Dude Sweet Candy

This new cute little gift shop is next door to Nancy Joe's bakery and Michelangelo's Pizza. There…read moreare a variety of gifts here, including soaps, ornaments, children's books, birthday gifts and house decor. There are gifts for people who own pets, especially Corgis since the owners have a corgi themselves. The owners are very nice. We ended up getting a painted portrait of a pitbull made by one of the owners and zodiac sign magnets. They have their own free two lane parking spots that is located in front of the metered parking spaces. This is a good gift shop to check out if you're in the area!

A really lovely little shop in Carolina Beach for anyone who is looking to find some unique gifts…read moreor artwork. The thing that makes this place a notch ahead of a standard beach gift shop is the original artwork by one of the owners: Bob Mather. I was lucky enough to visit when Bob himself was working. What a kind, lovely human being. All of Bob's pieces are absolutely wonderful, and because he owns the store, you are able to choose between prints, cards, and other items featuring his work...AND even some of the original pieces. Many are of a beach aesthetic, but there are others that are geared more towards pet lovers. (Dogs, in particular.) You can't really get more "unique" than original artwork, so this place is a great choice if you're looking for something really special at a very reasonable price point. Although the space is relatively small and the parking looks like it could be a little tricky during a busy season, Bungalow by the Sea is absolutely worth visiting. It's a space filled with warmth; curated with care.

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Sumthin Beachie

(4 reviews)

0.5 mi

I've been to the store several times and always find something cute for my beach house decor. It's…read morealso a place to get a gift or to bring someone who wants to shop for a coastal/nautical item. There are a wide range of items and prices from small pieces to large items like wall art and furniture (don't forget to check out the building in the back). The people are friendly and helpful too.

Adorable little gift shop that is filed with so many creative items! Many local artists work are…read morerepresented too, which I really appreciated. The building inside is much bigger than it looks on the outside and takes many twists and turns from room to room. There's also a half price room and one dedicated just to pottery. The new owners are welcoming, super friendly, and excited to be a part of the community. They also have a building behind theirs that's filled with unique furnishings. Definitely worth visiting!

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Far Out on the Boardwalk

It's easy to walk by and just see it as a funky retro gift shop but it also has great treats like…read moresoft serve and cotton candy. The owner was super cool and let us bring our dog inside. The shirts and Hoosier are super soft too.

From the owner: Where nostalgia meets the Carolina Beach Boardwalk! Offering retro toys, candy, soda pops, vinyl…read morerecords, tin signs and lunch boxes, and much more. We also offer fresh-spun cotton candy, giant pretzels, popcorn, and nachos. We're here to take you away!

Vinyl Records and custom Far Out! shirts for sale

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Retro soda pops and toys to take you back and refresh.

Oceanside Art and Gifts

This store is conveniently located on the Boardwalk with plentiful parking…read more Numerous items made by local artists. Reasonably priced & various types of really cool art.

From the owner: Nestled on the vibrant boardwalk of Carolina Beach, just steps from the stunning shoreline, Coastal…read moreInspirations Art Gallery is a celebration of creativity and craftsmanship. Our gallery showcases a diverse collection of art and unique gifts, all lovingly crafted by talented local artisans. At Coastal Inspirations, we believe in the power of art to inspire and connect communities. Our carefully curated selection includes vibrant paintings, intricate sculptures, handmade jewelry, and more, reflecting the beauty and spirit of our coastal surroundings. Whether you're a seasoned art collector or a casual visitor looking for the perfect souvenir, our friendly staff is here to help you discover a piece that resonates with you. Join us in celebrating the rich artistic culture of Carolina Beach and take home a piece of the coast that captures the essence of this beautiful locale. Visit us today and experience the creativity that flourishes right here by the ocean!

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Opening March 31st!

Siren's Cove

(2 reviews)

Siren's Cove is located on the Boardwalk in Carolina Beach. I spotted it while walking on the…read moreBoardwalk and decided to check it out and am so glad I did. Siren's Cove is locally owned and has friendly service. It is a smaller store filled with practical items you might need that you forgot to pack to beach items to souvenirs to kitschy items. I was pleased to find a good selection of postcards. I mail a lot and they aren't the easiest to find and I did not see them in the other shops. If you are looking for something, Siren's Cove likely has what you need.

Such a cool quaint shop. Affordable prices and nice wares. Super cute. Service with a smile. They…read morehave water shoes, umbrellas and lots of things made locally.

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Breeza Beachwear

Bought a beach tent here on 05/17 and went straight to the beach to use it. When we opened it and…read moretried to set it up, we discovered it had broken wires and was clearly defective out of the package. We returned to the store about 3 hours later the same day to explain the issue and request an exchange. We were told they would not help because we brought it back "3 hours later," even though it was never usable and was defective from the start. The timing was only because we had already paid for beach parking and secured our spot, so we tried to set it up right away instead of immediately leaving and losing the parking and setup area. As soon as we realized it was defective, we came back. This wasn't buyer's remorse or normal use... the item was unusable from the moment it was opened. Very disappointing experience and no resolution offered for a defective product.

