This two-day lineup includes decked-out dining rooms, festive sips and sweets in Wilmington, North Carolina. Pick your favorites or tackle the full list for a delicious seasonal challenge.
Day 1
Breakfast: Amanecer Cocina & Café
Start your holiday adventure at Amanecer Cocina & Café, where garland, ornaments and a beautifully trimmed tree set a festive scene. Treat yourself to a gourmet hot chocolate, cinnamon coffee or a seasonal mixed drink. For something new, try the pancake flight or the omelette ranchero.
Midmorning Goodie: Coffee Flight at Calico Coffee
Head to Calico Coffee for a midmorning boost. Their seasonal coffee flight features four festive flavors.
Lunch: Ponysaurus Brewing
Settle in at Ponysaurus “Wonderland”, where this laid-back pizza spot transforms into a holiday hideaway filled with lights and tinsel. Enjoy a mug of spiced apple cider or a hot toddy in the beer garden, then pair your drink with one of their creative pizzas for a relaxed midday meal.
Afternoon Treat: The Wandering Cone
Ice cream is always in season at the coast. Stop by The Wandering Cone and dig into their rotating lineup of holiday flavors.
Dinner: Circa 1922
Circa 1922 goes all-in on holiday décor, from lighted trees to classic garland, giving the space that Hallmark-movie glow. Start with oysters, then settle into their three-course pre-fixe menu, offered daily from 5 to 7 p.m. for $40 per person.
Late Night: Concorde Espresso Bar
End your night fireside at Concorde Espresso Bar. Reserve an outdoor table, sip an espresso martini flight, roast a s’mores kit and enjoy the twinkling lights that illuminate the courtyard.
Day 2
Breakfast: Blue Surf Café
Blue Surf Café serves a strong breakfast lineup, but this time of year, locals come specifically for their gourmet hot cocoa. It’s a seasonal favorite that draws anticipation every winter.
Midmorning Goodie: Social Coffee Supply
Known for creative seasonal flavor drops, Social Coffee Supply is a must-try. Choose from delicious seasonal specials.
Lunch: South Front Tavern
Warm up at South Front Tavern with its inviting, winter-ready atmosphere. Enjoy salads, burgers or elevated comfort dishes like shrimp and grits or the short-rib five-chili chili. Their cocktail menu shines, too, especially the espresso martini and seasonal mixed drinks.
Afternoon Treat: The Peppered Cupcake
Stop into The Peppered Cupcake for rotating holiday cupcake flavors that change weekly. Pick up one (or several) to keep the seasonal sweetness going.
Dinner: Origins
Settle in for a fine-dining experience at Origins, where the holiday ambiance pairs perfectly with a menu centered on seasonal flavors. Expect warm bread, artful dishes and festive cocktails.
