50 Best Bars in Wilmington

“we had the pleasure of eating at Junction 421 this evening for a pre-Valentines dinner date I had the steak with mashed potatoes, asparagus, spears, and crab meat and topped with a delicious Bernese sauce . Michael had shrimp and grits and we had a nice, romantic dinner. Evan was our server and he treated us like we were VIPs. Highly recommend this restaurant is so close to our home.“

“Great place for big and small groups. We had our Christmas party there and it was so fun. Everyone can have their own tab which makes it easy to have a group event. We brought in food from outside. The golf simulators are a lot of fun and there’s also other games on them. There’s also pool and mini golf as well. All of my friends had a blast and the atmosphere is very low-key. The bartenders were amazing and the owner made it really easy to book the party and have some fun“

“Absolutely amazing experience! The atmosphere was great and Ms. Sherry was very welcoming. She was engaging in conversation, very respectful, relatable, and gave great advice. The creative drinks were incredible and tasted amazing. This is such a beautiful place—we enjoyed it so much that we came back again. Definitely coming back!“

“Great people and owners! All the best“

“Stopped in around 2:30. Bartender and GM Lexi very friendly. Dwayne(The Rock)Johnson guarding the front door.“

“Wine Knot Sky Bar & Lounge brought the perfect blend of style and flavor to our community event! From the very beginning, Natalie and her team were a dream to work with—communicative, professional, upbeat, and genuinely fun. They fully embraced our Garden Party theme, even dressing the part to add an extra layer of charm. The bar setup was stunning and thoughtfully curated to match both the aesthetic and flow of our event space. With over 225 guests in attendance, their creative mocktails and cocktails were a crowd favorite—delicious, unique, and served with a smile. Cleanup was just as impressive. The team broke down quickly and left the space spotless. We truly couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Highly recommend Wine Knot Sky Bar & Lounge to anyone looking to elevate their event with standout service and unforgettable drinks! I cannot wait to visit their downtown location!“

“Good service and food from JD“

“Great place for live Jazz and good drinks.“

“Coffee is delish and the staff is always genuinely friendly! ☕️❤️“

“Love this place! Great music and great environment!! Friendly staff always.“

“We had our annual Wandetlust Wilmington 2.0 Super Bowl party at Eagles Dare 2-9-25. Joe Apkarian the owner and his team were beyond superb for us all. We had a catered event there for almost 100 members of the group. The place was ready to rock and roll when we started to arrive. Joe was very accommodating in our set up of the room. The three bartenders Shelby, Gillian, and AJ were spot on with great customer service, attentive, and made wonderful drinks!! (They were so good I gave each one a personal tip and tipped again on my bill) Joe’s selection of the caterer was beyond expectation. Delivery was on time as well as the second refresh. He used Dough House Pizza Company” downtown. All the attendees could not stop praising the food. The place just made 100 new customers. In closing if you have a need for an event Joe and the Eagles Dare team needs to be your first stop. If anyone wants any personal info about the establishment feel free to DM me!!! Thanks again Joe and Team Sam“

“The Rusty Nail is one great spot to be in Wilmington NC. The staff and patrons are the friendliest around and the live music on Tuesday night nights and weekends ranks among the best blues I have ever seen and heard anywhere! In fact my wife and I are on our way there now, on Thanksgiving , for tonight’s Thanksgiving pot luck dinner. It will be a great time for those who don’t have local family, can’t travel or just want to have some holiday fun. No kidding, the Rusty Nail is a definite good time!“

“First time at The Rift last night with friends and family. Really cool place in the Cargo District. Very unique atmosphere that I will surely be visiting again. Great food, drinks and service in a one of a kind space. The refrigerator door entrance was amazing and hinted at what would surely await you inside. Highly recommend and maybe 🤔 I’ll see you there.“

“Awesome atmosphere, food, drinks, and staff! Highly recommend 10/10 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

“Great spot to meet up with friends. Usually have a few good drafts and a ton of cans/bottles to choose from. Cons (in my experience) are that it can take a while to get served at the bar and parking can be tough on the weekend evenings. But, being connected to Block Taco is a major plus. Cool decor and vibe inside, on the front sidewalk area, or in the huge patio area in the back. Live music and movies often here - check their event calendar!“

“Chill atmosphere , great bands , FREE pool. Anybody and everybody that has good vibes and genuinely wants to have a great time this place is for you. Happy vibes only!“

“10/10 what food & service should be, excellent!!!!!!!!“

“The Cryptid Den, 225 S. Water St. is located in Chandler's Wharf in downtown Wilmington. Nice atmosphere, attentive staff and live music on the weekends. Last night music was by John Hussmann. You can order food from the Rooster & Crow, and it will be served to you in the lounge.“

“My bf and I were in town for his bday and decided to bar hop for the day. We stopped at the Barbary Coast and ended up staying most of the day because our bartender John was so amazing. We usually just have one and hop to the next bar but we stayed because our service here far surpassed the other bars. Definitely recommend if you like a good hole in the wall bar!!“

“Brian has created a unique and FUN place!! Beer selection second to none. Ambiance is open and cool. His people Avery, Jack & Ana made certain we lacked for nothing. The individual taps made for a fun comparative experience. Great tastes!!!

