Guidebook for Carolina Beach

Susan
Guidebook for Carolina Beach

Food Scene

Great food, intimate atmosphere
49 locals recommend
Ida Thai Cuisine
5920 N Lake Park Blvd
49 locals recommend
Great food, intimate atmosphere
The BEST donuts in NC, and local Java Estates Coffee. Vegan donuts available.
65 locals recommend
Wake N Bake Donuts - Carolina Beach
1401 N Lake Park Blvd
65 locals recommend
The BEST donuts in NC, and local Java Estates Coffee. Vegan donuts available.
Excellent Food, Farm to Table, Vegan options available.
93 locals recommend
Soul Flavor
716 N Lake Park Blvd
93 locals recommend
Excellent Food, Farm to Table, Vegan options available.
Trendy, farm to table, excellent food, vegan options available.
47 locals recommend
Surf House Oyster Bar & Surf Camp
604 N Lake Park Blvd
47 locals recommend
Trendy, farm to table, excellent food, vegan options available.
Just a good, old fashioned diner, 50's theme. Very good food. A few vegan options available.
18 locals recommend
Pop's Diner
109 N Lake Park Blvd
18 locals recommend
Just a good, old fashioned diner, 50's theme. Very good food. A few vegan options available.
Good place for breakfast, vegan tofu scramble is delicious.
78 locals recommend
Kate's Pancake House
102 S Lake Park Blvd
78 locals recommend
Good place for breakfast, vegan tofu scramble is delicious.
Sushi, Asian Food. Nice bar, outdoor seating. Vegan options available.
43 locals recommend
Nikki's Gourmet & Sushi
6 S Lake Park Blvd
43 locals recommend
Sushi, Asian Food. Nice bar, outdoor seating. Vegan options available.
One of the few places to eat on the ocean. Good food, live music, a great place to watch fireworks during the summer.
164 locals recommend
Ocean Grill & Tiki Bar
1211 S Lake Park Blvd
164 locals recommend
One of the few places to eat on the ocean. Good food, live music, a great place to watch fireworks during the summer.
Consistently good food. Fresh Catch every day.
58 locals recommend
Jack Mackerels Island Grill
113 K Avenue
58 locals recommend
Consistently good food. Fresh Catch every day.
Excellent Seafood, in a beautiful old church.
64 locals recommend
Deck House
205 Charlotte Ave
64 locals recommend
Excellent Seafood, in a beautiful old church.
Everyone loves Nollies!
80 locals recommend
Nollie's Taco Joint
3 Pelican Ln
80 locals recommend
Everyone loves Nollies!
BEST PIZZA on the planet. Exceptional food (appetizers, pasta, pizza and dessert). From the famous Vivian Howard. If you go to Downtown Wilmington you MUST go.
62 locals recommend
Benny's Big Time Pizzeria
206 Greenfield St
62 locals recommend
BEST PIZZA on the planet. Exceptional food (appetizers, pasta, pizza and dessert). From the famous Vivian Howard. If you go to Downtown Wilmington you MUST go.
Authentic Vietnamese food, best Pho' in town.
10 locals recommend
Pho Cafe
3926 Market St
10 locals recommend
Authentic Vietnamese food, best Pho' in town.

Drinks & Nightlife

Good food, great music, outdoors and near the beach.
176 locals recommend
SeaWitch Cafe & Tiki Bar
227 Carolina Beach Ave N
176 locals recommend
Good food, great music, outdoors and near the beach.
One of the top 10 dives in the country. You haven't lived until you have been to Fat Pelican.
165 locals recommend
The Fat Pelican
8 S Lake Park Blvd
165 locals recommend
One of the top 10 dives in the country. You haven't lived until you have been to Fat Pelican.
Super nice brewery with an outdoor garden. Offering lots of interesting events through the week.
71 locals recommend
Good Hops Brewing
811 Harper Ave
71 locals recommend
Super nice brewery with an outdoor garden. Offering lots of interesting events through the week.
Outdoor, full menu, live music, cornhole and other activities.
92 locals recommend
Lazy Pirate Island Sports Grill
701 N Lake Park Blvd
92 locals recommend
Outdoor, full menu, live music, cornhole and other activities.
Live Music on the weekends, tiny outdoor bar, a favorite of locals.
12 locals recommend
The Last Resort
600 North Lake Park Boulevard
12 locals recommend
Live Music on the weekends, tiny outdoor bar, a favorite of locals.

