Guidebook for Wilmington

Mary Beth
Guidebook for Wilmington

Food Scene

Casual local favorite located a 5 minute walk away in the Castle Street Antiques district. The grilled pimento cheese/tomato/carmelized onion sandwich is to die for. Great southern food like mom would make and nice people.
45 locals recommend
Jester's Café
607 Castle St
45 locals recommend
Casual local favorite located a 5 minute walk away in the Castle Street Antiques district. The grilled pimento cheese/tomato/carmelized onion sandwich is to die for. Great southern food like mom would make and nice people.
Farm to table food in casual atmosphere. Craft cocktails. We love the brunch here. 5 minute walk.
73 locals recommend
Rx Restaurant and Bar
421 Castle St
73 locals recommend
Farm to table food in casual atmosphere. Craft cocktails. We love the brunch here. 5 minute walk.
Upscale farm to table, absolutely yummy. Craft cocktails, good place to have an appetizer and drink at the bar.
58 locals recommend
Pinpoint Restaurant
114 Market St
58 locals recommend
Upscale farm to table, absolutely yummy. Craft cocktails, good place to have an appetizer and drink at the bar.
Everybody loves the Dixie! Expect long lines for breakfast or brunch on the weekend, but it's really good!
23 locals recommend
Lawson Gray, LLC
622 S 2nd St
23 locals recommend
Everybody loves the Dixie! Expect long lines for breakfast or brunch on the weekend, but it's really good!
Local, quiet laid back coffee shop. Closest easiest coffee from here, a 5 minute walk.
36 locals recommend
Luna Caffe
608 Castle St
36 locals recommend
Local, quiet laid back coffee shop. Closest easiest coffee from here, a 5 minute walk.
Best coffee and tea in town. Quiet, off the beaten path, local. Great bookstore too.
6 locals recommend
Pomegranate Books
4418 Park Ave
6 locals recommend
Best coffee and tea in town. Quiet, off the beaten path, local. Great bookstore too.
Best fresh -not fried seafood in town. Right by Wrightsville Beach. This is a very small place. You would NOT want to go at 7 on a Friday night in the summer. Go early or late, or for brunch. Always a fresh seafood plus Panamanian-style fresh food.
115 locals recommend
Ceviche's
7210 Wrightsville Ave
115 locals recommend
Best fresh -not fried seafood in town. Right by Wrightsville Beach. This is a very small place. You would NOT want to go at 7 on a Friday night in the summer. Go early or late, or for brunch. Always a fresh seafood plus Panamanian-style fresh food.
There are several PTs in Wilmington. Local restaurant, terrific burgers and fries. None of their food items are frozen. We suggest 17th St. location because our friend Joe owns it and he is super nice!
31 locals recommend
P T's Olde Fashioned Grille
3852 S 17th St
31 locals recommend
There are several PTs in Wilmington. Local restaurant, terrific burgers and fries. None of their food items are frozen. We suggest 17th St. location because our friend Joe owns it and he is super nice!
Only open until 2:00. A local institution with diner type food. Expect a short wait on weekend mornings.
11 locals recommend
Goody Goody Omelet House
3817 Market St
11 locals recommend
Only open until 2:00. A local institution with diner type food. Expect a short wait on weekend mornings.
A Wilmington institution. Always busy, a little loud, but great food and great service. Burgers, salads, large menu.
123 locals recommend
The Copper Penny
109 Chestnut St
123 locals recommend
A Wilmington institution. Always busy, a little loud, but great food and great service. Burgers, salads, large menu.
Our #1 favorite restaurant. The chef from Ceviche's (listed here as well) has opened a downtown spot. EXCELLENT seafood. Latin flavors. Small, no reservations. Call ahead to get on the list before you go. We love the margaritas! Brunch is great too.
89 locals recommend
Savorez
402 Chestnut St
89 locals recommend
Our #1 favorite restaurant. The chef from Ceviche's (listed here as well) has opened a downtown spot. EXCELLENT seafood. Latin flavors. Small, no reservations. Call ahead to get on the list before you go. We love the margaritas! Brunch is great too.
Small restaurant with really healthy yummy selections. Open for lunch and dinner. Nice people, vegan options. In the up and coming north 4th area.
6 locals recommend
The Foxes Boxes
622 N 4th St
6 locals recommend
Small restaurant with really healthy yummy selections. Open for lunch and dinner. Nice people, vegan options. In the up and coming north 4th area.
Open only on weekdays and only until 2:00 pm, this is an excellent place to pick up something to eat on the way to the airport. It's actually on the airport property. Opens really early. We call ahead to get AMAZING biscuits before we get on our flights.
Scratch On 23rd
1724 Gardner Dr
Open only on weekdays and only until 2:00 pm, this is an excellent place to pick up something to eat on the way to the airport. It's actually on the airport property. Opens really early. We call ahead to get AMAZING biscuits before we get on our flights.
They only serve one kind of donut and cold milk. Been around forever, absolutely the best donuts around. An institution.
277 locals recommend
Britts Donuts
13 Carolina Beach Ave N
277 locals recommend
They only serve one kind of donut and cold milk. Been around forever, absolutely the best donuts around. An institution.
Terrific seafood here. Handmade local food, all from scratch. Artisan drinks. About a 20 minute drive. We love to eat here then go to Kure Beach to the arcade and pier for a good date night.
47 locals recommend
Surf House Oyster Bar & Surf Camp
604 N Lake Park Blvd
47 locals recommend
Terrific seafood here. Handmade local food, all from scratch. Artisan drinks. About a 20 minute drive. We love to eat here then go to Kure Beach to the arcade and pier for a good date night.
This is one of the fanciest restaurants in town. It's great. We like to sit at the bar for amazing craft cocktails and appetizers.
96 locals recommend
Manna
123 Princess St
96 locals recommend
This is one of the fanciest restaurants in town. It's great. We like to sit at the bar for amazing craft cocktails and appetizers.

