Fort Bragg
Get ready to dive into a world of possibilities, adventures, and warm southern hospitality (at least on most days!). There’s so much to discover in this corner of the Tar Heel State and I can’t wait to tell you all about it!
One thing that stands out about Ft. Bragg is its versatility. Whether you’re a couple seeking romance or a family looking for a nurturing community, Ft. Bragg has something to offer for everyone. Get ready to fall in love with this special place!
Places to Eat
The Sip Room
downtown Fayetteville
This is my favorite Girls Time place! Brunch events are my favorite. They offer Wine Flight & Mini Charcuterie with rotating specials. The atmosphere is amazing and you will leave feeling relaxed and happy!
First Watch
Freedom Town Center- Fayetteville
I try to stick to locally owned businesses, and this one is a chain, but MAN THAT BRUNCH! Large servings, decent pricing, and outdoor dining options is why I come back. There are plenty of your traditional favorite items, and some may be new to your palette. They stay pretty busy so plan accordingly.
Maple Street Biscuit Company
Freedom Town Center- Fayetteville
Another great brunch spot in the same area as First Watch. They also have outdoor seating which is something I love for brunch. If you want a good ‘ol southern biscuits and gravy this is the place to go! Freedom Town Center also has lots of shopping options so this is a great place to grab a bite to eat before a day of shopping!
Mary Bill’s Cafe
Fayetteville
The best places around town are the ones tucked away. This is where you go for the mom and pop vibe. We always feel welcome, the food is always served hot, and the staff are incredibly nice.
Vibe
Downtown Fayetteville
If you’re Vegan, vegetarian, or looking for plant based options- Vibe is the place! They have specific brunch times on Saturdays, but you can get breakfast and mimosas all day every day! The staff are amazing, and it’s always a chill spot. The Monte Cristo is our favorite: a vegan chicken patty & vegan cheese waffle sandwich with berries and powdered sugar on top. SO GOOD!
JK’s Deli & Family Restaurant
Fayetteville
Get there early because they’re not open all day! I found this spot when I was pregnant- it’s located where my appointments were. I found myself scheduling my appointments at early times of the day so I could visit JK’s afterwards for a plate of pancakes. Think old school family diner- complete with homemade pies.
Haymount Truck Stop
Downtown Fayetteville
This is the newest addition to the area! Haymount Truck Stop rotates food trucks so you get the best of the best local cuisine on wheels! The truck stop is set up like an old gas station. The ‘garage’ is an indoor dining area and bar. At the ‘gas pumps’ Food Trucks are available for you to pick what you would like to eat. It is an amazing way to support local food truck owners as well as a local business. They are also pet-friendly!
Fried Turkey Sandwich Shop
Fayetteville & Hope Mills NC
I never knew I liked fried turkey until we stumbled upon this little restaurant. They now have grown to two locations. Our favorites are the Turkey Day Sandwich (basically Thanksgiving on Texas Toast) and the Cajun Turkey Salad.
Pan
Downtown Fayetteville
The best bagel and fresh bread sandwiches around! Locally owned and located in the heart of Downtown Fayetteville.
Gaston Brewing
Downtown Fayetteville
Sandwiches, cheese curds, beer, outside dining, pet friendly… need I say more?
Napkins
Hope Mills/Grays Creek area
Hidden deep in Hope Mills in the Gray’s Creek area is this gem! They are located on the same land as Dirtbag Ales. Complete with outdoor seating and they’re pet friendly.
Circa 1800
downtown fayetteville
This cozy steak & wine spot is perfect before or after an afternoon stroll downtown. Catch them at an off hour as regular lunch hours get pretty crowded. They have fun tasty cocktails too!
Hot Diggity Dog
Fayettevill
Looking for the best hotdogs in town? Look no further! This family owned hotdog spot will make you feel at home while enjoying their tasty menu. They also have southern style burgers if you come with a non-hotdog fan.
Zorba’s Gyro
Fayetteville & Hope Mills
Juicy Gyros and homemade baklava! We also love to go here for Mother’s day breakfast- they have amazing buttermilk pancakes! They have weekly specials, but plan ahead for their hours.
