Beach Favorites in
Kure Beach, NC

Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives

Start your morning off right with a home-style breakfast and seaside views at Ocean View Restaurant. The restaurant prides itself on its timeless, friendly atmosphere and serves traditional breakfast favorites like pancakes, omelets and biscuits. Ocean View also serves a lunch menu of burgers, signature fried chicken and more.

Fuel your afternoon or evening with a burger from Beach House Burgers, a seasonal walk-up spot near the Kure Beach Fishing Pier. The menu includes fresh-to-order, casual American fare such as BLTs and the infamous Double ET burger– two patties with everything.

Look for Happy Hippies Java Hut’s purple storefront to perk up your day. This beach-favorite java joint serves hot and iced coffees with fun names as well as frappes, smoothies, kombucha and their signature Mermaid Magic, a coffee potion by the ocean crafted with espresso and hazelnut. The shop also has groovy gifts including handmade jewelry and more.

A quintessential beach bar, Bud & Joe's Sandbar is the perfect spot for a casual drink. Rack the pool balls and select a song from the jukebox. With beer and drink specials every day, stop by for a good time and "get stranded at The Sandbar."

Island Eats

Savor a meal at Jack Mackerel’s Island Grill, a Caribbean-inspired restaurant that incorporates local, flavorful ingredients into its dishes. The island ambiance and expansive menu features dishes like Island Salmon, fresh Atlantic salmon blackened and finished with a mango crab butter, and Out Island Chicken, jumbo chicken breasts with spicy jerk seasoning or a sweet Caribbean rum glaze, served with sweet plantains. Jack Mackerel’s second-floor outdoor patio with peek-a-boo ocean views is the perfect spot to enjoy a breezy lunch or dinner.

Big Daddy’s Restaurant invites you to sip on a cocktail, sample an appetizer such as Big Daddy’s Crab Dip and dine on fresh seafood, perfectly grilled burgers, sandwiches, wraps and more. Take in slivers of ocean views of the Kure Beach Fishing Pier from the restaurant’s outdoor patio, and catch seasonal live entertainment. Browse beachy souvenirs in the restaurant’s shop after your meal.

Indulge in authentic cuisine at Freddie’s Restaurant, a favorite spot known for serving up Italian cuisine in an Irish pub atmosphere. Freddie’s is famous for its selection of braised pork chops created with sweet and savory toppings ranging from vegetables, nuts, fruits and liqueurs. Classic Italian favorites including Chicken Parmigiana, Barb’s Special Spaghetti and Fried Calamari and Spicy Mussels are also crowd pleasers.

Located on the riverbank of the Blakeslee Air Force Recreation Area, Riverview Restaurant offers classic seafood dishes, craft cocktails and more in a family-friendly atmosphere with two covered patios. This seasonal hidden gem was reimagined by the minds behind PinPoint, an acclaimed restaurant in Wilmington, and sources fresh ingredients from local purveyors.

Foodie Tour

With Tasting History Tours, you’ll sample local flavors as you step back in time and learn about the significant island history like no other of Kure Beach, Fort Fisher and nearby Carolina Beach.