Guidebook for Wilmington
Food Scene
Right around the corner and extremely popular. Consistently good food in cool atmosphere. Asian, Thai, Vietnamese, Vegetarian, Vegan and Gluten Free dishes.
No reservations. Almost crowded, but service is efficient. Bar is tight, but you can get a drink and wait in the tiki bar area in back - walk through the narrow bar area and out the wooden door. Pleasant outdoor dining space in back also.
My only complaint is that the menu is, in my opinion, a bit too big. But then I always get the same thing - Shrimp & Scallops in a Nest. The mussels in coconut milk app is also recommended (you'll want to keep some broth to put over rice with your entree).
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Indochine Restaurant
7 Wayne DrRight around the corner and extremely popular. Consistently good food in cool atmosphere. Asian, Thai, Vietnamese, Vegetarian, Vegan and Gluten Free dishes.
No reservations. Almost crowded, but service is efficient. Bar is tight, but you can get a drink and wait in the tiki bar area in back - walk through the narrow bar area and out the wooden door. Pleasant outdoor dining space in back also.
My only complaint is that the menu is, in my opinion, a bit too big. But then I always get the same thing - Shrimp & Scallops in a Nest. The mussels in coconut milk app is also recommended (you'll want to keep some broth to put over rice with your entree).
One of the best pubs around with very good food. One of our regular takeout spots. I've enjoyed everything I've had there with the exception of the disappointingly puny Reuben.
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The Copper Penny
109 Chestnut StOne of the best pubs around with very good food. One of our regular takeout spots. I've enjoyed everything I've had there with the exception of the disappointingly puny Reuben.
Our go-to for burgers. Great sandwiches too; good choice of beers. Intimate space, some outdoor seating.
My rec: Lamb burger, crispy Brussels sprouts, (unfiltered, unpasteurized) Red Oak lager.
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The Fork 'N' Cork
122 Market StOur go-to for burgers. Great sandwiches too; good choice of beers. Intimate space, some outdoor seating.
My rec: Lamb burger, crispy Brussels sprouts, (unfiltered, unpasteurized) Red Oak lager.
Nearby Italian spot with good pizza and good service.
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Elizabeth's Pizza
4304 1/2 Market StNearby Italian spot with good pizza and good service.
Very casual beach vibe, often crowded with locals. Southwestern food. Cold beer. Efficient wait staff. Sister restaurant at Wrightsville Beach, Tower 7, is also good.
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K38 Baja Grill
5410 Oleander DrVery casual beach vibe, often crowded with locals. Southwestern food. Cold beer. Efficient wait staff. Sister restaurant at Wrightsville Beach, Tower 7, is also good.
The Dixie Grill
116 Market StExcellent southern breakfast/brunch.
Cool tiny spot serving unique Latin American dishes. Fresh. Chef was driving force behind popular Ceviche's, which is also recommended.
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Savorez
402 Chestnut StCool tiny spot serving unique Latin American dishes. Fresh. Chef was driving force behind popular Ceviche's, which is also recommended.
Tiny Italian spot at Kure Beach. No reservations. Go early to avoid a long wait in summer.
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Freddie's Restaurant
105 K AvenueTiny Italian spot at Kure Beach. No reservations. Go early to avoid a long wait in summer.
Iconic hot dog spot at beach. It's lasted this long (since the 70's) for a reason.
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Trolly Stop
94 S Lumina AveIconic hot dog spot at beach. It's lasted this long (since the 70's) for a reason.
Our personal favorite for nearby takeout pie. Maybe a tad better than Elizabeth's, but they're comparable. Service at Slice gets horrible reviews. Looks like we need to give Crispino's, a new well-reviewed pizza place on Market St. a try.
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Slice of Life Pizzeria & Pub Downtown
125 Market StOur personal favorite for nearby takeout pie. Maybe a tad better than Elizabeth's, but they're comparable. Service at Slice gets horrible reviews. Looks like we need to give Crispino's, a new well-reviewed pizza place on Market St. a try.
Southern soul buffet. Expect to gain a couple pounds and return to do the same thing next week.
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Casey’s Buffet
5559 Oleander DrSouthern soul buffet. Expect to gain a couple pounds and return to do the same thing next week.
Chops Deli
130 N Front StDowntown deli. Good sandwiches, salads, beers.
Have not visited, but it is well-reviewed and looks unique and very much worth investigating.
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Pinpoint Restaurant
114 Market StHave not visited, but it is well-reviewed and looks unique and very much worth investigating.
Average looking diner with above average breakfast/brunch dishes. Local fave, often packed. Cash only.
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Goody Goody Omelet House
3817 Market StAverage looking diner with above average breakfast/brunch dishes. Local fave, often packed. Cash only.
Drinks & Nightlife
Cool relaxed bar, good selection of beer; billiards, pinball, foosball, air hockey, skeeball, darts.
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Blue Post Billiards
15 S Water StCool relaxed bar, good selection of beer; billiards, pinball, foosball, air hockey, skeeball, darts.
The Whiskey
1 S Front StDecent dive with some good live music.
New Anthem Beer Project
116 Dock StGood selection of finely crafted suds
Excellent brewer casual digs. Focus is appropriately on the very good suds. Low key outdoor seating, often with food trucks, occasional music.
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Flytrap Brewing
319 Walnut StExcellent brewer casual digs. Focus is appropriately on the very good suds. Low key outdoor seating, often with food trucks, occasional music.
