Guidebook for Raleigh
Food Scene
Award winning Chef Ashley Christensen's spin on Southern cuisine. Try the Chicken and Waffles!
107 locals recommend
Beasley's Chicken + Honey
237 S Wilmington StAward winning Chef Ashley Christensen's spin on Southern cuisine. Try the Chicken and Waffles!
A contemporary patisserie in the heart of downtown Raleigh. Great for breakfast, lunch or a cup of locally roasted coffee. Try the Dixie Canonball!
41 locals recommend
lucettegrace
235 S Salisbury StA contemporary patisserie in the heart of downtown Raleigh. Great for breakfast, lunch or a cup of locally roasted coffee. Try the Dixie Canonball!
Serving up a hearty, southern style breakfast. Pancakes larger than your head!
51 locals recommend
Big Ed’s City Market Restaurant
220 Wolfe StreetServing up a hearty, southern style breakfast. Pancakes larger than your head!
Cocktail-dessert bar in downtown Raleigh. Where else can you pair your pumpkin creme brulee to an amazing cocktail?
33 locals recommend
Bittersweet
16 E Martin StCocktail-dessert bar in downtown Raleigh. Where else can you pair your pumpkin creme brulee to an amazing cocktail?
Arguably the nicest restaurant in Raleigh. Upscale cuisine set within a historic Victorian home. Business casual dress code.
33 locals recommend
Second Empire Restaurant and Tavern
330 Hillsborough StArguably the nicest restaurant in Raleigh. Upscale cuisine set within a historic Victorian home. Business casual dress code.
Cafe Helios
413 Glenwood AvePart cafe. Part coffee shop. Part awesome.
Cup a Joe!
2109 Avent Ferry RdBecause this is where the hipsters and cool kids hang out.
See the largest mosaic made out of coffee beans in the world! A very european style of cafe with beer, coffee and small snacks.
14 locals recommend
Benelux Coffee
402 Oberlin RdSee the largest mosaic made out of coffee beans in the world! A very european style of cafe with beer, coffee and small snacks.
Calavera Empanadas and Tequila
615 W Morgan StHalf restaurant, half tequila bar. All delicious.
The new hot sushi bar in Raleigh. It's not buy one get one free rolls, but we hear the quality is unparalleled.
20 locals recommend
City Market Sushi
315 Blake StThe new hot sushi bar in Raleigh. It's not buy one get one free rolls, but we hear the quality is unparalleled.
Buy one get one sushi rolls everyday, plus chinese and japanese options for those who don't enjoy sushi. A great central location to watch the crowd walk by.
9 locals recommend
Sushi O Bistro & Sushi Bar
222 Glenwood AveBuy one get one sushi rolls everyday, plus chinese and japanese options for those who don't enjoy sushi. A great central location to watch the crowd walk by.
Our favorite restaurant with locally sourced ingredients, wood firing oven, clever cocktails and an incredible wine list. Incredible quality food at reasonable prices. Try the black pepper honey pizza or the steak and potatoes. You won't regret it.
30 locals recommend
Tazza Kitchen Cameron Village
432 Woodburn RdOur favorite restaurant with locally sourced ingredients, wood firing oven, clever cocktails and an incredible wine list. Incredible quality food at reasonable prices. Try the black pepper honey pizza or the steak and potatoes. You won't regret it.
Drinks & Nightlife
Serving up classic cocktails in a classy, industrial environment. If you like your bartender in suspenders and your moscow mule made with real ginger, this is the place.
34 locals recommend
Fox Liquor Bar
East Martin StreetServing up classic cocktails in a classy, industrial environment. If you like your bartender in suspenders and your moscow mule made with real ginger, this is the place.
Where else will you find a prohibition style bar? Step back in time to the 1920's where the drinks are stiff, the lights are dim, and the live jazz band brings this hidden gem to life.
40 locals recommend
C. Grace
407 Glenwood AveWhere else will you find a prohibition style bar? Step back in time to the 1920's where the drinks are stiff, the lights are dim, and the live jazz band brings this hidden gem to life.
Underground whiskey bar. If you like small, intimate settings and good whiskey, this is the spot for you.
