In September, we embarked on a spontaneous road trip to the south to visit friends (safely) and explore a few new cities. From Chicago, we road tripped to Asheville, Greenville and Wilmington to satisfy our travel craving. A full overview of the road trip can be read here.
If we’re being honest, we had low expectations, thinking Wilmington was going to be a typical, coastal beach town. We were proven SO wrong and absolutely loved the vibes of downtown and the wide range of restaurants and coffeeshops. Our friends were also the best hosts, filling our days with active activities and off the beaten path spots around the city.
As you’ll see the below list is so full of solid recommendations and our friends had even more that we had to skip because of timing or covid closures. We can’t wait to go back!
the wilmington guide
drink (coffee)
drift coffee & kitchen
Despite being in the middle of a shopping center, this coastal-themed coffee shop had fun seasonal options and really fit the theme of the beach town for coffee on day one.
social coffee supply
Since we were working remotely during our stay in Wilmington, my morning coffee runs were a great way to check out the surrounding areas. Social Coffee Supply was one of my go-tos and had the cutest drive thru window and front patio. The coffee was also insane and I loved “the hugsy” from their fall menu that was a latte with cinna-bun syrup and topped with cinnamon sugar. Close behind was “you’ve got maple!” a latte with maple syrup and cinnamon.
the workshop wrightsville beach
As you can probably tell, coffeeshops are my love language and my favorite way to explore a new city. Most mornings in Wilmington we were grabbing coffee before a long workday, but the morning we hit The Workshop was after a long night of drinking wine and dancing around the dining room and before we were set to paddle board at 8 am. This spot exemplified the adventurous vibe were going for as the coffeeshop is all about scuba diving and sharks.
sunday’s
Located on the south end of Wrighstville Beach, SUNdays surf cafe offers coffee, smoothies, beer and wine and is perfect before or after a long beach day. The location is ideal for grabbing a coffee and taking a morning stroll along the beach.
do
wrightsville sup (paddle boarding)
Our friends had their own paddle boards, so they secured reservations at wrighstville sup so we could rent a couple more and paddleboard through the waterways. It was quite the workout and the perfect way to kick off a Saturday morning. If you’re up for a challenge you can paddleboard all the way to a palm tree island.
threve mercantile
I always have the unfortunate luck of passing by beautiful boutiques and decor shops when they’re closed. While walking downtown, I was so caught off guard when we passed by Threve Mercantile, a stunning interiors shop, and found out it was open. I could have spent hours in here, but after taking a ton of pictures for styling inspiration, I settled on a few accessories like a blanket, a hand towel and a sage bundle and holder. Fortunately the owner sells a lot of the pieces online, so I am always stalking her on Instagram for the beautiful pieces she curates from around the world.
veggie wagon
This is going to feel like a wild recommendation for a travel stop, but I personally love unique grocery stores, especially ones that have a bar inside. I could have spent hours in the Veggie Wagon, exploring the local craft beers, which you can try on tap while you shop, and other local goods from pre-made food, pantry staples, wine, candles, and more. Don’t miss the ice cream sandwiches they make with fresh cookies in their kitchen.
eat
zeke’s beans and bowls
Zeke’s is a Wilmington classic in Wrighstville Beach and the perfect spot for a post-activity coffee, açai bowl or poke bowl. It’s a small place, so plan to grab it to go for your next planned adventure of the day.
ceviche’s
This unassuming spot is one of the top restaurants in Wilmington and serves incredibly Panamanian dishes. As a group of four, we ordered more food than we could fit on our table and rolled out of there with full bellies, but absolutely everything was delicious. Between the guacamole sampler, the yucca frites, empanadas and ceviche, we tried almost all of the tapas. But the standout dishes for me were the Sancocho, Panama’s national dish and the “best hangover cure” and the Ropa Vieja, a braised flank steak in a delicious broth with coconut rice. I believe this was technically Christian’s dish, but I kept begging just to try another bite. Sometime’s writing these reviews are torture as I would love to have this meal again ASAP.
the copper penny
After walking around downtown for a few hours, we were lucky to secure a table at The Copper Penny, a relaxed, saloon-style restaurant that was featured in Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives in 2018. While they aren’t my cup of tea, the onion rings are apparently to die for, according to Guy.
indochine
Our friends made a reservation here one evening and from the outside, I would have had no idea what the inside of the restaurant looked like. The restaurant is a mixture of indoor and outdoor dining through gardens and gazebos and is one of the most unique restaurants I would have ever expected to be in Wilmington. They specialize in Thai and Vietnamese cuisine and everything was so good. We of course opted for the starter sampler and I had their special entree—the roasted duck with red curry. The portions are insane, so our friends had leftovers for a week.
drink
jetty bar at oceanic
Odds are if you’re driving around Wrightstville Beach, you’ll notice Oceanic, a beachfront restaurant with a massive pier. We’d been told the food is quite overpriced and mostly fried, so we opted to grab a quick beach-y cocktail before heading to dinner elsewhere. The Jetty Bar is located on the pier, so it was perfect to grab a drink and enjoy the views at sunset.
palate bottle shop & reserve
This downtown bottle shop has beers on tap, a thoughtful curated selection of beer and wine and solid outdoor seating. Palate was a super laid back and casual spot to start our downtown exploration and fortunately we parked close to secure all of the beer we purchased to take back home to Chicago.
mad mole brewing
On our first night in Wilmington, it was pouring rain, but we were bound to have a good time. Our friends often frequent Mad Mole Brewing, which isn’t far from their place, so we packed up charcuterie board supplies and made our way there. Their beer menu is so inventive and fun, we had an absolute blast, even though we were stuck inside. The Boston Mole Party and the Marilyn MonMole were both so good.
edward teach brewing
A downtown Wilmington staple, Edward Teach Brewing is in a beautiful restored building and features a modern take on a pirate ship bar. Over the years, Austin and Christian would bring Edward Teach beer to our yearly Bahamas trip, so finally tasting the famous Teach’s Peaches on draft was a true treat. They also had games and a tv upstairs to settle in for a long afternoon.
the outpost
Located in the cargo district, The Outpost is a modern food hall and beer garden. I highly recommend stopping for a beer or two at the Alcove Beer Garden and enjoying the outdoor seating on a nice day.
We fit in so much in our short time in Wilmington and still have a long list of places to check out next time. I can’t wait to add to this list post-pandemic.
the tl;dr
start your workday by grabbing coffee at drift or social coffee supply
grab coffee from the workshop and go paddle boarding at sunrise
treat yourself to an açai bowl at zeke’s post-paddle boarding
visit sundays and take your coffee and breakfast to the beach
enjoy the sunset and a cocktail at the jetty bar at oceanic before having dinner at ceviche’s
taste a few beers at palate before grabbing a few local bottles to go
settle in for a pint of teach’s peaches and games at edward teach brewing
walk around downtown and grab lunch at the copper penny
try not to spend all of your money on the decor and furniture at threve mercantile
stop by the outpost for an afternoon beer in the sun
opt for a mouthwatering thai and vietnamese dinner at indochine