Emma’s Wilmington Guidebook
Coffee / Light Breakfast
$
Small coffee cafe with light bites.
1 minute driving time (5 minute walk).
Kid-friendly.
11 locals recommend
Social Coffee and Supply Co.
5317 Wrightsville Ave$
Small coffee cafe with light bites.
1 minute driving time (5 minute walk).
Kid-friendly.
$
Small local coffee shop with healthy options.
110 Dungannon Blvd STE 170.
7 minutes driving time (there are multiple locations).
35 locals recommend
Drift Coffee & Kitchen
110 Dungannon Blvd$
Small local coffee shop with healthy options.
110 Dungannon Blvd STE 170.
7 minutes driving time (there are multiple locations).
$
Juices, coffee and light bites. This coffee shop is adjoined to Robert's Grocery. It's take-out only.
Located a few steps from Wrightsville Beach.
25 locals recommend
Adapt Kitchen and Juice Bar
32 N Lumina Ave$
Juices, coffee and light bites. This coffee shop is adjoined to Robert's Grocery. It's take-out only.
Located a few steps from Wrightsville Beach.
My favorite brunch places
$
Great spot for brunch.
6301 Oleander Dr.
3 minutes drive.
15 locals recommend
The Original Salt Works
6301 Oleander Dr$
Great spot for brunch.
6301 Oleander Dr.
3 minutes drive.
$
Local NC breakfast chain. Nice outdoor seating.
6722 Wrightsville Ave.
4 minutes driving time.
Kid-friendly.
21 locals recommend
Famous Toastery of Wilmington
6722 Wrightsville Ave$
Local NC breakfast chain. Nice outdoor seating.
6722 Wrightsville Ave.
4 minutes driving time.
Kid-friendly.
Food scene
$
Local taco joint next to a great bar.
120 Greenfield St B
14 minutes driving time.
Kid-friendly.
22 locals recommend
Block Taco
120 Greenfield St$
Local taco joint next to a great bar.
120 Greenfield St B
14 minutes driving time.
Kid-friendly.
$
Burritos, festive casual Mexican joint. Vegan options.
4002 Oleander Dr.
6 minutes driving time.
Kid-friendly.
79 locals recommend
Flaming Amy's Burrito Barn WILMINGTON LOCATION
4002 Oleander Dr$
Burritos, festive casual Mexican joint. Vegan options.
4002 Oleander Dr.
6 minutes driving time.
Kid-friendly.
$$
Thai & Vietnamese fare served in an exotic, art-filled setting.
7 Wayne Dr.
11 minutes driving time.
186 locals recommend
Indochine Restaurant
7 Wayne Dr$$
Thai & Vietnamese fare served in an exotic, art-filled setting.
7 Wayne Dr.
11 minutes driving time.
$$
Local pizza and Italian food. Famous NC chef.
206 Greenfield St.
13 minutes driving time.
62 locals recommend
Benny's Big Time Pizzeria
206 Greenfield St$$
Local pizza and Italian food. Famous NC chef.
206 Greenfield St.
13 minutes driving time.
$$
Local burger joint. Great for take-out.
348 Hutchison Ln
11 minutes driving time.
Kid-friendly.
33 locals recommend
Mess Hall ILM
2136 Hutchison Ln$$
Local burger joint. Great for take-out.
348 Hutchison Ln
11 minutes driving time.
Kid-friendly.
$$
Local BBQ.
4126 Oleander Dr
6 minutes driving time.
Kid-friendly.
8 locals recommend
Mac's Speed Shop
4126 Oleander Dr$$
Local BBQ.
4126 Oleander Dr
6 minutes driving time.
Kid-friendly.
$$
Gastropub near the beach.
212 Causeway Dr.
7 minutes driving time.
Kid & dog friendly.
60 locals recommend
Poe's Tavern - Wrightsville Beach
212 Causeway Dr$$
Gastropub near the beach.
212 Causeway Dr.
7 minutes driving time.
Kid & dog friendly.
$$
All you can eat sushi near UNCW.
614 College Rd.
6 minutes driving time.
9 locals recommend
Okami Japanese Steakhouse
614 S College Rd$$
All you can eat sushi near UNCW.
614 College Rd.
6 minutes driving time.
$$
Baja inspired recipes.
5410 Oleander Dr.
2 minutes driving time (2 min walk).
