Get FREE email communications from Fodor's Travel, covering must-see travel destinations, expert trip planning advice, and travel inspiration to fuel your passion.
We've compiled the best of the best in The North Carolina Coast - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
This classic seafood house directly on the water (there's an osprey nest mere feet from the dining-room window) feels old-school thanks to nautical decor and the laid-back atmosphere. North Carolina produce and seafood star here, including OBX-style clear clam chowder and whole fried flounder—or bring your own fresh catch and they'll prepare it however you like for $20, with two sides. Soft-shell crabs come from an on-site shedding facility, and an extensive herb garden provides fresh seasoning.
The drinks extend beyond coffee at this attractive, airy spot for a pick-me-up, from turmeric to matcha lattes, where the sign on the wall reads "Death Before Decaf." There's a small selection of scones and muffins and plenty of room to kick back and work for a while.
This casual lunch spot, tucked away in a strip center, has been going strong for 25 years, specializing in fish and shrimp tacos, wraps, burgers, salads, and sandwiches. There's nothing fancy here, but prices are reasonable, and there may be a line at peak times.
The seafood doesn't get fresher than the fried bounty you'll find at this celebrated food truck. Expect a half-pound of shrimp on your shrimp burger, or opt for seasonal specials like a softshell crab or crab cake sandwich.
In the former drugstore of the pharmacist who invented Pepsi-Cola, this tile-floored, light-filled corner café is a magnet for visitors and local businesspeople wanting a quick sandwich or large salad for lunch. In the evening the Chelsea is more upscale, with entrées in the upstairs dining rooms (there's an elevator) including shrimp and grits and a candied-bacon rib eye. The bar is well stocked, as are the Pepsi products, the nonalcoholic drinks of choice in New Bern.
In the morning, pick up a bagel, a breakfast burrito, and a latte at this downtown hub that's half coffee shop and half wine bar. Grab a sandwich or wrap to go for lunch, and come back in the evening for ice cream or to enjoy one of the Crystal Coast's best wine selections by the glass or the bottle.
There's a lot to love at this gorgeous three-story destination restaurant, from the blackened grouper that emerges from the open kitchen's wood-fired grill, to the sunset views, enjoyed with a signature mai tai on the appropriately named Sky Deck. The spiced pompano fish sandwich is a winner for lunch. Order liberally from the small plates—amidst all the seafood of coastal North Carolina, this is the spot for next-level crab dip and calamari.
New Bern's only waterfront restaurant doesn't rely on geography to impress—the craft cocktails, seared scallops, and entrées like salmon and local littleneck clams over angel-hair pasta simply taste even better when you're seated directly over the water.
The breakfast burrito—paired with a cup of joe from their adjacent Deja Brew coffee stand—at this waterfront counter-serve can feel life-changing after a night out on Ocracoke. During summer, they also serve a lunch menu of fish tacos and curry bowls.
