Guidebook for Wilmington
Food Scene
Port Land Grille
1908 Eastwood RdGreat service, upscale setting, award-winning menu.
Owned by a good friend who is a wine aficionado, this restaurant is renowned for its baked goods. It's tucked away on a side street just before the bridge to Wrightsville Beach. Live music most evenings, funky murals on the wall. The wine list is world class.
67 locals recommend
Sweet n Savory Cafe
1611 Pavilion PlOwned by a good friend who is a wine aficionado, this restaurant is renowned for its baked goods. It's tucked away on a side street just before the bridge to Wrightsville Beach. Live music most evenings, funky murals on the wall. The wine list is world class.
Located right on the beach, with a private pier. Watch the surfers and beachgoers, or just enjoy the stunning view of the waves rolling in.
132 locals recommend
Oceanic
703 S Lumina AveLocated right on the beach, with a private pier. Watch the surfers and beachgoers, or just enjoy the stunning view of the waves rolling in.
Great menu at a tastefully decorated restaurant in Porters Neck. Active bar with sports always on the big screen. Great place to watch ACC basketball!
7 locals recommend
Kornerstone Bistro
8262 Market StGreat menu at a tastefully decorated restaurant in Porters Neck. Active bar with sports always on the big screen. Great place to watch ACC basketball!
Okay, call me a philistine. Hands down, the best country ham biscuit (even though it's a chain of restaurants). As long as you don't mind putting your coronary arteries at risk, go for it.
Bojangles' Famous Chicken 'n Biscuits
4505 Market StOkay, call me a philistine. Hands down, the best country ham biscuit (even though it's a chain of restaurants). As long as you don't mind putting your coronary arteries at risk, go for it.
Right on the water, a stone's throw from the Heide Trask drawbridge in Wrightsville Beach, boaters love to dock here and enjoy fresh fish and a cold brew. 'Nuff said.
46 locals recommend
Fish House Grill
1410 Airlie RdRight on the water, a stone's throw from the Heide Trask drawbridge in Wrightsville Beach, boaters love to dock here and enjoy fresh fish and a cold brew. 'Nuff said.
Early-morning fishermen, families, and hungover millenials alike enjoy huge pancakes and bottomless cups of coffee at this legendary Wrightsville breakfast eatery. Long lines are just part of the attraction, the guy announcing a ready table for the next customers is the loudest human being I've ever heard.
12 locals recommend
Causeway Cafe
114 Causeway DrEarly-morning fishermen, families, and hungover millenials alike enjoy huge pancakes and bottomless cups of coffee at this legendary Wrightsville breakfast eatery. Long lines are just part of the attraction, the guy announcing a ready table for the next customers is the loudest human being I've ever heard.
From April to July 4th, the best homemade ice cream around. It's not really a "dessert shop", it's a farm stand selling incredible ice cream and homegrown fruits and vegetables.
Wonderful fresh flavors made from Lewis Farm's own strawberries, blueberries, etc, with other great flavors like banana and chocolate. Don't miss a pint (okay, make it a quart) during the season.
10 locals recommend
Lewis Strawberry Nursery & Farm
6517 Gordon RdFrom April to July 4th, the best homemade ice cream around. It's not really a "dessert shop", it's a farm stand selling incredible ice cream and homegrown fruits and vegetables.
Wonderful fresh flavors made from Lewis Farm's own strawberries, blueberries, etc, with other great flavors like banana and chocolate. Don't miss a pint (okay, make it a quart) during the season.
Hardworking family-run business, great seafood variety and about as fresh as it gets. Very friendly staff, nicely displayed fish and seafood, plenty of parking. There's a few picnic tables out front, and everyone seems to enjoy themselves. Not a restaurant but a seafood market.
Cape Fear Coast Seafood Restaurant
8130 Market StHardworking family-run business, great seafood variety and about as fresh as it gets. Very friendly staff, nicely displayed fish and seafood, plenty of parking. There's a few picnic tables out front, and everyone seems to enjoy themselves. Not a restaurant but a seafood market.
Old-style fish market, right on the water near the Wrightsville bridge. It's tucked between MarineMax (the SeaRay dealer) and Atlantic Marine (the Grady White dealer), so there's lots of high-dollar toys floating at their respective docks when boaters sidle up to Motts Channel. It's pretty easy to get to by land, too, between Keel and Marina Streets off the Causeway. Not a restaurant but a fish market.