This is the travelers paradise. Need a souvenir, forgot your swim suit, need a cheap gift this is…read morethe place for you. They advertise a 4 for 10 deal and they have loads of items. There are seas and seas of t shirts, shorts and sweatshirts. It's hard to find the kids items but if you need help the employees will point you in the right direction. You can try on items. If you find anything without a decal they can iron one on for you. We got the kids some sweatshirts. I looked but all the sizes seemed small to me and the items I wanted weren't available in my size. Wings 807 N Lake Park Blvd, Carolina Beach, NC 28428 Sunday December 20, 2020 2:30pm

Purchased T-shirt washed once

Beach shop for forgotten items...

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King's Beachwear

4.0

King's Beachwear is located on the Carolina Boardwalk shops. The store is large and well organized…read moreso it is easy to move around and see the products. You will find the typical clothing and souvenirs here. The clothing prices seemed cheaper than other shops. The staff I encountered were friendly and although busy on tasks, checked me out right away.

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Fuzz Love

4.5

(6 reviews)

Made my day to find this shop. Not your typical beach souvenir junk. Loved the FUZZ LOVE t-shirt…read morewith "changing the world - one redneck at a time" on back. Perfect gift!! Hope to be able to order your products on line soon. Thanks, Judy from Raleigh

Great people, fun store, good selection of stuff. Worth stopping by. Miss that they aren't in…read moredowntown anymore

Fuzzy Fuzzin'

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The Checkered Church Gift Shop

0.4 mi

I love this little shop. It is not on the main road, so you'll probably miss it unless you know…read morewhere it is. It is filled with high quality beach stuff. Decorations, bath items, candles, stationery, etc. I bought a really cute print of flip-flops, some note cards and a couple of magnetic bookmarks. Those bookmarks are genius! The proprietor was very helpful, but also knew when to stay away. I hate when you walk into a small gift shop and since you're probably the first customer in 4 hours, the owner follows you around, commenting on everything you pick up. Not here at the church. In fact, I felt comfortable enough to make two trips around the shop just to make sure that I didn't miss anything. I haven't been to all the little gift shops in CB, but this is definitely my favorite so far.

Smugglers Cove Provision

I loved visiting this little shop in the Boardwalk area of Carolina Beach. They are a mermaid and…read morepirate themed boutique with lots of cute gifts, jewelry and clothing that are unique and reasonably priced. The hours are a little wonky, but worth figuring out to come and find some great sea-themed souvenirs. I chatted with the very nice guy behind the counter while carefully selecting some treasures to bring back home as mementos of our trip to the beach. He was very nice and patient as I tried several different pieces of jewelry. We found some nice accessories, a few gifts and a really cool hand-printed mermaid t-shirt. I will definitely return if I am ever in the area again!

Great service. The salesperson was super nice, but I can't remember her name. Super unique stuff…read more Truly LOVE my "Release the Kraken" sweatshirt.

Friendliest Pirates on the Beach!

Pirate Merch!

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Mermaid Tops

Britt's Donuts

Ok I get it now, and the 50 deep line wait was worth it. This place makes 1 thing: donuts. And it…read moremakes 1 style of donut only: fried, glazed and delicious. No frills, old school cash registers, cash only, but holy @#$% do they make an exceptional one! The prices are legit. Buck twenty five for one, $7 for half a dozen, and $13 for a dozen. We ordered half a dozen and when we got home we were pleasantly surprised to have 8 in the bag. Was this an error? I doubt it. Was it because of the wait? Highly doubt that again since there's always a wait. And $7 for 8 of these bad boys is a steal. And now for the actual donut... They are hand made so you get all different shapes and sizes. These puppies are pulled fresh from the fryer and served piping hot. They're covered in glaze, but not the kind that is thick and just sticks on top. It melts into every nook and cranny of the dough becoming a part of it. That first bite is warm buttery and sweet. You get the outer crisp and the softer delicate inner taste all at once. No frills, no toppings, no tricks, nothing. Just pure perfection. If you're in the area this is a must stop bucket list type of place. Don't worry about the line or the wait, it's worth it.

We come by here every time we visit the boardwalk! Always have to grab some donuts, they're the…read morebest you'll get! It's a cute little shop, and service is quick. Been coming here for years and never had a bad experience! Just the other day, my brother got 5 donuts and ate them all under five minutes. Extremely low prices as well!

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Island Bagels

I love the service, she attended us very well also I like how their super friendly with pet, my dog…read morewas happy with the treats , bacon Also it was super nice eating outside I really recommend here if you want to take your dog somewhere to eat, it's better early morning times because it's not busy and your dog is going to be more calm

The salmon bagel was inedible: the fish was too salty and too fishy (might have gone bad) …read more Even after it was removed the taste and smell was too strong to salvage the rest of the bagel. The good parts: The gluten free bagels are decent. They are relatively fast and the place is clean.

