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    Drift Cafe

    3.8 (17 reviews)
    Open 7:00 am - 4:00 pm

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    Live Current wait: under 5 minutes

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    Breakfast sandwich
    Katie F.

    My fiancé and I stopped here to grab some food before getting on the road and it was delicious. Our food was also prepared in under 10 minutes which was great for time. I also enjoyed the choco banana smoothie which was delicious! The avocado toast was a bit messy to take to go, so I'm glad I grabbed a knife/fork before leaving the cafe. I really enjoyed the vibe of this place too, it has a lot of natural lighting and was laid back.

    Merch!
    Theresa Z.

    First... SO HAPPY FOR ANOTHER COFFEE PLACE IN CAROLINA BEACH!! Yes! Thank you, Drift! Now... experience and ambiance wise.... Super friendly and nice staff. Very helpful. They have menus at the counter by the to go ordering and paying area for easy access. Everything is also digitized. Easy pay and tip too. Super clean. Love that retractable wall option for exterior seating on beautiful breezy days. They have parking spots for mobile pick up orders. Location: off lake park blvd and easy in and out. Ample parking! Great location to go to before and after beaching it. Drink: One size iced drinks but it's fine, it's ample!! I had an iced amber and my little enjoyed the banana cocoa shake which I stole a sip and loved it! Food: No pastry items were out yet (we went as early as they opened) but I did order an egg and cheese (modified) sandwich. It was REALLY good! the bacon was that thick crispy bacon. Very happy they are finally here and look forward to meeting friends here for coffee.

    Avocado toast
    Mandi B.

    This is my new favorite coffee shop on the east side of NC. The decor is minimal and modern, the staff was welcoming and friendly ! The food was beyond amazing and healthy focused! I just wish they would bring one to lake norman!

    Menu cover
    Bill S.

    Fantastic again! Went with vegan wife and she loved the options. Staff was very personable and remember me from last visit.

    Gorgeous drink

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    11 days ago

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    3 months ago

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    Michael P.

    Helpful 1
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    12 days ago

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    1 month ago

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

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    Michael P.

    Thanks for visiting. Glad the drinks were fixed. Welcome back.

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    6 days ago

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    11 months ago

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    Michael P.

    Helpful 3
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    10 months ago

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    Michael P.

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    1 year ago

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    Michael P.

    Helpful 1
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    1 year ago

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    Michael P.

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    5 months ago

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    Michael P.

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    2 months ago

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    1 month ago

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    Michael P.

    Glad you enjoyed the meal! Welcome back

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    1 year ago

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    Michael P.

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    11 months ago

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    Michael P.

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    1 year ago

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    Michael P.

    Always a delight having you. See you soon :)

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    11 months ago

    Food was excellent! Service was great, especially Tia who was a great hostess. This is a must see when at Carolina Beach!

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    Michael P.

    Glad to hear this. Welcome back!

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    11 months ago

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    A terrific convenient store that has literally all the things, as well as a place to get made to…read moreorder breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They have an ice machine, alcohol, sunscreens, meds, tobacco, candy, etc. Great to grab things you may not have and need without heading into the other end of town. This is a down home place and nothing fancy. It's great. We went to get coffees and breakfast. We ordered at the counter and paid. Then, you wait for your food to be cooked in the back and there's a small window where they call your name. They do have some seats to wait. We got a coffee that was self serve and an Americano that came from the back window with our food. Ordered a chicken sandwich on a brioche bun and an açaí bowl. The sandwich was absolutely delicious! Highly recommend. The açaí bowl was terrific- loads of fruit! The base was also tasty. The service was fantastic. Makes you feel at home. Checked on us while waiting for food. People were in and out. This place is great!!!

    Super duper sweet! Like really sweet! If I'd have asked for half sweet I'd have been way happier…read more Nonetheless, vibe was "immaculate" in the words of my husband lol. Definitely a local place. The breakfast bagel was oh my heavenly!!!! We got a bacon egg and cheese and forgot to take a pic... it was that good lol. This is right by a quieter beach entrance so a stroll after was perfect.

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    The Southerly Biscuit & Pie

    The Southerly Biscuit & Pie

    4.6
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    The food is great, but the staff is even better!…read more When you think of southern hospitality and good food this is what should come to mind.

    I haven't stopped thinking about the Southerly since our vacation in CB ended…read more Sis and I suddenly had a taste for Key Lime pie. We're close enough to Florida, surely SOMEBODY had to serve a decent KLP?! Quick Google search led me to the Southerly, which incidentally was very close to the park we were currently at. I called to see if they made them and the guy said they DO but were sold out for the day. I wasn't surprised, as I called right before they closed. I asked if I could reserve one for the next day- easy as pie, right? He was so friendly and accommodating, I probably would have gone in even if he said no pies tomorrow. Just a super warm, kind person. The Southerly is known for their biscuits, so when we went in the next day we got biscuits, sandwiches, and the pie. The biscuits are out of this world. I've never had a biscuit this good before. Tender, flaky, with a few crispy parts. The flavor was heavenly. The sandwiches were very good, I wish I had been able to try more. I even took a plain biscuits home to eat later and they're fantastic even without butter or jam. Absolute perfection. The Key lime pie was good. We didn't eat it until later that night. The crust was a little dry and crumbly. The filling was decadent, perfect, key limey in every way. I couldn't recommend this place more. Everyone was so nice, it's a great local spot. And let me tell you-- I would pay for express shipping if they offered it.

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    Britt's Donuts

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    Excellent, freshly made donuts. So delicious! I'm not a huge donut person but these were soft with…read morejust the right amount of crunch on the outside. And the glaze was plentiful. This is a no-frills, open air store near the Boardwalk's rides and arcade. Staff was friendly and welcoming. I didn't have a long wait (only 1 person in front of me) but I hear there are sometimes lines here. Cash only! If I'm back in Carolina Beach again, this will be a priority stop.

    This place is such a cool throwback. It's got a 1950s beach diner vibe, and the concept is as…read moresimple as it gets: fresh glazed donuts and cold milk. They're cash only, so make sure you bring some. We got a dozen donuts for $13, which is honestly hard to believe these days compared to places like Dunkin. The service was one of the highlights. The older lady who took our order was incredibly friendly and kept checking on us to see if we needed anything. She made the whole place feel welcoming and seemed like she genuinely enjoyed being there. One of my favorite parts was watching the donuts being made right after we ordered. Seeing them come out fresh made the wait worth it. They were served warm, and the dough was so soft and airy it practically melted in your mouth. The sweet glaze was perfect without being overwhelming, and the cold milk was the perfect pairing. I found out about this place through locals, and after eating here I understand the hype. The walls are covered with awards and news articles, including one recognizing them as the 2nd best donut shop in the country. I can definitely see why people rave about it. If you're in Carolina Beach, this place is absolutely worth the stop.

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    Inside Britt's

    Drift Cafe - breakfast_brunch - Updated August 2026

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