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Welcome to Carteret Curated

by Mary Cheatham King Real Estate

A CELEBRATION OF LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES

Carteret Curated is an Instagram account dedicated to shining a light on local small businesses! Every year we host the People's Choice Awards, inviting our community to vote for their favorite businesses. The result? A comprehensive guide celebrating each of the nominated local small businesses that make our area so special.

thank you!

We are blown away by all of the support you have shown for our local small businesses during this year’s People’s Choice Awards!

Over 28,000 votes were cast this year, and we're thrilled to announce the Top 3 favorite businesses in each category for the 2026-2027 voting period. 

Here are YOUR choices for your favorite local...

place to get breakfast

  1. Banks Grill

  2. Cox Family Restaurant

  3. The Bite at the Box

restaurant with a view

  1. Jack's on the Waterfront

  2. Front Street Grill

  3. Yellowfin Pub

family eatery

  1. Cox Family Restaurant

  2. Rainbowl Cafe

  3. Amos Mosquitos

food truck

  1. Captains Kitchen

  2. Dank Burrito

  3. High on the Hog

pet-friendly establishment

  1. Yellowfin Pub

  2. Beach Bowls

  3. Backstreet Pub
    K9 Corner

coffee shop

  1. Reed's

  2. Mug Shot

  3. Historic Grounds

frozen dessert

  1. Simply Natural Creamery

  2. Beaufort Creamery

  3. Beach Bowls

place to get a cocktail

  1. Arendell Room

  2. Green Room
    Mug Shot

  3. Rhumbar

place to grab a beer

  1. Tackle Box Tavern

  2. Jack's on the Waterfront

  3. Shortway Brewery

wine shop

  1. MF Chappell

  2. Promise Land Market

  3. Cru Wine Bar

bakery

  1. Sugarloaf Island Bakery

  2. Beaufort Baking Co.

  3. HappyCakes

catering company

  1. Seaside Sensations

  2. Gaffer's

  3. Coastal Grazes

seafood market

  1. Blue Ocean

  2. Salty Catch Seafood Company

  3. Roses Seafood Market

florist

  1. Sandy's Flower Shoppe

  2. Grow Social

  3. Beaufort in Bloom

event venue

  1. Carolina Home & Garden

  2. Beaufort Hotel

  3. The Post

event planner

  1. Grow Social

  2. Knot A Second Thought

  3. Sea & Soiree

hair salon

  1. Hair Gallery

  2. SLN Co. 

  3. Revolution Hair Studio

makeup artist

  1. Face II Face by Kacyn

  2. Crystal Coast Bridal

  3. Hair & Makeup by
    Julia Smith

videographer

  1. Josh Mace

  2. Ash Case

  3. Triwork Studios

band/musician

  1. Barefoot Wade

  2. Donivan Carter

  3. 4EverAll

photographer

  1. Promise Land Photography

  2. Sarah Kate Photography

  3. Sarah K Photography

bed & breakfast/airbnb

  1. 34 North Vacations

  2. Mermaid Cottage

  3. Pecan Tree Inn

transportation service

  1. Diamond Bus Co.

  2. Diamond Limousine

  3. Carteret Cab

hotel

  1. Beaufort Hotel

  2. Bask

  3. Inlet Inn

place to get pampered

  1. Complexion MedSpa

  2. SLN Co.

  3. Tranquility

dance studio

  1. Justice Elite Dance Studio

  2. Dance Arts Studio

  3. Carolina Strut

nail salon

  1. Coastal Nail Lounge

  2. Le Nails

  3. B&E Nail Spa

yoga/pilates studio

  1. Downtown Barre

  2. M Wellness

  3. Beaufort Barre

fishing charter

  1. Capt. Stacy Fishing Charter

  2. Reely Livin' Charters

  3. Nanny's Revenge Fishing Charter

place to workout

  1. Sports Center

  2. Performance Zone

  3. Iron Tide Crossfit

outdoor adventure activity

  1. Fort Macon Trail

  2. Crystal Coast Skydiving

  3. Grace Adventure Park

men's clothing shop

  1. AB Surf Shop

  2. Hilton's

  3. Island Proper

annual event

  1. Big Rock Tournament

  2. NC Seafood Festival

  3. Chowder & Cheer

women's clothing shop

  1. Tassels

  2. Dorsea

  3. Posh Pelican

rainy day activity

  1. NC Aquarium at PKS

  2. Mac Daddy's

  3. Kidz at Play Cafe

place to get a gift

  1. DeeGee's Gifts & Books

  2. Dorsea

  3. Classy Clutter

tackle/outdoor shop

  1. EJW Outdoors

  2. Chasin' Tails

  3. Sportsman's Wholesale

home decor shop

  1. Place Makers

  2. McQueen's Interiors

  3. Shore Decor

kids' clothing shop

  1. Buckles & Bows

  2. Piper & Grace

  3. Gigi & Co. 

handmade product

  1. Place Makers

  2. Cope & Co. 

  3. Crabpot Trees

artist

  1. Brooke Lupton

  2. Heather Sink

  3. Fran Ambrose

place for beach essentials

  1. Marsh's Surf Shop

  2. AB Surf Shop

  3. Davis Beachwear

new business

  1. Rainbowl Cafe

  2. Place Makers

  3. SLN Co.

art gallery

  1. Salt Gallery

  2. Blusail Golitz Studios

  3. Mattie King Davis Art Gallery

martini

  1. Arendell Room

  2. Kathryn's Bistro &
    Martini Bar

  3. Circa 81

slice of pizza

  1. Luigi's Pizza

  2. Blacksheep

  3. No Name Pizza

place to get wedding attire

  1. The Wedding Elf

  2. Posh Pelican

  3. Hilton's

shrimp & grits

  1. Floyd's 1921

  2. Amos Mosquitos

  3. Banks Grill

outdoor meal

  1. Yellowfin Pub

  2. Rhumbar

  3. Fish Hut Grill

boat/kayak tours

  1. Beaufort Paddle

  2. Trusty Sail & Paddle

  3. Pogie's

tattoo/piercing studio

  1. Inkspiration

  2. Thundering Shrimp
    Tattoo

  3. Diamond City Tattoo

karaoke night

  1. Tackle Box Tavern

  2. Backstreet Pub

  3. MugShot

antique shopping

  1. Seaport Antiques

  2. Seahorse Cove

  3. Le Rouge Tete

place to get jewelry

  1. DP Jewelry Designs

  2. Diamond Shoal Jewelers

  3. Churchwell Jewelers

Explore the Crystal Coast

Click each grid to see our People’s Choice Award Top 3 favorite businesses in each category for 2025.

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EXPERIENCE

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Looking to call the Crystal Coast home?

We’d love to help you make the move! At Mary Cheatham King Real Estate, our passion is creating results and experiences that exceed expectations. Buy or sell homes at ease with our NC realtors with you all the way.

#1

Real Estate Team since 2017

800+

five-star reviews on Google

2K+

families served since 2015

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