Tails Piano Bar
115 S Front StNew piano bar. Nice digs, good bar and cocktail craft.
Very nice intimate amphitheater hosting mostly blues, jam, indie, funk & country acts. Comfortable seating with excellent views of stage. Good sound and lovely backdrop at dusk. 4 or 5 beer vendors selling a few mainstream beers and a couple crafts. Parking is free and help-yourself on the surrounding grounds and streets.
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Greenfield Lake Amphitheater
1941 Amphitheatre DrVery nice intimate amphitheater hosting mostly blues, jam, indie, funk & country acts. Comfortable seating with excellent views of stage. Good sound and lovely backdrop at dusk. 4 or 5 beer vendors selling a few mainstream beers and a couple crafts. Parking is free and help-yourself on the surrounding grounds and streets.
Self-serve, pay-by-the ounce (with wristband) from a huge selection of taps: ales, IPAs, sours, stouts, ciders, wines. Allow enough time for some serious sipping.
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Pour Taproom
201 N Front StSelf-serve, pay-by-the ounce (with wristband) from a huge selection of taps: ales, IPAs, sours, stouts, ciders, wines. Allow enough time for some serious sipping.
Reel Cafe
100 S Front StOK food, live music on rooftop bar.
Our "neighborhood bar" just around the corner. Good selection of wine and craft brews. Jazz on Sundays.
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Burnt Mill Creek Billiards & Wine Bar
2101 Market StOur "neighborhood bar" just around the corner. Good selection of wine and craft brews. Jazz on Sundays.
Parks & Nature
South of Kure, the Fort Fisher area is historically interesting, naturally beautiful, and has very good facilities - free parking, bathrooms, beach access, Cape Fear River access, NC Aquarium, four-wheel drive beach access, beach camping, surf fishing, Fort Fisher historic site, boat launch, and car ferry service to Southport (from which you can take passenger ferry to Bald Head). You can kayak fish the FF Basin or paddle out to explore Zeke’s Island Reserve and Bald Head Island reserve.
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Fort Fisher State Historic Site
1610 Fort Fisher Blvd SSouth of Kure, the Fort Fisher area is historically interesting, naturally beautiful, and has very good facilities - free parking, bathrooms, beach access, Cape Fear River access, NC Aquarium, four-wheel drive beach access, beach camping, surf fishing, Fort Fisher historic site, boat launch, and car ferry service to Southport (from which you can take passenger ferry to Bald Head). You can kayak fish the FF Basin or paddle out to explore Zeke’s Island Reserve and Bald Head Island reserve.
Because it’s a bit further from Wilmington, Kure (pronounced Cure-ee) Beach, is a quiet family-oriented beach that is uncrowded except on holiday weekends. There are beach accesses around the centrally located pier (metered parking, public bathhouse, restaurants) and along Fort Fisher Blvd. (free parking but no restrooms).
There are a few mostly quiet bars, good restaurants (including several in Carolina Beach), and free music weekly during the extended summer season. The park has 2 hard surface tennis courts, playground, ball field, basketball court, and disc golf course. Visitors tend to be families and young couples.
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Kure Beach
Because it’s a bit further from Wilmington, Kure (pronounced Cure-ee) Beach, is a quiet family-oriented beach that is uncrowded except on holiday weekends. There are beach accesses around the centrally located pier (metered parking, public bathhouse, restaurants) and along Fort Fisher Blvd. (free parking but no restrooms).
There are a few mostly quiet bars, good restaurants (including several in Carolina Beach), and free music weekly during the extended summer season. The park has 2 hard surface tennis courts, playground, ball field, basketball court, and disc golf course. Visitors tend to be families and young couples.
Wrightsville Beach is most popular and offers surfing, kayaking, stand-up paddling, sailing, biking, running The Loop, or just beaching it for the day. The park has tennis courts, playground, sports fields, and beach history museum. Visitors here tend to be very active. Beaches are often crowded on summer weekends and especially so on holidays. Parking (metered seasonally) is often scarce, so go early. Surfing is most prevalent at Columbia St. and Oceanic Pier. Watch for flagged surf zones in summer. Bars tend to be very casual and crowded with mostly young locals and get pretty lively on weekends. There are several good restaurants, including a few overlooking the water.
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Wrightsville Beach
321 Causeway DrWrightsville Beach is most popular and offers surfing, kayaking, stand-up paddling, sailing, biking, running The Loop, or just beaching it for the day. The park has tennis courts, playground, sports fields, and beach history museum. Visitors here tend to be very active. Beaches are often crowded on summer weekends and especially so on holidays. Parking (metered seasonally) is often scarce, so go early. Surfing is most prevalent at Columbia St. and Oceanic Pier. Watch for flagged surf zones in summer. Bars tend to be very casual and crowded with mostly young locals and get pretty lively on weekends. There are several good restaurants, including a few overlooking the water.
Essentials
Harris Teeter
3501 Oleander DrWhole Foods Market
3804 Oleander DrEverything Else
Liquor Store - Sale of alcohol is controlled (and taxed) by the Alcoholic Beverage Commission (ABC) in North Carolina. This is the closest place to buy spirits.
ABC Store
523 S 17th StLiquor Store - Sale of alcohol is controlled (and taxed) by the Alcoholic Beverage Commission (ABC) in North Carolina. This is the closest place to buy spirits.
Entertainment & Activities
AMC CLASSIC Wilmington 16
111 Cinema DrRegal Mayfaire Cinemas
900 Town Center DrShopping
Independence Mall
3500 Oleander DrShopping & dining village. http://www.mayfairetown.com/
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Mayfaire Town Center
Shopping & dining village. http://www.mayfairetown.com/