Top Coffee Shops
Best Coffee Shops in Carolina Beach & Kure Beach
Beach mornings are better with coffee. Whether you're grabbing an iced latte before heading to the sand, fueling up for a sunrise walk, or looking for somewhere to ease into vacation mode, Pleasure Island has plenty of local spots worth adding to your morning routine.
From quirky neighborhood favorites to polished coffee-and-brunch cafés, here are some of our favorite places to grab coffee in Carolina Beach and Kure Beach.
Crush & Grind
Located just steps from the Carolina Beach Boardwalk, Crush and Grind is an island favorite that transitions effortlessly from morning coffee stop to afternoon hangout.
Known for its handcrafted coffee and signature cold brew, it's an easy place to grab a drink before walking the Boardwalk or heading down to the beach. Later in the day, the shop also serves beer and wine.
Why we love it:
Handcrafted coffee and espresso drinks
House cold brew
Steps from the Boardwalk and beach
Beer and wine available later in the day
Relaxed atmosphere that's perfect for vacation mode
Mālama Café
If your ideal morning involves great coffee and a good breakfast, Malama Cafe should be on your list.
Located near the Carolina Beach Boardwalk, Mālama serves Counter Culture Coffee alongside smoothies and a fresh breakfast and lunch menu. The café focuses heavily on quality ingredients, healthier options, sustainability, and community.
Why we love it:
Specialty coffee and espresso
Smoothies and fresh breakfast options
Avocado toast, breakfast sandwiches, bowls and more
Bright, welcoming atmosphere
Great option when you want breakfast with your coffee
The Vault CB
Coffee shop in the morning, wine and beer spot later? We're listening.
The Vault CB is housed in a former bank, giving this Carolina Beach coffee shop one of the more unique settings on the island. You'll find espresso drinks, cold brew creations, plenty of flavors, comfortable seating, and—possibly most importantly on a lazy vacation morning, a drive-thru.
Why we love it:
Fun former-bank setting
Espresso and cold brew drinks
Drive-thru for easy coffee runs
Beer and wine available
Great place to hang out instead of immediately rushing off
Majik Beanz Espresso
Colorful, quirky and unapologetically local, Majik Beanz Espresso has plenty of personality.
This longtime Carolina Beach coffee stop is known for customizable espresso drinks, flavored coffees, sweet treats, and an eclectic atmosphere that feels nothing like a chain coffee shop.
Why we love it:
Tons of drink and flavor combinations
Espresso drinks and flavored coffees
Fun, whimsical atmosphere
Family-friendly space
Definitely one of the island's most unique coffee stops
Happy Hippies Java Hut
For pure Kure Beach personality, it's hard to beat Happy Hippies Java Hut.
Located on K Avenue just steps from the Kure Beach Pier, this colorful little coffee and gift shop serves creative coffee drinks with exactly the kind of laid-back energy you'd expect from a place called Happy Hippies.
Why we love it:
Creative specialty drinks
Fun, colorful beach-town atmosphere
Local gifts and artisan items
Non-coffee options available
Easy to pair with a morning walk on Kure Beach Pier
Kei Café
Kei Cafe might be tiny, but that's part of the charm.
This specialty coffee van can often be found near the Kure Beach Pier, serving carefully crafted espresso drinks and coffee to-go. It's less of a traditional sit-down café and more of a grab-your-coffee-and-walk-to-the-ocean kind of experience—which feels pretty appropriate for Kure Beach.
Why we love it:
Specialty espresso drinks
Small, locally operated setup
Convenient Kure Beach location
Perfect for grabbing coffee before a beach walk
One of the more unique morning stops on the island
Drift Café Carolina Beach
One of the newer additions to the Carolina Beach coffee scene, Drift Cafe Carolina Beach combines specialty coffee with a full breakfast, brunch, and lunch menu.
It's a more polished café experience, with espresso drinks and smoothies alongside bowls, pancakes, avocado toast, breakfast sandwiches, salads, and other fresh daytime options.
Why we love it:
Specialty coffee and espresso
Full brunch and lunch menu
Smoothies and fresh bowls
Bright, modern atmosphere
Great choice when everyone in the group wants something different
Make a Morning of It
One of our favorite things about Pleasure Island is that your morning coffee run can easily become part of the day's adventure.
Grab coffee near the Boardwalk and take a sunrise walk along the ocean. Pick up a latte in Kure Beach and wander out onto the pier. Or settle into a café for breakfast before heading to Fort Fisher, Carolina Beach State Park, or your favorite stretch of sand.
Vesta Tip
Skip the chain coffee run at least once during your stay and try somewhere local. For coffee + Boardwalk, try Crush & Grind. For coffee + breakfast, head to Mālama or Drift. Staying in Kure Beach? Grab Happy Hippies or Kei Café and take your coffee toward the pier.
And if you're anything like us, there's absolutely nothing wrong with trying a different one every morning. Vacation coffee doesn't count toward your normal caffeine intake. We're pretty sure that's science.
Stay Close to Your New Favorite Coffee Spot
Vesta vacation rentals put you close to the beaches, restaurants, coffee shops, parks, and local favorites that make Pleasure Island feel like more than just another beach destination.
Whether you're staying in Carolina Beach or Kure Beach, your next great cup of coffee, and the Atlantic Ocean, are never very far away.
