The Raleigh Guide
Restaurants
The local dining scene is anchored by North Carolina ingredients, creative cooking and kitchens run by people who genuinely love this place. Explore independent restaurants worth making a trip for.
96 places
Durham Food Hall
Local food vendors and a central bar across from the farmers market
Hummingbird
New Orleans comfort on an eclectic Iron District patio
Madre
Spanish and Mediterranean tapas with a sunny brunch
Birdie’s Barroom & Kitchen
Refined all-day brunch in the heart of downtown
East End Bistrot
French technique with Asian influence on a Champagne terrace
Rosewater Kitchen & Bar
Upscale New American brunch with a European-cafe feel
Mala Pata
Masa-driven, Michelin-recognized Latin American cooking
Cucciolo Terrazza
Italian sensibility meets a Midtown brunch
Relish Craft Kitchen & Bourbon Bar
A North Raleigh brunch-and-bourbon mainstay
Barcelona Wine Bar
Spanish tapas and a deep wine list in the Warehouse District
SmokeStacks Cafe
A hidden-gem cafe and wine bar with a daily-changing menu
Boatman Spirits Co.
A DJ brunch and craft spirits at Seaboard Station
Heirloom
South Asian-influenced cafe with a light-filled room
Il Falò
Wood-fired Italian from a James Beard Award-winning chef
Parkside
Hearty American brunch in the Warehouse District
Brigs
A beloved Triangle breakfast-and-brunch institution
Iyla’s Southern Kitchen
Soul food and Nashville hot chicken in the heart of downtown Raleigh
Morgan Street Food Hall
Downtown Raleigh's food hall of 20-plus local vendors
Mulino Italian Kitchen & Bar
House-made pasta and estate wines in a reclaimed Glenwood South mill
Sono
Downtown Raleigh's enduring sushi bar and Japanese izakaya
The Big Easy
Where Raleigh meets New Orleans on Fayetteville Street.
The Morning Times
Downtown Raleigh's community coffeehouse since 2006
Trophy Brewing & Pizza
Downtown Raleigh's original craft brewery and pizzeria.
Vic’s Ristorante Italiano
Old-world Italian and New York-style pizza, a City Market institution
Wye Hill Kitchen & Brewing
Chef-driven New American food and house-brewed beer with a downtown Raleigh skyline view.
Caffe Luna
Classic and contemporary Italian in the heart of downtown Raleigh
Chido Taco
Mercado-style tacos and cocktails in downtown Raleigh
Gravy
Scratch-made gravy and house-made pasta in downtown Raleigh
Sitti
Authentic Lebanese hospitality in the heart of downtown Raleigh
Taverna Agora
Authentic Greek kitchen and bar with a rooftop oasis on Hillsborough Street
The Raleigh Times Bar
Historic downtown bar with elevated pub fare, a legendary Belgian beer list, and a rooftop patio.
Whiskey Kitchen
Southern kitchen and whiskey bar in the Warehouse District
Awaze Ethiopian & Eritrean Cuisine
Family-style Ethiopian and Eritrean cooking on Cary's Maynard Road
Bond Brothers Beer Company
Downtown Cary's beloved independent brewery and beer garden.
Buldaegi BBQ House
Sizzling tabletop Korean barbecue in the heart of Cary
Chengdu 7
Authentic Sichuan mala and dry pots near Downtown Cary
Herons
Cary's Forbes Five-Star, garden-driven New American flagship at The Umstead
No. 1 Pho
Beloved family-run Vietnamese pho house in West Cary
SAAP
Authentic Laotian and Isan cooking in the heart of downtown Cary
Saffron Indian Cuisine
Fragrant, from-scratch Indian cooking and a beloved lunch buffet in the heart of Cary.
Wasabi
Cary's longtime neighborhood sushi bar and Japanese and Thai kitchen
Bull City Burger and Brewery
Grass-fed burgers and house-brewed beer in the heart of downtown Durham
Bullock’s Bar-B-Cue
Durham's longest-running restaurant and a genuine Eastern North Carolina barbecue landmark.
Dame’s Chicken & Waffles
Almost world-famous chicken, waffles and shmears in East Durham.
Guglhupf
Artisan German bakery, café & biergarten in the heart of Durham.
Luna Rotisserie & Empanadas
Wood-fired rotisserie and Latin American empanadas in downtown Durham.
M Sushi
Chef Matt Kelly's acclaimed downtown Durham sushi destination.
Mateo Bar de Tapas
Spanish tapas with Southern soul in the heart of downtown Durham
Mothers & Sons Trattoria
Downtown Durham's handmade-pasta trattoria, made fresh by hand daily.
