Best Nightlife, Bars & Adult Fun in Carolina Beach & Kure Beach

Boardwalk Area Bars, Cocktails & Nightlife

Hurricane Alley’s — Carolina Beach Boardwalk

Style: Oceanfront bar & grill, rooftop drinks, casual nightlife
Phone: (910) 707-0766
Address: 5 Boardwalk, Carolina Beach, NC 28428
Hours: Seasonal hours can vary
Kid-friendly: Yes for lunch/early dinner; more adult later
Good to know: One of the main Boardwalk drink spots, with ocean views, casual food, drinks, and seasonal nightlife energy. Great for visitors who want a casual beach-bar feel right on the Boardwalk.

Silver Dollar — Carolina Beach Boardwalk Area

Style: Classic Carolina Beach bar, karaoke, cocktails, rooftop, late-night
Address: 3 Cape Fear Blvd, Carolina Beach, NC 28428
Hours: Daily, 11 AM–2 AM
Kid-friendly: No — adult bar scene
Good to know: A long-running Carolina Beach nightlife spot with karaoke, drinks, events, sports, and a rooftop option. Good for a more traditional night-out bar stop near the Boardwalk.

Sand Dollar Sports Bar — Carolina Beach Boardwalk Area

Style: Sports bar, tequila, cocktails, food, Boardwalk drinks
Phone: (910) 636-3122
Address: 5 Cape Fear Blvd, Carolina Beach, NC 28428
Hours: Daily, 11 AM–midnight
Kid-friendly: Earlier in the day, yes; more adult later
Good to know: A Boardwalk sports bar next to Silver Dollar with cold drinks, food, sports, and a casual beach-bar feel. This is a good add to the adult nightlife page because it appears to be one of the newer active Boardwalk bar options.

Buzz’s Roost at the Beach — Carolina Beach Boardwalk Area

Style: Seafood, cocktails, karaoke, late-night food
Phone: (910) 599-5593
Address: 8 Pavilion Ave S, Carolina Beach, NC 28428
Hours: Sun–Thur, 11 AM–12 AM; Fri–Sat, 11 AM–2 AM
Kid-friendly: Earlier, yes; more adult later
Good to know: A Boardwalk-area option for seafood, cocktails, karaoke, and late-night food. Better for adults later in the evening.

The Dive Food & Spirits — Near the Carolina Beach Boardwalk

Style: Dive bar, late-night food, casual drinks
Phone: (910) 458-8282
Address: 6 N Lake Park Blvd, Carolina Beach, NC 28428
Hours: Mon–Thur, 12 PM–12 AM; Fri–Sat, 12 PM–2 AM; Sun, 9 AM–2 AM
Kid-friendly: Yes earlier; more adult later
Good to know: A true late-night food-and-drink option in the middle of Carolina Beach. Good for casual drinks, bar food, and a less polished island bar feel.

The Fat Pelican — Near the Carolina Beach Boardwalk

Style: Legendary dive bar, beer, outdoor hangout
Address: 8 S Lake Park Blvd, Carolina Beach, NC 28428
Hours: Open daily until 2 AM
Kid-friendly: No — adult bar scene
Good to know: A true Carolina Beach classic. The Fat Pelican is known for its quirky dive-bar feel, massive walk-in beer cooler, outdoor seating, and “you have to see it once” reputation.

SeaWitch Cafe & Tiki Bar — Near the Carolina Beach Boardwalk

Style: Tiki bar, live music, cocktails, casual food
Phone: (910) 707-0533
Address: 227 Carolina Beach Ave N, Carolina Beach, NC 28428
Hours: Live music and event times vary
Kid-friendly: Yes during lunch/early dinner; more adult later
Good to know: One of the best-known live music spots in Carolina Beach. SeaWitch is an easy pick for visitors looking for food, drinks, tiki-bar energy, and entertainment in one place.

