Things To Do In Raleigh
Attention future dash bash attendees: you’ll have an entire weekend to romp around our city. As the vaccine becomes more widely available, and you feel more comfortable venturing out, experience Raleigh like a true local. Take a look at some of our favorite places to hang and things to do around the City of Oaks!
A list of cool Raleigh to-do’s.
Read time: 10min
(1) Take a load off, grab a cocktail…
Address:
1 Glenwood Ave., Suite 101, Raleigh, NC 27603
Details:
Dram & Draught planted roots in Raleigh in the Summer of 2016. Though they feature some pretty amazing hand-crafted cocktails, craft beer, and local wines, their claim to fame is the 300+ international whiskeys you can peruse. Let us know your favorites!
Address:
555 Fayetteville St. #155, Raleigh, NC 27601
Details:
The Haymaker is a little off the beaten path. When you stumble upon this hidden gem, you will find a perfect combination of downtown frenzy mixed with neighborhood watering hole vibes. Overall, a hip haunt featuring creative cocktails in a cozy ambiance with an offbeat, vintage-style decor.
Address:
310 S. West St., Suite 110, Raleigh, NC 27603
Details:
Located along Union Station’s tracks, if you’re looking for a bright and welcoming spot with some killer cocktails, look no further. Junction West was opened by a local couple within the Warehouse District. Rob Grantz, one of the bar’s co-owners, is a second-level cicerone, beer sommelier, and a former brewer at Trophy Brewing Co. That being said, their selections are top-notch.
Address:
519 W. North St., Raleigh, NC 27603
Details:
Heavy on the speakeasy feel, Clockwork takes you on a trip back to a time when cocktails were fresh and music was timeless. Come for the drinks, stay for the vibes. Pro-tip: check out their outdoor seating area!
Address:
106 S. Wilmington St., Raleigh, NC 27601
Details:
Gallo is a mezcal-focused, come-as-you-are, rock & roll cocktail oasis in the heart of downtown Raleigh. Unfamiliar with mezcal? In short, it’s a smoked agave liquor. Think of it as tequila’s cooler cousin. Need we say more?
2) More of a beer person? We got you…
Address:
218 S. Blount St., Raleigh, NC 27601
Details:
A brewery and dim sum restaurant in the heart of downtown Raleigh. We love a one-stop-shop! This chic hangout showcases a variety of handcrafts, house-made brews, and dim sum. All in a multifunctional space that also houses a book and flower shop.
Address:
3709 Neil St., Raleigh, NC 27607
Details:
Raleigh Brewing’s mission is to embrace the City of Oaks with every beer they brew. From the murals of the capital city on the taproom walls to the actual names of the beers, they thrive for the city!
Address:
202 E. Cedar St., Cary, NC 27511
Details:
Bond Brothers’ recently completed industrial, modern space is quickly becoming a popular epicenter in the downtown community. With over 9,000 square feet of brewery, taproom, and beer garden space to enjoy, they have built a destination that equally matches the quality of their beers.
Address:
500 E. Davie Suite 170 Raleigh, NC 27601
Details:
Established in 2019, The Exhibit space serves as an alternate realm to Burial Beer’s Asheville and Charlotte locations. It’s a unique exploration of the Burial art world located in Downtown Raleigh's Transfer Co. Food Hall. Here you’ll find a selection of VISUALS wines, cider, vermouth, and over 24 taps.
Address:
518 Pershing Rd., Raleigh, NC 27608
Details:
Neuse is a craft brewery situated between North Raleigh and Downtown. Nestled just outside of the Five Points neighborhood, NRBC is accompanied by five other craft breweries, all within a one-mile radius of each other. Neuse focuses on Belgian ales and IPAs, but also experiments with some more contemporary and experimental styles, ultimately offering a wide selection. Everyone can find something they’ll enjoy.
(3) Hungry…?
Address:
1053 E. Whitaker Mill Rd., STE 111, Raleigh, NC 27604
Details:
A New Orleans-inspired kitchen. Along with a killer food selection, Hummingbird offers handcrafted cocktails, wines, and a full coffee bar, all in a relaxed, open setting.
Address:
901 W. Morgan St., Raleigh, NC 27603
Details:
Winner of OpenTable’s Top 50 Vegetarian-friendly restaurants in the country, Irregardless is a farm-to-table cafe with meals sourced from local farms around the triangle. Come for the delicious food, stay for the live music hosted weekly.
Address:
273 S. Wilmington St., Raleigh, NC 27601
Details:
James Beard Award–winning chef Ashley Christensen opened this modern fried chicken and waffles spot, which serves the namesake dish as well as modern takes on other Southern classics. Sit at the bar and wash down the restaurant's hearty cuisine with a craft cocktail or glass of champagne. Brunch here is also a BIG hit on the weekends.
