Eat and Drink in Carolina Beach (+ Kure), North Carolina
Earlier this year my boyfriend and I decided to take advantage of our continued work-from-home status and go somewhere south for a month. We settled on Carolina Beach since it’s drivable (9 hours from Jersey City, NJ), on the beach, and we found a good deal on a nice Airbnb condo.
Located just south of Wilmington, we knew there would be plenty to do and see in Carolina Beach. Although it was off season and a handful of businesses were closed, there were enough open, plus we enjoyed the lack of crowds, especially with COVID still a concern.
Here’s where we ate and where we drank in Carolina Beach, North Carolina (and one spot in Kure, the next beach town over). Separate posts on Wilmington and on what to do in Carolina Beach coming soon!
As always, scroll down for a map of all the places we visited!
Restaurants in Carolina Beach
Since we were in Carolina Beach for a whole month, we did cook a lot in our Airbnb, but obviously I had tons of restaurants on my list to try! Here are the ones we got to.
The Southerly Biscuit & Pie
Southerly Biscuit & Pie is far cuter than what you would expect to find in a strip mall, which is where it’s located, tucked away on the main road heading into Carolina Beach from Wilmington. The breakfast biscuit sandwiches were delicious!
SeaWitch Cafe & Tiki Bar
We came to SeaWitch a couple of times (see below for more under “Drink”). The first was for dinner, and we sat outside listening to the live band while eating seafood and fries. Another night I had the ahi tuna nachos, which were amazing! They have a large outdoor space, which must be really popular during the warmer months, a tiki-bar vibe (as the name suggests), lots of live music on the calendar, and a full bar.
Carolina Smokehouse
You can’t beat the view at Carolina Smokehouse, with a bar and rooftop patio overlooking the beach. Plus they serve really good BBQ.
Island Burgers and Bites
Surprisingly, some of the best burgers we’ve ever had were served to us out of a gas station. Inside a Sunoco Gas Station is Island Burgers and Bites, cooking up smashed burgers with tons of topping options including homemade candied bacon, along with crispy fries, hot dogs, and more. There are some picnic tables outside to sit at and enjoy your food. Check out more in this reel I made!
Havana’s
From the outside Havana’s looks like someone’s really nice house, complete with a green yard and picket fence. We sat outside in said “yard” for their delicious brunch. I had the Cape Fear Benedict with crab cakes, served with hash, plantains, and coffee cake - so good! They also serve dinner.
Shuckin’ Shack Oyster Bar
We picked up food to go from Shuckin’ Shack one night, and it looked like a fun spot to hang out. It’s a chain serving lots of seafood options and more, along with a full bar. I took home peel-and-eat shrimp and fries.
Bojangles
“When in Rome,” right? I don’t usually eat fast food, but my boyfriend was very excited to eat Bojangles while we were down south. We enjoyed juicy and crispy fried chicken with tasty sides.
Ida Thai Cuisine
After our drive from New Jersey to North Carolina, unpacking, and stocking up at the grocery store, we were too exhausted to go out to eat or to cook dinner. We looked up takeout and settled on Ida Thai, which ended up being a great idea. The service was really friendly, they had several COVID precautions in place, and the food was delicious.
Freddie’s Italian Restaurant (in Kure, North Carolina)
We ordered takeout from Freddie’s one night, which came highly recommended. Coming from New Jersey/New York, I’m rarely drawn to Italian food when I’m out of town, but this was worth it. We had baked meatballs in sauce and mozzarella, Barb’s Special Spaghetti (chopped fresh tomato, grated cheese, olive oil, garlic), mushroom ravioli in alfredo sauce with veggies, salad with beets and chickpeas, and fresh bread with dipping oil. We went inside to pick up our order and found a quaint and comfortable set up.
Bars in Carolina Beach
Ocean Grill and Tiki Bar
If I lived in Carolina Beach I would come to Ocean Grill and Tiki Bar all the time. The bar is out of a small shack that sits on a pier jutting out over the beach. There’s no indoor seating, but you can pull up a stool to the bar or grab one of the many tables on the piers. We ended up catching the sunset and then walking home along the beach, making for a memorable happy hour.
SeaWitch
We came back to SeaWitch another night and were able to snag two seats at the small outdoor bar area on the front porch for lots of drinks and some food. This was still when we were wearing masks and doing our best to physically distance from others, so these seats were ideal. There was live music again and a big crowd. It definitely turns into a party at night!
Carolina Smokehouse
Even if you’re not in the mood for BBQ, the rooftop bar and patio at Carolina Smokehouse are great spots to have a drink and people watch over the railing to the boardwalk or watch the gorgeous sunset.
Island Beverage
We came in here a couple times to buy wine and craft beer to go, but you can also enjoy a drink on the indoor couches or outdoor seating area. The staff at Island Beverage was very friendly and helpful, and both times we walked out with new-to-us wine or beer to try at home.
Coffee and Ice Cream in Carolina Beach
Veggie Wagon
Veggie Wagon was steps from our apartment and let’s just say I came here a. lot. Whether it was for coffee, the hot chocolate bar, made-to-order ice cream sandwiches, freshly baked cookies, pastries, or just to peruse their adorable gifts and homemade treats, I loved stopping by this cute shop.
Mālama Cafe
If not for COVID, I could have spent a lot of time reading inside this beautiful coffee shop, especially the little corner with the orange couch and plants. Mālama Cafe makes a delicious chai latte, and used crushed ice for their iced coffee, which I really love for some reason.
Celtic Creamery
Celtic Creamery churns homemade Irish ice cream out of their shared space with a local gift shop.
Latella Gelato
I came to Latella Gelato on the boardwalk several times to try their rotating menu of homemade gelato.
The Fudgeboat
The Fudgeboat is another good option for ice cream, as well as homemade fudge.
Additional Recommendations
Here are some other recommendations that we didn’t get to.
Soul Flavor
Lazy Pirates
Nautical Dog
Nollie’s Taco Joint
Flaming Amy’s Burrito
Fork ‘N’ Cork
Britt’s Donuts
Kate’s Pancake House
Squiggly’s Ice Cream
Good Hops Brewing
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