Shuckin’ Shack Oyster Bar — Near the Carolina Beach Boardwalk

Style: Oyster bar, seafood, beer, cocktails, casual drinks
Phone: (910) 458-7380
Address: 6A N Lake Park Blvd, Carolina Beach, NC 28428
Hours: Daily, 11 AM–12 AM
Kid-friendly: Yes earlier; more bar-oriented later
Good to know: A casual seafood-and-drinks option close to the Boardwalk. Good for oysters, peel-and-eat shrimp, drinks, and a relaxed beach-town bar/restaurant feel.

Crush & Grind — Near the Carolina Beach Boardwalk

Style: Coffee by day, beer, wine, cocktails later
Phone: (910) 707-0909
Address: 7 Harper Ave, Carolina Beach, NC 28428
Hours: Mon–Thur, 7 AM–6 PM; Fri–Sat, 7 AM–8 PM; Sun, 7 AM–5 PM
Kid-friendly: Daytime, yes; more adult later
Good to know: A smaller, more relaxed Boardwalk-area option for coffee earlier in the day and beer, wine, or cocktails later.

Havana’s — Near the Carolina Beach Boardwalk

Style: Full bar, cocktails, margaritas, wine, polished casual dinner
Phone: (910) 458-2822
Address: 1 N Lake Park Blvd, Carolina Beach, NC 28428
Hours: Mon–Thur, 3 PM–10 PM; Fri, 3 PM–11 PM; Sat, 10 AM–11 PM; Sun, 10 AM–10 PM
Kid-friendly: Yes
Good to know: Not a nightlife bar, but a strong dinner-and-cocktail option right by the center of town. Good for visitors who want drinks with a nicer sit-down meal.

Carolina Beach Bars, Breweries, Cocktails & Adult-Friendly Spots

Ocean Grill & Tiki Bar — Carolina Beach

Style: Oceanfront tiki bar, cocktails, cold beer, live music
Phone: (910) 707-0049
Address: 1211 S Lake Park Blvd, Carolina Beach, NC 28428
Hours: Seasonal/weather-dependent tiki bar hours
Kid-friendly: Yes for dining; tiki bar is more adult-focused
Good to know: One of the best oceanfront drink spots on the island. The tiki bar sits beside Ocean Grill on the old Center Pier remnants and is known for tropical cocktails, cold beer, beach views, and a true Carolina Beach feel.

Good Hops Brewing — Carolina Beach

Style: Local brewery, craft beer, taproom, disc golf
Phone: (910) 512-6697
Address: 811 Harper Ave, Carolina Beach, NC 28428
Hours: Often open 12 PM–10 PM; weekly hours may vary
Kid-friendly: Yes
Good to know: The main brewery on the island and a great low-key stop for local craft beer. Good Hops has a casual outdoor feel and is also known for its disc golf setup.

High Tide Lounge & Tiki Bar at Carolina Beach Pier — Carolina Beach

Style: Pier bar, tiki drinks, ocean views, beach hangout
Phone: (910) 636-3075
Address: 1800 Carolina Beach Ave N, Carolina Beach, NC 28428
Hours: Sun, 9 AM–9:30 PM; Mon–Fri, 11 AM–9:30 PM; Sat, 9 AM–9:30 PM; weather permitting for the tiki bar
Kid-friendly: Yes earlier/daytime; more adult as the night goes on
Good to know: A great north-end drinking spot with pier atmosphere, ocean views, and indoor/outdoor areas. A good stop if you are spending time near the north end or Freeman Park.

Island Beverage — Carolina Beach

Style: Craft beer, wine bar, bottle shop, local hangout
Phone: (910) 707-1423
Address: 1206 N Lake Park Blvd, Unit C, Carolina Beach, NC 28428
Hours: Mon–Thur, 12 PM–10 PM; Fri–Sat, 11 AM–11 PM; Sun, 11 AM–9 PM
Kid-friendly: Yes
Good to know: A strong pick for craft beer and wine lovers. Good for drink-in, takeout, rotating taps, and a more relaxed local hangout feel.

