Guidebook for Wilmington, NC
Food scene
Fish Bites Seafood Restaurant
6132 Carolina Beach RdExcellent, fresh seafood options.
Cape Fear Seafood Company
140 Hays LnAnother local place for good seafood.
Beautiful views. Restaurant sits right on the Cape Fear River. They offer indoor and outdoor, covered patio seating. Limited menu. The soups are very good. Other food options are good but not excellent.
7 locals recommend
Michael's on the Waterfront
5 S Water StBeautiful views. Restaurant sits right on the Cape Fear River. They offer indoor and outdoor, covered patio seating. Limited menu. The soups are very good. Other food options are good but not excellent.
Good wings. Popular bar food. Smaller place. Go early or for lunch.
123 locals recommend
The Copper Penny
109 Chestnut StGood wings. Popular bar food. Smaller place. Go early or for lunch.
Tower 7 Baja Mexican Grill
4 N Lumina AvePopular and delicious mexican grill!
Excellent asian food. Nice outdoor seating available. Within walking distance of the house, less than 1 mile away. Very popular with locals. It gets VERY crowded. You might consider order pickup on a Friday or Saturday night.
186 locals recommend
Indochine Restaurant
7 Wayne DrExcellent asian food. Nice outdoor seating available. Within walking distance of the house, less than 1 mile away. Very popular with locals. It gets VERY crowded. You might consider order pickup on a Friday or Saturday night.
Very small, local restaurant. Excellent, fresh food. Make a reservation or try going for lunch.
31 locals recommend
South Beach Grill
100 S Lumina AveVery small, local restaurant. Excellent, fresh food. Make a reservation or try going for lunch.
Favorite local burrito place. Excellent guac! Try Flaming Amy's Bowl too!
79 locals recommend
Flaming Amy's Burrito Barn WILMINGTON LOCATION
4002 Oleander DrFavorite local burrito place. Excellent guac! Try Flaming Amy's Bowl too!
Great views of Wrightsville Beach if you can get a seat on the covered patio or pier. Food is good but you are going for the view. Great place to take a walk on the beach after dinner.
132 locals recommend
Oceanic
703 S Lumina AveGreat views of Wrightsville Beach if you can get a seat on the covered patio or pier. Food is good but you are going for the view. Great place to take a walk on the beach after dinner.
Hot, fresh made donuts. Open seasonally. Check their website to ensure they are open. These donuts are worth the drive! Local and tourist favorite!
277 locals recommend
Britts Donuts
13 Carolina Beach Ave NHot, fresh made donuts. Open seasonally. Check their website to ensure they are open. These donuts are worth the drive! Local and tourist favorite!
Delicious and nice-sized donuts. Pick up a dozen on your way to the beach! They also offer breakfast sandwiches, coffee and drinks.
8 locals recommend
The Donut Inn
1427 Military Cutoff RdDelicious and nice-sized donuts. Pick up a dozen on your way to the beach! They also offer breakfast sandwiches, coffee and drinks.
Go early to get the best selection of fresh donuts for the day. About 8 minutes away in downtown Wilmington.
31 locals recommend
Wake N Bake Donuts - Wilmington
114 Princess StGo early to get the best selection of fresh donuts for the day. About 8 minutes away in downtown Wilmington.
Stop by for breakfast, lunch or just coffee and support this locally owned business. Bitty and Beau's is run by people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. You will truly enjoy the wonderful customer service and the experience.
25 locals recommend
Bitty & Beau's Coffee
4949 New Centre DrStop by for breakfast, lunch or just coffee and support this locally owned business. Bitty and Beau's is run by people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. You will truly enjoy the wonderful customer service and the experience.
Local Breweries and Hangouts
Popular local brewing hangout. Smaller inside space but large area outside with picnic tables and run-around area for the kids.
54 locals recommend
Wilmington Brewing Company
824 S Kerr AvePopular local brewing hangout. Smaller inside space but large area outside with picnic tables and run-around area for the kids.
Good Hops Brewing
811 Harper AveFun, local place in Carolina Beach.
Wrightsville Beach Brewery
6201 Oleander DrPopular, local brewery.
Local brewery. Nice, outdoor space. Casual atmosphere.
28 locals recommend
Hi-Wire Brewing - Wilmington
1020 Princess StreetLocal brewery. Nice, outdoor space. Casual atmosphere.
Another local favorite. Great taco window right next door. Large, back patio with outdoor games. Live music offered on some evenings.
126 locals recommend
Satellite Bar and Lounge
120 Greenfield StAnother local favorite. Great taco window right next door. Large, back patio with outdoor games. Live music offered on some evenings.
Things to do
A must-see when in town. Go early in the summer to avoid the heat of the day. There is no air conditioning on the battleship. Exploring the ship can take anywhere from 1-4 hours.
435 locals recommend
Battleship North Carolina
1 Battleship Rd NEA must-see when in town. Go early in the summer to avoid the heat of the day. There is no air conditioning on the battleship. Exploring the ship can take anywhere from 1-4 hours.
Beautiful gardens for all four seasons. Enjoy strolling through the park and along the water with walking paths, unique trees and flowering plants and bulbs throughout the park.
234 locals recommend
Airlie Gardens
300 Airlie RdBeautiful gardens for all four seasons. Enjoy strolling through the park and along the water with walking paths, unique trees and flowering plants and bulbs throughout the park.
Tour this beautiful, historic mansion, restored to its original condition.
113 locals recommend
Bellamy Mansion
503 Market StTour this beautiful, historic mansion, restored to its original condition.
Great shark tank! Highly recommend visiting the aquarium. Nicely laid out. Great for families too!
550 locals recommend
North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher
900 Loggerhead RdGreat shark tank! Highly recommend visiting the aquarium. Nicely laid out. Great for families too!
Looks a bit shady. Is VERY hokie but entertaining, especially for the kids. Best $3 we've spent in a while.
21 locals recommend
Museum of the Bizarre
201 S Water StLooks a bit shady. Is VERY hokie but entertaining, especially for the kids. Best $3 we've spent in a while.
We highly recommend skipping the water park and going straight for the mini-golf. Challenging and fun courses.
138 locals recommend
Jungle Rapids Family Fun Park
5320 Oleander DrWe highly recommend skipping the water park and going straight for the mini-golf. Challenging and fun courses.
Enjoy a riverboat tour and learn about the history of Wilmington and the Cape Fear River.
23 locals recommend
Cape Fear Spice Merchants
20 Market StEnjoy a riverboat tour and learn about the history of Wilmington and the Cape Fear River.
A great way to view the Cape Fear River and some of the downtown area.
58 locals recommend
Wilmington Downtown Riverwalk
Wilmington Downtown RiverwalkA great way to view the Cape Fear River and some of the downtown area.
Traveler advice
Don't miss
Beaches and Aquarium
There are several area beaches you may enjoy during your stay. Consider these:
1. Wrightsville Beach, about 20 minutes away. Two piers and a long beach strand to enjoy. https://www.townofwrightsvillebeach.com/201/WB-Info-Resources
2. Carolina Beach, about 30 minutes south. https://www.carolinabeach.org/visitors/beach-strand
3. Fort Fisher State Recreation Area, (Kure Beach) about 35-40 minutes south. https://www.ncparks.gov/fort-fisher-state-recreation-area/home
4. Fort Fisher Aquarium at Kure Beach. https://www.ncaquariums.com/fort-fisher