43 Best Coffee Shops in Wilmington

“What an awesome little dinosaur themed coffee shop. It was great for everyone and the coffee was amazing!“

“Best Java Chip Frappe I have ever had! We will absolutely be back to this coffee shop!“

“This is our second visit to Maroon Monkey Coffee and it has become my new favorite local coffee shop. Coffee is delicious, coffee cake & muffins are fantastic, and Emily is so friendly and helpful!! Definitely recommend stopping by here while downtown.“

“Awesome coffee and great knowledge of their products! We have been going there regularly for a little over a year and have never been disappointed!“

“dog friendly, great service, amazing drinks, what more could you ask for?“

“Folks Cafe is the best! The owners are so sweet and we had the best breakfast. Truly a highlight of our trip to Wilmington“

“The benchmark for any coffee shop for me is a dirty chai latte as you need both good coffee and a good chai tea mix. One of the better ones I’ve had in recent memory and many of the other drinks have been delightful. So far I have been here each morning of my vacation for a great start to the day.“

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

“I really enjoy the people and the overall atmosphere here. Came to Grinders quite often when I first moved back to Wilmington. However, Grinders has always been on the high end for prices. Just got my first Dirty Chai over 8 dollars in Wilmington! I didn’t mind that it was made iced instead of hot as I requested but the prices are pretty ridiculous for the area. Go to Bespoke or Casablanca, get the same ambience and mucchhh more affordable coffee in my opinion!“

“My partner & I are checking out as many local coffee shops as possible this year. We found yours on vacation. (We are from OH) Your shop had immaculate vibes and the coffee was amazing. Reminded me of my childhood mixed with inclusivity that the 90s lacked. Awesome.“

“Great coffee and atmosphere. Staff was friendly and even gave my doggie a pup cup! 💕“

“We loved that this place is so dog friendly! We struggle to find cute places that allow pups inside. It was a great experience. The bagels and coffee were great too!“

“I had the Bombshell and it was AMAZING! 10/10 HIGHLY RECOMMEND 💯“

“I usually go to the Bean for coffee but just tried a smoothie yesterday. It was literally the best smoothie I have ever had. The lady at the window was super patient with my questions!!! I got the mango/strawberry. It was ridiculous!!!! Will definitely get that again.“

“The coffee is great, the service is always quick, and the owner and employees are always happy to see you! It's Coffee Time is the only place in Wilmington I will go to get coffee. If not for the coffee, for the owner and the employees!“

“They had me at the first sip. The service was already exceptional from the moment we walked in and the coffee definitely matched that. Talk about smooth, balanced, and the perfect level of foam and flavor. They also make their own flavor syrups in-house! That’s huge. I got a 12oz hot, decaf Sunshine latte with whole milk and almost cried because it’s the best coffee I’ve found in Wilmington since leaving ATL. Tastes like home. THIS is what coffee should taste like. So grateful I found this place! I will for sure be a regular. Also, the inside and outside seating is so cute and cozy.“

“This is the best place to have coffee, work and just take a minute to relax…“

“While there are many coffee shops in the area, Zola is truly cute and cozy. The service is outstanding – they even brought our coffee to us while we were browsing the lovely selection of books! I highly recommend trying their turmeric cinnamon latte with oat milk (made perfectly without syrup). And what was actually impressive- they make fresh turmeric shots from the root! Looks like it’s a wonderful place to hang out!“

“This is near my home and is always packed no matter the time of day. My wife and I decided to stop and check it out. The pastries were very good but limited. The cappuccino and green tea was good but the restaurant was loud due to all the hard surfaces. The outside garden was nice but not outstanding. So we left just as confused as when we arrived. We would go back one day and give it another try.“

“My wife and I stumbled into Drift for the first time last Sunday while spending the weekend in Wilmington for a comedy show I did. Absolute great coffee and a fantastic brunch. Bought a bag of beans for home, and the coffee I’ve had the last two days is out of this world. The coffee is rich and flavorful. I can’t wait to get back to Wilmington so I can go to Drift. Java Junkie approved! Thanks, Beau Johnson Java Junkie Comedy @bjohnsoncomedy“

“Oh my goodness where to start?! First, the beignets are the best ever, filled with cinnamon cream cheese and fresh whipped cream with strawberries and jam... superb. Then the plate with the over easy eggs on top of the best fried chicken breast and drizzled with ranch & hot honey...wow, amazing! The biscuits are so delicious, can't say anything but gotta go back alot! Five ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐“

