Favorite Cocktails on the Cape Fear Coast – Wilmington

If you’ve never been… Wilmington, North Carolina is a historic riverfront town on the southern coast of North Carolina with lots of history and character. We have spent a good bit of time there in the last two decades. It has its share of dive bars like any good river town – the city is on the banks of the Cape Fear River. But there are also lots of great places for great cocktails!

We’ll start with some of the “must do” spots that have been around long enough to be worth it. Hell’s Kitchen and Copper Penny are two classic places for food and drinks. Hell’s Kitchen actually opened just after the TV show Dawson’s Creek ended – it was used as a set for the final season.

There are lots of breweries now near downtown Wilmington. But Front Street Brewery was doing it right before it became a thing. As we mentioned, there are some fantastic dive bars: Blue Post, Lula’s (it’s in a basement tunnel), Barbary Coast. And for fancy drinks - Circa 1922 has been serving amazing food, wine and cocktails for more than two decades. Definitely a #tipsypick for date night.

Now, for the newest tipsy picks in the Port City!

Life’s too short… start with dessert! That’s what we did when our evening started out with not one, but a flight of espresso martinis at Concorde Espresso Bar! At its roots, this is a historic hotel bar but with some great spaces, both indoor and outdoor. Along with the espresso martinis, they also serve kits to make s’mores, both inside and outside, making it a great date night stop! 

Sometimes the best spots are the ones you wander into. That’s the case with the Fortunate Glass. This wine bar has been on the main street (Front Street) for about 15 years, but we somehow missed it. Boy, are we glad we saw it this time! The wine selection is extensive in an intimate atmosphere. The food was spot on as well. Another great date night spot full of locals.

 Speaking of date night, how about an underground cocktail bar? The Underfront Company is just that, complete with mood lighting and comfy spaces to enjoy the vibe… and great cocktails! The Smoked Benton’s Old Fashioned is a highlight. We’re not sure the bar staff knows it – but this space used to be much different as Firebelly Lounge, a well-known beer and burrito spot. It became infamous as the place where actor Vince Vaughn got arrested. Look it up!

Before we get too much further, here’s our favorite discovery of the bunch – Banter. This eclectic little cocktail bar is a perfect respite from the crowds on the main street. Each room is cozy and makes you feel like relaxing for a drink (or three). The cocktail selection is creative and tasty! It’s #offthetipsypath and our #tipsypick for sure!

Blind Elephant is the closest thing to a speakeasy in the Port City. Located down a dimly lit alley, it’s a great place for an elevated cocktail experience. It was one of the first true “craft cocktail” bars in town, before that was really a thing. They have jazz fairly often, and classics like the Manhattan are excellent. 

As for alley spots, this next one caught us by surprise. On their website, Ivey in the Alley appears to be an intimate cocktail bar. The space is located down an alley and until recently was just storage space for decades. In reality, it was the liveliest spot we visited! They had a DJ playing house music and it was packed! Fortunately, we arrived early enough to have a table in the alley to enjoy our drinks. It’s worth checking out! 

Taking a little detour just outside downtown... Wilmington is home to the State Port of North Carolina. That means lots of shipping containers. But Wilmington has found a way to put some of them to good use instead of scrap metal. It’s called the Cargo District – a growing neighborhood of bars, restaurants, apartments and shops all made from or surrounded by shipping containers!

After a stroll around the neighborhood, we stopped In for refreshments at a delightful little wine and whiskey bar called The Starling. They have a small indoor space and large patio area. Their extensive bourbon selection was on display. We understand they even do bourbon flights, which could be dangerous on a summer evening. On our stop, we had the Pandan Express – a wonderful summer take on a Manhattan. 

We also love to see buildings repurposed for nightlife (or day drinking)! Fermental serves beer and wine in an old garage service station in the Cargo District. The outdoor space is like your patio upgraded! They have an excellent selection on draft, in bottles and cans and to go.

On that note… you should go to Wilmington! Let us know if you do!

Up next – we’ll slide down the coast from Wilmington to one of our favorite beach destinations – Carolina Beach!