Uptown’s Chicken and Waffles
Fayetteville
If you’ve ever watched Food Network’s “Chopped” or “Supermarket Stakeout” you may have heard of Chef Judith Cage. She’s our local celebrity and has a reputation in our area as one of Fayetteville’s best chefs. As the name suggests, you can find chicken and waffles here, but there are also other unique dishes. My favorite is the catfish and grits. If you’re craving southern comfort- this is the spot to be!
Asian Express
Hope Mills/Fayetteville
Hands down our favorite Thai spot. We always call ahead for pick up. Bonus tip- if you don’t like a lot of spice, ask for mild versions. We love so much of their menu, it’s hard to pick a favorite. This is a great place to order a few dishes and share family style. Don’t forget to get extra spring rolls!
The Friend’s Table
Fayetteville
Pro Tip: make reservations ahead of time. This restaurant is such a fun, unique, grown up place to be! Think gourmet meets southern classics: Fried deviled eggs, fried green tomatoes, skillet melts, shrimp & grits, and delicious cocktails. What can go wrong with a Signature Espresso Flight and a live DJ in the background?
Pharaohs Village
Hope Mills & Fayetteville
Come hungry! This authentic Greek restaurant will have you questioning if you’ve ever actually had real Greek food before. The plates and portions are huge and the pita slices are always served warm. This is a favorite girls lunch or dinner spot and the servers still fill our drinks even after we’ve been sitting and talking for hours. Great atmosphere, food, and service!
Bounty Kitchen
Fayetteville
Farm to table.
Pierro’s
Fayetteville
Delicious Italian food.
The Coffee Scene
Fayetteville
Nice quiet spot with delicious drinks, gelato, and pastries. Come in and stay a while or drive through on your way to work. Either way- this is a coffee staple in the area!
Kiss Me Cakes
Hope Mills
Best place to order birthday cupcakes hands down! They have the softest cake and so many styles/flavors to choose from. Their cake designs range from elegant to super cute kids designs.
Superior Bakery
Hope Mills
When my husband and I first met, he used to bring me coffee and fried chocolate filled croissants from Superior Bakery. Everyone is treated like family there. The owner is often there when we visit and always gives us freshly baked samples that melt in your mouth. You can also order custom cakes and baked goods for events or parties.
Rude Awakening
Downtown Fayetteville
Delicious coffee and fun coffee art! They add a little extra love in everything they do. The staff are always chatty and give great recommendations if you aren’t sure what you want.
Morning Jump
Spring Lake
This veteran-owned coffee shop has amazing specialty coffee and sandwiches. They have fun Ft. Liberty themed signature drinks like “All American”, “Sky Dragon”, and “Golden Knight.”
Paddy’s Irish Pub
Fayetteville
Whether you’re looking for a dance floor with live music, Latin night, local comedic talent, or a competitive trivia night, Paddy’s has it all. They also have a nice outdoor section complete with a fireplace. There’s always fun events going on so make sure you check out their calendar.
Anstead’s Tobacco
Fayetteville
This is such a nice quiet place with a warm environment. There is a membership fee to use the lounge, but it’s a nominal yearly fee and the bar is worth it. They have the best Old Fashioned around! Their cigar humidor is impressive with hard to find favorites and an impressive premium selection. The bar staff are friendly and can always recommend a drink with your smoke. This is great for a date night or a quiet place to hang out.
Huske Hardware
Downtown Fayetteville
This is your classic ARMY town bar-food taproom. Good ‘ol burger, fries, and craft beer. They have outdoor seating and have live music weekly. This is a fun and friendly spot downtown.
Stop Button Bar
Hope mills
Classic 80s/90s arcade with a bar- need I say more? This is a local veteran owned small business and a favorite spot for our entire family. Before 8pm it’s kid friendly, and in the evenings it’s adults only. You can play classic pinball, Galaga, or check out an Xbox or other consoles and games for a group play. They also host Karaoke nights and pool competitions. They do not serve food, but often have food trucks parked.
