This gem on the Cape Fear River has been in operation for more than 40 years, though its history stretches back to the late 19th century, when the area was home to a popular port. Today, the legacy of its builder, William Craig — a cooper, or wooden barrel maker — bolsters every beam and board of his former workshop. Diners enjoy dishes like roasted oysters with smoked chili butter and a cornbread crumble, all with a Riverwalk view.
2 Ann Street
(910) 343-0200
pilothouserest.com
With a lush backyard space and antique décor within, The Colington Café feels like an escape to the French countryside. Photography courtesy of Jeff Lane
“That is going to be our restaurant one day,” Carlen Pearl told her children when she first laid eyes on this Victorian home. This property has one of the oldest deeds in the Outer Banks, a point of pride for the Twiford family who passed the house down through many generations. Now in its 37th season, Colington Café combines local seafood with French culinary techniques inspired by Pearl’s mother.
1029 Colington Road
(252) 480-1123
colingtoncafe.com
Adorned with fishnets and seaglass, the Black Pelican’s interior and coastal menu — featuring a Wanchese Fisherman’s Risotto and fried North Carolina flounder and shrimp — mirror its setting. The oceanfront building was constructed in 1874 under a different name: Kitty Hawk Life-Saving Station, a lifeline for crews who found themselves stranded off the Outer Banks. Doubling as an active weather bureau, the Wright brothers used forecast information from this aid station as they planned their experimental flights.
3848 North Virginia Dare Trail
(252) 261-3171
blackpelican.com
Concoct the frozen creation of your dreams with the customizable selection at Squigley’s Ice Cream & Treats. Photography courtesy of Squigley’s Ice Cream & Treats
Leave the salty ocean air for a world of sweets inside the red-and-white Key West-style Squigley’s Ice Cream & Treats, a parlor that’s served Carolina Beach for more than 31 years. Pick fruits, candies, and even baked goods to be “squiggled” into ice cream flavors. Take your time: There’s more than 4,050 flavor combinations to choose from. Relax on the deck or stop by the gift gallery to browse jewelry while you enjoy your custom frozen treat.
208 Lake Park Boulevard South
(910) 458-8779
squigleysicecream.com
Cozy up among the reads with a Mucky Duck latte at Duck’s Cottage Coffee & Books. photograph by Chris Hannant
At this gathering place near the edge of Currituck Sound, owner Jamie Hope Anderson-Silver has a gentle note for newcomers: “Come in just for a coffee, and you’ll most likely leave with a book.” One of the oldest buildings in town, the circa-1921 cottage was originally the Powder Ridge Gun Club. Since 2002, the cottage has offered a caffeine fix, from traditional morning brews to signature lattes like the Nutty Duck, Mucky Duck, and Swan.
1240 Duck Road
(252) 261-5510
duckscottage.com
Split-rail fences don’t shout “keep out.” They lean, they shift, they invite. And in western North Carolina, they remind us that some lines are meant to hold, not harden.
Each May, spring climbs nearly 3,000 feet to the seat of Alleghany County. Here, as the rhododendrons blush, a beloved mountain town welcomes visitors with its food, art, and flourish of color and creativity.
Brief but delicious, soft-shell crab season is cherished by diners as well as the folks who work around the clock to put these native pinchers on our plates.
When it comes to poultry, the best is raised close to home.
