The Washington Cafe smells like your grandmother’s kitchen and tastes like it, too. A menu of fresh baked, scratch made pastries, breads, sweets are as comforting as they are filling. The bakery works closely with local farmers to use local, in season ingredients and boy, can you tell. Oh and don’t forget a cup of organic Counter Culture coffee; it smells and tastes amazing. Breakfast here is a must for starting the day off right.

If landing a trophy red drum is on your bucket list, look no further than FishIBX. Book a fishing charter into the Pamlico Sound to battle with these monster fish, or invite Captain Mitchell Blake to guide you on a “mixed bag trip” where your party will reel in multiple species--trout, flounder, puppy drum, among others. Anglers will get an earful about all things fish and fishing. Captain Blake has decades of experience and a great love for eastern North Carolina waters.

Sun and breeze on your face, drink in your hand. Spend cocktail hour with one of the best river views in Washington at Mulberry House’s rooftop lounge. Take one sip from their Prohibition Era cocktail menu and feel your shoulders relax. See what’s on the menu from one of the many pop-up visiting chefs featured here on weekends–global flavors applied to local ingredients make for fantastic results. Dine indoors from the main menu or find a seat at one of the cozy couch lounge areas on the roof deck.

The Hackney is a premier farm-to-table dining experience with a British twist. Located in an old bank that has been newly renovated, the menu changes every few weeks, featuring items such as local roasted fish, beef Wellington, or traditional sticky toffee pudding. The 13-seat bar offers an array of unique handcrafted cocktails made from their signature gin, aptly named 1,000 Piers gin. The gin distillery, now open, offers tours and tastings. Have the best night you may not remember in the morning.

Sit a spell on a sweeping wrap-around porch made for iced tea and summer breezes. For nearly 200 years Elmwood has been the historic and architectural crown jewel of the "original" Washington. Its lawn and expansive rooms have been home to prominent families over many generations. Today, Elmwood remains an icon of style and sophistication while charming guests as a luxury bed and breakfast. Privately owned, it offers one of a kind nightly accommodations, as well as a spectacular stage for the most memorable of events to those who were born to wander, find adventure, and seek respite in the most unique and curious of places.

Step into the Mulberry House and you’ll feel like you’re in a cafe in Paris. The black and white penny tile floor leads you to a gleaming glass bakery case where you can order your choice of pastry, along with a coffee or order off the ala cart hot breakfast menu. Have a seat in a comfortable velvet booth before getting your fill of eggs, be they in an omelet, burrito, or your way with a side of potato hash. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, you might as well make it great.

Making lemons into lemonade is the specialty at Lemonade Art Gallery. The five artist-owners of Lemonade were inspired to open their own space after a gallery hosting them closed unexpectedly. Now, they display and sell works by more than 27 artists. Photography, paintings, hand blown glass, and woodworks are just a few of the mediums you’ll find in this gallery and gift shop. The artists also teach classes and workshops in the rear of the gallery. Now that goes down sweet.

This might be your favorite store in Washington. Books, wine, craft beer, cheeses from around the world, chocolates and specialty foods. . .what more could you ask for in a gift shop? There’s always something new to try and the aimable owners will steer you in a tasty direction when you ask for advice. Have Mary create a custom gift basket and be the most gracious guest at the next houseparty you attend.

Some only dream of cake. Others bake it happen. One look in the display case at the three-tiered cakes and you know you’ve come to the right place. Val’s Gourmet’s grab and go coolers have what you want for breakfast or lunch. Savory tomato pies and dreamy quiches, muffins and cinnamon rolls are some local favorites, but the real show stoppers are those mile high cakes in flavors like carrot, chocolate cheesecake, lemon, and, straight after a Southerner’s heart, a vanilla wafer lined banana pudding cake.

There is a fine line between shopaholic and helping the economy. This is a fact you will quickly come to realize at The Southern Nest. Swoon at the home decor and cottage farmhouse furniture. Find inspiration for your home in their selection of tables, lamps, jewelry, and gifts. Need a custom approach to your purchase? Consult with one of their in-house designers who will be happy to help you think through a project or space that needs a glow up.

For a posh dinner out, soak in the luxurious atmosphere of the Bank Bistro and Bar. Inventive, gorgeous craft cocktails and savory dishes await in the town’s original bank building built in 1852. The old vault is the restaurant’s centerpiece and now houses the Bank Bistro’s liquor and wine. Dine outdoors between original Greek Revival-style columns. Try the saffron seafood bouillabaisse perfectly paired with a wine to complement it. For special occasions or any Tuesday worth celebrating in style, this is the place for a dining memory you can bank on.