Namu
Casual Korean eats, craft beer and a garden hideout off 15-501
Pizzeria Toro
Wood-fired pizza and seasonal snacks in the heart of downtown Durham.
Saltbox Seafood Joint
Chef Ricky Moore's James Beard–winning coastal North Carolina seafood shack in Durham.
Vin Rouge
A traditional farm-to-table French bistro in Old West Durham, led by acclaimed chef Matt Kelly.
Acme Food & Beverage Co.
Locally sourced Southern cooking and a legendary Sunday brunch in downtown Carrboro.
Akai Hana
A beloved independent Japanese restaurant and sushi bar in the heart of downtown Carrboro.
Carrburritos
Fresh. Flavorful. Family Owned.
Glasshalfull
Mediterranean-inspired plates and a curated wine shop in downtown Carrboro
Neal’s Deli
House-cured pastrami and fresh-baked biscuits in downtown Carrboro
Pizzeria Mercato
Carrboro's acclaimed wood-fired Neapolitan pizzeria and seasonal Italian kitchen.
Spotted Dog
A dog-friendly downtown Carrboro pub with a big vegetarian heart.
Steel String Brewery
Funky, free-spirited brews in the heart of downtown Carrboro.
Tandem
French-inspired, locally sourced dining in historic Carr Mill Mall
Venable Rotisserie Bistro
Rotisserie-driven global comfort food and a cocktail lounge in downtown Carrboro
Anna’s Pizzeria
New York-style pizza and Italian classics in historic downtown Apex
Daniel’s Restaurant & Catering
Family-owned Italian, fresh pasta and hand-stretched pizza in Apex.
La Rancherita
Locally founded Mexican flavor on historic Salem Street.
Salem Street Pub
Burgers, brews, and moonshine in historic downtown Apex.
Scratch Kitchen & Taproom
Made-from-scratch Southern cooking and a local craft taproom in historic downtown Apex.
Skippers Seafood & Smokehouse
Home of the Giant Fish Sandwich
Sushi Iwa
Fresh sushi and pan-Asian favorites in Apex's Beaver Creek
TapStation
Beer, burgers, and bourbon in a restored downtown Apex service station.
The Provincial
Farm-to-fork New American in historic downtown Apex
Vegan Community Kitchen
100% vegan, made fresh — Mediterranean flavor in downtown Apex.
Al’s Burger Shack
Chapel Hill's award-winning, hand-formed burgers since 2013.
Carolina Coffee Shop
Modern Southern brunch and a full bar inside North Carolina's oldest restaurant.
Kipos Greek Taverna
Upscale, authentic Greek taverna cooking from the wood-burning oven.
Lantern
Asian flavors, North Carolina farms
Mediterranean Deli
Chapel Hill's beloved Mediterranean deli, bakery, and catering, back on Franklin Street since 1991
Merritt’s Store & Grill
A Chapel Hill country-store landmark famous for its legendary BLT.
Sutton’s Drug Store
Chapel Hill's century-old soda fountain and lunch counter on Franklin Street
Time-Out Restaurant
Chapel Hill's 24-hour home of the Chicken 'n Cheddar Biscuit.
Top of the Hill Restaurant & Brewery
Chapel Hill's rooftop gathering place since 1996
Vimala’s Curryblossom Cafe
Community-rooted, ethically sourced Indian cooking in downtown Chapel Hill
Neomonde Mediterranean
Family-owned Lebanese bakery and deli, baking fresh in West Raleigh since 1977
NOFO @ The Pig
Southern comfort food, brunch and gifts in a former Piggly Wiggly.
Oakwood Pizza Box
New York-style pies and Long Island roots in historic Oakwood
Raleigh Soul Kitchen
Homestyle Southern soul food and Caribbean plates on Bragg Street
Royal India Restaurant
North Indian and tandoori classics, served on Capital Boulevard since 1990.
Second Empire Restaurant & Tavern
Fine dining in a historic 1879 Raleigh mansion
Seoul Garden Restaurant
Authentic Korean cooking and tabletop BBQ in northeast Raleigh
Snoopy’s Hot Dogs & More
Raleigh's original hot dog institution since 1978
St. Roch Fine Oysters + Bar
New Orleans soul and a standout raw bar in downtown Raleigh
The Players’ Retreat
Where the Keg of Kindness Never Runs Dry
The Roast Grill
Raleigh's oldest hot dog counter, charring dogs since 1940.
Vidrio
Mediterranean sharing plates and standout wines beneath a canopy of handblown glass.
Vivace
House-made pasta and Italian hospitality in Midtown Raleigh
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