54 locals recommend
FOUNDATION
213 Fayetteville StUnderground whiskey bar. If you like small, intimate settings and good whiskey, this is the spot for you.
Downtown favorite. Always bustling with an interesting interior, and rooftop access.
105 locals recommend
The Raleigh Times
14 E Hargett StDowntown favorite. Always bustling with an interesting interior, and rooftop access.
Not a winery, but a great selection of wine. A great spot to relax, sip wine and snack on some cheese.
23 locals recommend
Wine Authorities Raleigh ~ Wine Shop
211 E Franklin StNot a winery, but a great selection of wine. A great spot to relax, sip wine and snack on some cheese.
If mezcal is your thing, this is your bar. Small, intimate, secretly hiding up the stairs.
8 locals recommend
Gallo Pelón Mezcaleria
106 S Wilmington StIf mezcal is your thing, this is your bar. Small, intimate, secretly hiding up the stairs.
Arts & Culture
Features both contemporary and historic offerings. Has special exhibitions often, houses a restaurant and cafe, and surrounded by the greenway and park.
437 locals recommend
North Carolina Museum of Art
2110 Blue Ridge RdFeatures both contemporary and historic offerings. Has special exhibitions often, houses a restaurant and cafe, and surrounded by the greenway and park.
Featuring an array of permanent and special exhibits, live programs and educational films that appeal to audiences of all ages, the Nature Exploration Center encourages visitors to explore the natural world and their connections to it.
288 locals recommend
North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
11 W Jones StFeaturing an array of permanent and special exhibits, live programs and educational films that appeal to audiences of all ages, the Nature Exploration Center encourages visitors to explore the natural world and their connections to it.
It's cool. Recognized nationally for bold architecture, technological advanced and a massive book robot. Located on NC State University grounds in the heart of their Centennial campus.
15 locals recommend
James B. Hunt Jr. Library
1070 Partners WayIt's cool. Recognized nationally for bold architecture, technological advanced and a massive book robot. Located on NC State University grounds in the heart of their Centennial campus.
Shopping
Upscale shopping, restaurant and grocery shopping area. Great for window shopping or otherwise.
128 locals recommend
Cameron Village
Upscale shopping, restaurant and grocery shopping area. Great for window shopping or otherwise.
Large collection of local vendors selling anything and everything from antiques to local crafts. Every Saturday and Sunday on the NC Fairgrounds
37 locals recommend
Raleigh Flea Market
4285 Trinity RdLarge collection of local vendors selling anything and everything from antiques to local crafts. Every Saturday and Sunday on the NC Fairgrounds
Essentials
Peace Street Market
804 W Peace StStrangely one of the largest selections of beer in the area.
The closest grocery store to our house. Pretty bare bones, but good for the bare essentials.
Save A Lot
1610 Martin Luther King Jr BlvdThe closest grocery store to our house. Pretty bare bones, but good for the bare essentials.
Probably our favorite grocery store. Large selection and open 24hrs a day.
132 locals recommend
Harris Teeter
500 Oberlin RdProbably our favorite grocery store. Large selection and open 24hrs a day.
Another grocery store nearby. Middle of the road options, but closes early around 9pm.
29 locals recommend
Food Lion
3151 Capital BlvdAnother grocery store nearby. Middle of the road options, but closes early around 9pm.
Walgreens Pharmacy
1900 Cameron StOur go-to pharmacy
Entertainment & Activities
An old school independent theater. Sparkly curtains part before the show. Serves local beer!
20 locals recommend
Mission Valley Shopping Center
2233 Avent Ferry RdAn old school independent theater. Sparkly curtains part before the show. Serves local beer!
Carolina Touring Company
West Martin StreetThe most fun way to see the city
Parks & Nature
Perfect park for taking a walk on a paved trail in the woods. The three mile loop goes by pretty quick when you have gorgeous views of the lake!
112 locals recommend
Lake Johnson Park
4601 Avent Ferry RdPerfect park for taking a walk on a paved trail in the woods. The three mile loop goes by pretty quick when you have gorgeous views of the lake!