A Year-Round Guide to Franklin and Nantahala

Pop’s Lounge — Southern Pines Swing easy, hit hard. This slogan was made famous by Julius Boros, the ’50s and ’60s golf great who once served as head pro at

Rosemary and Goat Cheese Strata

Pop’s Lounge — Southern Pines Swing easy, hit hard. This slogan was made famous by Julius Boros, the ’50s and ’60s golf great who once served as head pro at

7 Great Spots to Hit After a Round of Golf in Pinehurst

Pop’s Lounge — Southern Pines

Swing easy, hit hard. This slogan was made famous by Julius Boros, the ’50s and ’60s golf great who once served as head pro at the Mid Pines Inn and Golf Club, where you’ll find Pop’s Lounge. You could add to the saying, Relax like a pro. Because when you step off the 18th green at Mid Pines, you’ll find chairs overlooking a golf course that hasn’t changed much since Donald Ross designed it in 1921 — not to mention delicious drinks, pimento cheese, and a signature burger named for Boros. 

1010 Midland Road
Southern Pines, NC 28387
(800) 323-2114
midpinesinn.com

 

The Sly Fox Club — Southern Pines 

A few blocks away from the links, this gastropub with British flair — a vintage, fire engine-red phone booth and Union Jacks flying everywhere — sits at a busy intersection in what was once an old auto shop. On the menu: shepherd’s pie, of course, and beers ranging from local craft brews to — quite naturally — Morland Old Speckled Hen Pale Ale.

795 Southwest Broad Street
Southern Pines, NC 28387
(910) 725-1621
theslyfoxpub.com
 

 

Pik-N-Pig — Carthage

That long strip outside of the Pik-N-Pig restaurant — about 12 miles north of Pinehurst — isn’t a fairway. It’s a runway. Located on the grounds of a small airport, this popular barbecue restaurant is known for its cold beer, hot ’cue — cooked over natural hardwood coals — and its homage to all things airplanes.  

194 Gilliam McConnell Road
Carthage, NC 28327

(910) 947-7591
pik-n-pig.com

 

The Deuce – Pinehurst 

Here’s a little hint about the name of this watering hole: Its veranda overlooks the 18th hole of the legendary Pinehurst No. 2 — the very spot where, during the 1999 U.S. Open, Payne Stewart sank the 15-foot putt that defeated Phil Mickelson. Hard to beat that for 19th-hole cred. The Deuce also has a nice selection of craft beers, many of them from North Carolina brewers.

80 Carolina Vista Drive
Pinehurst, NC 28374
(855) 235-8507
pinehurst.com/dining/the-deuce

 

Drum & Quill — Pinehurst

Arnold Palmer was still in high school when Kevin Drum’s dad, newspaperman Bob Drum, discovered the soon-to-be-legendary golfer and began penning his praises. So when it came time for Kevin to name his Pinehurst pub, he combined his dad’s last name with a writerly symbol. Drum & Quill is a tribute to a beloved writer and an iconic golfer. Raise a pint for both of them.

40 Chinquapin Road
Pinehurst, NC 28374
(910) 295-3193
drumandquill.com
 

 

Elliotts on Linden — Pinehurst

Chef and owner Mark Elliott, who also owns The Roast Office in Pinehurst and The Sly Fox Pub in Southern Pines, touts this spot’s commitment to local, farm-to-table fare — elegant dishes featuring North Carolina bison, lamb, shrimp, and trout — and a huge selection of beers and wines.

905 Linden Road, Suite A
Pinehurst, NC 28374
(910) 215-0775
elliottsonlinden.com

 

Pinehurst Brewing Company — Pinehurst

In 1895, the old steam plant on Magnolia Road generated heat and electricity for patrons of Pinehurst’s very first hotel, the Holly Inn. Now, it powers a 10-barrel microbrewery, where anyone who wants to can come take a look — and a sip — from an observation platform in the taproom. With a bar, patio, beer garden, and dining room, this newcomer in an old building is practically a 19th-hole theme park.

300 Magnolia Road
Pinehurst, NC 28374
(910) 235-8218
pinehurstbrewing.com