Jordan & Jamie
The City of Oaks
Benchwarmer's Bagels
"Bagels are the essence of life." - Jordan M. Pappas (pre-Celiac diagnosis)
Iris Coffee Lab
Even if you don't like matcha, you're going to like their matcha.
Yellow Dog Bread Company
The platonic ideal of a southern bakery.
Sam Jones BBQ
Eastern North Carolina BBQ is better than Western North Carolina BBQ. Trust us on this one. Awarded the Bib Gourmand by the Michelin Guide in 2025.
Gringo A Go-Go
In a 1940s Esso gas station, the savviest of Raleighites pay tribute to the Alvarez family's jalapeño margaritas, queso empanadas, green chilaquiles, and other culinary masterworks. Do not miss it.
Standard Beer + Food
Home to Raleigh's best smash burger and approximately 400 of the City's most feral children.
Jolie French Bistro
Raleigh's premier French bistro. You should definitely escar-go.
Madre
The tapas scene may have taken over Raleigh, but rest assured these still remain undefeated.
Stanbury
Sure, you might have to arrive right at 5PM in order to get a table (sadly, no reservations), but it's really, really, really worth it.
Bittersweet
Coffee, cocktails, chocolate. 'Nuff said.
William & Company
Located in historic Oakwood, this is our favorite bar to get white girl wasted on mezcal while admiring all of the houses we can't afford to buy.
Person Street Bar
Raleigh's premier sesh spot.
Escazū Chocolates
Micro-batching chocolates since '08.
DECO Raleigh
Every time we come here, we leave with a dachshund-themed tchotchke. It's actually becoming a problem.
State Farmers Market
It's simple - come with money, leave with local goodies.
Raleigh Denim Workshop
The real deal - authentic denim jeans, jackets, and trinkets made right in the back of their store. Jamie geeks out at their vintage sewing machines every time we come in to shop.
Village District
An absolute icon of Raleigh's dining, strolling, and shopping scene since 1949. And home for Jordan and Jamie since 2020.
Raleigh Iron Works
A newcomer to the dining and shopping scene here. There actually isn't a single place here we wouldn't recommend going into.
Dorthea Dix Park
Deep-rooted history and a world-class adventure playground are built upon the former grounds of North Carolina's first psychiatric hospital. You'd be insane not to check it out.
The J.C. Raulston Arboretum at North Carolina State University
On a beautiful spring day, one of the great pleasures in this city is to stroll their 10 acres of well-manicured grounds. We particularly enjoy the quiet simplicity of the Japanese section's raked-stone zen garden.
The North Carolina Museum of Art and Ann & Jim Goodnight Museum Park
The outside is as artful as the inside. Jordan's first photograph of Jamie was taken here in front of Bernardo Bellotto's cityscape of Dresden (bonus points if you can find it).
The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
Sure, Raleigh's history is cool, but can we interest you in rare Late Cretaceous dinosaur fossils?
William B. Umstead State Park
Jordan used to often hike its 35 miles of trails alone. Now, we go together. It's better that way.