The Ultimate Raleigh Travel Guide

It’s been a while since I posted a travel guide, so I thought I share the things I love about Raleigh, one of my all-time favorite cities. I attended college in Raleigh, then took a job there after I graduated. I lived very close to downtown and watched Raleigh grow and change a lot over the years.

After moving to Charlotte last year, my view of Raleigh changed from that of a resident to a visitor. I travel there often to visit my dear friends, and sometimes for work, too. My group of friends loves to explore, so I developed quite a lengthy list of favorites over the years. Thus, this guide is absolutely jam-packed with tips for you! It is the ultimate Raleigh travel guide.

Next time you’re in the City of Oaks, (perhaps for Hopscotch in a few weeks?) check out a few of these places for food, drink and shopping! And enjoy it, in my honor please! // susannah

Click below to see the ultimate Raleigh travel guide!

DOWNTOWN — HARGETT STREET

A weekend spent downtown is never complete without a trip to Father & Son Antiques, a quirky vintage store on Hargett Street (pictured). You’re sure to find some interesting stuff: old records, horse masks, vintage prom dresses. You never know!

The Raleigh Times Bar is one of my favorite restaurants. I always brought visitors here for a meal or drinks. The building is the former office for the (now defunct) newspaper of the same name. Raleigh is a beer loving city, and Raleigh Times has a huge craft beer selection with tons of local brews. Ask a waiter for help deciding! The menu is equally satisfying. (Get the fried pickles. Or the nachos! Or a burger. You can’t go wrong.) Sit on the roof for a view of downtown or inside for great people-watching.

Raleigh Times shares a kitchen with The Morning Times, one of the best spots for coffee in town. They have the perfect iced coffee pick-me-up, as well as an upstairs seating area that doubles as an art gallery.

For a Raleigh souvenir, stop in Stitch, the retail shop of designer Holly Aiken. She makes beautiful, handmade vinyl bags and wallets that come in a wide range of retro colors and geometric patterns. I have an orange wallet that I absolutely love! Holly is also an alumna of NCSU’s design school, so that makes her work extra-special to me. Moon & Lola is a lovely gift shop next door!

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DOWNTOWN — WILMINGTON STREET & MOORE SQUARE

If you like Mediterranean fare, Sitti is for you. They’ve got everything from hummus to kabobs. Expect it to be dimly-lit, crowded and loud at dinnertime, so go for lunch if you prefer a quieter meal.

Saturday brunch at Centro (pictured) is to-die-for. (I always get the Calentado!) They’ve got a menu of classic Mexican fare. Stop by again for dinner for the best tacos in town and a spicy cocktail from the bar.

Another beer-loving bar is the Busy Bee Cafe. They’ve got delicious eats and lovely cocktails in addition to their lengthy beer menu. For a late-night snack, get their famous tater tots, then stop by The Hive next door for dancing or drinking on the roof.

Several of my chef-idol Ashley Christensen’s restaurants are in this area. Beasley’s Chicken + Honey is a favorite for Southern fare. Chuck’s has the best burgers and fries I’ve ever had. Joule (pictured) is a new coffee and brunch joint. For amazing cocktails, don’t miss Fox Liquor Bar. She has a new restaurant opening soon, and her flagship restaurant Poole’s Downtown Diner is just on the other side of downtown. Ashley was recently awarded the James Beard Award for Best Chef Southeast, so you can’t go wrong with any of these choices.

In nearby Moore Square, you’ll find Bida Manda. If you’ve never had Laotian food, you’re missing out and must stop here. The interior is gorgeous, perhaps because Vansana Nolintha, the restaurant’s co-owner is another NCSU College of Design alum.

I also recommend dining at Calavela, an empanada and tequila bar. It’s across the street from ArtSpace, a huge visual art center and gallery space.

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DOWNTOWN — FAYETTEVILLE STREET

Another great spot for craft cocktails — arguably the best spot — is Foundation. This small bar often has a line for admission that’s out the door, but the wait is worth it.

On the first Friday of every month, Raleigh celebrates First Friday — a city-wide gallery crawl. I love stopping by The Fish Market, the student-run gallery from nearby N.C. State University (my alma mater again), to see what the kids are up to these days. They always have some interesting stuff!

The North Carolina Capitol Building sits at the top of Fayetteville Street. Take a tour of our beautiful Greek Revival state house or walk the grounds. Across the street, you’ll find the N.C. Museum of History and the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences — both well-done marvels worth an afternoon of your visit.

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DOWNTOWN — MARTIN STREET 

A quick jaunt down Martin Street leads to a bunch of awesome venues. Capital Club 16 (pictured) is a great spot for brunch or a beer. Try the shanny fries for an appetizer.

Garland is a relatively new Indian and Asian fusion spot.  The decor is so unique, with Instagram-worthy mirrored pillars out front, fancy ceilings and bathroom floors made of shiny pennies!

Nextdoor to Garland, Neptunes Parlour is a fun indie club for dancing, or you can catch a local band upstairs at Kings Barcade.

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WAREHOUSE DISTRICT

A few blocks from downtown, you’ll find the Warehouse District. Many of the city’s old warehouses have been converted into galleries, churches, restaurants, offices, shops and even a museum.

Raleighites love coffee. Cafe de los Muertos (pictured) is a newcomer to the scene (it opened after I moved) but it has become one of my top coffee stops over my last few visits. The decor is really incredible — there’s amazing tile work, a wall of wood palettes and lots of calavera skull artwork. Change up your coffee routine with a horchata latte.

