Sugar Island Bakery

Sugar Island is part bakery, part coffee roaster and part rambling two-story shop of books, antiques and gifts, one row back from the beach in Surf City. The family has baked from scratch here since 1999, and it’s the kind of place you step into for a cookie and leave an hour later with a paperback.

• Surf City
• Bakery & coffee
• Books & gifts
• Rainy-day stop

What stands out

The giant cookies, the key lime pie and a family that hands out personal book recommendations are what people remember, along with an upstairs floor of used books that’s easy to lose an hour in. The catch is the calendar: short daytime hours, closed three days a week, and the occasional unplanned closure.

What to order

• Giant cookiesIncluding stuffed sandwich cookies like the ginger snap.
• Key lime pieThe slice people mention most.
• Bars and browniesRaspberry and jam bars are regular favorites.
• Coconut macaroonsClassic, old-fashioned baking.
• House-roasted coffeeBook-themed lattes made with their own island-roasted beans.

The setting

Cozy, quirky and cool on a hot day, with a treasure-trove feel: new and used books, antiques, local eggs and honey, and housewares. Upstairs, floor-to-ceiling shelves of used books make it an easy fix for a rainy afternoon.

Before you go

• Daytime hours only, Wednesday through Saturday. Its Instagram and Facebook post the occasional surprise closure.
• Baking is done fresh daily, so the case changes.
• The shop can’t accommodate food allergies or take special orders, and outside food and drink aren’t allowed.
• It now goes by simply ‘Sugar Island’.

Plan your visit

• Where: 206 N Topsail Dr, Surf City, NC 28445
• Hours: Wednesday–Friday 10am–5pm, Saturday 10am–4pm, closed Sunday–Tuesday.
• Menu & updates: sugarislandnc.com

Staying nearby? Browse our Surf City vacation rentals, all cared for by our local team.

Drawn from the venue’s own website and recurring themes in public guest reviews; last reviewed October 2026. Menus, hours and prices change, so confirm with the venue before you go.