The Flying Fox

For one of the most genuinely charming bars in New Bern, NC, The Flying Fox is a real treasure. Set on Broad Street in historic downtown Craven County’s county seat — just around the corner from The Chelsea — this beloved cocktail bar is celebrated for its creative drink selections, welcoming atmosphere, charming hanging-fern patio, and one of the most distinctive cocktail menus anywhere in North Carolina. With signature cocktails like the Bradham Old Fashioned (a thoughtful nod to Pepsi’s founder), an inventive mocktail program, regular live music, and a brand new whimsical community mural, The Flying Fox has become a beloved gathering spot for both locals and visitors. Click on the pictures below to get a feel for The Flying Fox before you go — or to relive the visit after.

A Cozy Cocktail Spot Just Around the Corner from The Chelsea

The Flying Fox sits in a perfect spot for an evening out in historic downtown New Bern — just around the corner from The Chelsea in the historic Stanly Building. The bar’s interior reflects the kind of warmth that’s harder and harder to find — exposed brick walls, intimate lighting, and a layout that immediately makes visitors feel at home.

Out back, the charming patio is one of the most beloved spots in downtown New Bern — a peaceful retreat adorned with hanging ferns, plus fun extras like pool tables and giant Jenga that turn an evening drink into a lingering hangout. Whether you’re settling in for a quiet cocktail after dinner or showing up with friends for a longer evening, the patio is the kind of space that genuinely captures what makes downtown New Bern so rewarding.

Specialty Cocktails and Creative Mocktails

The drink program at The Flying Fox is one of the most thoughtful in eastern North Carolina. Signature cocktails include:

The Bradham Old Fashioned — a meaningful nod to Caleb Bradham, the inventor of Pepsi-Cola, whose pharmacy once anchored the nearby Stanly Building
The Not for Kits — a creative blend of Altos tequila, Pamplemousse liquor, jalapeños, lime, grapefruit juice, agave, and egg white, recently featured in Our State magazine
A rotating slate of seasonal and inventive creations crafted by the bar’s knowledgeable staff

The Flying Fox is also genuinely committed to its mocktail program, ensuring that non-drinking visitors get the same level of creative attention. Standouts include:

The Fo Faux — a refreshing nonalcoholic mix of blackberry simple syrup and ginger beer

Beyond cocktails, the bar offers a thoughtful lineup of craft beers, fine wines, and seasonal additions — ensuring there’s something for every taste and occasion.

Live Music, Themed Nights, and Food Trucks

The Flying Fox has become one of the most reliable live entertainment spots in downtown New Bern. The bar hosts:

Live music — a regular rotation of local and regional acts
Themed nights — bringing creative energy to the calendar
Food trucks — including local favorites like Capones (a taste of Philly) that pair perfectly with the cocktail program
Private events — including wedding welcome dinners, birthday parties, and corporate gatherings, with owners Chris and Holly Hoveland known for hands-on hospitality

The combination of the events calendar and the cozy atmosphere has earned The Flying Fox a reputation as a place where you can pop in for one drink and happily linger for hours.

The Whimsical Critters Mural

In April 2026, The Flying Fox became part of New Bern’s growing public art scene with the addition of a brand new community mural on the back of the building. The mural — designed by Craven Arts Council Executive Director Jon Berger and painted by community members in a paint-by-numbers style — features a whimsical scene of several people with critter faces (including a fox, a rabbit, an owl, a raccoon, a bat, and of course a bear) enjoying themselves at the bar.

The Flying Fox mural is part of the same broader public art initiative that produced the nearby five-panel “Stanly Building from Fire House to Landmark” mural at The Chelsea — making a walk between the two bars a genuinely meaningful little public art tour.

Good to Know

Address: 411 Broad Street, New Bern, NC
Owners: Chris and Holly Hoveland
Location context: Just around the corner from The Chelsea in the historic Stanly Building district
Atmosphere: Cozy interior with exposed brick walls; charming back patio with hanging ferns, pool tables, and giant Jenga
Signature cocktails: The Bradham Old Fashioned (honoring Pepsi inventor Caleb Bradham); The Not for Kits (Altos tequila, Pamplemousse, jalapeños, lime, grapefruit, agave, egg white)
Mocktail program: Inventive selections including The Fo Faux (blackberry simple syrup, ginger beer)
Other beverages: Craft beer, fine wine, seasonal selections
Open: Seven days a week
Events: Regular live music, themed nights, food truck visits, private event bookings
Public art: A new April 2026 whimsical “critter face” mural by Craven Arts Council Executive Director Jon Berger, painted on the back of the building
Recent recognition: Featured in Our State magazine’s “A Night Out in New Bern”
Best for: Cocktail enthusiasts, non-drinkers who appreciate creative mocktails, friends gathering after dinner, live music fans, and visitors looking for one of New Bern’s most charming and welcoming bars
Pair with: A dinner at The Chelsea just around the corner, a visit to the Birthplace of Pepsi to dive deeper into the Bradham story behind the signature Old Fashioned, or a stroll through historic downtown New Bern’s growing mural scene
Located at 411 Broad Street in downtown New Bern, NC

A New Bern Highlight

The Flying Fox is the kind of stop that genuinely captures the warmth and creativity of New Bern’s evening scene. The intimate exposed-brick interior, the beloved hanging-fern back patio with its pool tables and giant Jenga, the thoughtful signature cocktail program anchored by the Bradham Old Fashioned and the Our State-featured Not for Kits, the genuinely inventive mocktail menu, the regular live music and food truck rotations, and the brand new whimsical critter-face mural all add up to one of the most charming cocktail experiences anywhere in Craven County. Whether you’re settling in with friends for a Bradham Old Fashioned after dinner at The Chelsea, sharing a Not for Kits over a round of giant Jenga, ordering a Fo Faux to ease into the evening, or just popping in for one quiet drink in the historic district, this is one of the most rewarding stops you can make in downtown New Bern.