Exploring New Bern, NC
Time needed in this town: 1 night
If you’re an Outlander fan, you’ve heard “New Bern”, “Governor Tryon”, and “Tryon Palace” a “few” times on the show. That’s because the very start of the royal colonies took place in this town (as well as Wilmington), particularly around the time that the Governor was building his palace. If you’re not a fan, this little town is also the birthplace of Pepsi-Cola, as well as Nicholas Sparks’ novels (as he lives nearby). So much history in just a couple of town blocks!
The below information is a complete guide of the best places to stay, the top rated places to dine and drink, and all there is to see and do. We’ve also included a summary of the history of this historic town!
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Where to Stay
Where to Dine & Drink
BAxter’s 1892
Per their site, “The liquid libationists and chefs of Baxter's 1892 are devoted to celebrating artisanal cuisine, tasteful drinks, and the music associated with them.”
Bayleaf
Traditional Indian cuisine served in a colorful, contemporary setting with a lunch buffet.
Bear City Fudge Co.
They sell ice cream, fudge, and other chocolatey treats.
Cork Wine Bar & Bistro
Cork is a culmination of a high-level appreciation for artisanal flavor and the desire to bring a cultivated dining experience to the charming town of New Bern.
Cow Cafe
Cafe & ice cream shop serving cones, sandwiches & more in comfy digs with cow-themed accents.
Crema Brew
We absolutely LOVE this coffee shop! They serve both hot and cold drinks, as well as a variety of baked goods, sandwiches, and more.
Cypress Hall
They offer fresh, local, and artisanal selections to make you rethink what it means to cook, eat, and drink in the South. Their full bar and a menu, brimming with different food options, caters to locals and visitors alike.
Ghent Sandwich Shop
A family-owned sandwich shop serving juicy burgers, filling sandwiches, and more. NOTE: They are very good with Celiac customers and have options!
La Casetta
Serving homemade Italian dishes. NOTE: They do have gluten-free pasta.
La Rosa Italian Restaurant
Chain offering pizza with a variety of crusts & other Italian staples for takeout & delivery.
Lawson’s on the Creek
Gourmet deli-style cafe.
Mayte Sweets
Selling a variety of homemade desserts and coffee.
Morgan’s Tavern & Grill
Quaint American tavern in a former garage with exposed brick & wood beams plus a deck.
Persimmons
TIP: If you liked the bottle/glass of wine you had at dinner, go to the gas station store “Galley Stores” directly in front of the restaurant and purchase it. They have over 1,000 wines for sale. See “The Galley Stores” below for more information.
Poppy’s Bites and Barrels
Mellow craft brewery taproom with rotating drafts, cocktails, fresh-ground burgers & other pub grub. NOTE: They have gluten-free options.
Savage’s Wood Burning Pizzeria
Easygoing standby for wood-fired pies & traditional Italian pasta dishes in an informal setting. NOTE: They do have gluten-free options!
Savi’s Wine Shop
Per the site, “Savi's Wine was founded by local New Bernian, Cammie Lee. Savi's is a truly unique wine shop nestled in a restored 1770s home, located one block from historic Tryon Palace. Stepping inside, you can feel the rich history of North Carolina's colonial capital while being surrounded by carefully curated wines. Savi's in-house collection boasts exclusive and affordable selections, as well as recognizable favorites.”
NOTE: They regularly do wine tastings in cooler weather, in the garden, as well as “sips” every Saturday in the home. If you get on their wine club, you will also be invited to occasional pairing dinners.
Thai Angel
Serving thai dishes.
The Chelsea
Upscale American eatery occupying 2 floors in a renovated store once used by the inventor of Pepsi.
The Galley Stores
When you pull into the gas station, right in front of Persimmons Restaurant, you won’t think that the store inside is anything more than the common gas station store. But once inside, you realize how wrong you were. They sell over 1,000 different bottles of wine, hold wine tastings, have a deli counter, and just about everything else you need for a picnic, day trip, etc. They also own/run the marina.
NOTE: They schedule regular tastings, including ‘Juice’ at Galley Stores every Friday from 5 to 7 p.m., which are becoming a popular New Bern tradition. Their weekly Saturday “Sip and Save’ tastings from 1 to 3 p.m.feature more selections and often are paired with special gift and gourmet items available in the store. Add to that, their “Juice on the Neuse” festival each fall are all reasons to stop by!
The Old Pinnix
A brand new “hot spot” that offers both craft cocktails and all different kinds of toasties! NOTE: They do offer gluten-free bread.
