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Visitor Guide
Real places. Real people. Real Carolina Beach.
Hot glazed donuts made fresh and open right in front of you on the boardwalk every summer night. Lines wrap the corner. If you do one thing on the boardwalk, it's this. Since 1939 and nothing has changed — that's the whole point.
Owned by a retired professional skateboarder, Nollie's brings So-Cal taco culture to CB. Menu items named after skate tricks, tortillas gently grilled, ingredients prepped fresh daily. The pulled pork nachos and mahi tacos are legendary. Outdoor patio, relaxed vibe, 98% approval rating.
Bold Carolina BBQ right on the boardwalk with rooftop ocean views. Slow-smoked brisket, pulled pork, smoked wings, sidewinder fries, and six house sauces. The second-floor deck is one of the best spots on the island to eat with a view. Opened in 2024 and already a local staple.
Built from scratch in 2008 by Carolina Beach residents, The Dive is a CB original. Voted best wings in Eastern NC — just $1 on Saturdays and Sundays. Great burgers, fish tacos, Greek pitas, and a kitchen open late every night. Music bingo, trivia, karaoke, and DJ on weekends.
A retro Carolina Beach boardwalk institution carrying on the legacy of the original Buzz's Roost. Pub food and low country favorites in a cozy bar setting with sidewalk patio seating. Famous crab balls, blue crab cakes, steaks and sandwiches. Frozen rum punch in a souvenir glass in the summer.
A Carolina Beach landmark since 1995. A 175-seat restaurant and tiki bar built around lush palm trees, steps from the boardwalk. Family-friendly by day, CB's most popular nightlife venue by night. The steam pot — crab clusters, oysters, shrimp, potatoes and corn — is not to be missed.
The only restaurant on the island where you can arrive by boat and dock out back. Surf and turf, pasta, fresh seafood, and a menu built for everyone. Weekend brunch, live music, and a free golf cart pickup for guests. Waterside views and one of CB's most complete dining experiences.
Yes, it's in a gas station. No, that doesn't matter at all. Island Burgers & Bites is one of the most talked-about spots in Carolina Beach — consistently great burgers, friendly service, and the kind of place that surprises everyone who walks in. One of CB's best-kept open secrets.
Genuine NYC-style pizza ranked #3 NY Pizzeria in all of NC by the Washington Post. Slices, pies, stromboli, calzones — the works. Owned by Pleasure Island residents who dreamed of this for years. Dine in, take out, or delivery. The kind of pizza place every beach town needs.
Southeastern NC's most famous ice cream parlor, open since 1994 in a historic pink and white building. The signature Squigley — real vanilla ice cream with your choice of mix-ins — comes in over 4,050 combinations. Cash only. Worth the line. You'll leave with a sticker that says "you've been Squiggled."
A genuine neighborhood Irish pub serving excellent food at great prices. Bangers and mash, Reuben egg rolls, shepherd's pie, fish and chips, and the best onion rings around. Daily drink and food specials, music bingo on Wednesdays, and a newly renovated game room. No tourist trappings — just great food and real value.
Named one of "America's Best Beach Bars" by Thrillist. Perched directly on the oceanfront with a tiki bar standing on the remnants of the historic Center Pier. Panoramic views of the NC shoreline upstairs, breezy patio dining downstairs. Tiki shows from local and regional bands all summer long.
A food-driven bar where friends meet and make friends. Fresh scratch-made dishes — traditional American fare plus creative daily specials. The black & red wings are legendary, the Hatteras clam chowder is the real deal. Dog-friendly covered patio, trivia nights, and a staff that makes you feel like a regular from the first visit.
A Carolina Beach Boardwalk staple since 1994. Calabash-style seafood, pork chops, and the famous Salty's Smash Burger served with Southern sides. Laid-back beachy atmosphere, live music, creative cocktails, and oceanfront views that never get old.
Right off the boardwalk and built for the whole family. Fresh seafood, cold cocktails and beers, indoor and outdoor seating, and live music. The kind of place you end up staying longer than you planned, which is exactly the point.
Home of the brilliantly red Bright Leaf Hot Dog — the original NC Southern tradition since 1941. A walkup window on the boardwalk serving expertly seasoned dogs with creative toppings. Family-owned, locally beloved, and open until 2am on Friday and Saturday nights. You don't come to CB without stopping here.
A CB classic a short walk from the boardwalk. Dine inside or grab a table under the umbrellas on their covered front porch. Fresh dough made every morning, house-grated cheese, scratch sauce. The Godfather-sized pizza is a group meal in itself. Pasta, subs, and stromboli round out a solid Italian menu.
Massive 28-inch pies and jumbo by-the-slice on the Carolina Beach Boardwalk. The legendary Virginia-born pizza brand brought their giant slices and late-night energy straight to the beach. No shoes necessary. The kind of pizza that hits different after a long day in the sun.
Stunning oceanfront views, cold drinks, and a staff that genuinely cares about their customers. The Jamaican-style tacos are a standout. Live music every weekend on the rooftop deck. One of the best spots on the island to sit with a drink and watch the ocean.