Address:
137 S. Wilmington St., Raleigh, NC 27601
Details:
Located in the heart of downtown Raleigh, Sitti offers authentic Lebanese dishes with a modern spin in an airy space featuring a communal table + an art deco bar.
Address:
500 E. Davie St., Raleigh, NC 27601
Details:
Transfer is built around food and its power to connect the community. Located in a local historic garage in Downtown Raleigh, it’s THE go-to food hall, market, and gathering place. The hall houses 11 different vendors, meaning everyone can find something they’re craving here!
(4) Get your caffeine fix…
Address:
219 S. West St., Raleigh, NC 27603
Details:
Heirloom is a modern cafe featuring espresso-based drinks, loose-leaf teas, and sake cocktails in a bright, sleek venue. Feeling hungry? They also serve Laotian and Taiwanese food that earned them a spot on Bon Appetit's ‘Top 50 restaurants of 2019’ list.
Address:
10 E. Hargett St., Raleigh, NC 27601
Details:
Neighbor to The Raleigh Times Bar, Morning Times is a two-story coffeehouse serving light fare in a bohemian, exposed-brick space with an art gallery located upstairs. Evening visitors can enjoy a glass of red with dessert as they check out the works created by the featured artist of the month.
Address:
2100 Hillsborough St., Raleigh, NC 27607
Details:
Located on the first floor of the Aloft Hotel, Jubala is a made-to-order coffee shop, serving single-origin, pour-over, and French press along with the classic espresso drinks. The space features an open kitchen along with the option of outdoor seating. Try one of their breakfast sammies!
Address:
7705 Lead Mine Rd., Raleigh, NC 27615
Details:
Sola is a family-owned neighborhood cafe & espresso bar serving up eats such as pizza and pastries. Pro-tip: stop by on a Friday night to enjoy some live music.
Address:
7 W Hargett St., Raleigh, NC 27601
Details:
For all of our caffeine-sensitive friends, Raleigh Raw is a community-inspired organic juice bar and cafe. Along with their killer juices, they serve a menu of exclusively raw foods, including poke bowls!
(5) For all of our art + cultural lovers…
North Carolina Museum of Art (NCMA)
Address:
2110 Blue Ridge Rd., Raleigh, NC 27607
Details:
Located in West Raleigh, the NCMA houses more than 5,000 years of artistic heritage, including one of the nation's largest collections of Jewish ceremonial art. The museum offers daily guided tours of the exhibitions, and on Saturdays at 10:30 AM, you can catch a guided tour of the surrounding park. The 164-acre park features nine monumental works of art, which visitors can peruse on foot or by bike. Iris, the museum's light-filled, in-house restaurant, looks out over gardens. On Friday both the restaurant and museum stay open late and offer live music. Admission is free!
Contemporary Art Museum (CAM) Raleigh
Address:
409 W. Martin St., Raleigh, NC 27603
Details:
CAM Raleigh is a stunning gallery with beautiful vaulted ceilings and plenty of natural lighting. The facility houses a great variety of multimedia, contemporary artworks. Guided tours are offered every Sunday at 2:00 PM. The best part? Admission is free!
Address:
11 W. Jones St., Raleigh, NC 27601
Details:
Our Museum of Natural Sciences is the oldest established museum in North Carolina and the largest museum of its kind in the Southeastern United States — go us! The museum features dinosaurs, whale skeletons, live animals, walk-through dioramas, special exhibits, hands-on science education, and accessible scientists. You can also view more than a dozen exhibits from coastal to prehistoric North Carolina, see a live sloth in the Living Conservatory, engage in hands-on activities in the Discovery Room, and even experience life as a bug in the Arthropod Zoo. General admission is free!
Address:
1903 Hillsborough St., Raleigh, NC 27607
Details:
The Gregg is located on the North Campus of NC State University. Admission is free, and their permanent collection houses more than 35,000 objects including ceramics, paintings, photography, sculptures, architectural drawings, archaeological artifacts, modern furniture, and so much more!
Address:
1070 Partners Way, Raleigh, NC 27606
Details:
Ever been to a robotic library? Now you can say you have. The Hunt Library is located on NC State’s Centennial Campus. Here’s how it works: book selection is headed by a supercomputer in the bowels of the building. The bookBot barcodes the volumes, sorts them by size, and stores them in more than 18,000 bins. You can watch the bookBot through a glass wall on the first floor of the building as it speeds through huge storage aisles to retrieve books, journals, and other materials.
(6) Support a local business…
Address:
208 S. Wilmington St., Raleigh, NC 27601
Details:
The ZEN Succulent is a black-owned, neighborhood plant shop full of unique greenery and handcrafted gifts from local makers. ZEN was created by the mother/daughter duo, Margaret and Megan George, and is most known for its modern terrariums, workshops, and DIY terrarium bar. If your space needs a little greenery, this is definitely the place to go.