Local art and books for sale

Interior

Breakfast Sandwich

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North End Java Stop

Great takeout, lots of options. My daughter loves the Turkey club on a gluten free bun.read more

It's not much to look at from the outside (or the inside for that matter) but they are very…read morefriendly and the bacon, egg, and cheese biscuits are huge, served hot and are very reasonably priced.

Chicken Breakfast Sandwich on Biscuit

Fried Chicken Sandwich

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Adult beverage cases

Wake N Bake Donuts

So happy to finally have the time to stop in and try Wake n Bake Donuts as it has been on our…read morebucket list for a long time and it did not disappoint! The service was incredibly friendly and they have a fantastic variety of freshly made, beautiful-looking donuts. We decided on a dozen and grabbed a mix of glazed, chocolate frosted, strawberry frosted, chocolate cake donut, the cinnamon bun donut and an espresso donut. Every single one was amazing. We even picked up a drink koozie for a souvenir! When you get the 100% approval of three teenagers, you know you're doing something right. Thank you, Wake n Bake Donuts, we will definitely be back!

We decided to order donuts midweek for breakfast during our vacation. We also tried the glazed…read morecroissant and donut holes. For my taste, the original glaze is too sweet. If you really like sweet things, you'll probably love it. My Espresso High donut was absolutely perfect (10/10) and will be my go-to whenever I return to Wake and Bake. My husband had the Carolina Sand donut and loved it. The online ordering was very convenient, and they had our order ready for us at pickup time.

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Celtic Creamery

4.7

(202 reviews)

This ice creamery was recommended to us by our Airbnb owner and it did not disappoint. It's tucked…read morein the back of a gift shop, so we hesitated a bit at the door, but found our way. My friends and I had the cookie dough, coffee and blackberry cheesecake ice creams in cake cones and absolutely loved all 3. They also have a cart that passes up and down the beach with select flavors to order from during the day time. The place was cute and family owned. We will be back!

This review involves both Celtic Creamery and DoorDash…read more If you order from Celtic Creamery through DoorDash, be aware. My last two orders had major issues. On 6/4, my order arrived completely melted because the ice cream had leaked through a paper lunch bag after the containers weren't properly closed. I figured "mistakes happen" and let it go. However, my most recent order (6/23) arrived with only one of the three items I paid for ( on a $45+ order). I remember not too long ago when businesses took more ownership of problems like this. I know DoorDash can issue a partial refund, but that isn't really the point. I paid for a service and tonight when something went wrong, everyone just pointed somewhere else. The part I can't get past is that LITERALLY no one could tell me where the rest of my order went. Like, hello?! The driver said there were no additional bags. So I called Celtic Creamery and the guy on the phone said they had tried to tell him there were multiple bags as the dasher left (which I have a hard time believing when the dasher was a 5 star dasher with over 1k ratings.) But if that's true...then where did the other $27 of my order go? What surprised me even more was that NO ONE offered a practical solution. If the missing items were still at the shop, I would have gladly driven over to pick them up. Even something as simple as, "We're sorry. Come pick up the rest of your order, and here's a free scoop or a small gift card for the inconvenience," would have gone a long way toward keeping me as a customer. Instead, the conversation ended with little more than an apology and no real attempt to resolve what happened. A lack of ownership is what lost my business. While DoorDash shares *some* responsibility, these issues have happened with different drivers on multiple orders from Celtic Creamery, which makes me question the store's packaging and order verification process. If a business chooses to offer delivery, orders should be packaged securely and verified before they leave the store--especially when signature desserts cost $12 or more a piece. The ice cream itself is good. Our first order was excellent, which makes these last two experiences even more disappointing. Unfortunately, repeated problems with missing items, melted deliveries, and a lack of accountability mean I won't be ordering from Celtic Creamery again.

8 Hot Mini Donuts with cinnamon sugar

Coffee chip & Irish cream - close enough to go walk and enjoy with a view!

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Drift Cafe

4.0

(14 reviews)

0.6 mi

Love the coffee here! I have tried the blueberry coffee and raspberry almond latte. It is always…read morepretty busy here, but for the coffee, I say it is worth the wait. I also got a salad here, and it wasn't the best for the high price point, but maybe I just need to try something else. The service can also be a little slow (I assume to how busy it can be with all the orders). Overall, I will be here for the coffee, especially the raspberry almond lattes.

Avocado Toast was good, Crispy Potatoes good, mango smoothie good. Mishap with service on drinks…read morebut they made it right.

Interior: service station and pay station.

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Squigleys Ice Cream & Treats

If in or around the Carolina Beach area GO THERE...!!!…read moreFamily owned for 4 decades n unique as they come. You can create your own ice cream combination or order from the Squigley Girl's Favorite list. I had the Emily: Raspberry, Lemon, n Cheesecake. OMG!! Head's up, they are a cash only transaction business....an ATM machine is on sitr!

Wonderful ice cream. I love the thin mint flavor. It's a really cool concept mixing toppings. It's…read morecash only though. And it gets busy. But the ice cream is 100% worth it.