Orange Blossom Bakery & Cafe

Orange Blossom Bakery & Cafe sits directly on NC-12 in Buxton, a few minutes from the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. It's a straightforward bakery and cafe — fresh-baked goods, coffee, and casual food at a moderate ($$) price point, with none of the fuss of a sit-down restaurant. It's a solid stop for breakfast before a day at the beach or a break partway through a drive up or down Hatteras Island.

Good to know

• Bakery and cafe fare — pastries, coffee, and casual food rather than a full sit-down menu
• Located directly on NC-12, easy to spot without any side streets or detours
• Close to the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, which is currently closed for climbing but still open to visit and photograph

Buxton sits along Hatteras Island's stretch of NC-12 — the single road connecting all of the island's villages, and one that closes temporarily during storms with some regularity. That risk is highest during hurricane season (roughly August through October), so it's worth checking current road conditions if a visit here lines up with a storm watch.