Your Guide to the Ultimate OIB Breakfast

 

 

We were all told growing up that breakfast is the most important meal of the day and if you believe that than this post is perfect for you. Let's get your day started off right at one of the many great breakfast spots on Ocean Isle Beach. Ocean Isle Beach has a great local community, whose character and charm are reflected in the many locally owned restaurants and coffee shops. You're sure to feel right at home from the first bite to the last sip at these great breakfast spots. So get ready for that big day on the beach, or fuel up for Super Saturday with a great OIB breakfast. Here are some places you won't want to miss. 

For many of us, the day can't start, at least not properly, without a great cup of coffee. Some of us like it black, others love the fancy drinks with abstract art swirled into the foam. No matter your preference, we can all agree a cup of coffee is the only proper way to start a new day. Here are a couple of the best coffee shops on Ocean Isle Beach. Both shops are independently owned and operated. Stop by either of these locations a couple times during your Ocean Isle Beach vacation and you just might get labeled " a regular ". 

Established in 2012 by folks who have a passion for two things; great coffee and surfing, the OIB Surf & Java is the perfect morning stop to grab your favorite coffee concoction. Located next to Lowes this shop features a casual atmosphere where you're encouraged to linger. Enjoy free WiFi during your visit and make sure to grab one of the fresh baked goods which are all made daily on site. I recommend during these cool fall days you try the Cloud Nine Latte which is made with vanilla and toasted marshmallow.  We could tell you more, but we figure you already stopped reading and are on your way to pick up a hot latte. Before you go, here are a few details; they're open 7 am to 5:30 pm 7 days a week and located at 6278 Beach Drive SW, Ocean Isle Beach, NC. 

The Drift has a self-proclaimed goal of creating a place "designed to foster a friendly and social environment"...which reflects perfectly the vibe you'll get on Ocean Isle Beach. For those of you who are serious about coffee,  you're in luck  because you have found a little slice of coffee heaven right here on Ocean Isle Beach. The Drift has a great light breakfast menu to complement their coffee selection. One dish you'll definitely want to try is the Toasted Banana Bread topped with ricotta cheese, walnuts and honey. It just sounds like the perfect fall breakfast. All this great coffee loving takes place Mon-Thurs 7 am to 2 pm and Fri-Sat 7 am to 5 pm. You can find The Drift at 20 E. 2nd Street, Ocean Isle Beach, NC. 

Some days you just wake up with that craving...you know the one...the bagel craving! Whether you like a plain bagel smothered in mounds of soft cream cheese or maybe you're the Asiago cheese bagel lover with a dab of butter, either way here are two great places to grab a bagel and smear within a few minutes of your Ocean Isle Beach vacation home. 

As one New York City native said on Tim's Carolina Bagel & Sandwedges, TripAdvisor review, " this place makes me feel like I am at home", you can't ask for a better endorsement than that.  Located at 925 Seaside Road  #9 right here on Ocean Isle Beach you'll find this family owned and operated deli the perfect place to satisfy your bagel craving. They do offer a small seating area so you're welcome to hang around a bit and chat with the locals. If you're in a rush they offer great breakfast sandwiches on bagels and also have a full-service deli featuring Boars' Head meats and cheeses. Now I know we mentioned Tim's for the bagels but they do also offer eggs, omelets, home fries, grits, and toast so if you do have someone in your party who wants a more filling breakfast Tim's has you covered. My recommendation is to get an Everything bagel with egg and cheese, and a hot cup of coffee for the perfect start to your day. 

Ok I know we said all of these places are right here on Ocean Isle Beach, and we may have told a little white lie about that when it comes to The Bagel Dock Cafe which is located in Calabash, NC. Don't fret though Calabash is only about 15 minutes to the south-west of Ocean Isle and since we did tell you about some great golfing in the area we figured it was only right to give you a place to stop for a quick bagel on the way to the course. You'll find this traditional bagel shop located at 1162 River Road on the Calabash Waterfront. The Bagel Dock Cafe has been, as they say, "rolling bagels for 20 years the New York way". These folks aren't amateurs and you'll agree on the first bite that you have found bagel heaven.  The Bagel Dock serves breakfast all day and is open Tues-Sat 6 am to 3 pm and Sunday from 6:30 am to 2 pm. If you are looking for other things besides bagels try their breakfast wraps and omelettes. If you are looking for more info on golfing during your Ocean Isle Beach vacations make sure to check out our previous post: How to Have an Amazing Golf Vacation this Fall. 

Sometimes a bagel and a cup of coffee just aren't going to cut it. With all the amazing and fun things to do on  OIB, you might just need a big breakfast to head out on that Kayak adventure, or fishing trip. No problem, we have you covered with these great places, all of which serve up a hearty breakfast that won't leave you wanting for calories.

At 6369 Ocean Isle Beach Drive, you'll find one of those breakfast spots you'll just keep coming back to time and time again. First of all, let us warn you this is comfort food. This isn't the place you're going to find tofu or a menu with a five-paragraph explanation of how the chickens are raised on pristine free-range farms in the foothills of lush mountains. This is a place where breakfast is truly the start of the day, and a great day it will be when you start it off at Big Nell's Pit Stop. Many folks start every day off here and we understand why. What you'll find is a friendly local vibe and an attentive staff. The food features generous helpings of all your breakfast favorites. Breakfast plates feature huge helpings of hashbrowns, giant pancakes, and fluffy omelettes, you simply can't go wrong at Big Nell's. Now, this is not fancy dining, it is a casual atmosphere and that suits us just fine for those days when you want to start and end the day in flipflops...hey this is a vacation after all.  Big Nell's is open every day except Monday. Sunday from 7 am to 2 pm and the rest of the week 6 am to 2pm. 

Kicking off each day at 7 am the good folks at The Dawg House Grill Too are ready to help you meet the day and make the most of your Ocean Isle Beach vacation. Let's get to the food. The Dawg House has something for everyone in the family from muffins or a light bowl of yogurt and granola, to that big plate of steak and eggs. If you need to fuel up for a day on the beach, we promise they have just the ticket. The Dawg House also features breakfast sandwiches and wraps which are perfect for that quick grab and go meal before hitting the water for a great day of fishing. True to the beach lifestyle you'll find the Dawg House is a casual and friendly place so leave your stress at the door, and come on in for a hearty OIB style breakfast at the friendly Dawg House. You won't be disappointed. 

 

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We hope you find this review of OIB breakfast locations helpful. One thing you will find at all of these great breakfast places is the friendly local vibe that Ocean Isle Beach is famous for. So don't be a stranger, come have a great meal at one of these local places and begin your OIB breakfast tradition today. If you're still looking for that late-season vacation on Ocean Isle Beach there is still plenty of time and lots of great vacations homes still available. Don't worry we will have the hot coffee and stacks of pancakes waiting for you.