84 locals recommend
K38 Baja Grill
5410 Oleander Dr$$
Baja inspired recipes.
5410 Oleander Dr.
2 minutes driving time (2 min walk).
$$$
Local Latin American fusion dishes.
402 Chestnut St #4026
14 minutes driving time.
89 locals recommend
Savorez
402 Chestnut St$$$
Local Latin American fusion dishes.
402 Chestnut St #4026
14 minutes driving time.
$$$
Buzzy Panamanian cafe offering Latin-inspired fare & tropical drinks.
7210 Wrightsville Ave
6 minutes driving time (make a reservation).
115 locals recommend
Ceviche's
7210 Wrightsville Ave$$$
Buzzy Panamanian cafe offering Latin-inspired fare & tropical drinks.
7210 Wrightsville Ave
6 minutes driving time (make a reservation).
$$$
Veteran for seafood-heavy American fare in a relaxed space & a waterfront deck.
2 Ann St.
14 minutes driving time.
85 locals recommend
Elijah's
2 Ann St$$$
Veteran for seafood-heavy American fare in a relaxed space & a waterfront deck.
2 Ann St.
14 minutes driving time.
$$$
Seafood with Southern flair served in a restored 19th-century house with a large riverside terrace.
2 Ann St.
14 minutes driving time.
46 locals recommend
Pilot House Restaurant
2 Ann St$$$
Seafood with Southern flair served in a restored 19th-century house with a large riverside terrace.
2 Ann St.
14 minutes driving time.
$$$
Seafood restaurant serving oysters, fish, breakfast & cocktails amid a retro, white-tiled interior.
1 S Front St.
15 minutes driving time.
41 locals recommend
Seabird
1 South Front Street$$$
Seafood restaurant serving oysters, fish, breakfast & cocktails amid a retro, white-tiled interior.
1 S Front St.
15 minutes driving time.
$$$$
Creative, global twists on local seafood served in a contemporary, nautical backdrop with a bar.
6623 Market St.
10 minutes driving time.
36 locals recommend
Catch
6623 Market St$$$$
Creative, global twists on local seafood served in a contemporary, nautical backdrop with a bar.
6623 Market St.
10 minutes driving time.
$$$$
Seasonal New American fare in posh, romantic environs, plus craft cocktails & extensive wine list.
123 Princess St.
15 minutes driving time.
96 locals recommend
Manna
123 Princess St$$$$
Seasonal New American fare in posh, romantic environs, plus craft cocktails & extensive wine list.
123 Princess St.
15 minutes driving time.
Boombalatti's is family-owned and operated and who love nothing more than churning out premium, homemade ice cream using only dairy from grass-fed North Carolina. There are multiple locations throughout Wilmington ranging from downtown to the beach.
38 locals recommend
Boombalatti's Homemade Ice Cream
1005 N 4th StBoombalatti's is family-owned and operated and who love nothing more than churning out premium, homemade ice cream using only dairy from grass-fed North Carolina. There are multiple locations throughout Wilmington ranging from downtown to the beach.
Bars
Bar and lounge with great outdoor options.
120 Greenfield St #6123
14 minutes driving time.
Kid-friendly.
126 locals recommend
Satellite Bar and Lounge
120 Greenfield StBar and lounge with great outdoor options.
120 Greenfield St #6123
14 minutes driving time.
Kid-friendly.
$
Local bottle shop with wine and beer on tap. Great outdoor patio.
220 Causeway Dr,
7 minutes drive (near the beach).
Dog-friendly.
24 locals recommend
Lighthouse Beer & Wine
220 Causeway Dr$
Local bottle shop with wine and beer on tap. Great outdoor patio.
220 Causeway Dr,
7 minutes drive (near the beach).
Dog-friendly.
$
Local dive bar with pool.
5920 Wrightsville Ave.
2 minute driving time.
9 locals recommend
The Triangle Lounge
5920 Wrightsville Ave$
Local dive bar with pool.
5920 Wrightsville Ave.
2 minute driving time.
$
Historic bar on Wrightsville Beach since 1955. Near the beach.
11 E Salisbury St.
11 minutes driving time.
14 locals recommend
The Palm Room
11 E Salisbury St$
Historic bar on Wrightsville Beach since 1955. Near the beach.
11 E Salisbury St.
11 minutes driving time.
$$
Small local gazebo bar with nice outdoor seating. Great cocktails.