Known as "The PIT," Pleasure Island Tavern opened on 4th of July weekend 2016 and has been a boardwalk fixture ever since. A local pub with live music, great food, and the kind of laid-back energy that makes CB feel like CB. Steps from the ocean, regulars who feel like family.
Voted #1 dive bar in North Carolina and top 25 in the nation. Walk into a giant cooler and pick your own beer from over 400 options. Dirt floor outdoor space, eclectic salvaged decor, old school arcade games, and a vibe that simply cannot be manufactured.
A Carolina Beach boardwalk institution since 1957. A two-level locally owned bar and eatery serving crispy pub fare and seafood favorites steps from the beach. Known for karaoke nights and keeping the after-hours boardwalk crowd going. One of the longest-running spots on the island.
Three stories of pure boardwalk fun right in the heart of CB. The rooftop tiki bar delivers full ocean and boardwalk views alongside frozen daiquiris, piña coladas, margaritas, and hurricanes. First-floor roll-up window for grab-and-go beach drinks. Made for the island.
One of CB's newest boardwalk favorites, right next door to the Silver Dollar. Full ABC permits, great bar atmosphere, and — bonus — they serve Nollie's Taco Joint Express inside. Smashed burgers, mahi tacos, burritos, and nachos alongside your cold drinks.
A boardwalk arcade the way boardwalk arcades are supposed to be. Classic games, prize redemption, and the kind of place that pulls kids of all ages off the beach and into a dimension of pure summer fun. An essential stop on any CB boardwalk walk.
Carolina Beach's first outdoor mini golf course with a full bar — 18 challenging holes featuring donuts, stumps, logs, and a giant gorilla. Each hole is sponsored by a local CB business, some with discount codes. Created by the owners of The Dive Food & Spirits. Drinks, dogs, and putts — the perfect CB evening.
Fresh, funky, comfortable women's clothing sourced from the fashion marts in New York, Atlanta, Dallas, and Los Angeles — at wholesale prices and below. One-of-a-kind pieces, statement jewelry, purses, shoes, and accessories. Owner Susan is legendary among regulars who've been coming back every summer for years. You won't leave empty-handed.
A classic Carolina Beach motel right in the heart of the island. Rooms, efficiencies, and cottages available — the kind of unpretentious, comfortable place that fits the CB spirit perfectly. Everything you need for a great beach trip without the resort price tag.
Drive your 4WD vehicle right onto the beach at the northern end of the island. Fire pits at night, pelicans by day. Let tires down to ~20 PSI before hitting sand. Bring a pump to reinflate before leaving.
One of the only places on Earth to see wild Venus flytraps. Miles of trails, a marina, and some of the most beautiful natural scenery on the whole Cape Fear coast.
One of NC's best aquariums. Sharks, loggerhead sea turtles, native fish. A half-day easily disappears here, especially with kids who have any curiosity at all.
Head to the ICW at dawn or dusk. Bottlenose dolphins feed in the channel daily. The bridge toward Wilmington is a great free viewing spot most people miss.
AWD won't cut it — you need actual 4WD. Let tires down to ~20 PSI before hitting sand. Drive at low tide. Always bring a pump to reinflate before leaving.
Walk or drive to the far north end near Freeman Park before 6am. Wide open sand, not a soul around, and a Carolina sunrise that makes you understand why people never leave.
Late May and early September: warm water, fewer people, lower prices. The shoulder season here is genuinely special — the town feels like it belongs to whoever shows up.
After dark, grab a flashlight and head to the waterline. Ghost crabs scatter when you hit them with light. Fast, translucent, wild. A CB night tradition for every family.
Live Music & Events
Real confirmed events only. Submit your event using the contact form below and we'll add it.
For Locals & Regulars
This isn't just a vacation spot. It's a town with a pulse, a culture, and people who keep its soul alive year after year.
CB has a real live music culture — beach music, shag dancing, local bands on weeknights. The SeaWitch, Hurricane Alley, and boardwalk bars keep it alive all summer long.
Surf fishermen, offshore captains, and pier regulars who carry irreplaceable knowledge of these waters. One of the most tight-knit communities on the coast.
Local volunteers monitor nesting sea turtles on CB beaches every summer. One of the most beautiful quiet acts of community stewardship on the whole island.
A real surf community built over generations. Dawn patrol sessions, ICW paddleboard races, and a deep connection to the water that shapes everyone who lives here.
Painters, photographers, and craftspeople who draw constant inspiration from the light and landscape here. The boardwalk and local shops are full of their work.
The restaurant and bar owners here know and support each other. That cooperative spirit makes this a place where small independent businesses genuinely thrive.
Carolina Beach Only
Community stories and local business news. No politicians. No city hall spin. No Wilmington.
Why This Site Exists
Carolina Beach isn't just a place on a map. It's the smell of sunscreen and salt air in the morning. It's Britt's donuts every single day for breakfast. It's dolphins surfacing in the ICW at sunrise and live music floating off the boardwalk long after dark.
This site was built out of pure love for this town — its people, its businesses, its boardwalk culture, and the fiercely loyal community that keeps its soul alive year after year.
Whether you're a first-timer or a decades-long regular: you belong here.
Get Involved
Got a local business to feature? An event to add to the calendar? A story that captures the spirit of CB? This site belongs to the community.