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.
37 locals raden deze aan
Malama Cafe
108 Cape Fear BlvdSelfishly, 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 locals raden deze aan
Shuckin' Shack
6 N Lake Park BlvdWe 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.
93 locals raden deze aan
Soul Flavor
716 N Lake Park BlvdSoul 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 locals raden deze aan
Havana’s Restaurant
1 N Lake Park BlvdGood 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 locals raden deze aan
Nollie's Taco Joint
3 Pelican LnFun, 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 locals raden deze aan
El Cazador Carolina Beach
103 N Lake Park BlvdGood 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.
163 locals raden deze aan
Ocean Grill & Tiki Bar
1211 S Lake Park BlvdWhile 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).
175 locals raden deze aan
SeaWitch Cafe & Tiki Bar
227 Carolina Beach Ave NThe 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 locals raden deze aan
The Spot Bar & Kitchen
1006 S Lake Park BlvdCasual 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 locals raden deze aan
Island Beverage
1206 N Lake Park BlvdSmallish 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.
315 locals raden deze aan
Fort Fisher State Historic Site
1610 Fort Fisher Blvd SA 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.
242 locals raden deze aan
Southport
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.
93 locals raden deze aan
Kure Beach Pier
100 Atlantic AveTo 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 locals raden deze aan
Carolina Beach Jet Ski Rentals
1112 S Seabreeze RdDespite its name, CB Jet Ski Rentals is actually just over the bridge, on the other side of the intracoastal from Freeman Park.
Sunfun Rentals
505 N Lake Park BlvdA 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
184 locals raden deze aan
Carolina Beach Boardwalk
Carolina Beach Avenue SouthThe 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 locals raden deze aan
Britts Donuts
13 Carolina Beach Ave NWe 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 locals raden deze aan
Wilmington Trolley
15 S Water StA 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.
138 locals raden deze aan
Jungle Rapids Family Fun Park
5320 Oleander DrGreat 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.
27 locals raden deze aan
Flip N Fly - Wilmington Trampoline Park
830 Inspiration DrA 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
435 locals raden deze aan
USS North Carolina
1 Battleship Rd NEOn 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.
26 locals raden deze aan
The Pointe 14
2223 Blockbuster RdMovies 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 locals raden deze aan
The Fat Pelican
8 S Lake Park BlvdAnother 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
CB Surf Shop
209 S Lake Park BlvdGood 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 BlvdA classier version of with brand name beachwear and a better level of Carolina Beach branded merchandise