We had an extremely large group of 60 + people and it handled us easily. Go and enjoy!!!“

“Felt like a kid all over again. Great drinks and great vibes! Will definitely be back.“

“Coffee shop in the morning, bar at night. This place is on another level. Quiet, chill, moody. Great morning coffee menu. Staff was friendly and facility was clean. Lots of different seating, couches, bar, tables. Indoor and outdoor seating available on the patio Lots of parking. Can’t say I would bring kids here even in the morning. Looking forward to bringing my husband here and experiencing it as a cocktail bar at night sometime soon!“

“Never know what you'll see. Amazing is frequently on the list.“

“One of our very 1st customers! Just an awesome vibe, and killer hot sauce collection. Great craft draft selection!“

“Love it !! And a plus they are child friendly!!!“

“The best neighborhood hood bar feeling that’s dog friendly! Great drink specials and prices with the friendliest staff and patrons in town.“

“Great music and awesome stout“

“First time in Wilmington and was looking for a place with a smart, friendly, diverse crowd among whom to have a drink. Tried several places, but this one is it, hands down. Great jukebox and great people there to make those selections. Even the drink prices are right. If you're in my shoes sometime, save yourself some walking and head straight here.“

“The BEST staff and Gluten free menu. Staff very knowledgeable and as a celiac disease person I left feeling totally safe . This is my 3 rd time there . Will be a weekly trip at least. Owner was super nice and helpful. My new Favorite place to eat!!!“

“This place was so much fun. The whole family had a blast.“

“Great bar nestled right in the midtown community. We live in the Forrest hills area and it's right down the street. They have a great wine selection and the ladies room is beautiful! Never seen a bar restroom as nice! Tons of televisions and has pool tables. Staff was very attentive and sweet. recommend“

“Best family pub by also late night without the kids spot. Great conversation“

“My first nighr there was interesting...loved the vibe.“

“Absolutely love this place ! Great people !“

“The staff the night I was there was so amazing. They took absolutely care of me. I went during their Tequila and Tobacco takeover, it was an absolute vibe. From the DJ, to the atmosphere, and all to the outdoor area. I will go back again and recommend others to visit.“

“Five stars until I was informed about the woman hating bartender who will hopefully be be behind bars soon for beating and choking a female“

“Best music venue in town, hands down!“

“Love Freya’s and everything they have to offer! We’ve used her venue quite a few times for our birthdays and baby showers! Best place in town!!“

“Small little dive bar that you would never find if you were actually trying to look for it. My GPS randomly took me there but I almost left the parking lot when I pulled up front until I realized it was on the other side of the building not facing the road. Was only a couple people in there and I didn't stay too long because I was tired but the bartender was really cool and it was a nice little place that I would visit often if I live in the area. If you want something with a couple pool tables and a few dart boards with no frills and a true dive this would be the place!“

“Great bartenders, great crowd. Fun place to go for a drink. Good sound system and playlist“

“Visited 8/16/25, Greenville, NC. The food was excellent.. hot, fresh, and flavorful. Our waitress, Ramsie K, was excellent. Speed of service was excellent. We will definitely visit again.“

“Awesome food and great prices.“

“Amanda was excellent to start! The Little Gem salad was amazing! The Beef Tartar wonderful! A staple is the Chicken and Dumplings. Every variation of the cheesecake is amazing. Paired perfectly with a Tequila Rep Espresso Martini. We already look forward to coming back. Thank you for the great meal and hospitality.“

“Great place to grab a drink. Very welcoming and comfortable. Extremely clean. Has a neighborhood pub vibe mixed with sports bar. Becky is a super friendly and attentive bartender. And you can order food from Boardwalk Pizza next door (another awesome place) and they'll bring it over to you.“

“Awesome staff clean establishment and much fun :-)“

“I was here for a Neebs Gaming event in the middle of January. The bar is fantastic with reasonably priced drinks and a great bartender. Nothing beats the view as you have an open rooftop view of both the river and the Battleship North Carolina. The theater is small compared to the Palace, but it is far larger than I was expecting to see in a bar scene. The sound quality was amazing and there was absolutely no stuffiness that you sometimes get in small theaters. I'm not sure I'd enjoy the open-aired bar as much in the humid summer months, but I can say the dead of winter was spectacular.Also note: the elevator works, it is slow and just takes a while. I didn't know until I walked all the flights of stairs and got to the top just as I heard the doors ding open.“

“i cant wait until I go here. sounds so good!“

“Great spot for a big group. The staff rocks and they take great care of their customers. Go there if you like to dance 🙌🏻“

“Great bar food & atmosphere!“

“What an amazing first experience we had tonight! My wife and I live in Myrtle Beach, but our child lives here. We are staying at their place watching their pets while they are away. This place has been on our to try list for a while now and we finally had the opportunity. What an incredible experience! The food was outstanding! The flavor was on point and the servings were huge! My wife and I each had an amazing pasta dish and split the largest piece of coconut cake we have ever seen. Now, you would think after all that I just wrote that would be the best part of our experience, but it wasn’t! The absolute best part was one of the kindest people we have ever met, Bella! Let me tell you the meaning of her name fits in so many ways! She was absolutely incredible! So kind! So caring! I honestly could go on and on! She made my mine and my wife’s evening such a memorable night.“