Waveriders Coffee, Deli & Market

Waveriders Coffee, Deli & Market sits on S Croatan Hwy in Nags Head, covering a lot of ground under one roof: coffee bar, deli counter, and a small market with grab-and-go essentials and beer and wine to carry back to the rental. It runs on a morning-and-early-afternoon schedule, open 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. rather than staying open through dinner.

• Espresso drinks and brewed coffee to start the day before the beach
• Deli sandwiches and made-to-order food for breakfast and lunch
• Market shelf staples plus beer and wine for stocking a fridge or cooler

The hours are worth noting before you build a routine around this one: Waveriders is open Thursday through Monday and closed Tuesday and Wednesday, a shorter week than a lot of the Croatan Highway dining strip keeps. At a $$ price point, it reads as an easy stop for a coffee run, a quick sandwich, or a few last-minute groceries rather than a sit-down dinner spot, and its location on Croatan Highway puts it within easy reach of the rest of central Nags Head.