Kate’s guidebook

Kate
Kate’s guidebook

Recommended Island Restaurants for lunch and dinner

Not a comprehensive list, just some of our favorites on the island. Please check online to find hours and days of operation as many of these are not open 7 days a week.
Selfishly, we'd like to recommend Malama Cafe, as we own it. :-). Summer of 2022 will be our third summer and we think we've found our niche on the CB food scene. It's unique for it's quality craft coffee, healthy toasts and sandwiches as well as a variety of smoothies and smoothie bowls. Open for breakfast and lunch. Please check Google and Yelp reviews to see why it's earned an excellent reputation in it's short existence.
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Malama Cafe
108 Cape Fear Blvd
37 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Selfishly, we'd like to recommend Malama Cafe, as we own it. :-). Summer of 2022 will be our third summer and we think we've found our niche on the CB food scene. It's unique for it's quality craft coffee, healthy toasts and sandwiches as well as a variety of smoothies and smoothie bowls. Open for breakfast and lunch. Please check Google and Yelp reviews to see why it's earned an excellent reputation in it's short existence.
We love this place. It's a no-frills gathering spot to enjoy fresh seafood, cold drinks in a laid-back beach vibe. Best place on island for shellfish (shrimp, oysters and crab legs) among other good menu items. They also serve one of the best Bloody Mary's around.
115 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Shuckin' Shack
6 N Lake Park Blvd
115 (рекомендации местных жителей)
We love this place. It's a no-frills gathering spot to enjoy fresh seafood, cold drinks in a laid-back beach vibe. Best place on island for shellfish (shrimp, oysters and crab legs) among other good menu items. They also serve one of the best Bloody Mary's around.
Soul Flavor is one of our favorite places on the island for dinner. A delicious varied menu that would satisfy almost anyone's tastes. Cool bar too. You won't be disappointed.
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Soul Flavor
716 N Lake Park Blvd
93 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Soul Flavor is one of our favorite places on the island for dinner. A delicious varied menu that would satisfy almost anyone's tastes. Cool bar too. You won't be disappointed.
Good food and a nice outdoor dining area in the heart of CB, makes this one of our favorites. Good, varied menu to satisfy a variety of tastes served in a great island vibe. Our favorite is the Key West salad.
115 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Havana’s Restaurant
1 N Lake Park Blvd
115 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Good food and a nice outdoor dining area in the heart of CB, makes this one of our favorites. Good, varied menu to satisfy a variety of tastes served in a great island vibe. Our favorite is the Key West salad.
Fun, hip, small taco joint near the beach. Good for a sit outside on a nice day. Kate likes the Classic Gringo, Tom the Shove-It Shrimp.
80 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Nollie's Taco Joint
3 Pelican Ln
80 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Fun, hip, small taco joint near the beach. Good for a sit outside on a nice day. Kate likes the Classic Gringo, Tom the Shove-It Shrimp.
Good classic Mexican restaurant with all the familiar choices. There's a small outside area upstairs where you can check out the action on CB's main drag
36 (рекомендации местных жителей)
El Cazador Carolina Beach
103 N Lake Park Blvd
36 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Good classic Mexican restaurant with all the familiar choices. There's a small outside area upstairs where you can check out the action on CB's main drag
While the food is pretty good, it's more about the oceanfront setting. Best views in the restaurant are upstairs. Better yet, we love going to the classic "Tiki Bar" out on the pier that traverses the beach into the ocean. Plenty of seating on the pier, it has bar food menu. Also, they often have bands playing at the end of the pier on Thursday nights during the summer.
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Ocean Grill & Tiki Bar
1211 S Lake Park Blvd
163 (рекомендации местных жителей)
While the food is pretty good, it's more about the oceanfront setting. Best views in the restaurant are upstairs. Better yet, we love going to the classic "Tiki Bar" out on the pier that traverses the beach into the ocean. Plenty of seating on the pier, it has bar food menu. Also, they often have bands playing at the end of the pier on Thursday nights during the summer.
The SeaWitch is an interesting combination of bar, outdoor dining and music venue. A large place, the food is better than you would think based on the setting. It's the liveliest place on the island in the evenings between the bar scene and live music. Usually, there are solo musicians during the week and bands on the weekend (sometime leading to a cover charge if you're not eating).
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SeaWitch Cafe & Tiki Bar
227 Carolina Beach Ave N
175 (рекомендации местных жителей)
The SeaWitch is an interesting combination of bar, outdoor dining and music venue. A large place, the food is better than you would think based on the setting. It's the liveliest place on the island in the evenings between the bar scene and live music. Usually, there are solo musicians during the week and bands on the weekend (sometime leading to a cover charge if you're not eating).
Casual spot with good food and good outside seating. Popular with the locals
41 (рекомендации местных жителей)
The Spot Bar & Kitchen
1006 S Lake Park Blvd
41 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Casual spot with good food and good outside seating. Popular with the locals
A new hip bar/restaurant with a nice large outdoor space. They also have music on certain nights
The Sandspur
A new hip bar/restaurant with a nice large outdoor space. They also have music on certain nights
Just a short walk along the beach north of our house is the tiki bar at the Carolina Beach pier. Good bar food, great drinks and a stellar view. Live music on certain nights of the week depending on weather and time of year
Carolina Beach Pier
Just a short walk along the beach north of our house is the tiki bar at the Carolina Beach pier. Good bar food, great drinks and a stellar view. Live music on certain nights of the week depending on weather and time of year
Smallish place with the best variety of craft brews on the island - both on tap and can/bottle selection. They normally have live music on weekends
40 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Island Beverage
1206 N Lake Park Blvd
40 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Smallish place with the best variety of craft brews on the island - both on tap and can/bottle selection. They normally have live music on weekends

