Guidebook for Wilmington
Food Scene
Veteran for seafood-heavy American fare in a relaxed space with maritime decor & a waterfront deck.
85 locals recommend
Elijah's
2 Ann StVeteran for seafood-heavy American fare in a relaxed space with maritime decor & a waterfront deck.
Seafood with Southern flair served in a restored 19th-century house with a large riverside terrace.
46 locals recommend
Pilot House Restaurant
2 Ann StSeafood with Southern flair served in a restored 19th-century house with a large riverside terrace.
Upscale riverfront destination for coastal seafood & American fare with boat docking available.
55 locals recommend
The George on the Riverwalk
128 S Water StUpscale riverfront destination for coastal seafood & American fare with boat docking available.
Revival of vintage diner serving updated breakfast & brunch staples in simple digs with hip touches.
A local favorite!
23 locals recommend
Lawson Gray, LLC
622 S 2nd StRevival of vintage diner serving updated breakfast & brunch staples in simple digs with hip touches.
A local favorite!
Old-fashioned confectionery chain selling chocolates, ice cream, handmade sweets & gift baskets.
65 locals recommend
Kilwin's Chocolates
16 Market StOld-fashioned confectionery chain selling chocolates, ice cream, handmade sweets & gift baskets.
Global small plates, including sushi & Spanish tapas, served in a stately refurbished bank.
79 locals recommend
Circa 1922
8 N Front StGlobal small plates, including sushi & Spanish tapas, served in a stately refurbished bank.
Thai & Vietnamese fare served in an exotic, art-filled setting with an outdoor garden & gazebos.
This is our FAVORITE place to eat every time we go to Wilmington!
186 locals recommend
Indochine Restaurant
7 Wayne DrThai & Vietnamese fare served in an exotic, art-filled setting with an outdoor garden & gazebos.
This is our FAVORITE place to eat every time we go to Wilmington!
Fondue specialist offering eclectic 3-course meals in a cozy, modern space with a back deck.
28 locals recommend
Little Dipper Fondue
138 S Front StFondue specialist offering eclectic 3-course meals in a cozy, modern space with a back deck.
Steamed local seafood & raw oysters are served with Caribbean flair in a colorful, funky setting.
29 locals recommend
Dock Street Oyster Bar
12 Dock StSteamed local seafood & raw oysters are served with Caribbean flair in a colorful, funky setting.
Coffee Shop in Wilmington, North Carolina. People talk about vanilla latte, cute puppies and shots of espresso.
8 locals recommend
Java Dog Coffee House
303 N Front StCoffee Shop in Wilmington, North Carolina. People talk about vanilla latte, cute puppies and shots of espresso.
We are the oldest coffee shop location in the Historic District of Wilmington, NC. We pride ourselves on being a locals joint that welcomes tourists. We treat everyone as a friend and encourage you to ask questions. We understand that coffee can be complicated!
We source as many local products as possible and believe in making an impact in our community through various donation drives.
In short, we love what we do and it shows
12 locals recommend
24 South Coffee House
24 S Front StWe are the oldest coffee shop location in the Historic District of Wilmington, NC. We pride ourselves on being a locals joint that welcomes tourists. We treat everyone as a friend and encourage you to ask questions. We understand that coffee can be complicated!
We source as many local products as possible and believe in making an impact in our community through various donation drives.
In short, we love what we do and it shows
Neighborhood bar with pub grub favorites, microbrews, cocktails, daily specials & weekend bands.
23 locals recommend
Hell's Kitchen
118 Princess StNeighborhood bar with pub grub favorites, microbrews, cocktails, daily specials & weekend bands.
Shopping
Located at the southern end of Wilmington's downtown historic district, this century old building contains an eclectic mix of galleries and shops with works of art that are unmatched in Wilmington. Please browse their website, or, better yet, come downtown and browse in person. You won't be disappointed!
Chandler's Wharf
225 S Water StLocated at the southern end of Wilmington's downtown historic district, this century old building contains an eclectic mix of galleries and shops with works of art that are unmatched in Wilmington. Please browse their website, or, better yet, come downtown and browse in person. You won't be disappointed!
Wilmington, NC shopping isn’t defined by shopping malls or big box retailers. The highest concentration of unique boutique shops can be found at one place. The Cotton Exchange. While you are shopping visit our restaurants. The Wilmington Walk of Fame is located on site honoring locals such as David Brinkley, Charlie Daniels, Althea Gibson, and Roman Gabriel among ten other celebrities to date who have attained national acclaim. History is abundantly displayed throughout the gracious courtyards and within the four distinct restaurants. The Cotton Exchange shopping center in historic downtown offers its patrons Free Parking on site.
