Food + Drink (Drinks)
Cocktails, Cold Beer & Beach Bars on Pleasure Island
Beach days are great. Beach days that end with a cold drink? Even better.
Carolina Beach and Kure Beach have plenty of places to settle in for a cocktail, local craft beer or frozen drink after a day in the sun. From oceanfront tiki bars and local breweries to live music and laid-back neighborhood spots, there's something for every vacation mood.
Whether you're looking for happy hour, a pre-dinner cocktail or somewhere to keep the night going, here are some of our favorite places to grab a drink around Pleasure Island.
Ocean Grill & Tiki Bar
If you're going to have a cocktail at the beach, you might as well have the Atlantic Ocean as your backdrop.
Ocean Grill's tiki bar extends from the beachfront toward the ocean, making it one of the most unique places on the island to grab a drink.
Order a cocktail or cold beer, find a spot overlooking the water and enjoy one of those okay, this is definitely vacation moments.
Why you'll love it:
Oceanfront setting
Tropical cocktails
Cold beer and wine
Casual beach atmosphere
Incredible views
Vesta Tip: Go later in the afternoon or early evening, grab a drink and stay awhile. This one is as much about the setting as what's in your glass.
SeaWitch Café & Tiki Bar
When you're looking for drinks and live music, SeaWitch should be on the list.
The outdoor tiki-bar setting is casual, lively and perfect for a summer night in Carolina Beach. There's a full food menu if you get hungry, and live entertainment regularly turns an innocent "let's grab one drink" into your entire evening.
Why you'll love it:
Full bar
Tropical drinks
Outdoor tiki-bar atmosphere
Live music
Great for groups
Vesta Tip: Check the live music schedule before heading over. Summer nights can get busy when a popular band is playing.
The Fat Pelican
You really can't talk about drinking in Carolina Beach without mentioning The Fat Pelican.
This legendary local dive bar is quirky, wonderfully weird and unlike pretty much anywhere else you'll visit on the island. Wander into the walk-in cooler, choose your own beer and find a spot among the eclectic collection of beach-town treasures.
It's not polished. That's exactly the point.
Why you'll love it:
Huge beer selection
Iconic walk-in beer cooler
Funky, eclectic atmosphere
Indoor and outdoor areas
True Carolina Beach institution
Perfect for: Anyone who appreciates a good dive bar and doesn't need their beach vacation overly curated.
Good Hops Brewing
For local craft beer and a slower-paced afternoon, head to Good Hops.
This Carolina Beach brewery offers a rotating selection of locally brewed beers in a relaxed setting with plenty of outdoor space.
It's an easy stop after the beach when you're not quite ready to head home for the evening.
Why you'll love it:
Locally brewed craft beer
Relaxed atmosphere
Outdoor space
Great daytime hangout
Away from some of the busier Boardwalk crowds
Vesta Tip: This is one of our favorite choices when your plans are basically have a beer and see where the afternoon goes.
The Dive Food & Spirits
Sometimes you don't want a fancy cocktail bar. You want a cold drink, good bar food and somewhere casual to hang out.
The Dive delivers exactly that in downtown Carolina Beach, with beer, cocktails, food and an easygoing neighborhood-bar atmosphere.
Why you'll love it:
Full bar
Casual atmosphere
Bar food
Central Carolina Beach location
Great late-night stop
High Tide Lounge & Tiki Bar
Located at the Carolina Beach Pier on the north end of the island, High Tide combines drinks with one hell of a beach view.
Grab a cocktail or beer and enjoy the laid-back pier atmosphere overlooking the Atlantic. It's especially fun when you want to get away from the busier Boardwalk area for the evening.
Why you'll love it:
Ocean views
Pier location
Tropical drinks
Casual atmosphere
Great north-end option
Vesta Tip: Pair this with a walk along the beach around sunset for a very low-effort, very good vacation evening.
Crush & Grind
Coffee by day, wine and drinks when you're ready for something a little stronger.
Crush & Grind near the Carolina Beach Boardwalk is a great option when you're looking for a more relaxed place to have wine, beer or a cocktail without committing to the full beach-bar experience.
Why you'll love it:
Wine and beer
Cocktails
Cozy atmosphere
Boardwalk-area location
Great pre- or post-dinner stop
Perfect for: A quieter drink before dinner or a night when you'd rather actually hear the person you're talking to.
Jack Mackerel’s Island Grill
Down in Kure Beach, Jack Mackerel's brings the tropical vacation energy.
Grab a frozen drink or cocktail alongside dinner, then walk over toward the Kure Beach Pier afterward.
Why you'll love it:
Tropical cocktails
Full bar
Colorful island atmosphere
Food available
Close to Kure Beach Pier
Looking for Live Music?
Carolina Beach really comes alive during the warmer months, and several local bars and restaurants regularly feature live entertainment.
SeaWitch is one of the best-known options, but you'll also find music and seasonal events happening at bars, breweries, restaurants and around the Boardwalk throughout the year.
Vesta Tip: Entertainment schedules change frequently, so check each venue's current schedule before making plans.
Pick Your Beach-Bar Mood
Want ocean views and cocktails? Head to Ocean Grill & Tiki Bar or High Tide.
Looking for live music and a fun crowd? SeaWitch is an easy choice.
Prefer local craft beer and a laid-back afternoon? Try Good Hops.
Want a true Carolina Beach dive-bar experience? The Fat Pelican is basically mandatory.
And if you'd rather have wine and conversation, Crush & Grind is a great change of pace from the island's busier bars.
A Quick Vacation Reminder
Beach drinks can sneak up on you, especially after spending all day in the Carolina sun.
Hydrate, eat something, and if you're planning on having more than a couple, leave the car at your rental and use a rideshare or other safe transportation option when available.
Nobody needs a DUI as their Carolina Beach souvenir.
Cheers from Vesta
At Vesta Property Group, we're big believers that your vacation shouldn't feel like a checklist.
Sometimes the best nights are the ones where you grab a drink overlooking the ocean, stumble across live music, stay longer than you planned and realize tomorrow's only commitment is the beach.
That's Pleasure Island done right.
Explore Vesta vacation rentals and start planning your next stay in Carolina Beach and Kure Beach.