15 locals recommend
Motts Channel Seafood
120 Short StOld-style fish market, right on the water near the Wrightsville bridge. It's tucked between MarineMax (the SeaRay dealer) and Atlantic Marine (the Grady White dealer), so there's lots of high-dollar toys floating at their respective docks when boaters sidle up to Motts Channel. It's pretty easy to get to by land, too, between Keel and Marina Streets off the Causeway. Not a restaurant but a fish market.
Excellent French/Belgian restaurant, owned by the couple who previously headed a well-known Greenwich Village establishment, Cafe de Bruxelles. Specials are the superb pommes frites and mussel dishes. At the base of Market Street in popular Old Town Wilmington. Busy on summer weekends.
61 locals recommend
Caprice bistro
10 Market StExcellent French/Belgian restaurant, owned by the couple who previously headed a well-known Greenwich Village establishment, Cafe de Bruxelles. Specials are the superb pommes frites and mussel dishes. At the base of Market Street in popular Old Town Wilmington. Busy on summer weekends.
Locally owned, outstanding ice cream. Friendly new owners (the former proprietor was a bit of a grouch). Inside or outside tables, a great place for families after a hot beach day.
24 locals recommend
Boombalatti's Homemade Ice Cream
1127 Military Cutoff RdLocally owned, outstanding ice cream. Friendly new owners (the former proprietor was a bit of a grouch). Inside or outside tables, a great place for families after a hot beach day.
Arts & Culture
Wilmington's Performing Arts Center, the state's oldest! The building is an antebellum treasure. Music, ballet, theatre, and films.
101 locals recommend
Thalian Hall
310 Chestnut StWilmington's Performing Arts Center, the state's oldest! The building is an antebellum treasure. Music, ballet, theatre, and films.
Founded in 1898, it's the oldest museum in North Carolina. It's housed in a cool WPA armory (Works Progress Administration, part of President Roosevelt's New Deal), with a modern addition. Great interactive exhibits for kids.
87 locals recommend
Cape Fear Museum of History and Science
814 Market StFounded in 1898, it's the oldest museum in North Carolina. It's housed in a cool WPA armory (Works Progress Administration, part of President Roosevelt's New Deal), with a modern addition. Great interactive exhibits for kids.
Shopping
A phenomenon. Huge portions of just about anything. Surprisingly vast. Boxes and boxes of electronics. Free samples of various snacks proffered by hairnet-coiffed contract workers. Best gasoline prices in town. Want to quaff Dom Perignon while eating pizza, waiting for your tires to be rotated? Costco's your place.
6 locals recommend
Costco Wholesale
5351 Gingerwood DrA phenomenon. Huge portions of just about anything. Surprisingly vast. Boxes and boxes of electronics. Free samples of various snacks proffered by hairnet-coiffed contract workers. Best gasoline prices in town. Want to quaff Dom Perignon while eating pizza, waiting for your tires to be rotated? Costco's your place.
A boater's paradise. From turnbuckles to anchors, paddleboards to Topsiders, marine electronics to coozies. Helpful staff.
West Marine
929 Military Cutoff RdA boater's paradise. From turnbuckles to anchors, paddleboards to Topsiders, marine electronics to coozies. Helpful staff.
A good cause! Occasional amazing finds at this recycling shop sponsored by Habitat for Humanity. People castoff some incredible things - maybe you'll find something you never knew you wanted!
Cape Fear Habitat for Humanity ReStore
7330 Market StA good cause! Occasional amazing finds at this recycling shop sponsored by Habitat for Humanity. People castoff some incredible things - maybe you'll find something you never knew you wanted!
Just over the first bridge to Wrightsville Beach, Redix is a bit schizophrenic. On the one hand, it's a "beach casual" clothing and shoe store. On the other hand, if there's a plastic sandpail, shell assemblage, or parent-annoying loud child's toy to be had, Redix stocks it. A favorite for teenagers and kids. Just bring money - it's hard to leave without buying something.
22 locals recommend
Redix Store
120 Causeway DrJust over the first bridge to Wrightsville Beach, Redix is a bit schizophrenic. On the one hand, it's a "beach casual" clothing and shoe store. On the other hand, if there's a plastic sandpail, shell assemblage, or parent-annoying loud child's toy to be had, Redix stocks it. A favorite for teenagers and kids. Just bring money - it's hard to leave without buying something.
Closest full-service grocery store and market. Located less than 3 miles from our front door, right at the end of Middle Sound Loop at the intersection of Market Street.
11 locals recommend
Publix Super Market at Ogden Market Place
7144 Market StClosest full-service grocery store and market. Located less than 3 miles from our front door, right at the end of Middle Sound Loop at the intersection of Market Street.