Next, stop by the Raleigh Depot. Tasty Beverage Co. is a craft brew store with around 1,200 packaged beers and six on tap. Take a tour of Videri Chocolate Factory, an amazing artisan chocolate factory. Across the street, grab some famous North Carolina barbecue at The Pit.

Around the corner, Humble Pie has one of my top three favorite Sunday brunches. At night, stop in for drinks and tapas. I’ve shared so many memorable meals here.

The contemporary art museum, affectionately known as CAM, is another must-see on First Fridays. In addition to its gorgeous exhibitions, CAM hosts events here often. Last time I visited, they hosted The WanderBox, a traveling beer garden.

Walk up the Hargett Street hill toward Boylan Bridge Brewpub for a beer and a burger. Dine al fresco on a nice night for the best view of downtown, or pack a picnic and drive or bike a short way to Dorthea Dix Park for a rival view.

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HISTORIC OAKWOOD

I have a thing for old houses, and this is where you’ll find them in Raleigh. The Historic Oakwood neighborhood has been home to many of Raleigh’s business and political leaders since the 19th century. My favorites are the colorful Victorian homes. The Oakwood Cemetery is a harrowing walk through Confederate history and Raleigh’s ancestors.

Quality Grocery is a recently renovated, 100-year-old corner store in the heart of Oakwood. Local is their mantra, and you can find local produce, meats, beer and dry goods as well as order from the walk-up, short order grill.

Stop in Yellow Dog Bread Co., another great spot for coffee and sweet treats. Eat there, or take your goodies with you on a walk around the Raleigh City Farm. Stop in Slingshot Coffee Co. on weekends for a sip of their cold-brewed goodness. Raleigh is a great city for bike riders, so check out the Oak City Cycling Project, an independent cycling shop focused on increasing ridership.

Lastly, grab lunch at Piebird, an all-pie restaurant that is my greatest dream come true. They’ve got savory pies and sweet ones and they are all amazing. Eat all the pies!

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GLENWOOD SOUTH

This neighborhood is a rapidly changing, contemporary area of Raleigh. There always seems to be a new bar, club or restaurant popping up here! The Cupcake Shoppe has fresh-baked cupcakes in all sorts of flavors. I love the chocolate peanut butter, the carrot cake and the strawberry! You can’t go wrong with the rotating, seasonal flavors either.

I make jewelry for fun, and Ornamentea (pictured) was where I would stock up on materials. The employees are all super helpful with any project, from homemade beaded earrings to scrapbooking. They also offer classes and workshops, plus free projects on First Fridays. At the very least, there is a ton to look at in here!

While you’re in Glenwood South, stop in Askew Taylor, the craziest art store you’ve ever seen, even if you’re not an artist or designer. Seriously — If there were an art store in Harry Potter’s Diagon Alley, it would look like Askew Taylor.

For coffee, stop by Cafe Helios. For food, get Italian from 518 West or sushi from Sushi Blues. The Hibernian Irish Pub recently reopened after a devastating fire.

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NCSU / CAMERON VILLAGE

Of course I couldn’t let this guide go without a glimpse at where I went to school, North Carolina State University. For me, college was such a huge part of my life in Raleigh. It is, after all, the whole reason I moved there. The campus is an all-brick beauty. Take a walk in the Court of North Carolina, the Brickyard or the Arboretum.

Hillsborough Street is the main drag near campus — there’s a bowling alley, great coffee and beer, of course. Between Mitch’s Tavern and The Players’ Retreat, it’s a toss-up as to the best spot to watch the big game. The Raleigh Rose Garden is a beautiful place for a walk or a picnic.

Cameron Village is the neighborhood to the north of campus. There’s a big shopping center with tons of restaurants and boutiques. Sugarland is another bakery worth a visit! Pullen Park is a beautiful spot with a ferris wheel, train and paddle boats for any-aged kid!

In the nearby St. Mary’s neighborhood, Trophy Brewing & Pizza Co. is a cozy spot with great, well, beer and pizza. Irregardless Cafe is an establishment in Raleigh. It ranks in my top brunches of Raleigh!

The brand-new James B. Hunt Library is an amazing spot. Open to the public, there’s a robot librarian, hundreds of comfy chairs and an abundance of natural light. It’s the library you never knew you wanted. It’s located on NCSU’s Centennial Campus, overlooking the stunning Lake Raleigh.

In college, I spent a lot of time drinking coffee and working at Cup A Joe. There are two locations, on Western Boulevard and Hillsborough Street, both with a hodgepodge of eclectic, mismatched furniture. I recommend their cookies paired with the Voltaire, hot chocolate poured over espresso.

About a 10-minute drive from campus, you’ll find the North Carolina Museum of Art, another place I always take visitors. Nestled among a greenway filled with public art, the museum has a mixture of contemporary and classical art, a sculpture garden and traveling exhibitions. You’ll definitely see something beautiful here, and the architecture of the West Building does not disappoint.

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FIVE POINTS

Five Points is a sweet little neighborhood with a small-town feel. The Rialto is a historic movie theater with lots of charm. They still play The Rocky Horror Picture Show on the first, third and fifth Fridays. The honey crust at Lilly’s Pizza makes it the best pizza in town. The Third Place is a great place for a quiet, relaxing cup of coffee or tea.

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NORTH HILLS

Though technically a mall, North Hills has some hidden gems. Coquette Brasserie is a chichi French restaurant with an amazing brunch. The Cowfish combines sushi and burgers in a unique culinary experience.

And that’s my Raleigh! I feel like I barely scratched the surface — there is so much to Raleigh and so much more to discover. I hope you enjoy your visit as much as I enjoyed living there. No wonder it keeps popping up on all those “best places to live” lists!