Address:
319 W. Martin St., #100, Raleigh, NC 27601
Details:
Raleigh Denim is an industrial-chic shop specializing in high-end, hand-crafted rustic denim jeans & apparel. All apparel is locally designed and manufactured in their downtown workshop. Check them out if you are in need of some new threads!
Address:
3022 W. St., Raleigh, NC 27603
Details:
Located in the Warehouse District next to the train station, Father and Son’s has been selling Mid Century Modern home furnishings and vintage clothing since 1997. This store has one of the best vintage clothing selections we’ve seen in a very long time.
Address:
207 S. Salisbury St., Raleigh, NC 27601
Details:
DECO is a lively, colorful, and unique gift shop located in downtown Raleigh. They feature the work of more than 50 local artisans, including jewelry, prints, pottery, cards, chocolate, and the very best local t-shirt collection. It’s definitely one of our go-to’s for souvenirs.
Address:
215 E. Franklin St, #110, Raleigh, NC 27604
Details:
Located between Two Roosters ice cream and Wine Authorities, Edge of Urge is your one-stop shop for unique local gifts, small-batch cosmetics, handmade jewelry, and women's fashion from emerging designers and independent brands! Jessie Williams had originally founded this quirky boutique in Wilmington, NC back in 2002, and expanded to Raleigh’s Oakwood neighborhood around five years ago. Stop by if you’re in the market for some kitschy gifts.
(7) Experience the great outdoors…
Address:
2105 Umstead Dr., Raleigh, NC 27603
Details:
Raleigh’s largest city park encompasses a whopping 308-acres in the heart of downtown. The site features an off-leash dog area, seasonal sunflower field, and a stunning view of the Raleigh skyline.
Address:
4415 Beryl Rd., Raleigh, NC 27606
Details:
The JC Raulston Arboretum is a 10-acre, nationally acclaimed botanical garden with one of the largest and most diverse collections of landscape plants in the Southeast. This stunning garden displays more than 6,000 different types of plants from around the world. Admission is free!
Address:
200 S. McDowell St., Raleigh, NC 27601
Details:
Named after Abner Nash, the second governor of North Carolina. Nash Square Park is the perfect place to picnic while enjoying some city views.
Address:
Multiple access points.
Details:
Along the eastern edge of Raleigh, the Neuse River Trail follows the river for nearly 30 miles from Falls Lake Dam to the Wake/Johnston County line. There are several river crossings along the way, including two on suspension bridges. The scenic, tree-lined trail offers numerous wildlife viewing opportunities. There are three points of access, which we have taken the liberty to list below:
2928 Horseshoe Farm Road (2928 Horseshoe Farm Road)
Buffaloe Road Athletic Park (5812 Buffaloe Road)
Anderson Point Park (20 Anderson Point Drive)
(8) And at the end of the day, rest your head…
Address:
308 S. Boylan Ave., Raleigh, NC 27603
Details:
Montfort Hall, now known as the Heights House Hotel, is an Italianate-style estate completed in the early 1860s. It sits on the highest point of the Boylan Heights neighborhood in downtown Raleigh and is one of the few remaining pre-Civil War houses in the area. Having undergone restorations to be made into a boutique hotel and event space, the house now has nine large en-suite guest rooms that can sleep up to 20 guests.
Address:
2100 Hillsborough St., Raleigh, NC 27607
Details:
Aloft is a design-forward hotel celebrating local art and unique lifestyles. Set in the heart of downtown Raleigh, it’s directly across from NC State University’s campus and is extremely walkable to Cameron Village’s shopping and dining areas. Even better yet, it’s dog friendly, so bring your furry friend if you so feel inclined!
Address:
300 N. Dawson St., Raleigh, NC 27603
Details:
The Longleaf Hotel is a modernized, mid-century gem located at the northern gateway to downtown Raleigh. In their own words, “Expect an unpretentious atmosphere that is just a little bit swanky, because you should feel both comfortable and special at the same time.”
Address:
420 S. Bloodworth St., Raleigh, NC 27601
Details:
Guest House is an intimate, eight-room boutique inn and cottage in the heart of Downtown Raleigh. It’s walkable to almost everything (including a fair amount of places noted on this list).
Address:
500 Fayetteville St., Raleigh, NC 27601
Details:
The Marriott City Center is located in the middle of Downtown Raleigh. Connected to the Silver-LEED Certified Raleigh Convention Center, this modern hotel is in close proximity to the city’s top entertainment, shopping centers, restaurants, and business district.
We hear the best things come in pairs, so keep an eye out for a part II!