Food + Drink (Casual)
Laid-Back Eats for Your Beach Vacation
One of the best things about eating on Pleasure Island? You can have a really good meal without changing out of your beach clothes.
Carolina Beach and Kure Beach are packed with casual local spots perfect for grabbing lunch after the beach, feeding the whole family, or settling in for an easy dinner after a long day in the sun. Think burgers, tacos, pizza, sandwiches, barbecue and plenty of cold drinks, with absolutely no need to dress up.
Here are some of our favorite casual places to eat around Carolina Beach and Kure Beach.
Nollie’s Taco Joint
Just a short walk from the Carolina Beach Boardwalk, Nollie's is exactly the kind of place you hope to find in a beach town, colorful, casual and serving really good tacos.
You'll find creative tacos, burritos, quesadillas and other Mexican-inspired favorites in a laid-back setting that feels perfectly Carolina Beach.
Why you'll love it:
Creative tacos and burritos
Super-casual beach atmosphere
Indoor and outdoor seating
Close to the Boardwalk
Great lunch stop
Perfect for: Tacos after the beach when putting on real clothes feels wildly unnecessary.
Island Burgers & Bites
Island Burgers & Bites has built a serious following for its burgers, and it's one of those local spots visitors might easily drive past without realizing what they're missing.
Expect juicy burgers, fries and straightforward comfort food without any unnecessary fuss.
Why you'll love it:
Excellent burgers
No-frills local atmosphere
Affordable, casual meal
Quick lunch or dinner option
Great takeout
Vesta Tip: Award winning burgers!
Pop’s Diner
Sometimes you just want a burger, fries and a milkshake.
Pop's Diner delivers classic American comfort food in a retro-inspired setting near the Carolina Beach Boardwalk. It's casual, family-friendly and an especially easy choice when you're traveling with kids or a group that can't agree on what they want.
Why you'll love it:
Burgers and hot dogs
Fries and classic sides
Milkshakes
Family-friendly atmosphere
Convenient Boardwalk-area location
Good Hops Brewing
For craft beer and a relaxed local atmosphere, Good Hops is an easy place to spend an afternoon.
This Carolina Beach brewery has indoor and outdoor spaces and a laid-back feel that's perfect after the beach. Food options can vary, so check what's available when you visit.
Why you'll love it:
Local craft beer
Relaxed atmosphere
Outdoor space
Dog-friendly vibes
Great afternoon hangout
SeaWitch Café & Tiki Bar
SeaWitch combines casual food, tropical drinks and live entertainment into one very Carolina Beach experience.
Grab sandwiches, seafood, tacos and other easy favorites, then stick around for live music at the tiki bar.
Why you'll love it:
Casual menu with plenty of variety
Outdoor tiki-bar atmosphere
Live music
Cocktails and cold drinks
Fun for groups
Vesta Tip: During summer, check the live music schedule before you go. Dinner can very quickly become your entire night here.
Beach House Burgers
Heading south to Kure Beach? Beach House Burgers is about as casual as it gets.
Located near the Kure Beach Pier, this tiny seasonal spot serves burgers, hot dogs, fries and other classic beach-day food. Grab your order and enjoy it outside before walking over to the pier.
Why you'll love it:
Classic burgers and hot dogs
Super-casual atmosphere
Close to Kure Beach Pier
Perfect beach-day lunch
Easy for families
Jack Mackerel’s Island Grill
Jack Mackerel's is a great Kure Beach choice when your group wants a little bit of everything.
The colorful island-inspired restaurant serves seafood, sandwiches, burgers and other casual favorites along with tropical drinks. Its location near the pier makes it especially convenient after spending the day in Kure Beach.
Why you'll love it:
Wide variety of menu options
Casual island atmosphere
Seafood and non-seafood choices
Tropical drinks
Close to Kure Beach Pier
Grab It To Go
Some vacation days are too good to interrupt with a sit-down meal.
Grab burgers, tacos, sandwiches or pizza and take dinner back to your Vesta rental. Eat on the deck, throw on a movie, or pack everything up for an evening picnic near the beach.
No reservations. No dress code. No complicated plans.
Sometimes that's exactly what vacation should look like.
Make a Day of It
If you're exploring Carolina Beach, grab lunch around the Boardwalk before spending the afternoon shopping, hitting the arcade or heading back to the sand.
Staying toward Kure Beach? Pair burgers or a casual lunch with a walk along the Kure Beach Pier, then continue south toward Fort Fisher for an easy afternoon adventure.
And if everyone is tired, sunburned and suddenly starving after the beach, don't overthink it. Order pizza, take it back to the house and call it a win.
Eat, Stay & Explore with Vesta
At Vesta Property Group, we believe a great vacation rental is only part of a great beach trip.
Knowing where to grab tacos after the beach, which local burger joint is actually worth trying, and where you can show up sandy and hungry makes exploring Pleasure Island a whole lot easier.
Our local guides are here to help you discover more of Carolina Beach and Kure Beach — from longtime favorites to those little places you might otherwise drive right past.
Explore Vesta vacation rentals and start planning your stay on Pleasure Island.
