Our favorite spots for a foodie + music weekend getaway to Wilmington, NC

Wilmington is a fun town for a weekend music getaway 🎶 

🏨  Stay: Aloft Wilmington at Coastline Center

Aloft Wilmington is located right next to the Riverwalk. Aloft is a cool Marriott Bonvoy brand that is designed for social travelers. Marriott Bonvoy perks make traveling easy and affordable, and we got our night here for free (!!) This property features a rooftop bar (so cool!) for evening cocktails and a fantastic local coffee bar with fresh, homemade pastries for the morning.

Live Music in Wilmington

There are two main venues, and they get excellent bands to play.

🎵 Greenfield Lake Ampitheater

 Greenfield Lake Amphitheater is the coolest small venue in the Carolinas for a show. Trees and a lake create a pretty, natural environment around the small amphitheater. The concert feels like a private show. Parking isn’t an issue, you don’t have to fight crowds, you choose your own seats.

🎵 Live Oak Bank Pavilion at Riverfront Park

Live Oak Bank Pavilion is a much larger amphitheater in Wilmington.

Where to Eat in Wilmington

Wilmington has an excellent foodie scene! Here are some of the places we’ve tried + loved….

🍴 Satellite Bar & Lounge

Grab tacos and craft beers at Satellite Bar & Lounge, about a five-minute drive from the amphitheater. The outdoor area has picnic tables and corn hole to entertain kids, the inside has a cool open feel with plenty of seating. All of the food is outstanding.

A local told us the brunch here is incredibly fun with live music, great food, and a fun crowd with toddlers to grandparents. Add to your list if you have time for brunch!

Benny’s Big Time

It’ll be tough to find better pizza than Benny’s Big Time. While pizza is the main event here… don’t ignore the pasta. Order both. The Cacio e Pepe will change your life… or at least your evening. Everything here is mind-blowing-ly delicious.

🍴 Quanto Basta Italian Eatery + Wine Bar

The Fettucine John Angelo with spinach and cremini mushrooms paired with a Super Tuscan at Quanto Basta is one of the best meals I’ve had in 2023. Seriously. It was outstanding. I will drive back to Wilmington to visit Quanto Basta again – the service, the decor, the menu – all superb. The restaurant is in a cool historic building with tastefully modern decor inside and outside. Make reservations. We got lucky and found a seat at the bar. You can’t have a bad experience here.

🥃Live music + drinks at Whiskey Tango Foxtrot

Serious bartenders creating fancy cocktails with live music playing in the background …. yep, this little hole in the wall bar is a cool after-dinner drinks stop on your way to your hotel. Whiskey Tango Foxtrot aka WFT serves up some great cocktails. I had the “Kiss of Fire” which is a delightful combination of muddled cucumber, fired tequila, agave syrup, and fresh lime juice.

🍴Breakfast Cure

And… last but not least.

A Waffle House is located right on the Main Street with all of the trendy boutiques and restaurants. If you have too many cocktails at WTF, your cure is just around the corner.

Cheers y’all! 

More Carolina Road Trip ideas: Charlotte Foodie Weekend, Bluffton SC is the cutest Lowcountry town, Columbia SC for food + the coolest outdoor market, Hilton Head for a family getaway