Things to do in Raleigh, NC
Food scene
Super cute spot that's great for brunch, lunch, or dinner. Lynnwood Brewing Concern is just next door.
17 locals recommend
Hummingbird
1053 E Whitaker Mill RdSuper cute spot that's great for brunch, lunch, or dinner. Lynnwood Brewing Concern is just next door.
Great ambiance and great food and drinks at reasonable prices. Right in the heart of downtown.
34 locals recommend
Capital Club 16
16 W Martin StGreat ambiance and great food and drinks at reasonable prices. Right in the heart of downtown.
James Beard award winner, Ashley Christensen's, first restaurant. Awesome spot for dinner or brunch. Reservations recommended.
102 locals recommend
Poole's
426 S McDowell StJames Beard award winner, Ashley Christensen's, first restaurant. Awesome spot for dinner or brunch. Reservations recommended.
High-end dining in a very unique, local bar - like setting, with a really fun vibe. Highly recommended!
75 locals recommend
Stanbury
938 N Blount StHigh-end dining in a very unique, local bar - like setting, with a really fun vibe. Highly recommended!
Amazing bakery with excellent breakfast and lunch and it's also close to the home.
16 locals recommend
Union Special
2409 Crabtree BlvdAmazing bakery with excellent breakfast and lunch and it's also close to the home.
Jewish-inspired deli offering excellent breakfast and lunch. Right in the heart of Person St. district near Wilco, Pelagic, Person St. Bar, Standard Food, Wine Authorities, and Oakwood Pizza Box.
(ish) delicatessen
702 North Person StreetJewish-inspired deli offering excellent breakfast and lunch. Right in the heart of Person St. district near Wilco, Pelagic, Person St. Bar, Standard Food, Wine Authorities, and Oakwood Pizza Box.
Best sushi in a cute little spot on a cobblestone street. Right in the middle of downtown by Moore's Square.
20 locals recommend
City Market Sushi
315 Blake StBest sushi in a cute little spot on a cobblestone street. Right in the middle of downtown by Moore's Square.
If you're looking for the best NC BBQ in town, look no further. Situated in the Warehouse district, so there's plenty to explore to walk off that big meal.
8 locals recommend
Sam Jones BBQ
502 West Lenoir StreetIf you're looking for the best NC BBQ in town, look no further. Situated in the Warehouse district, so there's plenty to explore to walk off that big meal.
High-end dining in the Person St. District by James Beard semi-finalist, Scott Crawford.
54 locals recommend
Crawford and Son
618 N Person StHigh-end dining in the Person St. District by James Beard semi-finalist, Scott Crawford.
Excellent French bistro by Scott Crawford in the Person St. district.
23 locals recommend
Jolie Restaurant
620 N Person StExcellent French bistro by Scott Crawford in the Person St. district.
Great Dim Sum. Great brewery. They also sell flowers and books and have one of the loveliest interiors in Raleigh. One of Forbes 10 coolest places to eat in 2018.
113 locals recommend
Brewery Bhavana
218 S Blount StGreat Dim Sum. Great brewery. They also sell flowers and books and have one of the loveliest interiors in Raleigh. One of Forbes 10 coolest places to eat in 2018.
Unique and beautiful Asian restaurant right in the middle of downtown. This was the first restaurant the owners of Brewery Bhavana started and is right next door.
126 locals recommend
Bida Manda
222 S Blount StUnique and beautiful Asian restaurant right in the middle of downtown. This was the first restaurant the owners of Brewery Bhavana started and is right next door.
Great food and drink with a huge patio. Located in the warehouse district. They have live jazz every Wednesday.
24 locals recommend
Humble Pie
317 S Harrington StGreat food and drink with a huge patio. Located in the warehouse district. They have live jazz every Wednesday.
Transfer Co Food Hall
500 E Davie StThere are two food halls in Raleigh. This is the best.
Elevated bar food done right. Excellent whiskey selection and great ambiance. Heated outdoor patio.
