Back in September we made the short trek out to Wrightsville Beach from Raleigh for a nutrition conference. A trip to Wrightsville Beach was an annual tradition for my family when we were kids, but our meals while we were there always consisted of fried seafood and pizza. Wrightsville Beach has come a long way and I had PLENTY of options to eat gluten free all weekend long. It was heavenly and I’m already dreaming of heading back! Here’s a few of my fave finds from our quick weekend trip.
1. The Workshop: There are so many great small coffee shop options on the island of Wrightsville beach and this is definitely my new favorite. Highlights included amazing cold brew coffee, a turmeric smoothie, vegan/gluten free protein powder add on, Californian smoothie, and a super cool vibe. We went here every morning for coffee and at lunch for smoothies. They do have pastries and sandwiches, but their smoothies are gluten free and vegan. Looking forward to trying their matcha latte and bulletproof coffee on my next visit!
2. Tower 7: A Wrightsville Beach landmark, RIGHT off the beach, Tower 7 has my favorite margarita selection hands down. Pair those margs with a light and fresh Baja Mexican menu and it is the perfect post beach hang out. There were so many menu items I wanted to try, but I went with the veggie fajitas this time and they did not disappoint. When I think of veggie fajitas I usually think of soggy sautéed bell peppers and onions, but these came with perfectly cooked broccoli, snap peas, mushrooms, and bell peppers. I asked for corn tortillas and our waitress even knew to mention that the veggies are sometimes cooked in a soy sauce type marinade that is not gluten free, but they made them without it for me! The menu was full of options that can easily be made gluten free, modern Mexican style restaurants tend to be one of my go to’s when out of town.
3. Mellow Mushroom: Mellow mushroom has become a staple in our rotation for family birthday events at home in Raleigh. Something about pizza after a day on the beach is so perfect to me. They are able to accommodate all of our food allergies, although we do get funny looks when we order a Mighty Meaty pizza on gluten free crush with vegan cheese. They have daiya vegan cheese and their crust is egg free, both of which are usually tricky to find at pizza joints. It’s just a short drive off the beach and has a comfy vibe with a gorgeous patio. Definitely worth a visit at Wrightsville, especially if your crew has multiple dietary restrictions, there is something for everyone!
4. Surf Berry: Guys. Surf Berry has gluten free granola to top your smoothie bowl. I’m all about a good smoothie bowl these days but it’s hit or miss if the granola served is gluten free. The bowls at Surf Berry were HUGE and so delicious. My food photography on this one wasn’t super great, I was too excited to dig in! Definitely looking forward to heading back to try some more bowls. Bonus: Surf Berry is right next to Mellow Mushroom, super easy to get to, just a quick drive from the beachfront.
There will definitely be a Gluten Free Wrightsville Beach, NC Part 2 because I know there are so many other amazing gluten free eats in the Wrightsville Beach/Wilmington area.
Know of any other good gluten free eats in the Wrightsville Beach/Wilmington area? Feel free to share in the comments below or shoot me a message through the “Contact Me” page on the site, I’ll be sure to check it out on my next trip!
Happy Travels!
