Guidebook for Wilmington
Food Scene
Consistently voted the best restaurant in Wilmington. It is located less than a mile from my home.
186 locals recommend
Indochine Restaurant
7 Wayne DrConsistently voted the best restaurant in Wilmington. It is located less than a mile from my home.
Amazing twist on southern/soul food. Amazing brunch. Try the fried okra and oatmeal blueberry pancakes.
77 locals recommend
The Basics
319 N Front StAmazing twist on southern/soul food. Amazing brunch. Try the fried okra and oatmeal blueberry pancakes.
Great lunch or brunch spot. They make great burgers (they grind their own meat). Try the Louisiana Hash or the sweet potato pancakes for breakfast/brunch.
23 locals recommend
Lawson Gray, LLC
622 S 2nd StGreat lunch or brunch spot. They make great burgers (they grind their own meat). Try the Louisiana Hash or the sweet potato pancakes for breakfast/brunch.
Cool place for a unique and romantic dinner. Great bar and excellent and creative food.
73 locals recommend
Rx Restaurant and Bar
421 Castle StCool place for a unique and romantic dinner. Great bar and excellent and creative food.
Manna
123 Princess StWonderful choice if you are downtown and want an upscale dining experience
If you are looking for seafood on the beach this is the place to go!
46 locals recommend
Fish House Grill
1410 Airlie RdIf you are looking for seafood on the beach this is the place to go!
Great for brunch, lunch or dinner. Great food with a built in bakery and excellent bar!
67 locals recommend
Sweet n Savory Cafe
1611 Pavilion PlGreat for brunch, lunch or dinner. Great food with a built in bakery and excellent bar!
If you are near the beach and in the mood for breakfast/brunch this is a great choice.
11 locals recommend
Causeway Cafe
114 Causeway DrIf you are near the beach and in the mood for breakfast/brunch this is a great choice.
Jackson's Big Oak Barbecue
920 S Kerr AveAuthentic and delicious. Go for lunch.
A Wilmington classic. Got for the salsa and unique atmosphere.
79 locals recommend
Flaming Amy's Burrito Barn WILMINGTON LOCATION
4002 Oleander DrA Wilmington classic. Got for the salsa and unique atmosphere.
Platypus & Gnome
7205 S Front StGreat food. Great cocktails. Great service. Great location.
Drinks & Nightlife
Fun local brewery. This place is a favorite with locals and has a cool vibe. They often have food trucks, live music and art/craft markets in the parking lot.
84 locals recommend
Flytrap Brewing
319 Walnut StFun local brewery. This place is a favorite with locals and has a cool vibe. They often have food trucks, live music and art/craft markets in the parking lot.
Absolutely my favorite place to hang out. So much more than a bar. Great beer selection, but the real draw is the diverse crowd, cool building and fun outdoor spaces outside the car itself. They screen movies outdoors sometimes and have great live music. Show up on Sunday afternoon/evening for live bluegrass with rotating food trucks. Kid and dog friendly in the early evening.
126 locals recommend
Satellite Bar and Lounge
120 Greenfield StAbsolutely my favorite place to hang out. So much more than a bar. Great beer selection, but the real draw is the diverse crowd, cool building and fun outdoor spaces outside the car itself. They screen movies outdoors sometimes and have great live music. Show up on Sunday afternoon/evening for live bluegrass with rotating food trucks. Kid and dog friendly in the early evening.
This is a hidden gem at the far end of North 4th St. Very cool and intimate place to have a drink or meet a few locals.
52 locals recommend
Palate Bottle Shop & Reserve
1007 N 4th StThis is a hidden gem at the far end of North 4th St. Very cool and intimate place to have a drink or meet a few locals.
Small but located in a cool neighborhood (Castle St. Arts District). Great place to start the evening and they have amazing mimosas during brunch on Sundays!
12 locals recommend
Wilmington Wine
701 Castle StSmall but located in a cool neighborhood (Castle St. Arts District). Great place to start the evening and they have amazing mimosas during brunch on Sundays!
Wilmington's one and only gay nightclub. The building housing the club used to be a private residence. Drag shows on Friday nights.
12 locals recommend
Ibiza Nightclub
118 Market StWilmington's one and only gay nightclub. The building housing the club used to be a private residence. Drag shows on Friday nights.
Calling Fermental a bar does it a disservice. Fermental is a small beer and wine shop with a great hang out space. Live music and food trucks on many nights. Well worth the trip up market. Bring your bug spray and lawn chairs. This is another dog and kid friendly spot to have a drink. Has the feel of a neighborhood bar mixed with a park.
32 locals recommend
Fermental
600 Market StCalling Fermental a bar does it a disservice. Fermental is a small beer and wine shop with a great hang out space. Live music and food trucks on many nights. Well worth the trip up market. Bring your bug spray and lawn chairs. This is another dog and kid friendly spot to have a drink. Has the feel of a neighborhood bar mixed with a park.
Small fun spot to grab a drink with friends after work on in the early evening. Indoor and outdoor seating available.
18 locals recommend
The Brewer's Kettle
4718 Oleander DrSmall fun spot to grab a drink with friends after work on in the early evening. Indoor and outdoor seating available.
