Guidebook for Wilmington
Food Scene
These are tried and true places we love (and/or close/delivery).
This is a local legend Wrightsville Beach restaurant. If you’re looking for a fantastic meal with beautiful sound side views, this is always a safe bet and my top foodie recommendation.
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The Bridge Tender
1414 Airlie RdThis is a local legend Wrightsville Beach restaurant. If you’re looking for a fantastic meal with beautiful sound side views, this is always a safe bet and my top foodie recommendation.
Beautiful Wrightsville Beach sound side views, great food, and weekend music all summer.
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Bluewater Grill
4 Marina StBeautiful Wrightsville Beach sound side views, great food, and weekend music all summer.
Waterfront Wrightsville Beach upscale restaurant and bar with the best views on the beach.
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Oceanic
703 S Lumina AveWaterfront Wrightsville Beach upscale restaurant and bar with the best views on the beach.
Locally owned and operated. Always a fun hibachi dinner near UNCW.
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Hiro Japanese Steakhouse
222 Old Eastwood RdLocally owned and operated. Always a fun hibachi dinner near UNCW.
Locally owned and operated. This is a spot near UNCW where we bring our exchange students.
Kabuki Korean Cafe & Sushi Bar
4102 Oleander DrLocally owned and operated. This is a spot near UNCW where we bring our exchange students.
Domino's Pizza
5001 East Oak Island DrivePizza delivery on Gordon Road. 910-395-1166
Next to UNCW, weekend music and great margaritas and food!
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El Cerro Grande Mexican Restaurant
341 S College RdNext to UNCW, weekend music and great margaritas and food!
North Wilmington (Porters Neck) great little Mexican fare.
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K38 Baja Grill
5410 Oleander DrNorth Wilmington (Porters Neck) great little Mexican fare.
This north Wilmington/Porters Neck breakfast place always has a wait BUT they have call ahead seating at 910-821-8461.
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Cast Iron Kitchen
8024 Market StThis north Wilmington/Porters Neck breakfast place always has a wait BUT they have call ahead seating at 910-821-8461.
China Wok
2307 North College RoadThis is the local Chinese place that delivers. 910-452-2297
This downtown breakfast place always has a line. Early is best.
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The Dixie Grill
116 Market StThis downtown breakfast place always has a line. Early is best.
Ruth's Kitchen
6790 Market StThis is a local diner right down the street, serving breakfast and lunch.
Cracker Barrel is within 5-10 minutes and has breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store
21 Van Campen BlvdCracker Barrel is within 5-10 minutes and has breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Downtown homemade ice cream, chocolate, fudge, and candy.
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Kilwin's Chocolates
16 Market StDowntown homemade ice cream, chocolate, fudge, and candy.
Great food, great atmosphere, outdoor music. This Tap Room is close by in north Wilmington, locally owned and operated, very neighborhood and laid back.
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Ogden Tap Room
7324 Market StGreat food, great atmosphere, outdoor music. This Tap Room is close by in north Wilmington, locally owned and operated, very neighborhood and laid back.
Upscale burgers and beers with a laid back beach atmosphere. This is a great hangout spot.
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Poe's Tavern - Wrightsville Beach
212 Causeway DrUpscale burgers and beers with a laid back beach atmosphere. This is a great hangout spot.
This is a local and beloved restaurant AND nonprofit. This downtown lunch place has fresh food and is owner operated.
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The Foxes Boxes
622 N 4th StThis is a local and beloved restaurant AND nonprofit. This downtown lunch place has fresh food and is owner operated.
This is a great locally owned, family operated Italian restaurant with a nice atmosphere.
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Terrazzo Trattoria
1319 Military Cutoff RdThis is a great locally owned, family operated Italian restaurant with a nice atmosphere.
Call for reservations - 910-798-2205. I haven’t been here but my foody friend recommended.
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Nicola's
5704 Oleander DrCall for reservations - 910-798-2205. I haven’t been here but my foody friend recommended.
Shopping
Mayfaire is an outdoor shopping town with great little shops, restaurants and a movie theater.
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Mayfaire Town Center
Mayfaire is an outdoor shopping town with great little shops, restaurants and a movie theater.
Downtown has many things to do - from nightlife, dining, museums, river walk, boat rides, horse drawn carriage rides, cobblestone streets, fresh food markets and shopping.
North Front Street
North Front StreetDowntown has many things to do - from nightlife, dining, museums, river walk, boat rides, horse drawn carriage rides, cobblestone streets, fresh food markets and shopping.
Independence Mall
3500 Oleander DrBelks, JC Penney, Dillards and more.
Sightseeing and One Tree Hill Fans
Here are locations and information about One Tree Hill spots.
https://www.wilmingtonandbeaches.com/about/news-blogs/post/one-tree-hill-walking-tour/
Spiaggia di Wrightsville
321 Causeway DrWatch the sunrise - just because.
Must see sunset! (See the front picture.)
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Wilmington Downtown Riverwalk
Wilmington Downtown RiverwalkMust see sunset! (See the front picture.)
Fireworks all summer long on Thursday nights around 9:00 pm. They also have a pond where they show movies - bring a blanket or the beach chairs and enjoy a family night.
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Carolina Beach Boardwalk
Carolina Beach Avenue SouthFireworks all summer long on Thursday nights around 9:00 pm. They also have a pond where they show movies - bring a blanket or the beach chairs and enjoy a family night.