“THEY HAVE THE BEST GLAZED CROISSANTS I'VE EVER TASTED, ESPECIALLY THE BLUEBERRY AND KEY LIME FILLED CROISSANTS.“

“Kylee Matzke isn’t just a Playa Bowls employee—she’s a smoothie-slinging, açaí-stacking legend. Her customer service? Absolutely out of this world. NASA called—they want to study it. Kylee’s the type of person who can turn your “meh” day into a magical fruit-filled adventure, all with a smile that could outshine the blender lights. Whether she’s recommending the perfect topping combo or just making you laugh while you wait, she brings a vibe so good it should be bottled and sold (with extra granola). Simply put, Kylee doesn’t just make bowls—she makes people’s days. Playa Bowls hit the jackpot with her!“

“We stopped here twice in one day because it was that good. The banana ball was so good and my daughter LOVED their beignets. Their frappe was the best she has ever had. The dirty hippie was my favorite drink. We had to grab one of their donuts as literally just staring at them is mouth watering. The staff is so friendly and welcoming we love the vibe of the entire place. This place is a must if you are in Wilmington and it's vegan friendly. Hands down best customer service and coffee“

“I am going back tomorrow because the adult grilled cheese was just fabulous and I want to try everything. Vegan, vegetarian and gluten free options. Such a fabulous business with a fantastic staff.“

“SO dank! The food is so clean!“

“Love coffee, so Blue Cup Roastery is my place to go when I visit Wilmington. I highly recommend it.“

“This is the best place to have coffee, work and just take a minute to relax…“

“I was visiting from Boston and was met wit impeccable service from the two barista’s!
I don’t leave a tunnel reviews, but felt compelled after my experience at this in particular Starbucks!
It would be nice if some of the Starbucks up north would take these lovely ladies energy!“

“I usually never write a review for Starbucks mainly because I almost always grab my coffee from here and it's a go-to place for me. This one was special. I visited this Starbucks recently and i wanted to write their lavender flavored drinks on the menu. I had ordered the iced lavender oat milk Latte for the first time and to my surprise I didn't enjoy the drink. While I usually love trying new drinks at Starbucks, I have never been in a situation to return a drink because it didn't meet my expectations. I went ahead and did it for the first time, I wasn't sure about the response. I requested a replacement for the drink I had ordered and to my surprise they offered to replace my drink for free. I really moved by their service and I believe that deserves a mention. Thank you!“

“Was there on Saturday afternoon and was a great place to hang out. Preston the bartender was the best! Will be going back for sure!!“

“Really love the aesthetic design and the drinks were phenomenal. The bartender was so knowledgeable and really took time to educate us and steer us in the direction. We went on a Friday night after dinner around 7:30. They were setting up for a house music DJ which we couldn't stay for. The music while we were there was a little too sleepy and there were only 2 other patrons, which was surprising considering how great the place and drinks were. Not a high energy place, next time we'll bring a chill group of friends with us and come a little later. Maybe we just hit it up at the wrong time.“

“The crew here is amazing. Best Dunkin' Donuts experience I've ever had. Carlos, you are the best!“

“This is the best coffee in Wilmington, coming from an avid coffee drinker.. They use Counter Culture coffee beans and always make it strong! Friendly, quick service and they offer a drive-thru. I have already tried almost every coffee shop in town and this one is still my favorite.“

“Shout out to Veronica for saving the day! Drinks for pickup were missing and the other employees were so busy they couldn’t stop to help. Veronica saw us standing there for a while and made time to come over and figure out what was going on. We had our drinks made in seconds!“

“I accidentally left this review on a different Starbies - whoops! THIS is my favorite Starbucks location. I go there quite frequently on my commute to work each morning - I typically do a mobile order & do drive through pick-up. Besides my coffee always being reliably tasty, (my drinks always slay), all the baristas in the morning have been so friendly & lovely - and that’s tough first thing in the AM! They remember who I am, my name, and one in particular always remembers the small details (thanks girl!) - makes me look forward to going. And truly starts my day off on the right foot. 🫶🏼“

“I had been a customer of Starbucks for decades and I was absolutely thrilled when they decided to start having stores down here in North Carolina! Where else can you go and have great coffee and great WiFi while talking to super nice people that you just meant . I have never been to a bad one ever! I highly recommend this place to all!!“

“The coffee is delicious. The service is amazing. It’s owned by women. 💕👌🏽“

“Starbucks is finally staying open until 10:00! Great service, atmosphere; and......of course, great coffee!“

“We LOVE our walks to Drift for lemon loaf and lattes. The staff is so kind to my preschooler. It’s his favorite thing to do on a fall morning :)“