Places to Eat & Drink in Greater Wilmington, Delaware
Planning a weekend and wondering where to book dinner? Greater Wilmington fits a lot of good food into a small area. The restaurant scene in Wilmington and the Brandywine Valley has garnered national accolades, and rightfully so. Savor farm-to-table flavors influenced by our Pennsylvania Dutch surroundings or scrumptious seafood fresh from the Delaware shore. Explore globally influenced cuisine along Union Street, fine dining along Market Street, and colonial flavors in Historic New Castle.
Where Should You Eat in Wilmington?
Start on Market Street. Downtown's main dining corridor holds Bardea Food & Drink, whose chef was named a 2025 James Beard Foundation Award Semi-Finalist. Le Cavalier sits inside HOTEL DU PONT a few blocks up. For a drink after, The Quoin has two options. Its rooftop bar was the first in Wilmington. Downstairs, Simmer Down pours cocktails in the old bank money room, and Esquire named it one of America's best bars in 2024. Walk toward the water for seafood and river views. Head south to Historic New Castle, where Jessop's Tavern serves hearty American, English, and Swedish plates inside a 1724 building. It also keeps the largest Belgian beer list in the state.
Eater Philadelphia recently stated that "with a crop of restaurants helmed by some of Philly's most notable chefs, the city in Delaware is ready to break out."
No. Delaware has no state sales tax, so your restaurant bill comes to the menu price plus whatever you leave as a tip. For anyone driving in from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, or Maryland, that gap adds up across a weekend of meals, and it applies to shopping here as well.
Where can I eat seafood with a water view in Wilmington?
Riverfront Wilmington. Banks Seafood Kitchen and Raw Bar sits right on the Christina River and leans upscale, so save it for a nice, memorable dinner. Big Fish Grill, a few steps along the water, suits a casual family night better. Downtown, Tonic Seafood & Steak covers oysters and lobster.
What are the best brunch spots in Wilmington?
Weekend brunch spreads across downtown and the surrounding towns. Kid Shelleen's in Trolley Square is a longtime neighborhood favorite known for its open grill and award-winning burgers and brunch. Market Kitchen & Bar, a gastropub in Newark, sources from area farms and fits a slower Sunday.
Are there food halls in Wilmington?
Yes. DE.CO and The Chancery Market both sit downtown and put several vendors under one roof. The Chancery Market, on North Market Street, adds global vendors and a full bar. Either one solves the problem of a group that wants five different cuisines at the same table.
Is Wilmington worth the drive from Philadelphia or Baltimore for dinner?
Greater Wilmington sits minutes off I-95, between Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, DC, so dinner here is a short drive from three metro areas. Park once, walk between Market Street restaurants, then finish with a nightcap on the Riverfront. No sales tax on any of it.
