Opened by famous North Carolina chef Vivian Howard, Benny’s Big Time pairs friendly expert service with reclaimed wooden walls and a savory Italian menu. From scallop crudo with English peas and mint to wood-fired Neapolitan pizza layered in melty Grayson cheese and swirls of hot honey—Benny’s is happy and lively, good for the stomach and the soul.

Chicken tinga empanadas? Local little neck clams with fava bean shoots? Charred octopus with mole verde and ancho-dusted popcorn? Sign us up. Sam Cahoon and Aldo Garcia are slinging something special at local Latin joint Savorez and they are not afraid of raining tiny edible flowers over every colorful dish.

Penny-tile floors, giant windows, floating shelves stocked with vintage thermoses? Must be Bespoke, our favorite any-time-of-day cafe where talented baristas pour perfect espresso tonics and oatmilk macchiato’s care of Counter Culture coffee. Come for the caffeine, stay for the vegan cinnamon buns from local bakery Cravings.

Just around the corner, the Dram Yard courtyard is the place to go for clean creative cocktails, local beer, and a well-curated wine selection. The inside restaurant offers a delightful menu heavy on fresh vegetables and seafood. Wilmington’s annual “Downtown Sundown” free concert series takes place right next door.

Dead Crow Comedy Room, located in the heart of Wilmington’s historic downtown, has hosted local and national comedians from Trevor Noah to “Two Dollar Tuesday” comedy bingo. Show tickets include a drink, and the menu includes an impressive number of vegan options.

Pool tables, skee-ball, and jukebox tunes make Blue Post Billiards the perfect hideaway after a sunny day at the beach. Drinks range from cocktails to classic drafts. A lantern-strung indoor alley lead from the no-frills bar to a game room full of air hockey, darts, arcade games, and more.

Don’t leave Fido! Goat and Compass English Pub is a small, pet-friendly place to kick back, relax, and listen to live local music after a day at the beach. The pub is one of several music venues for ALT-zalea, a quirky hyper-local spin-off of Wilmington’s long-running April Azalea Festival.

The dog-friendly next-door neighbor of Benny’s Big Time, Satellite is a colorful indoor/outdoor bar housed in a restored 1940s grocery. Eclectic chairs and mid-century sofas spill out of raised garage doors to corn hole games, fire pits, and casual outdoor seating. It’s the place to be for live music, summer movie nights, street tacos, funky beer, Sunday bluegrass jams, and retro dance parties.

Like a good wine, the chic-est clothes only get better with time, and there is plenty of chic at Second Skin. Uncluttered and easygoing, the folks here rack up 1950s swim trunks beside flowy pastel chiffon blouses and Art Deco costume jewelry.

Old Books is pretty self-explanatory. This Front Street bookshop not only offers beautifully bound first editions and addictive beach reads, they also organize literary history walking tours. Stop in on a Sunday and browse to the sound of local piano player James Jarvis.

You know it’s true—guys almost always give a better manicure. Guys Do Nails owner Dynh Le has transformed his historic Princess Street storefront into a hip, vintage-y manicure mecca where comfy oversized leather pedicure chairs sit behind hammered copper foot baths.