Drift Cafe Carolina Beach — Restaurant in Carolina Beach

We are so happy Drift has opened on the island! The vibe is light, beachy, and welcoming — think airy Boho decor and relaxed island energy. The service was absolutely phenomenal — our server, Matthew, was attentive, kind, and made our experience feel extra special.

I had the Grains & Greens bowl with kale, broccolini, poached eggs, brown rice, avocado, and halloumi — it was healthy, savory perfection. Light but satisfying and full of flavor. My husband ordered the breakfast sandwich with egg, bacon, and cheese, which came with a tomato aioli that was flavorful and balanced without being heavy. The kids loved their passionfruit mango smoothies — not too sweet and super refreshing.

Drift is open seven days a week and also offers some tasty-looking lunch options. We’re thrilled to have this new spot in the neighborhood — it’s...

I’ve been a regular at Drift Café since they’ve opened, and it used to be one of my favorite spots in Carolina Beach. The service was always friendly, efficient, and made the whole experience feel special. Unfortunately, something has clearly changed over the last month. The past few visits have been a letdown. The staff seems disorganized and inattentive — long waits to even get acknowledged, orders coming out wrong or cold, and just a general lack of the warm, welcoming vibe that made Drift stand out. It feels like they’ve either had a major staff turnover or management isn’t keeping things on track anymore. Really disappointing to see a place with so much potential and a great history start to slide like this. I’m hoping they can turn things around, but for now, I’ll be taking my...

This place was SO good! We came in for a midafternoon smoothie and bite to eat. The green smoothie was thick and flavorful and perfect on this hot summer day. We both got avocado toast, I didn’t want goat cheese so the waiter recommended grilled halloumi instead. It was quite possibly the best avocado toast I have had. I loved that it had some crunch with the seeds and the tomato was fresh and flavorful. They also do not skimp on the portions, there was so much avocado and cheese on it! While we didn’t try the coffee that also looked good. The service was impeccable, the place clean, and the vibes very bright and crisp....