50 Best Bars in Wilmington

“We came with our dog and the staff was so friendly! The outdoor seating was shaded and felt wonderfully cool for a 90 degree day! I had the smash burger. The Black Forest ham set this smash burger off to the next level! So good!“

“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 people and owners! All the best“

“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!“

“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!“

“Great place for live Jazz and good drinks.“

“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“

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

“Good service and food from JD“

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

“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!“

“I just moved here to Wilmington for school and come here most mornings to get my matcha before classes. Reba and all the other baristas are friendly and have good service.
Ibis has become a regular for me and a safe place before mentally preparing for the workload of classes and studying.

One day when I went out for coffee here I saw ibises sitting in a tree on my way there.so I take it as a lucky sign.“

“The art features! Someone is a magician with a vision!! Ai many fun and comfy seating areas! The Rift Pizza is hot out of the oven and great!“

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

“The Satellite Bar is one of the best spots to catch the sunset! Just minutes away, it has a great atmosphere, delicious food (don't skip the spinach artichoke dip!), and fantastic service. Joshua and Breanna were both so welcoming and attentive. We'll definitely be back!“

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

“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!“

“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.“

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

“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.“

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

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

“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“

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

“Stephanie is the bomb!!!!“

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

“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!“

“I had my 50th Birthday party here and it was awesome! Great staff, great location and accommodations. All of my guest were well pleased . It’s made my day soooo very special. Thank you Kimberly and staff!“

“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 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.“

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

“Awesome food and great prices.“

“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.“

“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.“

“Love dancing at Cody’s South on Tuesdays. Tabitha, the bartender, is super-friendly and makes the best margaritas!“

“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.“

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

“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 🙌🏻“