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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 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.
Panamanian-inspired food is the focus of this lively chef-owned rum bar and restaurant just across the bridge from the beach. The ceviches—traditional Panamanian corvina, lobster, and tuna "cooked" in lime juice—are all wonderful, but ropa vieja (flank steak served over coconut rice) and blackened tuna are tasty, too. Outdoor seating includes a pleasant interior atrium, and tables on the patio by the road.
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.
A combination of fresh seafood, racks of ribs, local beers, and live music make this a Front Street staple, especially for lunch. Housed in a 1900s grocery building with lots of exposed brick framing wooden booths, Clawson's is stuffed with memorabilia dedicated to preserving the history and heritage of Beaufort.
The more casual sister restaurant to Cypress Hall, this laid-back but elegant tapas-oriented space keeps everything under $20, from an indulgent bucatini carbonara to smoked oysters served with hot sauces and lemon. Cozy up in the intimate dining room with dark gray walls and tile floors accented by leather and brass, and order liberally—including from the excellent cocktail menu. Stick around for live music most nights.
Craft beer rules at this wind turbine–powered brewery and British Isles–style pub. Opt for seared local tuna atop a garden salad or noodle bowl, or go for a bratwurst sausage plate. Copper accents, lots of wood, and fun, retro touches (a Superman doll denotes the men's room; Wonder Woman, the ladies' room) characterize this huge white building, modeled after a turn-of-the-19th-century lifesaving station. Regularly scheduled live music adds to the festive atmosphere.
Named after two fishermen, father and son, this no-nonsense shack opened in 1937 and is one of the Outer Banks' oldest restaurants. Fishing photos hang between mounted catches on the walls, and classic country music twangs in the background. Locals flock here, especially for breakfast or a lunch of Hatteras-style clear clam chowder and fried seafood.