Perfect place to have a drink and watch the sun set over the Cape Fear River. See a show at City Stage if you can. Crowd gets younger and a little more rowdy late night.
23 locals recommend
Level 5 at City Stage
21 N Front StPerfect place to have a drink and watch the sun set over the Cape Fear River. See a show at City Stage if you can. Crowd gets younger and a little more rowdy late night.
Blind Elephant
21 N Front StCool space and a great place for a custom cocktail
Parks & Nature
Beautiful spot to spend a few hours taking a walk and enjoying the lake. Canoes, kayaks and paddleboats are available for rent. The lake is a little over 4 miles around.
99 locals recommend
Greenfield Park
1739 Burnett BlvdBeautiful spot to spend a few hours taking a walk and enjoying the lake. Canoes, kayaks and paddleboats are available for rent. The lake is a little over 4 miles around.
Perfect place to spend an hour walking and taking in the beauty of nature. Airlie is very laid back and peaceful. Lots of places for quiet contemplation or a picnic.
234 locals recommend
Airlie Gardens
300 Airlie RdPerfect place to spend an hour walking and taking in the beauty of nature. Airlie is very laid back and peaceful. Lots of places for quiet contemplation or a picnic.
If you only have a few minutes to spare, take a break and enjoy the Arboretum. Free admission.
35 locals recommend
The Arboretum: New Hanover County Co-Op Ext
6206 Oleander DrIf you only have a few minutes to spare, take a break and enjoy the Arboretum. Free admission.
Arts & Culture
The museum is a little off the beaten path, but it is a beautiful facility. They have a great collection and well curated rotating exhibits. A good place to spend and our. Try the she-crab soup at the cafe or have a coffee on the patio.
108 locals recommend
Cameron Art Museum
3201 S 17th StThe museum is a little off the beaten path, but it is a beautiful facility. They have a great collection and well curated rotating exhibits. A good place to spend and our. Try the she-crab soup at the cafe or have a coffee on the patio.
Not only is this historic theater an architectural gem on the inside, it also hosts amazing live theater and the Cinematique film series. If you get a chance to take in a show or a film at Thalian, GO FOR IT.
101 locals recommend
Thalian Hall
310 Chestnut StNot only is this historic theater an architectural gem on the inside, it also hosts amazing live theater and the Cinematique film series. If you get a chance to take in a show or a film at Thalian, GO FOR IT.
Sightseeing
You can take the official tour or just take a look from street level, but any visitor to Wilmington should stop by and take a moment to appreciate this beautiful antebellum mansion. Bellamy hosts a "jazz at the mansion" concert series May-Sept.
113 locals recommend
Bellamy Mansion
503 Market StYou can take the official tour or just take a look from street level, but any visitor to Wilmington should stop by and take a moment to appreciate this beautiful antebellum mansion. Bellamy hosts a "jazz at the mansion" concert series May-Sept.
Take a look from across the river downtown, or travel over the bridge to get a closer look inside. Set aside at least 2 hours if you decide to go on the battleship, it is much bigger on the inside than it looks!
435 locals recommend
Battleship North Carolina
1 Battleship Rd NETake a look from across the river downtown, or travel over the bridge to get a closer look inside. Set aside at least 2 hours if you decide to go on the battleship, it is much bigger on the inside than it looks!
Must see for Civil War and history buffs. You can do the entire thing in 20-30 minutes. Great views of the river.
315 locals recommend
Fort Fisher State Historic Site
1610 Fort Fisher Blvd SMust see for Civil War and history buffs. You can do the entire thing in 20-30 minutes. Great views of the river.
Shopping
Bloke Apparel & Supply
216 Princess StGreat men's clothing store with locally made scents and shaving accessories
If you are downtown and have an hour spare, take a look around the shops in the Cotton Exchange. Great use of an older building and pretty much something for everyone.
77 locals recommend
The Cotton Exchange
321 N Front StIf you are downtown and have an hour spare, take a look around the shops in the Cotton Exchange. Great use of an older building and pretty much something for everyone.
My local scent shop. Go for the smells and stay for the amazing staff and custom made colognes.
Down to Earth
315 N Front StMy local scent shop. Go for the smells and stay for the amazing staff and custom made colognes.
Local favorite. Stylish and fun clothing store with unique t-shirts and much more. Don't leave without a Freaker!
19 locals recommend
Edge of Urge
18 Market StLocal favorite. Stylish and fun clothing store with unique t-shirts and much more. Don't leave without a Freaker!
Wilmington is an antique hunter's dream. The Ivy Cottage is the unique epicenter of the antique market. Try the shops along Castle Street for even more antiques.
21 locals recommend
The Ivy Cottage
3030 Market StWilmington is an antique hunter's dream. The Ivy Cottage is the unique epicenter of the antique market. Try the shops along Castle Street for even more antiques.
Locally owned candle shop with original and amazing scents. Small versions make great gifts and fit nicely into luggage.
Candles Etc
25 Market StLocally owned candle shop with original and amazing scents. Small versions make great gifts and fit nicely into luggage.
Great place to get some flip flops, socks or shoes for the outdoors.
14 locals recommend
Cape Fear Footwear
332 Nutt StGreat place to get some flip flops, socks or shoes for the outdoors.