Looking to grab a meal while you’re out on the water? If you are arriving by boat there are a number of amazing restaurants and bars to hop to across the Wilmington area that offer dock and dine experiences.
Many of the waterfront restaurants in Wilmington have docks or slips where boaters can park their vessels while they enjoy a meal. Dock & dining is one of the things that that makes a weekend boating out on the water special in this area.
Whether you are downtown on the river front, in Southport or in Wrightsville Beach, its easy to find restaurants and bars in coastal North Carolina that are accessible for boaters. These dock & dine restaurants offer live music and entertainment and some of the best local seafood and cocktails.
1. Dockside
The Dockside Restaurant has been a Wrightsville Beach institution for more than 30 years. The Dockside Restaurant serves great local seafood and fare in a casual, ocean front, casual, relaxed, setting. Boaters can dock and dine at Dockside and there are a number of public boat slips available.
The best days dock & dine at Dockside Restaurant are week days, if you plan to tie up for a frothy beverage or a meal on the weekends, be prepared you could be waiting for a while to tie up your vessel.
2. Bluewater Grill
The Bluewater Waterfront Grill is a local seafood restaurant located just over the Wrightsville Beach drawbridge, situated along the Intracoastal. The Bluewater Grill has a spectacular waterfront patio facing the area’s largest sport fishing boats, so restaurant patrons can relax and enjoy fresh seafood and casual American brunch while watching boats cruise by.
The Bluewater Grill provides boaters the ability to dock & dine with a number of boat slips available as a first come, first serve basis.
3. Bridge Tender Restaurant
The Bridge Tender is a local steak and seafood restaurant in Wrightsville Beach that overlooks the Intracoastal Waterway right near the drawbridge. The Bridge Tender features a number of fresh fish dishes and coastal steak and meat favorites, along with deserts. The restaurant also offers a community dock for boaters that want to dock and dine.
4. South Beach Grill
At the South Beach Grill you’ll find local fare as well as your traditional burger. The venue has both indoor and outdoor patio seating. To get a table at the restaurant make a reservation. If you are arriving by boat, use the Wynn Plaza public boat docks in Wrightsville Beach.
5. Provision Company
The Provision Company of Southport is a local institution. The restaurant overlooks the Old Yacht Basin in downtown Southport and offers unobstructed views of the Intracoastal Waterway. The restaurant serves local seafood, including ice-cold beer, peel-and-eat shrimp, hamburgers and hot dogs.
Provision Company offers both indoor and outdoor seating. For dinners arriving by boat, the restaurant has its own public dock.