Things to See & Do
Historical Exploration
The Birthplace of Pepsi, located in historic New Bern, North Carolina, is the actual site where Caleb Bradham first invented Pepsi-Cola in his pharmacy, in 1898. It is owned and operated by the Minges Bottling Group, and first opened its doors on the 100th Anniversary of Pepsi-Cola, in 1998. The soda fountain/museum/store tells the complete story of Pepsi, while allowing you to sample some of their beverages, as well as peruse all the branded merchandise. You get to learn quite a bit!
New Bern Fireman’s Museum
Established in 1955, you can learn about the history of firefighting in New Bern, which was the first chartered fire company in North Carolina.
The collection of the museum includes all kinds of firefighting-related objects, including authentic memorabilia, historic fire engines, and much more. You can also get interesting information from volunteer guides.
New Bern Trolley Tour
Per their site, “Discover three centuries of history and architectural beauty in a comprehensive 90-minute trolley tour of historic downtown New Bern. Let our professional guides entertain you with fascinating details, historical narratives, and true stories of this former royal capital of North Carolina.”
Tryon palace
If you’re an Outlander fan, you’ve heard “Tryon Palace” and “Governor Tryon” more times than you can probably count. If not, you may have never heard of this place and why its history is so significant.
Tryon Palace, also called the “Governor's House” and the “Governor's Palace”, is a two-story building located in the eastern part of New Bern. The building is a faithful reconstruction of the original 1770 residence, built by architect John Hawks. The original building was destroyed by fire in 1798.
Serving as the official residence and offices of the British governors of North Carolina, from 1770 until the American Revolution, the original building was seized by provincial militia in 1775. The palace was the site of the first few sessions of the state legislature, following the 1783 treaty of Paris that ended the American Revolutionary War, and served as the state house until 1792 when the capital was relocated to Raleigh.
The rebuilt building was erected on the original palace grounds in the 1950s and opened to the public as a house museum in 1959. The 18th century gardens were also recreated, with 16 acres of plantings, representing three centuries of landscape and gardening heritage. Today, it is a state-owned historic site.
The North Carolina History Center has revolutionized the visitor encounter at North Carolina’s Tryon Palace, and set a new standard for the museum experience. Rotating exhibitions, shopping, rare artifacts, and a wide variety of interactive historical activities keep the experience fresh and exciting with each new visit.
Unique Experiences
Bruin Theatre
A newly renovated theatre with reclining seats, they play new and older films, usually three different films at a time.
Franklin’s
Franklin’s is a 15,000 sq.ft. antique store with an insane amount of vintage finds! From the late 1700s to the 1980s, there is so much to sift through that you’ll leave there with far more than you were expecting to.
Ghosts of New Bern
Per their site, “Journey into the depths of old New Bern on a 90-minute haunted tour to the city's most actively haunted homes & burial grounds. Hear eerie tales of ghostly occurrences, including actual encounters during recent ghost tours. Join us for the original ghost adventure of New Bern.”
Kind of Blue
Kind of Blue is a vintage shop with antiques, record albums, books, clothing, collectibles, home decor, heirloom furniture, and inspired goods.
Midtown Olive Oil
Per their site, “Inspire your taste buds with over 50 varieties of the highest quality extra virgin olive oils and specialty oils imported fresh from around the world and balsamic vinegars from Modena, Italy. We also carry olive oil-based bath & body products, fine kitchen linens, gourmet accessories, and large variety of specialty food products, some unique to our area, and others sourced from right here in North Carolina.”
Mitchell Hardware
One-of-a-kind general store offering hardware, home goods, garden care, and unique gifts!
Mum Fest
In the month of October, New Bern comes alive with colorful mum displays, food and street vendors, and musical performances. The first week of the month, dine on the streets of downtown with their food festival. In the middle of October, head there for their big festival along with a 5K run. Here are some of the activities of note:
If you want to dine at a restaurant in downtown New Bern during the mid-October festival, make reservations a couple of months in advance.
Head to First Baptist Church to pick pumpkins.
Wander Tryon Palace Gardens and watch fencing demonstrations for free.
Grab photo ops at the mums arch, as well as the fall display.
Watch the K9 demonstrations with the New Bern Police Department.
Walk over to Franklin’s to browse their antiques store while sipping Prosecco.
TIP: Use the website to not just learn more about what to expect, but also where to find parking. Thousands of people attend each year, which means taking the free shuttle from a further lot is better than trying to drive around for an hour, hoping a street parking spot opened up.
New Bern Civic Theatre (The Athens Theatre)
Construction began on the Athens Theatre at 412 Pollock Street, in 1910. The doors opened April 11, 1911. Designed by architect Herbert W. Simpson, the Athens Theatre was a gala theatre for silent movies, Vaudeville, traveling theatre troupes, and locally-produced live productions.
