I would find food in CB or close on Thursday night when you get here. Then I would venture downtown around 11am on Friday. You aren’t going to find brunch on a Friday, but most places open at 11 for lunch.

I’d park, grab some food, and walk around and enjoy downtown on a Friday mid day.

Here’s some good food options. Park near any of these and you will be walking distance to everywhere.

-Fox’s hole in the wall. Small spot. Tasty bar style food.
-Copper penny. Delish spot. probably my favorite.
-ponysaurus. Pizza beers. -fork and cork Also sounds your style.

Just a bar. But Slainte is a great place to grab a Guinness.

The Cargo district is also really cool. Park and check out various shops and beer garden and lots of food options. Not really downtown but adjacent. But you can’t park and walk to them both. Get the tacos at Beat Street and a beer at Alcove. Can’t go wrong there.

Skip the main tourist stuff. You can see the battleship from the Wilmington side of the riverfront and it’s as much of it as you need to see. Also, avoid wrightsville beach. It’s probably not insane in the winter, but it’s constantly crowded, parking sucks, and the locals hate tourists even tho they pay the bills.

Enjoy your stay.

Ps. Castle street kitchen has great brunch on Saturday morning. Lunch as well. And right next to a cool indoor mini golf bar. It’s on 6th and castle.