60 locals recommend
Whiskey Kitchen
201 W Martin StElevated bar food done right. Excellent whiskey selection and great ambiance. Heated outdoor patio.
Wye Hill Kitchen & Brewing
201 S Boylan AveGood food with the best view of the downtown skyline.
St. Roch Fine Oysters + Bar
223 S Wilmington StGreat seafood in the heart of downtown.
Hip Urban ambiance with excellent seafood dishes in Glenwood South.
16 locals recommend
Cortez Seafood and Cocktail
413 Glenwood AveHip Urban ambiance with excellent seafood dishes in Glenwood South.
Classic oyster bar and seafood restaurant. A Raleigh staple.
37 locals recommend
42nd Street Oyster Bar
508 W Jones StClassic oyster bar and seafood restaurant. A Raleigh staple.
Come for the tapas, stay for the wine. Beautiful restaurant smack dab in the middle of the Warehouse district.
27 locals recommend
Barcelona Wine Bar
430 West Martin StreetCome for the tapas, stay for the wine. Beautiful restaurant smack dab in the middle of the Warehouse district.
Definitely the best ice cream in town. Near everything else in the Person St. District.
25 locals recommend
Two Roosters Ice Cream
215 E Franklin StDefinitely the best ice cream in town. Near everything else in the Person St. District.
Better than Videri, right beside Stanbury, and practically in the Person St. District.
28 locals recommend
Escazu Chocolates
936 N Blount StBetter than Videri, right beside Stanbury, and practically in the Person St. District.
Neighborhoods
Home to tons of restaurants and bars, downtown is also home to Marbles Kid's Museum, NC Museum of Natural Sciences, NC Museum of History, Contemporary Art Museum (CAM Raleigh), Moore's Square, Pour House Music Hall, Lincoln Theatre, Red Hat Ampitheatre, and Meymandi Concert Hall. From Spring to Fall, there's pretty much an event happening every weekend.
74 locals recommend
Downtown
Home to tons of restaurants and bars, downtown is also home to Marbles Kid's Museum, NC Museum of Natural Sciences, NC Museum of History, Contemporary Art Museum (CAM Raleigh), Moore's Square, Pour House Music Hall, Lincoln Theatre, Red Hat Ampitheatre, and Meymandi Concert Hall. From Spring to Fall, there's pretty much an event happening every weekend.
A beautiful, historic neighborhood near downtown Raleigh. Great to drive into, park, and take a stroll. Very close to downtown and the Person St. District.
46 locals recommend
Historic Oakwood
A beautiful, historic neighborhood near downtown Raleigh. Great to drive into, park, and take a stroll. Very close to downtown and the Person St. District.
The Warehouse District is really popping off these days. You'll find restaurants like Humble Pie, Barcelona, Oku, The Oak, and Sam Jones BBQ, plus great bars like Circa 1888, Boxcar Arcade, and Crank Arm Brewing. There are also gems like Father and Sons Antiques, Videri Chocolate, and a great co-op grocery, Weaver St. Market.
15 locals recommend
Warehouse District
The Warehouse District is really popping off these days. You'll find restaurants like Humble Pie, Barcelona, Oku, The Oak, and Sam Jones BBQ, plus great bars like Circa 1888, Boxcar Arcade, and Crank Arm Brewing. There are also gems like Father and Sons Antiques, Videri Chocolate, and a great co-op grocery, Weaver St. Market.
Cute little area near Oakwood. Everything is walkable. Home to Person St. Bar, Wilco, Wine Authorities, Pelagic Beer and Wine, Standard Food, Crawford and Son, Jolie, Oakwood Pizza Box, Two Roosters Ice Cream, and neat shops like Unlikely Professionals and Edge of Urge.
North Person Street
North Person StreetCute little area near Oakwood. Everything is walkable. Home to Person St. Bar, Wilco, Wine Authorities, Pelagic Beer and Wine, Standard Food, Crawford and Son, Jolie, Oakwood Pizza Box, Two Roosters Ice Cream, and neat shops like Unlikely Professionals and Edge of Urge.