101 S 2nd Street
14 minutes driving time.
Kid-friendly.
19 locals recommend
Dram Yard
101 S 2nd St$$
Small local gazebo bar with nice outdoor seating. Great cocktails.
101 S 2nd Street
14 minutes driving time.
Kid-friendly.
Breweries
$
Local craft beer and brew pub with beer garden & food.
6201 Oleander Dr
3 minutes driving time.
Kid & dog-friendly.
81 locals recommend
Wrightsville Beach Brewery
6201 Oleander Dr$
Local craft beer and brew pub with beer garden & food.
6201 Oleander Dr
3 minutes driving time.
Kid & dog-friendly.
Local brew pub.
1610 Pavilion Pl
6 minutes driving time.
Kid & dog-friendly.
38 locals recommend
Waterman's Brewing
1610 Pavilion PlLocal brew pub.
1610 Pavilion Pl
6 minutes driving time.
Kid & dog-friendly.
$
Two out-door beer gardens and games.
1020 Princess St
14 minutes driving time.
Kid-friendly.
28 locals recommend
Hi-Wire Brewing - Wilmington
1020 Princess Street$
Two out-door beer gardens and games.
1020 Princess St
14 minutes driving time.
Kid-friendly.
$
Neighborhood brewery located in the Brooklyn Arts District.
319 Walnut St
16 minutes drive.
Kid-friendly.
84 locals recommend
Flytrap Brewing
319 Walnut St$
Neighborhood brewery located in the Brooklyn Arts District.
319 Walnut St
16 minutes drive.
Kid-friendly.
$
Local craft beer.
110 Greenfield St #100.
14 minutes driving time (multiple locations).
Kid-friendly.
14 locals recommend
New Anthem Beer Project-Greenfield Street
110 Greenfield St$
Local craft beer.
110 Greenfield St #100.
14 minutes driving time (multiple locations).
Kid-friendly.
$
Local beer served in a historic building.
604 N 4th St.
14 minutes driving time.
Kid-friendly.
60 locals recommend
Edward Teach Brewing
604 N 4th St$
Local beer served in a historic building.
604 N 4th St.
14 minutes driving time.
Kid-friendly.
Favorite beaches
This is our favorite beach in Wilmington. It's a long stretch of beach great for running, surfing and swimming. Walk around the town to see the luxurious beach houses and stumble into town for some of our favorites outlined below.
Adrift Coffee
Robert's Grocery - get the world famous chicken salad sandwich
408 locals recommend
Wrightsville Beach
321 Causeway DrThis is our favorite beach in Wilmington. It's a long stretch of beach great for running, surfing and swimming. Walk around the town to see the luxurious beach houses and stumble into town for some of our favorites outlined below.
Adrift Coffee
Robert's Grocery - get the world famous chicken salad sandwich
If you're looking for a fun boardwalk to take the kids, check out Carolina Beach. The board walk features restaurants, ice cream, swings and games. Kure Beach is about a 5 minute drive from Carolina Beach. You can easily see both in one day.
266 locals recommend
Carolina Beach
If you're looking for a fun boardwalk to take the kids, check out Carolina Beach. The board walk features restaurants, ice cream, swings and games. Kure Beach is about a 5 minute drive from Carolina Beach. You can easily see both in one day.
Kure Beach is about a 5 minute drive from Carolina Beach. You can easily see both in one day.
84 locals recommend
Kure Beach
Kure Beach is about a 5 minute drive from Carolina Beach. You can easily see both in one day.
If you're looking for a quiet beach go to Topsail Island. It's a very small town but the beach is long and less busy. The homes are more modest here and it's a more down to earth vibe.
Check out some of our favorites:
Hot Diggity Dogz in Surf City
Daddy Mac's Beach Grille
80 locals recommend
Topsail Beach
If you're looking for a quiet beach go to Topsail Island. It's a very small town but the beach is long and less busy. The homes are more modest here and it's a more down to earth vibe.
Check out some of our favorites:
Hot Diggity Dogz in Surf City
Daddy Mac's Beach Grille
Music Venue
Great place for a live concert. Views of the lake in the background, small intimate venue that seats 1200. Each guest gets their own seat!
69 locals recommend
Greenfield Lake Amphitheater
1941 Amphitheatre DrGreat place for a live concert. Views of the lake in the background, small intimate venue that seats 1200. Each guest gets their own seat!