At Fort Bragg we have learned that there is always something to celebrate! The surrounding towns always have something going on. We love being surrounded by such creative vendors, locally owned restaurants, and so many places to discover the history of this area.
Andrea
Salons + Spas
Pinky’s Chop Shop
fayetteville
This fun ‘Chop Shop’ is the go-to for men’s grooming in our area. From military cuts to beard maintenance, there’s something for every guy. Service includes complimentary drinks and great music!
Metro Chic Salon & Boutique
fayetteville
Amazing hairstylists and super cute boutique all in one! This fun salon is tucked away on All American near the hospital. It’s worth the traffic to get there!
Millenia Nails & Day Spa
Fayetteville
The only regret I have is not knowing about this place earlier! They do a superb job on manicures and pedicures. This is my favorite place to go by myself to relax. They have a quiet room where they offer additional services that include relaxing foot massages in a zero gravity recliner, blankets for comfort, and the lights are low for a relaxing experience.
Wellness
Mamaste FIt
Aberdeen
Vet- and milspo-owned and you can bring your kids!
Club Pilates
fayetteville
Healthcare
DentalWorks in Fayetteville
fayetteville
Dr. Ashley Sherrod sees adults and children.
Thrive Clinics
Southern pines
Amber Tillman at Thrive Clinics in Southern Pines (for Select, I don’t know about Prime). The clinic also has Tricare-accepting dietitians, a bunch of whom are WAFs (shout out to Melissa Teel – she and Amber were huge helps to me postpartum)
Legacy Pediatrics North
fayetteville
Elizabeth Wise is great!
Triangle Physicians for Women
cary
They have OBs & Midwives
WakeMed
Cary
Great place to deliver.
Shopping
Aldi
most surrounding towns
The best prices for groceries and unique finds for everyone! Don’t forget to take a quarter and your own bags.
Fresh Market
fayetteville
If you’re looking for local produce this is a good spot. They also have a great fresh ground coffee section.
Sprouts
fayetteville
This is one of the best spots in the area to find organic, vegan, and/or natural items in the area. I love the selection of dairy free coffee creamers here! There’s always great flavors.
A Bit of Carolina
downtown fayetteville
This is our favorite downtown spot with fun local items such as bath bombs, stickers, cups, cards, soup mixes, and so much more! It’s an eclectic collection of locally handmade items. We love supporting this fun small business!
Winterbloom Tea
downtown fayetteville
The tea selection here is beyond amazing! They have so much to choose from and have fun themed drinks. The staff are great and the store is just so much fun!
City Center Gallery & Books
downtown fayetteville
This is such a precious locally owned bookstore. It reminds me of the feeling of the bookstore from You’ve Got Mail. We love visiting and looking around.
Greg’s Pottery
downtown fayetteville
This is a fun paint-your-own pottery spot. Great for rainy day activities. Kelly is one of our favorite people and she is so good at helping us pick something to paint or giving color suggestions. They have limited daytime hours and host a Girl’s Night and Date Night each month.
Leclair’s General Store
fayetteville
Besides a coffee spot and a beer spot, this fun shop has a mix of modern and. antique items. There is always something new when we visit and the environment is so cozy. I love looking around at their items and learning their unique stories.
Cool Spring Downtown District
downtown fayetteville
I could write an entire guide just on Downtown Fayetteville alone. There are tons of shops and restaurants. It is also home to Segra Stadium where The Fayetteville Woodpeckers host their home baseball games. We have Festival Park downtown where seasonal festivals are held.
Activities
Dogwood Festival
downtown fayetteville
The Dogwood Festival offers free events and welcomes local vendors and entertainment. There is always great food, music, and handmade items.
4th Friday Downtown Fayetteville
downtown fayetteville
Every 4th Friday there is always something going on downtown. Events include Rocky Horror Sing Alongs, Zombie Walks, Dickens Festival, and Summer Concert Series. Events are free to the public and so much fun!
Gillis Hill Farm
Fayetteville/Raeford Area
This is the best place to get fresh produce, homemade jams/butters/cider, and homemade ice cream! You can tour the farm, pick pumpkins or pick strawberries. Very family friendly.
