Where to Eat

What “waterfront” actually means.

Asking about waterfront dining in Wilmington gets you three different answers, because there are three different waters. Downtown faces west across the Cape Fear River, so its rooftop bars and Riverwalk patios offer river views, though sunset sightlines depend on the particular table and nearby buildings. Wrightsville Beach has water on both sides, with the sunset tables on Banks Channel and the Intracoastal to the west and the ocean views to the east. For Carolina Beach and Kure Beach, check the restaurant location rather than assuming every beach-town table overlooks the ocean.

Seafood is the obvious draw, but it isn't the whole story. Downtown Wilmington has restaurants around Front Street and the Riverwalk, including Front Street Brewery, while the beach-town guides cover seafood restaurants, breakfast counters and patios. Kitchen hours are the thing that catches visitors out, because closing times on the islands can differ from food-service hours and change with the season.

The guides below sort restaurants by what you're actually deciding, whether that's the view, the budget, or whether the toddler will make it through lunch. Hours and menus here change often enough that it's worth confirming with the restaurant before you build an evening around it.