The Theatre was renamed many times over the years - The Show Shop, The Kehoe Theatre, and the Tryon Theatre. During the 1970s when many downtown businesses moved to the suburbs, the theatre seemed to languish. For a time, it was vacant and deserted. In February 1980, NBCT purchased and renovated the Athens Theatre..
In September 1980, NBCT presented its first live production in the new home - Star Spangled Girl, a Neil Simon comedy. The Athens Theatre, "home" of New Bern Civic Theatre, is fully utilized for performances, auditions, rehearsals, and set construction.
In December 1981, NBCT purchased the building next door to the Athens Theatre at 412 Pollock Street known as the “Athens Cafe Building”. After renovations in 2022, the Athens Cafe is now called the Studio. The floor space is much larger for rehearsals and special events, there is a private dressing/makeup area, and new bathrooms!
New Bern Farmer’s Market
New Bern Farmer’s Market is such a wonderful place to visit on Saturdays, year round. We have found some of the freshest produce, meats, dairy, flowers, and plants from great, local farms. There are also all sorts of local crafts for sale, including wood-carved bears that represent this little town of New Bern (see below).
River Cruise
Per their site, “Welcome aboard 2 River Cruises, where we offer the ultimate river tour experience on North Carolina's picturesque Neuse and Trent Rivers. Whether you prefer the openness of our pontoon boat or the spaciousness of our 32’ Carver 1988 Aft Cabin, we promise to provide an unforgettable adventure filled with breathtaking scenery and amazing wildlife.”
Rivertowne Players
RiverTowne Players is a nonprofit 501 C-3 organization whose purpose is to enrich and entertain the residents in Eastern North Carolina by providing quality theatre. It provides an opportunity for local actors, musicians, and artists to showcase their talents.
Their theatre is housed in the historic Masonic Theatre, which first opened its doors in 1805. It served as the town's foremost place for dramatic entertainment, including stage plays, talent benefits, concerts and vaudeville acts. During the Civil War, it was used as a Confederate arsenal and later as a hospital for Union soldiers. In 1917, it was converted into a motion picture theater and remained so until 1974. It was the nation's oldest continually operating theatre until it closed its doors in December 1974. Today, the Masonic Theatre has been restored to its original purpose for live entertainment. Visitors continue to enjoy the experience of taking in a RiverTowne Players production in the oldest working theatre in the United States.
Walking Tours
A Walk to Remember Tour
As any fan of Nicholas Sparks knows, one of the main characters in many of his books isn’t the hero or heroine, but the Coastal North Carolina location. And in A Bend in the Road, The Wedding, and The Notebook, New Bern plays the role of that character. The Walk to Remember tour guides you through fifteen distinct landmarks taken from these best-selling novels and serves as a memorable way to get to know New Bern.
Architectural Tour
Take a distinct look into the vast architectural history of New Bern, which was founded in 1710 by a Swiss nobleman. Beautiful Georgian and bungalow homes, Federal-style buildings, Greek revival homes, Victorian mansions, and more have been restored to maintain their original beauty.
Bear town bears
To coincide with New Bern’s 300th Anniversary Celebration in 2010, Bear Town Bears, a nonprofit organization, recruited local artists to implement hand-painted designs on life-size standing and walking fiberglass bears for public enjoyment during the entire year. Sponsors for the bears have placed their bears in historic downtown, as well as in outlying areas. Adored with hats, flags, flowers, and other unusual and creative features, each bear offers a unique design. Pick up a free map from the New Bern-Craven County Convention & Visitors Center, the New Bern Chamber of Commerce, and other supporting businesses to enjoy your own Bear Tracks Hunt. Children can participate by playing the game “Where on the Bear” to find hidden features on each bear using clues listed on the map.
Churches & Cemeteries Tour
New Bern is blessed with an abundance of beautiful, historic churches, all within walking distance of downtown New Bern. While you marvel at each structure, you’ll be enchanted by the stories contained within.
Historic Homes Tour
This tour is a bi-annual event, the next scheduled date is April 2021. If you like history, fine architecture, and the gracious ambiance of Southern living, you’ll be charmed by these lovely residences. You are invited to take a stroll down memory lane and allow yourself to be transported back in time.
The Return Tour
#1 New York Times bestselling author Nicholas Sparks is known for paying tribute to his hometown of New Bern as the setting of many of his novels. From charming downtown New Bern to Havelock, The Return Tour guides you through twelve local landmarks that inspired the bestselling novel. Follow along for a memorable way to get to know our inviting riverfront community. Trace the steps of Trevor Benson and see for yourself the unique spots that make this picturesque area as captivating as the mystery that unravels in The Return.
