Best Little Bar in NSB
New Smyrna Beach is packed with fun bars. Trust us, we’ve sampled them all over the past decade… over and over and over… And, there are plenty of places we enjoy visiting, but there’s one that shines above the rest.
Casey’s NSB has been a local Beachside treasure for the past seven years. The neighborhood bar is tucked unassumingly in the corner of the small plaza that contains Boston’s Fish House and La Terraza. It’s a comfortable little dive bar with amazing live music, and it’s a great place to go for a few drinks.
It’s not a sports bar. It’s not a dance club. It’s not a pick-up joint. There are no killer views. It doesn’t even have a kitchen. But, it has amazing live music in a ridiculously comfortable atmosphere.
The area’s musical mecca is the coolest little bar in New Smyrna Beach. The laid back vibe at Casey’s is dominated by excellent live music, friendly bartenders, reasonably-priced drinks and nice patrons. An eclectic mix of locals, snowbirds and tourists comprise the friendly crowd. The common denominator is that everyone, of all ages, is there to chill and relax… and to soak in the musical performances.
When asked to describe his clientele, owner Casey McIlroy offered, “They’re people who get it. They get what we do and have a love of good music. Good music is good music.” He realizes that Casey’s won’t be top of the list for everyone in NSB, and he’s pragmatic about it, “It’s not for everyone, and that’s fine. There are a lot of other good options in NSB, too.”
Casey’s features live music seven days a week, and it’s not just music for the sake of music. McIlroy has been in the hospitality business for 40 years and has a long history booking live music. An he has a discerning ear. The artists playing Casey’s are the best in the area, and there’s nowhere else in town close, especially not seven days a week. Regular weekly performers include uber-talented artists like Larry Tomei, Big Ron, Hannah Harber Wynn and Snowbird Dan. They are all worthy of a night out… or two… or three…
McIlroy leverages connections he’s made throughout his career, including stints in Detroit, Orlando and New Orleans to book some fantastic touring acts.
He has a a clear sweet spot for New Orleans and music from the Big Easy. Having owned a bar in the French Quarter in the past decade, he has plenty of connections in NOLA. As a result, he has a habit of pulling some pretty interesting Big Easy talent into Casey’s NSB including regular performers like Sybil Gage and Orlando’s Shine and the Shakers who deliver that same Big Easy vibe. He also features a delicious frozen Irish Coffee modeled after the popular drink at the French Quarter’s Erin Rose.
The bar walls boast a wide-ranging selection of memorabilia, particularly from the Detroit and New Orleans phases of his life. It adds to the Casey’s NSB charm, just like the temporarily shuttered (due to COVID) popcorn machine with its endless supply of munchies.
The servers at Casey’s include a handful of refuges from other NSB establishments. A common theme seems to be that bartenders who tire of working in other area bars, move over to Casey’s for a more comfortable environment. They’re all friendly servers with a propensity to pour a heavy drink (Think Wally’s). It’s sort of like the PGA Champions Tour of NSB bars.
The drinks are typical bar fare, and the place does not really cater to wine aficionados nor craft beer enthusiasts. There are a handful of draft beers including one of the best beers on tap in this city, Michigan’s Bells Two Hearted Ale. The house wine is Wingspan, an under-appreciated pour that also donates to charity.
Giving back is a hallmark for Casey’s. While fighting a significant drop in revenue due to COVID, the bar has sponsored fundraisers for the staff, for the musicians and for customers in need. It’s a constant and longstanding theme for the neighborhood watering hole. McIlroy also has a soft spot for dogs, and has sponsored fundraisers in the past. This Spring he’ll be bringing Dogfest to the area across the street for an outdoor fundraiser for pet-related charities.
It’s just one of the many ways that Casey’s NSB gives back. Still, the one thing that makes them shine above the rest is the killer live music line-up.
As McIlroy stated earlier, it’s not going to be the perfect bar for everyone, but it works perfectly for me. If you haven’t been there, stop in some evening for a few drinks and enjoy the camaraderie, the friendly vibe and the talented musicians. And, if you’re a regular, I’ll see you over by the popcorn machine. I’ll be the guy with a smile plastered on his face, sipping my Bells Two Hearted and tapping my foot to the music.
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