Popular Restaurants in Wrightsville Beach
Located in New Hanover County, North Carolina, Wrightsville Beach is one of the many popular destinations for travelers in North Carolina. Not only a perfect summer beach destination but Wrightsville Beach is also loaded with great delicacies that will make your vacation delicious.
There are several restaurants across Wrightsville Beach, catering to all tastes. Cafes, outdoor dining, seafood and even the local market are all located just steps from the sand and surf. Here are some well-known restaurants near Wrightsville Beach:
- The Oyster Rock
- Pilot House
- Elijah’s Restaurant
- 1900 Restaurant & Lounge
- 22 North Restaurant
- 24 South Coffee House
That’s just a sampling of what’s available. There are still many dining experiences to look forward to on one or more of your Wrightsville Beach trips.
This article will help you navigate Wrightsville Beach’s dining opportunities to find the best restaurant for you. From breakfast to a fancy dinner date, we have you covered.
What Are the Most Popular Restaurants Near Wrightsville Beach?
Depending on your preferences, the restaurants of Wrightsville vary from comfortable sit-down dinners to cafes offering a quick bite. All that being said, here are some of the best dinners you can find in Wrightsville:
1. The Oyster Rock
One of the popular restaurants in Wrightsville, NC is the Oyster Rock. The Oyster Rock is a family-owned and operated waterfront Calabash seafood restaurant. It specializes in excellent seafood and raw bar items mixed with a flavorful variety of mouth-watering beef, chicken, and pork dishes. You’ll also find sandwiches and burgers all prepared in house every day. The Oyster Rock prides itself in using only the freshest and finest ingredients from local and regional suppliers and the beautiful Atlantic Ocean right outside its doors.
The restaurant offers a variety of seating options which include an indoor dining area, an outdoor dining deck with panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean and Wrightsville Beach. It features more than 24 domestic and imported beers on tap, 30 wines by the glass, and a delicious collection of specialty cocktails. The Oyster Rock provides the most amazing view around, overlooking the scenic Calabash River and its pristine estuaries and relaxing atmosphere.
2. Pilot House
The Pilot House is a great restaurant for seafood lovers. Some of their menu offerings are southern favorites like Sweet Potato Grouper with mushroom ravioli, shrimp and grits with kielbasa sausage, and crunchy catfish with a cracker crumb crust and red-eye gravy. The Pilot House is a crowd-pleasing spot for superb meals with a fantastic riverfront view, with a colorful selection of foods that can appeal to any sized appetite or craving.
The Pilot House sits at a more tranquil part of the waterfront, with gorgeous views of the open water and natural landscaping right in front of it. The seafood-centric cuisine, which includes a wide range of appetizers and snacks, shellfish specialties, sandwiches, entrees, meats and poultry, and also pasta, is enhanced by the setting.
3. Elijah’s Restaurant
Similar to the Pilot House, Elijah’s Restaurant also offers a variety of seafood dishes that will complete your beach trip. The menu starts with Elijah’s Signature Crab Cakes, and also features soups & salads, specialties, sandwiches, seafood, pasta, a raw bar, entrees, and other fares.
The charming eatery sits on the edge of Wilmington’s historic downtown, which is 13 miles drive away. Located along the Cape Fear River, this little spot offers a prime location and a decidedly fresh menu.
The mix of seafood and other dishes on offer will pretty much appeal to all tastes, but seafood-lovers will especially take to specials like the crab stuffed mushrooms, buffalo shrimp, and Carolina chowder. Hungrier patrons can dive into big platters of crab cakes, fish and chips, or a mixed grill of seafood specialties.
4. 1900 Restaurant and Lounge
If you are looking for a romantic evening dinner, the 1900 Restaurant and Lounge is the best place to dine. Traditional favorites like burger sliders, fried calamari, and tuna tartare, as well as more exotic selections like shrimp tempura, stuffed bell pepper, pork belly, and Escargot in mushroom caps, are all on the menu.
Step inside and get swept up a bit by its unique charm that includes a beautiful bar, comfortable dining areas and live music. The decor is a mix of fine furnishings and upscale casual, with a good deal of brick and wood to give this place an urban feel. There are intimate dining areas and plenty of seating at the bar, as well as cozy booths. The staff is attentive, friendly, and pretty adept at mixing up great cocktails. Full menus are available for lunch and dinner, but folks should note that this is not the longest-running restaurant in town if they want breakfast or late-night food (or perhaps just a drink).
5. 22 North Restaurant
A restaurant with a twist is what the locals say. The 22 North Restaurant is one of the popular restaurants in Wrightsville Beach that serves up classic southern fare with a Creole and French flair. What makes this restaurant unique is that the menu changes regularly. They also offer daily specials on their menu that are great for a big meal.
Located on Lumina Avenue, just a block or so away from the Causeway to the beach, this fresh restaurant is one of the region’s favorite destinations for a tempting evening of fine dining cuisine. Tasty entrees can include coastal staples like shrimp and grits, seared tuna, or fresh seafood caught in the day’s catch.
The restaurant also serves creative and tasty appetizer selections and classic entrees. In addition, their weekend brunch buffet is a popular choice for both families and couples looking to enjoy a leisurely Sunday morning meal with friends.
6. 24 South Coffee House
We’re ending this article with a coffee house. Who doesn’t love spending an hour in a cafe with a perfect waterfront view? A small and charming cafe that is located just a short 9.8 miles drive away in Wilmington, travelers and locals alike rave about the ambience and homemade, delicious coffee.
You sure don’t want to miss their famous Espresso Milkshake or Matcha Frappe with sweet green tea, ice, and milk.
Conclusion
There are a lot more restaurants that you can visit in Wrightsville Beach, but these are some of the well-known restaurants in the area. Of course, there is no problem with taking in a little adventure and discovering a place that you’ll enjoy coming back to.
Wrightsville Beach is a great place to unwind, and the delicacies are just some of the things that you’ll miss. In that case, make sure to make the most of them.
Are you planning to stay in Wrightsville Beach to visit all these popular restaurants? Here are some rental properties I recommend:
| Efficiency Apartment | Studio, 1 bathroom |
| Parker #2 | 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom |
| The Sea Hawk | 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms |
| Sunset Marsh | 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms |
| Eight East | 6 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms |