From traditional takes to creative, coastal twists, get a taste of Wilmington's delicious breakfast and brunch scene. These top breakfast and brunch spots guarantee a flavorful start to your day.
Coffee and Light Bites
Blue Cup Roastery in Wilmington's Cargo District is the city’s only coffee shop located in a shipping container. With a refreshing outdoor space, it’s the perfect place to enjoy your morning caffeine boost. Continue walking in the Cargo District to find Salita Pizza; on Saturdays and Sundays it serves tasty bagels, bagel sandwiches and schmears out of the walk-up window until it sells out.
Head to Historic Downtown Wilmington for more coffee choices. At Hidden Grounds, order your favorite drink or try one of its creative concoctions, like the Salty Dino or Minty Matcha, before discovering the secret dino-themed backyard garden.
Stop by The Maroon Monkey Coffee Co. for a delicious cup of small-batch artisan coffee. 24 South Coffee House offers locally roasted gourmet coffee options along with homemade pastries, and Bespoke Coffee & Dry Goods serves up a variety of espresso-based drinks. Visit Concorde Espresso Bar for expertly brewed espresso and signature, seasonal lattes – and don’t forget to stop back by in the evening for an espresso martini flight and s’mores kit by the fire.
Breakfast Club
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and Drift Coffee & Kitchen can help you start your morning on a healthy and delicious note. Founded by surfers and inspired by cafes from around the globe, Drift has a few locations in Wilmington and focuses on using minimally processed and nutritious ingredients to create flavorful dishes like the breakfast burrito or market bowl, each of which feature different ingredients and flavor profiles based on locations.
Located in The Cotton Exchange, The Basics is a casual spot serving breakfast Monday through Friday and brunch on Saturday and Sunday. Morning specials include an egg white omelet with basil sausage, feta, tomatoes, asparagus, yellow pepper and onions, topped with pesto aioli. It can also be served as a grit bowl.
Back in the Cargo District, Mess Hall is a local favorite known for its messy smash burgers, even at breakfast time. Its morning menu features a breakfast burger, sandwich, burrito and a tot bowl.
For a cozy, hearty breakfast, head to Cast Iron Kitchen, where Southern-inspired comfort food takes center stage. Be sure to try the Dirty South Biscuit, featured on the Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives. It includes fried chicken, bacon, a runny egg, muenster and pepper jack cheese, all topped with sausage gravy. Dixie Grill is the perfect place for classic breakfast options in a diner setting. Its menu offers everything from savory omelets to sweet pancakes.
Coastal Brunch Bites
James Beard Foundation finalist for “Outstanding Chef” Dean Neff of Seabird – famous for fresh oysters and local seafood – serves up weekend brunch dishes such as smoked North Carolina catfish and grits, biscuits and oyster gravy and crab cake benedict.
Rx Chicken & Oysters serves Sunday brunch with a rotating selection of North Carolina oysters, along with apple-glazed cinnamon rolls to start. Main dishes range from chicken and waffles to North Carolina shrimp and crab quiche.
Perla Raw Bar, an oyster bar with a fresh approach to coastal cuisine, offers a weekend brunch menu that includes handhelds like a crispy oyster sandwich and lobster roll and entrees like shrimp cake benedict.
At Dram Yard, brunch highlights include duck fat doughnuts and a brunch wrap supreme that includes local eggs, sausage, poblano fundido, avocado and potato in a crispy tortilla. Dram Yard is located in ARRIVE Wilmington, which was recognized as a 2024 MICHELIN One Key hotel.
Savorez, which Yelp named the best brunch in North Carolina, brings bold Latin flavor with local ingredients. Its brunch menu includes classics like huevos rancheros and biscuits and gravy, along with an inventive take on shrimp and grits. The dish features grilled shrimp with chorizo gravy, goat cheese polenta, black beans, pickled corn, jalapeño-lime pea shoots and roasted grape tomatoes.
More Morning Eats
For a spin on a breakfast classic, try Rooster & The Crow’s chicken beignets. This dish features crispy fried chicken served with scratch-made yeast beignets, dusted with powdered sugar and topped with a whiskey cream sauce. True Blue Butcher & Table crafts brunch dishes like the burrata frittata and the ultimate biscuit, which features a buttermilk biscuit, fried egg, white cheddar cheese, sausage, gravy and fried chicken.
Brunch Thyme specializes in fresh takes on breakfast favorites and comfort foods. Its menu features classic breakfast sandwiches, chicken and waffles and Southern staples like shrimp or fish and grits. For a casual coastal breakfast, Blue Surf Café is the place to go. Enjoy classic breakfast plates and sandwiches with standout options like the Blue Surf Signature Breakfast, including potato hash, tostada or grits base, topped with Havana, House or Hippy-style toppings.
Blueberry’s Grill offers a mix of traditional breakfast favorites and dishes highlighting fresh blueberries. Standout options include the blueberry ricotta waffle, the Hey Blueberry Omelet –filled with chorizo sausage, caramelized onions, banana peppers, Cheddar Jack cheese, sour cream and salsa – and their signature blueberry hush puppies.
Named after the movie “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” Eternal Sunshine Café is a cheerful spot serving creative breakfast dishes. Highlights include tropical French toast and the Duck Dynasty Benedict, made with an apple-and-onion waffle, duck breast, cherry chutney, poached eggs and orange-rosemary hollandaise. Don’t miss their mimosa offerings, including mimosa flights.
From cozy coffee shops to vibrant eateries and coastal-inspired menus, Wilmington offers a variety opportunities to start your day with flavor and style.