Parks & Nature
An Audobon Society preserve, this uninhabited island between Topsail Beach and Figure Eight Island is our favorite boating destination. The family's absolute favorite beach. We have actually seen a sea turtle lumbering up the beach to lay her eggs in the dunes. Pristine beach, good shelling (especially after a storm), easy birdwatching and occasional dolphin spotting, fun bodysurfing or surfboarding, and a great place to picnic. Just be sure to stay off the marked areas during bird nesting season.
Lea-Hutaff Island
An Audobon Society preserve, this uninhabited island between Topsail Beach and Figure Eight Island is our favorite boating destination. The family's absolute favorite beach. We have actually seen a sea turtle lumbering up the beach to lay her eggs in the dunes. Pristine beach, good shelling (especially after a storm), easy birdwatching and occasional dolphin spotting, fun bodysurfing or surfboarding, and a great place to picnic. Just be sure to stay off the marked areas during bird nesting season.
This hidden gem is at the mouth of Pages Creek. Donated by the Broadfoot family to UNC-Wilmington, the restrictions on the donation ensure a verdant and undespoiled area for the cognoscenti. (For some reason, the website defaults to "publishing co", but there is a hidden nature preserve here). There are a few neighbors who want to keep this beautiful natural area to themselves (i.e we can't even list it as a nature preserve), so don't tell them we sent you.
Broadfoot Publishing Co
1907 Buena Vista CirThis hidden gem is at the mouth of Pages Creek. Donated by the Broadfoot family to UNC-Wilmington, the restrictions on the donation ensure a verdant and undespoiled area for the cognoscenti. (For some reason, the website defaults to "publishing co", but there is a hidden nature preserve here). There are a few neighbors who want to keep this beautiful natural area to themselves (i.e we can't even list it as a nature preserve), so don't tell them we sent you.
Nice park with picnic grounds, shelters, and playing fields, near the intersection of Oleander Drive and South College Road.
70 locals recommend
Long Leaf Park
314 Pine Grove DrNice park with picnic grounds, shelters, and playing fields, near the intersection of Oleander Drive and South College Road.
Drinks & Nightlife
Well-stocked "bottle shop" which hosts brewery tastings most weekends. They also have live music for many of those tastings. There's a locksmith right next door for the times you stumble to your chariot only to realize you've locked your keys in the car.
32 locals recommend
Fermental
600 Market StWell-stocked "bottle shop" which hosts brewery tastings most weekends. They also have live music for many of those tastings. There's a locksmith right next door for the times you stumble to your chariot only to realize you've locked your keys in the car.
Sightseeing
Since its permanent mooring in 1961, generations of families traveling to the Carolina coast have loved to visit the Battleship. Saved from the scrapyard by schoolchildrens' nickels in the SOS (Save Our Ship) campaign, the BB-55 is one of just seven remaining US battleships. Kids love to clamber above and below decks on this gray lady from a bygone era.
Several festivals and sponsored gatherings take place on the Battleship North Carolina grounds at random occasions. We found one of the best oyster roasts ever at the site one late summer afternoon.
435 locals recommend
Battleship North Carolina
1 Battleship Rd NESince its permanent mooring in 1961, generations of families traveling to the Carolina coast have loved to visit the Battleship. Saved from the scrapyard by schoolchildrens' nickels in the SOS (Save Our Ship) campaign, the BB-55 is one of just seven remaining US battleships. Kids love to clamber above and below decks on this gray lady from a bygone era.
Several festivals and sponsored gatherings take place on the Battleship North Carolina grounds at random occasions. We found one of the best oyster roasts ever at the site one late summer afternoon.
Essentials
Convenient and well organized, The Fresh Market also has a great deli section. We often stock our picnic supplies here before boating.
14 locals recommend
The Fresh Market
1060 International DrConvenient and well organized, The Fresh Market also has a great deli section. We often stock our picnic supplies here before boating.
If you don't want to buy your pharmacy items or sundries from CVS, fear not. Literally, there's a Walgreen's directly across one corner and a Rite-Aid across the other corner, all at the intersection of Gordon Road and Market Street. Capitalism at its best!
22 locals recommend
CVS
1712 Eastwood RdIf you don't want to buy your pharmacy items or sundries from CVS, fear not. Literally, there's a Walgreen's directly across one corner and a Rite-Aid across the other corner, all at the intersection of Gordon Road and Market Street. Capitalism at its best!