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    The Rusty Nail

    4.6 (18 reviews)
    InexpensiveBars, Jazz & Blues
    Closed • 12:00 pm - 2:00 am (Next day)

    The Rusty Nail Photos

    THE RUSTY NAIL ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Live music
    Divey
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - The Rusty Nail

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    5 months ago

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    5 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Great place to see great music! Owner is terrific!! Always a go to on a weekend night

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    3 years ago

    This is one of my favorite bars in Wilmington. Great laid back vibe and on Tuesday's Blues Jam, the music and people are amazing.

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    4 years ago

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    15 years ago

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    7 years ago

    Great dive bar. Even smells like a dive bar should, a few tv's, pool tables outdoor area for music.

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    10 years ago

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    18 years ago

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    17 years ago

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    10 years ago

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    12 years ago

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    13 years ago

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    15 years ago

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    Ask the Community - The Rusty Nail

    Review Highlights - The Rusty Nail

    “Tuesday is official Blues Jam night, Saturday was fun too.”

    Mentioned in 4 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    The Blind Elephant - Drinks

    The Blind Elephant

    4.0(173 reviews)
    1.3 mi
    •$$

    Incredibly unique cocktails made by professional bartenders in a welcoming, cozy environment…read more Membership is $5. This is probably not your kind of place if you want a Bud Lite (no offense to Bud Lite).

    The Blind Elephant is a very cool little speakeasy tucked away down an alley in downtown…read moreWilmington. Great atmosphere, cozy and quiet seating, and just an all-around neat place to spend some time. The doorman was also extremely friendly and welcoming. There is a $5 membership fee to join, which we didn't mind. I ordered one of their specialty cocktails from the menu and it was very good. My wife ordered a Cosmo, however, and unfortunately hers was a completely different story. Instead of a traditional Cosmo, it was made with a very heavy amount of lime juice. It was cloudy, extremely lime-forward, and simply wasn't what she ordered or expected. She didn't even finish it. This is one of my pet peeves with cocktails: if someone orders a standard drink--a Cosmo, margarita, etc.--make the standard drink unless they ask for something different. A bartender's personal flair can be great in a house specialty, but it shouldn't automatically be added to a classic cocktail. When the bartender noticed she hadn't finished it, he said, "You should have told me." Fair enough--but once we explained that she didn't like the drink, we were still charged for it. That was disappointing. What makes it more frustrating is that my wife had been here previously and another bartender made her Cosmo perfectly, which is one reason we came back. Overall, the Blind Elephant has a lot going for it. The atmosphere is terrific, my specialty cocktail was excellent, and we really like the concept. We're three-times-and-you're-out people, so we'll give it another shot or two. Hopefully next time Martha gets the Cosmo she remembers, because we'd really like to have a reason to keep coming back. For now: 3 stars.

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    The Blind Elephant
    The Blind Elephant
    The Blind Elephant

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    The Rooftop Bar

    The Rooftop Bar

    3.3(43 reviews)
    1.3 mi

    Historic Wilmington bar with the best aerial views. This bar was our second bar on the Haunted Pub…read moreCrawl. The bar is located on the fifth floor. By the bar is an indoor theater where we sat at and had our drinks for the pub crawl. The creepiest place in our pub crawl tour was at that theater area by The Rooftop Bar. We used a tiny elevator to go up to this bar. There are stairs to go up and down the floors to the bar if the elevator is too cramped or too long of a wait. The server at the bar was pretty and kind. I was in awe of the views behind the plexiglass and the sunset over the water in Wilmington and the USS Battleship North Carolina. This is a bar I would definitely go to again just to see the spectacular views.

    Struggled with the rating. I could have gone 3 stars but decided on 4. The deciding factor was…read morehow cheap the drinks were. Located on Front Street, right in the heart of downtown. The Rooftop bar is on the 5th story of the building it is in. There is an elevator, but if you are a glutton for punishment, you can take the stairs. The drinks are very reasonable. 3 beers cost me $10. Not a huge selection of draft beer, but many others in cans/bottles. Bartender was very good, friendly and efficient. The bar is in the middle, with seats all around. You can also take you drinks to seating outside with better views of the Cape Fear River. One section gives you a great view of the battleship across the river. There are criticism in other reviews about the views, which I get. The Southside views are mostly looking at the rooftops of other buildings, not that they can change that. There are other obstructions they can control if they wanted which would improve the viewing experience. The bar is very laid back, with a mixed crowd. Recommend.

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    The Rooftop Bar
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    Vodka soda

    The Rusty Nail - bars - Updated October 2026

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