Wilmington

Wilmington, a North Carolina port city on the Cape Fear River, has built a real reputation as a film production hub - nicknamed the 'Hollywood of the East' thanks to its longtime EUE/Screen Gems studio - and its bar scene has grown right alongside it, with BarFinder listing 237 venues led by classic bars, sports bars, and a strong brewery and cocktail bar presence. The historic riverfront downtown anchors much of the scene, with spots like Mad Mole Brewing and Pour Fella's Pub joined by newer names like Savard Beer & Board and Monkey Barz. It's a coastal college-and-film town scene with real range, from brewery taprooms to cocktail bars.