Greater Wilmington and the Brandywine Valley are just a short distance from all points in the Mid-Atlantic region and minutes off the I-95 corridor. While we are close to so many –  ideal for a quick weekend getaway – you will feel as if you have been transported to a different land. The rolling hills and magnificent estates of Chateau country recall the French countryside. The colonial hamlets, of Old New Castle and Historic Odessa, untouched by time, give you the feeling of an English country village. And our six grand gardens, all part of America’s Garden Capital, encompass over 3,000 acres and lie within minutes of one another.

 

Places to Eat in Wilmington, Delaware & the Brandywine Valley
Regional Traditions with Modern Takes

The restaurants of the Wilmington, Delaware and the Brandywine Valley draw influences from the farm-to-table values of the Pennsylvania Dutch to our north, the seafaring coastal communities of the Chesapeake Bay to our south, and the global connections forged through the corporate offices and busy ports of the city of Wilmington.

James Beard-nominee Antimo Dimeo, Executive Chef at Bardea Food + Drink (a former James Beard Best New Restaurant Award nominee), along with co-owner Scott Stein have now added Bardea Steak to Wilmington’s Market Street landscape. Acclaimed Philadelphia chef and restaurateur Tyler Akin, known for celebrated restaurants Stock and Res Ipsa Cafe, has returned to his home town to open Le Cavalier inside the famed and historic HOTEL DUPONT. Influenced by the flavors of North Africa and Provençe, Le Cavalier is a neo-brasserie offering thoughtfully sourced French classics and inventive riffs on French staples paired with natural wines designed to complement our fare.

From the HOTEL DUPONT follow Market Street towards Wilmington’s Riverfront and at the corner of 5th Street, directly opposite of one another, you’ll find La Fia and Merchant Bar.  The pair are owned by Bryan Sikora, one-time chef/owner of Talula’s Table (and the toughest restaurant reservation in America, according to NPR). In the kitchen of La Fia you will find another James Beard nominated chef, Dwain Kalup, preparing inventive, seasonal fare with a focus on local and sustainable ingredients. Across the street Merchant Bar is an elevated gastrobar that infuses a chef-driven menu with an original hand-crafted cocktail menu that focuses on high-quality ingredients.

Riverfront Wilmington
Realizing the Vision

Stroll along the Christina River on the scenic 1.3-mile Wilmington Riverfront, and you’ll pass something for every mood and every taste, from open green spaces to IMAX movie screens, from world-class theater to minor-league baseball … and dozens of places to eat.

The Chase Center on the Riverfront hosts meetings, trade shows, conventions and celebrations right in the heart of the Riverfront, with the new Westin Wilmington hotel now offering rooms with a view right next door. Days on the Riverfront find joggers running along the path from the preserved marshlands of the DuPont Environmental Education Center to Tubman-Garret Riverfront Park, families exploring the Delaware Children’s Museum and businesspeople struggling to decide what’s for lunch among the many options inside the Riverfront Market.

At night, the Riverfront pops with activity, from the crack of the bat at Wilmington Blue Rocks games inside Frawley Stadium to standing ovations at the Delaware Theatre Company. And when it’s time to eat, everything is within an easy walk -local brewpubs, kid-friendly quick bites, food trucks, farm-to-table restaurants, cocktail bars, hip nightspots, and some of the best outdoor decks in all of Delaware.

 

Wilmington & the Brandywine Valley Discount Pass
Money Saving Offers, Just a Tap Away

Exploring Wilmington & the Brandywine Valley just got even better! Whether you are a visitor discovering the grand estates of the du Pont family, our world-renowned gardens, and historic towns or you are a local taking in our cultural attractions, family-friendly events, and diverse and emergent dining scene you’ll love saving money with the Wilmington & Brandywine Valley Discount Pass. It’s FREE, easy to use and your coupons are as close as your mobile phone. Nothing to download, as easy as a text message- sign up today!

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