Sightseeing

435 locals recommend
Battleship North Carolina
1 Battleship Rd NE
435 locals recommend

Arts & Culture

113 locals recommend
Bellamy Mansion
503 Market St
113 locals recommend
Nice little museum with a very good cafe.
108 locals recommend
Cameron Art Museum
3201 S 17th St
108 locals recommend
Nice little museum with a very good cafe.

Parks & Nature

Great for running, biking, walking. I think it's a 5 mile loop around the lake. Also, there are kayaks and paddleboats for rent. Watch out for gators!
99 locals recommend
Greenfield Park
1739 Burnett Blvd
99 locals recommend
Great for running, biking, walking. I think it's a 5 mile loop around the lake. Also, there are kayaks and paddleboats for rent. Watch out for gators!
Nice trails through the woods. Also great cycling and horse trails. Takes about 20 minutes to drive there.
13 locals recommend
Brunswick Nature Park
2601 River Rd SE
13 locals recommend
Nice trails through the woods. Also great cycling and horse trails. Takes about 20 minutes to drive there.

Essentials

This is the closest grocery store. It's not an upscale store, but it is clean and friendly.
22 locals recommend
Food Lion
2601-A Castle Hayne Rd
22 locals recommend
This is the closest grocery store. It's not an upscale store, but it is clean and friendly.
Closest drug store.
22 locals recommend
CVS
1712 Eastwood Rd
22 locals recommend
Closest drug store.
We call it "whole paycheck" but we love it! Good cafeteria - style food bar.
54 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
3804 Oleander Dr
54 locals recommend
We call it "whole paycheck" but we love it! Good cafeteria - style food bar.
Pick up food, beer, wine, fresh produce, prepared foods.
Farmin' Brand
4102 Emerson St
Pick up food, beer, wine, fresh produce, prepared foods.
Italian Gourmet Market
22 S Front St

Drinks & Nightlife

Closest wine store. Also a friendly local scene to have a glass out on their back patio.
A Tasting Room
Closest wine store. Also a friendly local scene to have a glass out on their back patio.
Hipstery indoor-outdoor space. Great beer selection, very laid back and fun. Bluegrass on Sunday nights. They now have a yummy taco bar next door.
126 locals recommend
Satellite Bar and Lounge
120 Greenfield St
126 locals recommend
Hipstery indoor-outdoor space. Great beer selection, very laid back and fun. Bluegrass on Sunday nights. They now have a yummy taco bar next door.
New local favorite, a 5 minute walk from our house. Kids, dogs, old people, music inside and out, picnic tables outside. Fun.
63 locals recommend
Waterline Brewing Company
721 Surry St
63 locals recommend
New local favorite, a 5 minute walk from our house. Kids, dogs, old people, music inside and out, picnic tables outside. Fun.
Usually quiet. Has an outdoor patio with gas fireplaces. Nice for a date or conversation.
52 locals recommend
Palate Bottle Shop & Reserve
1007 N 4th St
52 locals recommend
Usually quiet. Has an outdoor patio with gas fireplaces. Nice for a date or conversation.

Entertainment & Activities

Great for exercise walks in the off hours or a stroll to downtown any time.
28 locals recommend
Wilmington Downtown Riverwalk
Wilmington Downtown Riverwalk
28 locals recommend
Great for exercise walks in the off hours or a stroll to downtown any time.
Cute little church now a yoga studio. Check class schedule online.
7 locals recommend
Terra Sol Sanctuarty
507 Castle St
7 locals recommend
Cute little church now a yoga studio. Check class schedule online.