The Vault Coffee and Pour House — Carolina Beach

Style: Coffee, beer, wine, pour house
Phone: (910) 707-0347
Address: 612 N Lake Park Blvd, Carolina Beach, NC 28428
Hours: Daily, 7 AM–7 PM
Kid-friendly: Daytime, yes; more adult later
Good to know: A coffee-to-drinks crossover spot with a casual pour-house feel. Good when you want something more relaxed than a full bar scene.

Lazy Pirate Island Sports Grill — Carolina Beach

Style: Sports bar, live music, outdoor games, casual food/drinks
Phone: (910) 707-0222
Address: 701 N Lake Park Blvd, Carolina Beach, NC 28428
Hours: Mon–Wed, 4 PM–10 PM; Thur, 4 PM–11 PM; Fri–Sat, 11:30 AM–12 AM; Sun, 11:30 AM–10 PM
Kid-friendly: Yes
Good to know: A good pick when the group includes adults and kids. Lazy Pirate has indoor/outdoor seating, live music, pub-style food, and a relaxed come-as-you-are atmosphere.

HopLite Irish Pub & Restaurant — Carolina Beach

Style: Irish pub, neighborhood bar, game room, music bingo
Phone: (910) 458-4745
Address: 720 N Lake Park Blvd, Carolina Beach, NC 28428
Hours: Hours vary by day and season
Kid-friendly: Yes for food/early evening; more bar-oriented later
Good to know: A good neighborhood pub option with food, drinks, games, music bingo, and later-hour energy.

The Last Resort — Carolina Beach

Style: Local dive bar, beer, outdoor hangout
Address: 600 N Lake Park Blvd, Carolina Beach, NC 28428
Hours: Hours vary by day and season
Kid-friendly: No — adult bar scene
Good to know: A laid-back local bar option for people who want something less polished and more old-school Carolina Beach.

Salt Fish Restaurant & Tiki Bar — Carolina Beach

Style: Tiki cocktails, craft beer, wine, Caribbean/Polynesian dinner
Phone: (910) 707-1225
Address: 718 N Lake Park Blvd, Carolina Beach, NC 28428
Hours: Tues–Sat, 5 PM–9 PM
Kid-friendly: More adult/date-night style
Good to know: Better for cocktails and dinner than late-night partying. A good pick for tiki drinks, seafood, and a more elevated night out.

Stoked Restaurant — Carolina Beach

Style: Waterfront drinks, harbor dining, live music, events
Phone: (910) 458-8300
Address: 313 Canal Drive, Carolina Beach, NC 28428
Hours: Mon–Thur, 11 AM–9 PM; Fri, 11 AM–10 PM; Sat, 9:30 AM–10 PM; Sun, 9:30 AM–9 PM
Kid-friendly: Yes
Good to know: A good harborfront spot for drinks, dinner, and live music. The Canal Drive setting gives it a more waterfront, marina-style feel.

Kure Beach Bars, Cocktails & Adult-Friendly Spots

Jack Mackerel’s Island Grill / Grumpy Grouper Rooftop Bar — Kure Beach

Style: Island bar & grill, rooftop bar, cocktails, sports
Phone: (910) 458-7668
Address: 113 K Ave, Kure Beach, NC 28449
Hours: Daily, 11 AM–9 PM; Grumpy Grouper Rooftop Bar drinks-only, 11 AM to close, weather permitting
Kid-friendly: Yes for restaurant; rooftop bar is more adult-focused
Good to know: One of the better Kure Beach options for drinks with dinner. The rooftop bar is a good fit for adults looking for cocktails, sports, and a little Kure Beach nightlife.

Bud & Joe’s Sandbar — Kure Beach

Style: Dive bar, pool, casual drinks, local scene
Phone: (910) 458-5466
Address: 108 K Ave, Kure Beach, NC 28449
Hours: Mon–Thur, 4 PM–2 AM; Fri–Sun, 1 PM–2 AM. Winter hours may vary.
Kid-friendly: No — adult bar scene
Good to know: The classic Kure Beach dive-bar option. A casual, local, no-frills place for drinks near the heart of Kure Beach.