Fort Bragg’s Fourth of July Celebration
Fort bragg
Come early and bring your chairs- this is the place to be on the 4th! Every year they host an amazing concert with well known artists such as Gavin DeGraw and Sheryl Crow. The event is free and always a great time.
Fort Bragg Fair
fort bragg
Every spring the fair comes to Fort Bragg. Enjoy your favorite rides and carnival food. Unlimited rides and live entertainment are included in the entre fee.
Farmer’s Markets
2 locations
North South Brewing and Dirtbag both have great farmer’s Markets that are a sure hit!
Dogwood Fall Festival
downtown fayetteville
This is the go-to event for hayrides and haunted tours. There is always live entertainment and local vendors.
Woodpecker’s Octoberfest
Segra stadium
Over 25 breweries from around the country are confirmed for the event with over 50 different cold beers and ciders to sample. This year’s ticket to the event includes an all-you-can-sample format!
Dickens Holiday/Holidays on Hay
Downtown Fayetteville
On the Friday after Thanksgiving, Downtown Fayetteville transforms into Victorian London complete with Victorian costumes and you may even spot the Queen! Everyone gets into the Christmas Spirit as we kick off the holiday season.
Night Circus
downtown fayetteville
This is Fayetteville’s big New Year’s Eve Event. Featuring artists such as Spinderella and Dru Hill. Festival Park transforms into a carnival with stilt walkers, magicians and fire dancers.
Nearby Vacation Spots
Wilmington
north carolina
You will find some of the best beaches in the area in Wilmington. We love to tour the Battleship North Carolina and visit local shops.
Asheville
north carolina
Asheville is where the beautiful 19th Century Biltmore estate is located. There is also the River Arts District with several old buildings, studios and galleries.
Ft. Fisher
kure beach
This military friendly spot has museums, an aquarium, and military lodging. Reserve your cottage in advance or opt for an RV spot. They are pet friendly and also have a campground.
Home + Family
Gray’s Creek/Hope Mills
20 Mins from base
Small town vibe in a tight-knit community.
Spring Lake
10 mins from base
Nice quiet area that is growing. Very close to base.
Moore County
30 mins from base
Great golf, great schools, and a beautiful place to live.
Partnership for Children
fayetteville
If you are looking for services for your child to include high quality childcare, Partnership for Children has so many resources! They also host a monthly diaper bank and multiple family friendly events throughout the year.
Pampers Hugs and Luv’s
Hope Mills/Grays Creek
Locally owned and an NC Pre-K site. They have a great standing in the community and the owner is always on site.
Highland Learning Center
Downtown Fayetteville
Great family oriented team and great leadership. This is a christian based learning center and always has lots of family engagement.
Encore Performing Arts Studio
Cameron
My girls have been taking ballet, jazz and tap there for a few yrs now, and they enjoy it so much! Angie, the manager there, is fantastic and caring, and wants to ensure all kids find a good fit, whether it’s dance, art or music. They also have guitar, bass guitar, drums, ukulele, violin and piano lessons.
Pet Friendly Parks + Info
Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming
fayetteville
The best and friendliest place for pup treats and grooming!
Miscellaneous Recommendations
Hope Mills Xpress Lube
Hope Mills
Locally Owned business that makes you feel like family! We have been going here for years and the service is great.
Juniper and Fig Tattoo Studio
downtown fayetteville
Katie Barbrow is an incredible milspo tattoo artist.
Brought here by the ARMY, I have lived in the Fort Bragg area for 19 years and counting. My children have grown up here and we have watched the surrounding areas grow their amazing communities over the years. We are happy to call this our home.
– Andrea
Looking for more specific recommendations from the WAF community on topics like best neighborhoods, favorite restaurants, or doctor recommendations – join the conversation in our private Facebook group of incredible WAFs!
In an effort to better serve every WAF across all branches, and with the help of some amazing other WAFs, we’ve curated branch specific Facebook groups. You can find your branch’s group by joining the general WAF Facebook page and then clicking “visit group”.
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