The Scoop on Where to Eat, Stay & Play in Raleigh
After all the fun eating, shopping and sightseeing in Chapel Hill and Durham, we’ve now arrived in Raleigh, the final point in the Triangle. Raleigh is the second largest city in North Carolina, after Charlotte of course, so there are lots of reasons to spend some time there. Whether you’re in town for business, pleasure or a visit to the kids at NC State, we’ve got the scoop girls’ guide to Raleigh on the best places to eat, stay and play in and around town:
Eat
Breakfast:
Wake up and head to Joule Coffee + Table in downtown Raleigh. If you like good coffee, they have the best pour-over coffee and a full menu of espresso and tea options.
Another local breakfast and coffee favorite is Jabala Coffee. They have locations in North Raleigh in Lafayette Village and downtown on Hillsborough St. Order one of their sweet or savory biscuits and the waffles. Definitely the waffles.
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Brunch:
For the best Sunday brunch, we recommend French brasserie Coquette Raleigh, located in North Hills. One word – crepes. Plus, they have pretty outdoor seating and shopping all around.
Lunch:
Our favorite lunch spot is NOFO @ the Pig. It’s in a restored Piggly Wiggly grocery store which makes it a bit quirky and charming. Located in Five Points near downtown, it’s a combination café, food market and boutiquey gift shop with lots of lunch options, great salads and sandwiches. You can eat outside on the patio and people watch and then head inside for shopping.
If Piggly Wigglys aren’t your thing, try Beasley’s Chicken + Honey. It’s exactly what it sounds like – amazing fried chicken plates drizzled with honey and awesome Southern sides.
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Dinner:
For dinner reservations, we recommend Mandolin near Five Points. The menu changes daily, but it’s gourmet Southern food with a focus on seasonality and beautiful ambience for a nice dinner out.
For a delicious date night spot, choose Café Luna. It’s an authentic Tuscan Italian menu, and the restaurant is filled with art and floor to ceiling windows to let the nightlife in. Another good choice is Death & Taxes. The name sounds depressing, but the food definitely isn’t. Notable Raleigh chef Ashley Christensen has much acclaim and several area restaurants under her belt (er, chef’s coat) and she created this new restaurant around the concept of cooking with wood fire. The open kitchen gives diners a nice, warm view. We recommend going with an “of the sea” option here as the seafood seems to be the best.
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Dessert:
For dessert and free, live music on most weekend nights, stop in to Sola Coffee. This local, family-owned spot is a fun, casual place to hang out. In downtown Raleigh, grab coffee and dessert at lucettegrace – a modern bakery with sophisticated desserts that stays open until 9 p.m.
Drinks:
Kick off a night on the town at Foundation or Fox Liquor Bar. Try the Hemingway Daiquiri or a mojito.
Stay
There are several well-reviewed hotels in and around the downtown area from brands you’re familiar with. Check out the brand-new Hilton Garden Inn near Crabtree Mall. Or the Hyatt House in North Hills.
For something you won’t find anywhere else, The Umstead Hotel & Spa is North Carolina’s highest rated hotel, with good reason. They have a full spa and 12 acres of gorgeous grounds, from woodlands to gardens and a lake. Umstead is technically located just outside Raleigh in neighboring Cary and about 10 miles from downtown Raleigh. If you’re in need of a relaxing getaway, this is your place.
Play
Sightseeing:
For a casual, fun sightseeing tour, take a pedicab ride (pay what you’d like) to see the sights in downtown Raleigh, from the big acorn to the capitol building. For the state history buffs, you can even take a tour of the capitol.
Shopping:
In a big city, there are many, many places to shop but we recommend skipping the malls and outlets and visiting North Hills and Cameron Village for the best Raleigh shopping experience. North Hills is a great area to stroll and shop with restaurants, department stores and boutiques. If you’re a fan of the comfy Lou & Grey line from Loft, there’s actually a rare Lou & Grey stand-alone shop here.
For clothes, jewelry and accessories, we also love VERMILLION, Madison Raleigh, Scout & Molly’s and Charlotte’s.
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Cameron Village is a neighborhood shopping spot closer to downtown Raleigh. If you love Bevello, Fab’rik and the Impeccable Pig in Charlotte, they also have outposts here. Unique to Cameron Village, is Fedora, with on-trend-for-fall clothing and accessories.
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You probably already know & love Moon & Lola for personalized jewelry, but the company is headquartered near Raleigh so you can visit their storefront here. They were an Oprah’s Favorite Things pick two years in a row, and if monograms are your thing, you’re going to love this shop.
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Andria Rosell is a writer, marketer and mom to two rowdy, little boys. Her family relocated to the Triangle from Chicago to escape the winters and explore everything North Carolina has to offer.