Parks & Nature

A large park with hiking trails, boat ramp, campground
245 locals recommend
Carolina Beach State Park
1010 State Park Rd
245 locals recommend
A large park with hiking trails, boat ramp, campground
Get away from the fray at this beach park. Just beach, no services except bathhouse. Can be busy on weekends.
69 locals recommend
Fort Fisher State Recreation Area
1000 Loggerhead Road
69 locals recommend
Get away from the fray at this beach park. Just beach, no services except bathhouse. Can be busy on weekends.
Fabulous aquarium, featuring lots of sea life, demonstrations, programs. A great playground for kids, and the pond near the property is an excellent place to spot birds.
550 locals recommend
North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher
900 Loggerhead Rd
550 locals recommend
Fabulous aquarium, featuring lots of sea life, demonstrations, programs. A great playground for kids, and the pond near the property is an excellent place to spot birds.
The Arboretum is a hidden JEWEL. And FREE! https://arboretum.nhcgov.com/ The Arboretum encompasses seven acres of gardens and plantings, large koi pond, delightful buildings. Dedicated to demonstrating the best plant species for southeastern North Carolina landscapes, proper horticultural techniques, aesthetic design, environmental stewardship, and research. It is a dynamic place, constantly changing to meet the educational needs of residents and green industry professionals, and to provide cutting-edge leadership in plant selection and use for this region.
6206 Oleander Dr
6206 Oleander Drive
The Arboretum is a hidden JEWEL. And FREE! https://arboretum.nhcgov.com/ The Arboretum encompasses seven acres of gardens and plantings, large koi pond, delightful buildings. Dedicated to demonstrating the best plant species for southeastern North Carolina landscapes, proper horticultural techniques, aesthetic design, environmental stewardship, and research. It is a dynamic place, constantly changing to meet the educational needs of residents and green industry professionals, and to provide cutting-edge leadership in plant selection and use for this region.

Essentials/Grocery

Local produce, vegan food (ready made and to go, too), smoothies, beer and wine. A quaint local favorite.
86 locals recommend
The Veggie Wagon
3315 Masonboro Loop Rd
86 locals recommend
Local produce, vegan food (ready made and to go, too), smoothies, beer and wine. A quaint local favorite.
99 locals recommend
Food Lion
6400-1 Carolina Beach Rd
99 locals recommend
7 locals recommend
Melissa's Coin Laundry
702 S Lake Park Blvd
7 locals recommend
Fabulous new grocery store with so much to offer!
39 locals recommend
Publix Super Market Commons at Federal Point
1018 North Lake Park Boulevard
39 locals recommend
Fabulous new grocery store with so much to offer!

Shopping

The boardwalk is great for walking, shopping, stopping at Britt's Donuts, a few great restaurants, a coffee bar, a gelato store... lots here!
184 locals recommend
Carolina Beach Boardwalk
Carolina Beach Avenue South
184 locals recommend
The boardwalk is great for walking, shopping, stopping at Britt's Donuts, a few great restaurants, a coffee bar, a gelato store... lots here!
Three buildings of furniture, art, and you never know what else. Just fun to go through on a rainy day. And if you want more, just north on Market Street, Fleabody's and Southern Home.
21 locals recommend
The Ivy Cottage
3030 Market St
21 locals recommend
Three buildings of furniture, art, and you never know what else. Just fun to go through on a rainy day. And if you want more, just north on Market Street, Fleabody's and Southern Home.
Great shops, mostly indoors, lots of local artisans.
77 locals recommend
The Cotton Exchange
321 N Front St
77 locals recommend
Great shops, mostly indoors, lots of local artisans.

Arts & Culture

Beautiful area, plus historical. Fort Fisher was a Confederate fort during the American Civil War. It protected the vital trading routes of the port at Wilmington, North Carolina, from 1861 until its capture by the Union in 1865.
315 locals recommend
Fort Fisher State Historic Site
1610 Fort Fisher Blvd S
315 locals recommend
Beautiful area, plus historical. Fort Fisher was a Confederate fort during the American Civil War. It protected the vital trading routes of the port at Wilmington, North Carolina, from 1861 until its capture by the Union in 1865.
Built in 1858, a beautifully restored historical mansion. Some really nice programs and events there. www.bellamymansion.org.
113 locals recommend
Bellamy Mansion
503 Market St
113 locals recommend
Built in 1858, a beautifully restored historical mansion. Some really nice programs and events there. www.bellamymansion.org.
Plays/Musicals, Concerts, Independent Films (Cinematique).
101 locals recommend
Thalian Hall
310 Chestnut St
101 locals recommend
Plays/Musicals, Concerts, Independent Films (Cinematique).
Live Music, excellent cafe, special exhibits changing regularly. www.cameronartmuseum.org
108 locals recommend
Cameron Art Museum
3201 S 17th St
108 locals recommend
Live Music, excellent cafe, special exhibits changing regularly. www.cameronartmuseum.org
Old Shirt Factory that has created individual spaces for artistans and crafters. Fabulous place, especially fourth friday gallery walk.
The Art Works
200 Willard St
Old Shirt Factory that has created individual spaces for artistans and crafters. Fabulous place, especially fourth friday gallery walk.

Getting Around

Will take you to Southport and Bald Head Island. A wonderful ride to a beautiful, southern town on the Cape Fear River.
44 locals recommend
Fort Fisher Ferry Terminal station
2422 Fort Fisher Blvd S
44 locals recommend
Will take you to Southport and Bald Head Island. A wonderful ride to a beautiful, southern town on the Cape Fear River.