Food + Drink (breakfast + Brunch)
breakfast + Brunch
Start Your Beach Day the Delicious Way
Slow mornings just hit differently at the beach.
Whether you're heading out early for a day on the sand, looking for a classic stack of pancakes with the family, or ready for mimosas and a proper brunch, Carolina Beach and Kure Beach have plenty of local spots worth getting out of bed for.
From longtime island favorites to modern cafés and waterfront brunch, here are some of our favorite places to start the day on Pleasure Island.
Kate’s Pancake House
A Carolina Beach breakfast staple, Kate's Pancake House is the place to go when you're craving a traditional, hearty beach breakfast. The menu covers everything from pancakes and waffles to omelets, Benedicts and Southern breakfast favorites.
Their pancake selection is especially impressive, with flavors ranging from classics to sweet potato, red velvet and other specialty creations. Kate's was also voted Best Breakfast and Best Pancake in the 2025 WWAY Viewers' Choice Awards.
Why you'll love it:
Huge selection of pancakes and breakfast classics
Generous portions
Casual, family-friendly atmosphere
Great for fueling up before a full beach day
Vesta Tip: Kate's is popular for a reason. During summer and holiday weekends, an earlier breakfast can help you beat the rush.
Brunches
For a livelier take on breakfast, Brunches Carolina Beach brings the full brunch experience to Carolina Beach.
The atmosphere is bright, casual and energetic, with a menu that goes beyond your standard eggs-and-toast breakfast. You'll find sweet and savory brunch favorites, comfort food, lunch options and, most importantly for vacation mode, mimosas and brunch cocktails.
Why you'll love it:
Fun, modern brunch atmosphere
Creative breakfast and lunch options
Mimosas and brunch cocktails
Great for groups and leisurely vacation mornings
Perfect for: When you want brunch to be the actual activity rather than just a quick stop before the beach.
The Southerly Biscuit & Pie
If biscuits are involved in your ideal Southern breakfast, put The Southerly Biscuit & Pie on your list.
This small Carolina Beach favorite specializes in scratch-made biscuits, savory breakfast dishes and freshly made sweets. It's an especially good choice when you want something distinctly Southern without committing to a long sit-down brunch.
Why you'll love it:
Scratch-made Southern biscuits
Breakfast bowls and savory options
Fresh pies, cookies and other treats
Easy option for grabbing breakfast to go
Vesta Tip: Pick up a little something sweet for later. You're on vacation — pie after breakfast is completely reasonable.
Mālama Café
For something lighter and fresher, Malama Cafe is a great alternative to the traditional heavy vacation breakfast.
Located near the Carolina Beach Boardwalk, Mālama focuses on specialty coffee, smoothies and fresh breakfast and lunch options. You'll find choices like smoothie and açaí bowls, toast and breakfast burritos, along with vegan and gluten-free-friendly options.
Why you'll love it:
Specialty coffee and smoothies
Fresh, lighter breakfast choices
Vegan and gluten-free-friendly options
Convenient location near the Boardwalk
Great for takeout before heading to the beach
Drift Café
Modern, bright and a little more elevated, Drift Cafe Carolina Beach is a great pick for coffee lovers and anyone who prefers a contemporary café-style brunch.
The menu mixes healthier options like bowls, avocado toast and smoothies with pancakes, breakfast sandwiches and other brunch favorites, making it an easy choice when everyone in your group wants something different. Carolina Beach's tourism site also highlights Drift for protein-forward bowls and fresh breakfast options.
Why you'll love it:
Specialty coffee
Fresh bowls, toast and brunch favorites
Bright, modern atmosphere
Plenty of lighter options
Great breakfast-to-lunch crossover
Gulfstream Restaurant
For an old-school, no-fuss beach breakfast, Gulfstream Restaurant is a longtime Carolina Beach favorite.
Located near the marina, Gulfstream has been serving the area for decades and offers the kind of straightforward breakfast that hits the spot before a busy vacation day, eggs, grits, French toast, breakfast burritos, Benedicts and plenty of comfort-food classics.
Why you'll love it:
Classic diner-style breakfast
Casual, family-friendly atmosphere
Hearty portions
Marina-area location
Great option for an early start
Ocean View Restaurant
Kure Beach may be quieter than neighboring Carolina Beach, but it has one of the island's best spots for a relaxed morning meal.
Ocean View Restaurant sits right by the Kure Beach Pier and serves breakfast and lunch in a cozy, laid-back beach-town setting. Expect a mix of classics like pancakes, eggs Benedict, biscuits and gravy, avocado toast and chicken and waffles.
Why you'll love it:
Steps from the Kure Beach Pier
Sweet and savory breakfast options
Relaxed local atmosphere
Perfect addition to a Kure Beach morning
Vesta Tip: Have breakfast here, then walk out to the pier and along the beach afterward. It's one of our favorite easy mornings in Kure Beach.
Looking for Something Quick?
Not every beach morning calls for a full sit-down breakfast.
For an easy grab-and-go option, Island Bagels serves bagels, breakfast sandwiches and coffee, while Wake N Bake Donuts - Carolina Beach is perfect when vacation breakfast means grabbing a box of creative donuts and heading straight for the beach.
If you're staying toward the north end of Carolina Beach, North End Mini Mart/ Cafe is another convenient stop for coffee and breakfast sandwiches before visiting Freeman Park.
Make a Morning of It
One of the best things about staying on Pleasure Island is that you don't need an elaborate itinerary to have a great morning.
Catch the sunrise over the Atlantic, grab coffee or breakfast at a local spot, then spend the rest of the morning exploring.
A few easy combinations:
Carolina Beach Boardwalk: Breakfast + a walk along the Boardwalk
Kure Beach: Brunch + a stroll on the Kure Beach Pier
North End: Grab-and-go breakfast + a morning at Freeman Park
Fort Fisher: Breakfast in Kure Beach + a drive south to Fort Fisher and the recreation area
And if your vacation plans involve sleeping in until brunch, ordering a mimosa and doing absolutely nothing productive afterward?
We fully support that too.
Stay & Explore Pleasure Island with Vesta
Great vacations are about more than where you stay, they're about everything you discover while you're here.
Vesta Property Group combines thoughtfully managed vacation homes with the local knowledge you need to experience the best of Carolina Beach, Kure Beach and Pleasure Island.
From your first morning coffee to your final walk on the beach, we're here to help make your stay feel effortless.
Explore Vesta vacation rentals and start planning your Carolina Beach getaway.