77 locals recommend
The Cotton Exchange
321 N Front StWilmington, NC shopping isn’t defined by shopping malls or big box retailers. The highest concentration of unique boutique shops can be found at one place. The Cotton Exchange. While you are shopping visit our restaurants. The Wilmington Walk of Fame is located on site honoring locals such as David Brinkley, Charlie Daniels, Althea Gibson, and Roman Gabriel among ten other celebrities to date who have attained national acclaim. History is abundantly displayed throughout the gracious courtyards and within the four distinct restaurants. The Cotton Exchange shopping center in historic downtown offers its patrons Free Parking on site.
Drinks & Nightlife
Microbrewery offering house beers & upgraded pub grub, plus daily tours of the brewery.
122 locals recommend
Front Street Brewery
9 N Front StMicrobrewery offering house beers & upgraded pub grub, plus daily tours of the brewery.
Pub grub, oysters & beer are served in a brick-lined space with rooftop bar & shows by local bands.
35 locals recommend
Reel Cafe
100 S Front StPub grub, oysters & beer are served in a brick-lined space with rooftop bar & shows by local bands.
Quaint wine bar with casual French fare, vino by the glass & a riverside patio.
10 locals recommend
Le Catalan
224 S Water StQuaint wine bar with casual French fare, vino by the glass & a riverside patio.
Energetic saloon with nightly food & drink specials plus lots of microbrews on tap & in bottles.
123 locals recommend
The Copper Penny
109 Chestnut StEnergetic saloon with nightly food & drink specials plus lots of microbrews on tap & in bottles.
Sightseeing
USS North Carolina (BB-55) is the lead ship of North Carolina-class battleship and the fourth warship in the U.S. Navy to be named for the State of North Carolina.
435 locals recommend
Battleship North Carolina
1 Battleship Rd NEUSS North Carolina (BB-55) is the lead ship of North Carolina-class battleship and the fourth warship in the U.S. Navy to be named for the State of North Carolina.
Entertainment & Activities
Take a 1-Hour Narrated Sightseeing Cruise! Our Captain will teach you all about the Cape Fear River and downtown Wilmington while you sit back and just enjoy the ride and the view.
23 locals recommend
Cape Fear Spice Merchants
20 Market St Take a 1-Hour Narrated Sightseeing Cruise! Our Captain will teach you all about the Cape Fear River and downtown Wilmington while you sit back and just enjoy the ride and the view.
Since 1985, more than 400 film, television and commercial projects have shot at the Wilmington, NC studios on the North Carolina coast. Recent films include “Iron Man 3” for Marvel and “The Conjuring” and “We’re the Millers” for New Line/Warner Bros. Recent television projects include “Good Behavior” for TNT, “Six” for the History Channel, “Under the Dome” for CBS, “Eastbound and Down” for HBO and “Sleepy Hollow” for Fox Television.
The 50-acre, full-service studio lot offers 10 stages with 150,000 sq. ft. of column-free shooting space. Production support includes multiple mills, storage, wardrobe space, special effects water facilities, production-ready office suites and on-site lighting,
14 locals recommend
Screen Gems Studio
1223 N 23rd StSince 1985, more than 400 film, television and commercial projects have shot at the Wilmington, NC studios on the North Carolina coast. Recent films include “Iron Man 3” for Marvel and “The Conjuring” and “We’re the Millers” for New Line/Warner Bros. Recent television projects include “Good Behavior” for TNT, “Six” for the History Channel, “Under the Dome” for CBS, “Eastbound and Down” for HBO and “Sleepy Hollow” for Fox Television.
The 50-acre, full-service studio lot offers 10 stages with 150,000 sq. ft. of column-free shooting space. Production support includes multiple mills, storage, wardrobe space, special effects water facilities, production-ready office suites and on-site lighting,
The Wilmington Convention Center (WCC) is owned by the City of Wilmington and opened for business in November 2010. The City started development of this project in the mid 2000’s as an economic driver to attract conventions and events that would result in the creation of new jobs and businesses in and around Wilmington and New Hanover County.
11 locals recommend
Wilmington Convention Center
10 Convention Center DrThe Wilmington Convention Center (WCC) is owned by the City of Wilmington and opened for business in November 2010. The City started development of this project in the mid 2000’s as an economic driver to attract conventions and events that would result in the creation of new jobs and businesses in and around Wilmington and New Hanover County.