Molo da pesca di Johnnie Mercers
23 E Salisbury StFishing!
Bellamy Mansion
503 Market StWilmington Riverwalk
Wilmington Downtown RiverwalkAttractions/Festivals
Azalea Festival - Usually the first weekend of April annually.
910-763-2634
505 Nutt Street, Wilmington, NC 28401
The kids will love it!
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Wilmington Railroad Museum
505 Nutt St910-763-2634
505 Nutt Street, Wilmington, NC 28401
The kids will love it!
For $3.00 this was the best use of about an hour. The owner really has some interesting and curious pieces and exhibits. Workers were helpful and friendly, and willing to explain anything you may have questions about. They offer a lazer challenge for an additional 3.00 which i think some people would absolutely love. Overall, great small attraction and incredibly affordable. Something like this in Disney would have cost 50.00!!! Love that it seemed more about sharing the collection and passion than it did about money.
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Museum of the Bizarre
201 S Water StFor $3.00 this was the best use of about an hour. The owner really has some interesting and curious pieces and exhibits. Workers were helpful and friendly, and willing to explain anything you may have questions about. They offer a lazer challenge for an additional 3.00 which i think some people would absolutely love. Overall, great small attraction and incredibly affordable. Something like this in Disney would have cost 50.00!!! Love that it seemed more about sharing the collection and passion than it did about money.
Catch a concert while you're in town. This is an outdoor venue on Greenfield Lake.
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Greenfield Lake Amphitheater
1941 Amphitheatre DrCatch a concert while you're in town. This is an outdoor venue on Greenfield Lake.
This is 30 minutes away on the other side of Wilmington past Carolina Beach (which has a boardwalk, Thursday night fireworks, movies on the water outside, Britt's Donuts, amusement rides, etc.) but is a great family outing.
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Acquario della Carolina del Nord a Fort Fisher
900 Loggerhead RdThis is 30 minutes away on the other side of Wilmington past Carolina Beach (which has a boardwalk, Thursday night fireworks, movies on the water outside, Britt's Donuts, amusement rides, etc.) but is a great family outing.
We LOVE stand up (or sit down) paddle boarding and it’s not as hard as you think. They have kayaks also. This is close by, locally owned and a memorable experience.
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Wrightsville SUP
96 W Salisbury StWe LOVE stand up (or sit down) paddle boarding and it’s not as hard as you think. They have kayaks also. This is close by, locally owned and a memorable experience.
Parks & Nature
There's a dog park here, picnic tables, playground, walking trail, pond and it's only a mile or so down the road.
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Parco Ogden
615 Ogden Park DrThere's a dog park here, picnic tables, playground, walking trail, pond and it's only a mile or so down the road.
Great little park and lake with playground and picnic shelters with grills only a mile or so away down Harris Road.
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Smith Creek Park
633 Shenandoah StGreat little park and lake with playground and picnic shelters with grills only a mile or so away down Harris Road.
You can paddle boat, feed the ducks, skateboard or just sight see. If you catch Wilmington when the azaleas are blooming (March, April or so) it's breathtaking.
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Greenfield Park
1739 Burnett BlvdYou can paddle boat, feed the ducks, skateboard or just sight see. If you catch Wilmington when the azaleas are blooming (March, April or so) it's breathtaking.
Giardini Airlie
300 Airlie RdDrinks & Nightlife
Slice is a locally owned and operated pizzeria that uses fresh ingredients. It's a warm and inviting local bar and restaurant. *Open until 3 am nightly.
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Slice of Life Pizzeria & Pub Beach
1437 Military Cutoff RdSlice is a locally owned and operated pizzeria that uses fresh ingredients. It's a warm and inviting local bar and restaurant. *Open until 3 am nightly.
This is a beautiful and locally owned and operated little haven. It has an outdoor bar, music, movies, very homey and welcoming. Kids during the day, family friendly. Adults at night.
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Liberty Tavern
7976 Market StThis is a beautiful and locally owned and operated little haven. It has an outdoor bar, music, movies, very homey and welcoming. Kids during the day, family friendly. Adults at night.
This is a laid back local wine and beer place with outdoor seating and music.
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Fermental
600 Market StThis is a laid back local wine and beer place with outdoor seating and music.
Bring your kids and dogs to this local watering hole. It’s family friendly with games, outdoor picnic tables and occasional music and festivals.
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The Sour Barn
7211 Market StBring your kids and dogs to this local watering hole. It’s family friendly with games, outdoor picnic tables and occasional music and festivals.
Arts & Culture
The Wilmington insurrection of 1898, also known as the Wilmington massacre of 1898, occurred on November 10, 1898. The event marks an era of more severe racial segregation and effective disenfranchisement of African-Americans throughout the South, a shift already underway since passage by Mississippi of a new constitution in 1890 raising barriers to voter registration. Laura Edwards wrote "What happened in Wilmington became an affirmation of white supremacy not just in that one city, but in the South and in the nation as a whole," as it affirmed that invoking "whiteness" eclipsed the legal citizenship, individual rights and equal protection under the law of blacks.
1898 Memorial Park
1018 N 3rd StThe Wilmington insurrection of 1898, also known as the Wilmington massacre of 1898, occurred on November 10, 1898. The event marks an era of more severe racial segregation and effective disenfranchisement of African-Americans throughout the South, a shift already underway since passage by Mississippi of a new constitution in 1890 raising barriers to voter registration. Laura Edwards wrote "What happened in Wilmington became an affirmation of white supremacy not just in that one city, but in the South and in the nation as a whole," as it affirmed that invoking "whiteness" eclipsed the legal citizenship, individual rights and equal protection under the law of blacks.