Things To Do

A site with huge Civil War significance. The fall of this fort was the beginning of the end of the war.
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Fort Fisher State Historic Site
1610 Fort Fisher Blvd S
315 (рекомендации местных жителей)
A site with huge Civil War significance. The fall of this fort was the beginning of the end of the war.
As a nice day trip take your car to the Ft. Fisher Ferry to Southport and explore a quaint downtown and a nice array of restaurants on the water.
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Southport
242 (рекомендации местных жителей)
As a nice day trip take your car to the Ft. Fisher Ferry to Southport and explore a quaint downtown and a nice array of restaurants on the water.
To access the pier, you walk through an old school beach store filled with souvenirs, some arcade games and plenty of fishing gear. It's free to walk the pier, but if you want to fish off it (and plenty people do) they charge a fee. It extends a good way out into the ocean, so either activity is a good day.
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Пирс Кьюр-Бич
100 Atlantic Ave
93 (рекомендации местных жителей)
To access the pier, you walk through an old school beach store filled with souvenirs, some arcade games and plenty of fishing gear. It's free to walk the pier, but if you want to fish off it (and plenty people do) they charge a fee. It extends a good way out into the ocean, so either activity is a good day.
Despite its name, CB Jet Ski Rentals is actually just over the bridge, on the other side of the intracoastal from Freeman Park.
7 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Carolina Beach Jet Ski Rentals
1112 S Seabreeze Rd
7 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Despite its name, CB Jet Ski Rentals is actually just over the bridge, on the other side of the intracoastal from Freeman Park.
A good place to rent a golf cart and vacation like a local.
28 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Sunfun Rentals
505 N Lake Park Blvd
28 (рекомендации местных жителей)
A good place to rent a golf cart and vacation like a local.
The heart of the action in summertime with the carnival in full swing from Memorial Day through Labor Day. There's also a good sized arcade there as well. And, of course, Britt's Donuts
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Carolina Beach Boardwalk
Carolina Beach Avenue South
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The heart of the action in summertime with the carnival in full swing from Memorial Day through Labor Day. There's also a good sized arcade there as well. And, of course, Britt's Donuts
We listed this under "Things To Do" because it's a rite of passage. Britts is an institution and CB landmark that EVERYONE should visit for their melt-in-your-mouth warm glazed donuts. Most agree it is the best donut you'll every have. Lines will be long early morning (sometimes an hour wait) but tend to lessen as the day goes on. Spartan atmosphere, but a classic place!
277 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Britts Donuts
13 Carolina Beach Ave N
277 (рекомендации местных жителей)
We listed this under "Things To Do" because it's a rite of passage. Britts is an institution and CB landmark that EVERYONE should visit for their melt-in-your-mouth warm glazed donuts. Most agree it is the best donut you'll every have. Lines will be long early morning (sometimes an hour wait) but tend to lessen as the day goes on. Spartan atmosphere, but a classic place!
A historic downtown featuring a beautiful riverwalk and home to a great variety of restaurants, bars and shops.
36 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Wilmington Trolley
15 S Water St
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A historic downtown featuring a beautiful riverwalk and home to a great variety of restaurants, bars and shops.
Great place for the kids. Water Park, Arcade, go-karts and a nice mini golf course.
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Семейный парк развлечений Jungle Rapids
5320 Oleander Dr
138 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Great place for the kids. Water Park, Arcade, go-karts and a nice mini golf course.
A bit far afield, but might be worth the 30 minute drive on a rainy day to get the kids energy out.
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Flip N Fly - Wilmington Trampoline Park
830 Inspiration Dr
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A bit far afield, but might be worth the 30 minute drive on a rainy day to get the kids energy out.
On the river across from downtown Wilmington, you can tour this iconic battleship
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USS «Норт Кэролайн»
1 Battleship Rd NE
435 (рекомендации местных жителей)
On the river across from downtown Wilmington, you can tour this iconic battleship
Movies are a classic rainy day option. The Pointe is about a 20-minute drive from the island.
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The Pointe 14
2223 Blockbuster Rd
26 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Movies are a classic rainy day option. The Pointe is about a 20-minute drive from the island.
Another CB institution, this one of a kind bar features a walk in cooler filled with a huge beer selection. Sit outside at the picnic tables and wiggle your toes in the sand. Inside by the wood burning stove is a nice spot in the winter
165 (рекомендации местных жителей)
The Fat Pelican
8 S Lake Park Blvd
165 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Another CB institution, this one of a kind bar features a walk in cooler filled with a huge beer selection. Sit outside at the picnic tables and wiggle your toes in the sand. Inside by the wood burning stove is a nice spot in the winter

Shopping

Good spot for beach apparel
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CB Surf Shop
209 S Lake Park Blvd
12 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Good spot for beach apparel
A classier version of with brand name beachwear and a better level of Carolina Beach branded merchandise
Palms Beachwear
1300 N Lake Park Blvd
A classier version of with brand name beachwear and a better level of Carolina Beach branded merchandise