of the best.
Recommended for Cape Canaveral's Best Nightlife because: This tiki bar is known for its seafood, but it's a fun place to sit on the water, listen to live music and have a drink.
Aimee's expert tip: Grills has a surprisingly extensive wine list. Read the staff recommendations below many of the options.
A great place to cool your heels at the close of the day, Rusty's is a fun, laid-back kind of place that features a great deck, live entertainment and great views. And this dock-side joint serves up far more than cold brews and stout cocktails, though they have plenty of both. Check into a dozen oysters, a pound of clams or an order of mussels steamed in wine. More traditional mains, meanwhile, include everything from Maine lobster to hand-breaded jumbo shrimp, and the daily fish special (always fresh) can be served fried, blackened or Jamaican jerk-style. Look for an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet, too. Whatever route you choose, the folks at Rusty's will make sure you feel right at home. Rusty's recently renovated a new tiki bar and deck, so you can enjoy open-air dining in Florida's sunshine on the waterfront harbor.
Recommended for Cape Canaveral's Best Nightlife because: Rusty's has a fun deck, live entertainment and good drinks.
Aimee's expert tip: Grab a cocktail or beer and enjoy it on the tiki desk with live entertainment.
Port Canaveral is one of the busiest cruise ports in the world. Even though millions of cruise passengers pass through her every year, the atmosphere remains relaxed. Located off A1A in Cape Canaveral, Port Canaveral serves as an industrial, commercial and luxury transportation hub by connecting land, sea, air and space travel. In addition to its daily import/export schedule, seven of the finest cruise terminals in the world are located here. Deep sea fishing and boat rental are also available. The Cove at Port Canaveral is a waterfront recreational area that's home to several restaurants, shops, charter boats and attractions.
Recommended for Cape Canaveral's Best Nightlife because: The port is one of the busiest cruise ports in the world.
Aimee's expert tip: You don't have to go on a cruise to enjoy the port. The energy near the port is exciting all times of day and night.
Enormous waterside bar features a great, covered party deck, tiki bar upstairs, sports bar, sun deck, an array of terrific martinis and an ever-popular Mimosa Brunch on Sundays. Live music every Friday, Saturday and Sunday night. This is the type of place you can stop by any time of the day and enjoy good times and a great view of the water, but things really seem to pick up the pace at night. On Mondays in the fall, for example, there's NFL football on the tube, as well as a pretty competitive Texas Hold 'em tournament. On Wednesdays, folks showcase their karaoke skills on the deck. The food here will pleasantly surprise you, too.
Recommended for Cape Canaveral's Best Nightlife because: We love this waterside bar and party deck. Jam out to live music Friday through Sunday.
Aimee's expert tip: Six words: all you can eat crab legs. Do it. Wash it down with Happy Hour drinks, which start early at 3 p.m.
Gamble on the water, near Cape Canaveral, Fla. The Victory Casino Cruises are special ships stocked with slots, tables and live entertainment to bring your gambling and entertainment to the water. Find two cruises every day, seven days a week, including special evening cruises that last until midnight or later. On these cruise ships, you can find more than 600 slots, 30 tables, live entertainment, food and free drinks, all while floating on the water. The cruises depart from Port Canaveral in Florida's Space Coast claims to be "America's biggest and best casino cruise ship." They are a popular tourist destination and an attraction worth checking out.
Recommended for Cape Canaveral's Best Nightlife because: These casino cruises are a popular way to enjoy your evening on the Space Coast , and maybe win some money.
Aimee's expert tip: Take your Dramamine and keep hydrated. Alcohol and seasickness is a combo that can ruin any night out.
If you've seen Duff Beer on "The Simpsons," you've got to visit the Florida Beer Co. in Cape Canaveral, on the Space Coast in Florida. This craft brewery is the producer of real-life Duff Beer. Florida Beer Co. is also the biggest craft brewery in the state of Florida. It's known as a leader in the craft beer industry and since it opened in 1997, it has put Brevard County on the beer map. The large Cape Canaveral facility opened in 2014, complete with a visitor center, shop and tap room. The Florida Brewing Co. is the fusion of several local breweries: the Indian River Brewery, Ybor City Brewing of Tampa, Key West Brewery of Key West and Miami Brewing of Miami. Beyond sitting and sipping, you can participate in beer Frisbee tournaments, trivia nights, beer and food pairings and more.
Recommended for Cape Canaveral's Best Nightlife because: This is the biggest craft brewery in the state, and the tap room is worth a visit.
Aimee's expert tip: Try the Unlabeled Stout and then take a stroll to Port Canaveral to watch cruise ships roll in.