For the coffee lover, this is a must-stop during your weekend in Raleigh. Jubala has a couple locations but we recommend the shop on Hillsborough St right across from the NC State Bell Tower. But don’t just go for the coffee… Their biscuits, muffins, and waffles are amazing.
Benchwarmers serves up award-winning bagels and offers some great coffee, too! Whether you’re looking for a breakfast sandwich or just a bagel with schmear, you can’t go wrong with anything on the menu.
Boulted is a delicious local bakery in Raleigh. This is one of Hattie’s favorite breakfast spots in all of Raleigh. They bake everything fresh daily, so get there early and get it while it's hot! Hattie usually goes for the apricot pinwheel while Patrick is more of a bialy guy.
Fresh, hot donuts! Need we say more? Brightspot is sure to brighten your morning with some delicious donuts. Their flavors vary by the day, and you can watch them make the donuts fresh right in front of you every morning. Can’t make it to the shop? Don’t worry. We have a feeling you may have the opportunity to snag one Sunday night.
Since we started dating in 2016, Trophy Pizza has been our favorite easy dinner spot. You can find a great beer selection from Trophy on draft and get great cocktails featuring their distillery, Young Hearts. They have a wide variety of pizza along with great salads (get the Greek!) and small plates to share. If you want to ensure a table, make a reservation.
For a more upscale dinner, Brewery Bhavana is one of our favorite dinner spots in Raleigh. This James Beard nominated spot is an Chinese restaurant, flower shop, bookstore, and brewery all rolled into one. If you want to get your hands on the BEST bao buns, we recommend making a reservation or walking in early around 4:00 PM.
Located in the heart of Glenwood South, Cortez is a cool spot specializing in latin inspired seafood. While this is a place to get some good seafood, their burger cannot be overlooked and is definitely a recommendation for non-seafood lovers. Make sure to make a reservation ahead of time!
Located only two blocks from the wedding venue, this is a great place to go for food and drinks. It has ample indoor and outdoor kid friendly seating, but be aware it is first come, first served. One of the things we love about Standard is some great in-house brewed beer and delicious food. Their menu constantly changes, and selections vary daily, but we’ve never had a bad meal. Pro tip: two words. tater. tots.
If the name didn’t give it away, Whiskey Kitchen will be the whiskey and bourbon lover's dream. They have quite a selection of whiskey and bourbons to choose from on their spirits list. You can even get a flight of whiskey! Don’t just go for the liquor though, Whiskey Kitchen has a small but mighty menu with some great options. On a nice fall night, they will have the garage door open to create great indoor/outdoor dining vibes.
State of Beer is a Raleigh staple perfect for a patio beer and lunch. It’s a quirky bottle shop and sandwich shop in one. Rumor has it Chef Andrew Wilkinson once exclaimed, “This is one of the best sandwiches I’ve ever had!” after eating at SOB. If you don’t believe us, give it a try, and don’t sleep on the pasta salad as a side. It’s a must!.
Do you have some picky eaters you need to accommodate? Or can’t decide what you want? We recommend that you head to Transfer Food Hall, where you can find a little bit of everything from some local Raleigh restaurants along with an extensive bar.
This isn’t a restaurant. It’s a dive bar (think $2 PBRs) that makes simple but amazing hot dogs. That’s all.
It’s no secret that we’re beer lovers, so the Raleigh Beer Garden has been a mainstay for us since it opened in 2017. The Beer Garden offers three floors of over 300+ different beer taps. When it opened, it set the World Record for most taps offered. We highly recommend the first floor, which offers a variety of local NC brews. Check out the rooftop for great views or the back gravel area for lawn games.
Vault has become one of our favorite spots for an after-work beer since they opened last year. As a craft beer bar, they keep the taps rotating with local craft beer and varieties from across the country. A fun and low-key environment, this is an excellent stop for the beer enthusiast in the group. If you stop in, tell Eric we sent you!
Trophy is our OG brewery stop in Raleigh. It’s been one of our favorite chill afternoon destinations since we started dating. We already mentioned the pizza shop earlier on the list, but don’t hesitate to visit their brewery location on Maywood Avenue for more laid-back vibes.
Burial is a great Ashville-based brewery with a tap room in Raleigh. They have some fantastic IPAs and funky stouts and sours to choose from. It’s located next to Transfer Food Hall (you can bring your food in from Transfer) and one of Patrick’s favorite NC breweries!
Ok we had to include one option that wasn’t beer focused… If you’re looking for upscale cocktails and speakeasy vibes, look no further than Watts and Ward! Offering a select of great cocktails and drink options, this is a great option for pre or post-dinner drinks. It is located in the heart of downtown on the same block as Brewery Bhavana.
If you want to take a trip down our memory lane, look no further than Goodberry’s in the Village District! This was our first date spot. To get the full experience, sit on the bench located outside and to the left of Goodberry’s!
Our favorite ice cream spot in Raleigh! If you know the us and their our for ice cream, then you know this is no small praise. Two Roosters has delicious staple flavors with monthly specialties offered. Two Roosters has a location right next to Standard, making for a great post-dinner stop.
A chocolate factory… that also serves ice cream. What more could you ask for? It’s the perfect stop for a post-lunch sweet treat in the Warehouse District of Raleigh. Are you interested in learning more about their process? You can walk through the factory on a kid friendly self-guided tour!
Step into the countryside only a couple miles outside of downtown Raleigh! Howling Cow is NC State's creamery and dairy farm that serves the freshest ice cream you can get. If you want to learn more, be sure to sign up for the tour ahead of time.
This isn’t JUST a farmers market… it’s an experience to behold. Only a couple miles from our house, you’ll find over 75 acres of indoor and outdoor produce and plant stands, specialty shops, restaurants, and a garden center. We know it sounds odd for a farmers market… but you must try the Calabash Shrimp Plate (with hushpuppies, of course) from the on-site seafood restaurant.
Go for the museum, stay for the family friendly walking trails and outdoor art installations. The 164-acre museum park is a favorite destination for us for a morning walk, especially during the beautiful fall months. Pro tip: there are some fun new musical swings right by the visitor center!
A quick 20-minute drive outside downtown Raleigh will land you at the beautiful Umstead State Park for a lovely, easy hike. The Reedy Creek entrance off Harrison Avenue is about 15 minutes from downtown Raleigh and will give you access to a few different trail options.
A small but mighty contemporary art museum in the Warehouse District of Raleigh! There are no permanent exhibits here, so you never know what you’ll get. It’s free to visit, so if you are walking through downtown Raleigh, it’s a surefire pitstop to catch some awesome new art.
If you want to continue your trip down memory lane, check out the Raleigh Rose Garden where Patrick popped the question.
Are you traveling with kiddos? Marbles will be a great spot to visit for fun for all ages. Right in the heart of downtown Raleigh, it’s super easy to get to and will surely tire out those little ones so YOU can dance the night away :)