Nightlife
If you're looking to dance the night away, Glenwood South is the place to be. This mile(ish) long strip between the Warehouse District and Downtown is the closest thing to Miami Beach you're going to find in Raleigh. Friday and Saturday nights are filled to the brim with folks looking to have a good time. Glenwood South also offers more low key options like The Rockford, which has great food and drinks, Johnson St. Yacht Club, one of the best dives around, and Cortez, and excellent seafood restaurant.
35 locals recommend
Glenwood South
If you're looking to dance the night away, Glenwood South is the place to be. This mile(ish) long strip between the Warehouse District and Downtown is the closest thing to Miami Beach you're going to find in Raleigh. Friday and Saturday nights are filled to the brim with folks looking to have a good time. Glenwood South also offers more low key options like The Rockford, which has great food and drinks, Johnson St. Yacht Club, one of the best dives around, and Cortez, and excellent seafood restaurant.
Basically the quintessential bar. Right in the middle of downtown, this is a total local favorite with great bartenders, great patrons, and a great patio.
24 locals recommend
Landmark Tavern
117 E Hargett StBasically the quintessential bar. Right in the middle of downtown, this is a total local favorite with great bartenders, great patrons, and a great patio.
Awesome bar in the Warehouse District with tons of space, indoors and out, and 4 pool tables.
Circa 1888
412 W Davie StAwesome bar in the Warehouse District with tons of space, indoors and out, and 4 pool tables.
An elevated bar's bar with great drinks, great people, and a great patio.
42 locals recommend
Person Street Bar
805 N Person StAn elevated bar's bar with great drinks, great people, and a great patio.
Total dive, rock bar with attitude. Surprisingly large patio as well.
20 locals recommend
Slims Raleigh
227 S Wilmington StTotal dive, rock bar with attitude. Surprisingly large patio as well.
Best cocktails in town with a moody, romantic atmosphere and sidewalk seating.
54 locals recommend
FOUNDATION
213 Fayetteville StBest cocktails in town with a moody, romantic atmosphere and sidewalk seating.
Intimate bar with great drinks and folks. In the Person St. District near Person St. Bar.
25 locals recommend
William & Company
616 N Person StIntimate bar with great drinks and folks. In the Person St. District near Person St. Bar.
Dive bar with a rooftop deck and tons of outdoor seating. They also have a slide from the roof to the ground level patio and a pool table. Unique as can be and highly recommended.
Johnson Street Yacht Club
710 West Johnson StreetDive bar with a rooftop deck and tons of outdoor seating. They also have a slide from the roof to the ground level patio and a pool table. Unique as can be and highly recommended.
Wolfe & Porter
905 West Morgan StreetCute little bar and bottle shop with a lot of local regulars.
Part bar, part food. Large and cool indoor area and German brewery style outdoor seating.
28 locals recommend
Standard Foods
205 E Franklin StPart bar, part food. Large and cool indoor area and German brewery style outdoor seating.
Woody's at City Market
205 Wolfe StProbably the best sports bar in town.
Big gay bar in the middle of downtown and the Warehouse district.
28 locals recommend
Legends Nightclub Complex
330 W Hargett StBig gay bar in the middle of downtown and the Warehouse district.
Flex
615 S West StRight down the road from Legends, with a bit of a different vibe.
Sightseeing
Beautiful and free art museum. Don't miss the outdoor installations along their gorgeous walking trails.
437 locals recommend
North Carolina Museum of Art
2110 Blue Ridge RdBeautiful and free art museum. Don't miss the outdoor installations along their gorgeous walking trails.
Cool contemporary art gallery in the middle of the Warehouse District.
87 locals recommend
CAM Raleigh
409 W Martin StCool contemporary art gallery in the middle of the Warehouse District.
Nice lake with walking trails that offers kayak and canoe rentals.
112 locals recommend
Lake Johnson Park
4601 Avent Ferry RdNice lake with walking trails that offers kayak and canoe rentals.