Cape Fear Cocktails Part 2 – Favorites on Carolina Beach

Carolina Beach is just down the Cape Fear coast from the Port City of Wilmington, North Carolina and has seen its popularity boom in recent years. It’s called “Pleasure Island” for a reason (or maybe many reasons)! Thankfully, the growth comes with some new places for great cocktails! 

Like Wilmington, don’t miss the classic bars along the Boardwalk. Most of them stay open late and offer cheap food and drink options, as well as live music, karaoke, and other entertainment. Ocean Grill and Sea Witch are local favorites… but those aren’t exactly #offthetipsypath.

One boardwalk location literally rises above the rest. The Tropical is a three-story restaurant and bar facing the midway and offering some of the best views on the boardwalk from its rooftop bar. The drink menu includes a variety of frozen cocktails that are refreshing and potent! They also have a nice selection of beer on tap, wine, and liquor. Definitely worth a walk up the stairs!

The beach might not make you think “wine bar…” but you should keep an open mind when it comes to The Vault! Like the name implies, it’s a wine bar in the heart of Carolina Beach that used to be a bank. The vault is intact and serves as a bottle room. It’s just as much a locals’ hangout as tourists, so you know we liked it! They even make a good margarita with wine! And by the way, they are also a coffee shop complete with a drive thru. Hard to go wrong here!

Next door, you’ll find an excellent place for cocktails and food at Seaworthy Kitchen & Bar. We found a very tasty Manhattan and Old Fashioned as well as a nice wine list and a seafood charcuterie board! It’s a great date night spot that almost makes up for the loss of the Deck House.

Now, you can get a cold beer in Carolina Beach just about anywhere… it’s the beach! But here are a couple spots that are #tipsypicks for us…

Good Hops Brewing is the only brewery on the island but they do a fantastic job with a variety of styles and a welcoming space, indoor and out! They even have a disc golf course behind the patio that’s very popular. If you can’t decide on a beer, get a flight… or a seltzer if you prefer. They are also proudly women-owned and brewed!

And last but certainly not least, the place that has to be seen to be believed… voted best dive bar in North Carolina… the Fat Pelican. This is one place we visit on every trip to Carolina Beach. The entire place is eye candy – old signs, mismatched furniture, even an old boat in the outdoor space! Drinks are simple – visit the walk-in cooler and pick your favorites or order wine at the bar. This is our #tipsypick for any trip to Carolina Beach!

One side note, we’ve heard good things about Brunches as far as food and cocktails go, so we’ll have to check them out next time!  They opened after our latest visit. 

We hope you find your happy place and if you do, let us know where we should go next!

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!

🍷 Cocktail Happiness – North Central and Happy Holler 🍷

This edition of Tipsy Path hits close to home, literally. In June 2023 we chose to move to a neighborhood that puts us walking distance from a number of fabulous bars, restaurants, and breweries in north Knoxville and Happy Holler, not to mention downtown. And we’ve loved every minute of it!

For this adventure, we’ll focus on the North Central Street corridor from the intersection with Broadway up through Happy Holler. Why do they call it that? Local historians point out that this was indeed one of Knoxville’s original “entertainment” districts, along with the Old City. It supposedly began before the turn of the 20th century because wagons kept getting stuck in the dip between the two ridges around Central Street and Anderson Avenue. A smart businessman decided to open a saloon for people to enjoy their visits while they were stuck. And “Happy Holler” was born. At one time there were saloons, restaurants, a movie theater – much like today.

But we bet there’s one thing we have now in the Holler that they didn’t have back in the day – a pirate bar! Better yet, the Pirate Tavern! That’s the semi-official name for what’s also listed as the eVape Tavern. But either way, it’s definitely a pirate-themed bar with one of the best rum selections in town (try a “voyage” aka Rum Flight) and arguably the largest cooler of local canned beer selections in Knoxville. The cocktails are super creative too! If you don’t vape, don’t worry. We don’t either and we’ve never worried about it. And a #tipsytip for you – be sure to check out the restrooms! The themes in each are hand-painted by co-owner Jennifer Murphy. 

Next door is one of our favorite wine bars in Knoxville - Zero/Zero. The name stands for the fact that they specialize in natural wines from around the world – “natural” meaning ideally no preservatives or additives. They have a very welcoming space with great selection by the bottle or glass. Did we mention they have vermouth by the glass? They’re also doing more flight tastings and teaming with local restaurants for special dinners, so stay tuned!

It’s also likely that the neighborhood didn’t have a “gay” club back in the day, at least not what it means now. But in the Holler, we have Club XYZ! And if you haven’t been to one of their drag shows, you’re missing out! It’s a great way to spend a late night for not a lot of money. The performers are fun, drinks are cheap and strong, and there’s a patio. What more do you need? 

We almost hesitate to share this next spot because it’s home to one of the best all-around bourbon selections in town (and at some of the best prices). The Oak Room is home to the barrel-aging program for Abridged Beer in Bearden. Along with some tasty sours and unique aged beers, they have wonderful food… AND the bourbon mentioned above. You can even create your own Old Fashioned, which we have done many times. They don’t gouge you on the allocated bourbon, so this is a #tipsypick for sure!

Did we mention bourbon?  One of the best takes on a classic Manhattan can be found at Bistro by the Tracks. Don’t be confused – there are two locations, but this one may be closer to actual railroad tracks. The drink is called the Whiskey Business and it’s not to be missed, even if you just sit at the bar. But why would you miss the food? A few “expert” tips – they have half off wines every Monday and flights of port that make an excellent dessert.

It’s patio weather! And Central Flats & Taps has one of the largest in the neighborhood. They have great food, an excellent draft beer selection, and they make a mean cocktail! You should try the spicy watermelon martini or margarita! And did we mention the Bushwhackers? Perfect for the patio. 

Just across the street, Y Not Tavern is your old school go-to for karaoke and cheap beer. 

Now if you head down Central a few blocks toward downtown, you come to two of the neighborhood’s signature watering holes. If we’re honest, the Corner Lounge is our version of “Cheers.” We walk in and most of the bartenders know what we’re going to order. They have live music, fun bartenders, and fantastic food at some of the best prices around. It’s also the oldest bar in downtown Knoxville – even author Cormac MaCarthy used to belly up here. We have been supporting these folks since before the pandemic, and even during the shutdown. They make a mean Manhattan and Old Fashioned. #tipsypick

Just up the street, Marie’s Olde Towne Tavern is a classic dive bar, complete with cheap beer and friendly staff… and smoking is allowed. But they have a nice patio out back for some fresh air. Inside, the Karaoke is packed on weekends, so they’re doing it right. Definitely worth a visit.

Speaking of beer, there are lots of breweries along North Central all the way to the I-40 underpass. We covered most of them in a previous blog post. But we’ll note that Yee Haw Brewing brought us a cool speakeasy during the winter months in their barrel room to bring revenue while the patio bar was closed. Cheers to them and hoping they bring it back this coming winter!

Happy Holler (and North Central) – making people like us happy for more than a century!

Where should we visit next? Let us know at offthetipsypath@gmail.com.