Welcome to Moore County! Come for the weekend and discover the unforgettable experiences that await, from culinary adventures and performing arts to unique stays. Whatever your passion, our three-day itineraries share local recommendations to help you Make Moore Memories with every visit.
Chef Warren Lewis Photography courtesy of Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area CVB
At Chef Warren’s in Southern Pines, the typical day for Warren Lewis begins at 9 a.m. and wraps up close to 10 p.m. Even on his days off, he pores over the peak-season fruits and vegetables he bought from the farmers market and considers his French-style bistro’s ever-evolving menu, printed each day.
Around here, Lewis’s care and expertise pay off. “It’s a lot of fun — I’ll put some stranger things on the menu, and the willingness of our guests to give it a shot is heartwarming,” he says. “This past weekend we served halibut cheeks. I couldn’t buy enough of them.”
Lewis attributes Moore County’s enthusiastic embrace of culinary creativity to the diversity of its hospitality professionals. “The people who are serving and cooking for you have well-rounded backgrounds,” he says. And then there are the diners themselves: “Our guests include military, who are well-traveled, and people who come here to play golf and tennis and ride horses. There’s this constant movement of people who love to eat.”
For those of us who also love to eat, we asked Lewis to help us craft an itinerary for the ultimate weekend of can’t-miss food and drink in Moore County. From where the chef eats on his rare days off to where he takes family and friends visiting from out of town, Lewis offers the following insider tips for a flavor-filled weekend in Moore County.
The Sandhills area beckons all visitors. From world-class golf to local shopping and dining, our Southern hospitality is why people have been coming to the Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area for more than 125 years. Plan your Sandhills getaway today!
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Before they opened Chef Warren’s, Lewis and his wife Marianne worked at the Jefferson Inn & Restaurant, a historic hotel in downtown Southern Pines. For them, pre- or post-dinner drinks at the speakeasy-style bar come with a touch of nostalgia. “We order whatever the bartender suggests — as long as it’s got tequila — and only one round!” Lewis laughs.
Following cocktail hour at the Jefferson Inn, head to Chef Warren’s for dinner — Lewis recommends making a reservation as the intimate bistro seats only 60. Here, an open kitchen invites you to watch as Lewis and his fellow kitchen staff transform seasonal delights into culinary delicacies.
“I can’t wait for figs to come up in August. We’ll split them in half, cover in brown sugar, glaze with mascarpone, and serve them with prosciutto,” Lewis says. “A chef of mine makes a fig jam that is amazing, and we will make a fruit paste or sauce for the duck. It also goes well with antelope and bison.”
Meet local growers and shop for peak-season produce at the Moore County Farmers Market. Photography courtesy of Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area CVB
If Chef Warren’s artful take on local produce inspires you, mosey over to the Moore County Farmers Market on Broad Street for breakfast, entertainment, shopping, and local culture, all rolled into one. On Saturdays from mid-March through the weekend before Thanksgiving, vendors set up shop in Southern Pines to sell everything from fresh flowers and eggs to local honey and pies. As musicians lend ambience to your shopping experience, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped into a movie set. “The whole town shows up there; it’s a good place to sit and chat with people,” Lewis.
Fresh fish shines in assorted sashimi, rolls, and nigiri at Susa Sushi & Hibachi. Photography courtesy of Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area CVB
When you’re ready for lunch, make the 10-minute drive to Aberdeen, a neighboring Moore County town with a charming downtown full of locally owned boutiques. Lewis’s go-to lunch spots include Susa Sushi & Hibachi, El Patron for Mexican — “their chicken soup is amazing, and the burritos are also fabulous” — and Workshop Tavern. “Workshop Tavern is the master of doing things with mac and cheese,” he says. “Their specials are interesting, too, and they have a great Cuban.”
Or, you can drive to nearby Pinehurst for an elevated pub lunch at Drum & Quill. The Irish-inspired pub, with exposed beams overhead and red-brick walls, feels right at home in the historic Village of Pinehurst. Order the pimento cheese and fried green tomato burger with a Guinness and save room for the bourbon chess pie for dessert.
From fishing and paddling to hiking and disc golf, you could easily spend the whole day playing outside at Reservoir Park. Photography courtesy of Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area CVB
Just off Highway 22 in Southern Pines, Reservoir Park was originally built in 1926 as a water supply for the town. Today, the reservoir and its 195 surrounding acres are a community park, shaded by pine, oak, and hickory trees. The woods inspire Lewis’s nature photography, much of which decorates the walls of his bistro. From here, you could walk for hours, as the reservoir trails link to the Southern Pines Greenway Trail System.
Ashten’s menu features seasonal dishes that change regularly, such as scallop risotto. Photography courtesy of Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area CVB
For special occasions, the Lewises have dinner at Southern Pines’ Ashten’s Restaurant and Bar. With the “comfortable yet elegant” feel of an old English manor, this is the kind of place you want to devote your whole night to, starting with appetizers and cocktails and leisurely working your way through to dessert and after-dinner drinks.
A crest hanging over the front door represents the inspiration for co-owners and sisters Ashley and Quinten Van Camp, whose menu features global cuisine from a Southern perspective. The crest’s Latin inscription translates to “not new things, but in new ways.”
Order at the counter then enjoy your espresso treat inside Amor Ciego’s pink-walled space. Photography courtesy of Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area CVB
Nobody would blame you for sleeping in on Sunday, then sipping a cup of coffee as you ease into your day with a book. At Amor Ciego Coffee Company, order a cinnamon-roll-flavored latte and settle in at a window-side table that overlooks Pennsylvania Avenue. Or, head over to Maisonette, where owner Amanda Reeves serves coffee, tea, and bakery items like homemade croissants and tarts inside her Parisian-inspired coffee shop.
Keep the peaceful, easy feeling going with an early lunch at Pik-n-Pig in Carthage. This is a true one-of-a-kind experience, where you can sit inside or out and watch private planes take-off and land at the adjacent air strip. “When we first moved here from south Florida, the server was also the one landing the airplanes,” Lewis remembers.
Can’t make up your mind? Try the Sampler Platter with barbecue pork, smoked chicken, brisket, and all the fixin’s at Pik-n-Pig. Photography courtesy of Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area CVB
Their barbecue, slow-cooked with hickory and natural hardwood charcoal, stands up to the view. “Their Coca-Cola pie is to die for,” he adds. “That’s always a go-to for us, and you get a real sense of history with the planes out front and the memorials.”
Carve out some time after lunch for a culinary-inspired shopping excursion that lets you explore a little more — and take a taste of the county back home.
The Wine Cellar, about a block from Chef Warren’s on Northeast Broad Street, carries a tremendous selection to complement every menu. “I’m not a wine expert, but I can say ‘hey, this is what I’m serving,’ and they’re just so nice and will come up with the right wine,” Lewis says.
A scoop of homemade ice cream is a nonnegotiable during any visit to Kalawi Farm. Photography courtesy of Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area CVB; Our State Staff
Make your next stop Kalawi Farm and Ben’s Ice Cream, a roadside produce stand accompanied by a full-blown ice cream shop. As you wait in line, you’ll hear a frequently repeated order. We recommend you follow suit: Ask for a scoop of the banana pudding ice cream, the sweetest end to a delicious getaway.
Ready to get a taste of it for yourself? Click here to learn more about where to eat and drink in the Sandhills and start planning your own adventure.
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