Guidebook for Raleigh
Food Scene
Night Kitchen Bakehouse & Cafe
10 W Franklin Stymmmmmmmyyyyy. Good sandwiches too.
Seaboard ACE Hardware
802 Semart DrGreat lunch spot INSIDE a greenhouse! :)
Coffee and snacks are good here, and the little shops around are fun.
63 locals recommend
Yellow Dog Bread Company
219 E Franklin StCoffee and snacks are good here, and the little shops around are fun.
German-Czech, home made food, simply outstanding (a bit pricey but worth it) Dinner Only
13 locals recommend
J Betski's
1916 W Franklin StGerman-Czech, home made food, simply outstanding (a bit pricey but worth it) Dinner Only
Outstanding restaurant. Wonderful selection of wine, by the glass and the bottle. Beautiful art, delicious food (not so much for vegetarians), great drinks; a MUST see due to its beautiful design... Dinner Only
23 locals recommend
Vidrio
500 Glenwood AveOutstanding restaurant. Wonderful selection of wine, by the glass and the bottle. Beautiful art, delicious food (not so much for vegetarians), great drinks; a MUST see due to its beautiful design... Dinner Only
Living Kitchen
555 Fayetteville StWow! Super healthy, Vegan, vegetarian, delicious, amazing food....
Coquette
4351 The Cir At N Hills StLunch/Dinner French cuisine, with nice shopping around...
bu•ku Global Street Food
Great food, right downtown
People love this restaurant and its warm, friendly staff, right downtown.
126 locals recommend
Bida Manda
222 S Blount StPeople love this restaurant and its warm, friendly staff, right downtown.
Very best cocktail hour in Raleigh. Fabulous, cheap snacks and great priced drinks; nice patio and great decor.
Brio Tuscan Grille
4325 Glenwood AveVery best cocktail hour in Raleigh. Fabulous, cheap snacks and great priced drinks; nice patio and great decor.
High end, delicious French cuisine. Voted one of the top 100 restaurants in the US by OpenTable in 2016!
6 locals recommend
Saint Jacques
6112 Falls of Neuse RdHigh end, delicious French cuisine. Voted one of the top 100 restaurants in the US by OpenTable in 2016!
Ni Asian Kitchen
8817 Six Forks RdGreat Asian food (Thai), very friendly staff and affordable (especially at lunch!!)
Parks & Nature
Shelley Lake Park
1400 W Millbrook Rdbeeeaaauuutttiifffullll 2.5 mile easy walk
Lake Johnson Park
4601 Avent Ferry RdNice 3 mile walk
Nice arboretum downtown near NC State (part of their program) - free and lovely to sit and meander
63 locals recommend
JC Raulston Arboretum at NC State University
4415 Beryl RdNice arboretum downtown near NC State (part of their program) - free and lovely to sit and meander
Very large state park, with lots of trails and lots of beauty.... Prepare to spend many hours here, 2 - 3 at the least.
54 locals recommend
Umstead Park Lake
Very large state park, with lots of trails and lots of beauty.... Prepare to spend many hours here, 2 - 3 at the least.
Arts & Culture
Gregg Museum of Art & Design
1903 Hillsborough StNice outdoor places, and free exhibits :)
Got see NC's art museum, I mean, come on... :) The nice new building is free with NC's existing collection; there is a fee for seeing touring exhibits in the other building. The museum also has a great outdoor amphitheater with concerts and a great movie series on Friday nights during the warmer months. They also have a little restaurant inside, and jazz on Thursday nights (usually).
437 locals recommend
North Carolina Museum of Art
2110 Blue Ridge RdGot see NC's art museum, I mean, come on... :) The nice new building is free with NC's existing collection; there is a fee for seeing touring exhibits in the other building. The museum also has a great outdoor amphitheater with concerts and a great movie series on Friday nights during the warmer months. They also have a little restaurant inside, and jazz on Thursday nights (usually).
Wonderful small venue for great plays (community play house).
16 locals recommend
Raleigh Little Theatre
301 Pogue StWonderful small venue for great plays (community play house).
Theatre in the Park
107 Pullen RdGreat little community theater in a hide away spot.
Nice events now and then, pleasant library. In Cameron Village.
15 locals recommend
Cameron Village Regional Library
1930 Clark AveNice events now and then, pleasant library. In Cameron Village.
Shopping
One of the top 5 Malls in the USA! (I don't like malls, but Crabtree is wonderful!)
156 locals recommend
Crabtree Valley Mall
4325 Glenwood AveOne of the top 5 Malls in the USA! (I don't like malls, but Crabtree is wonderful!)
USA's first outdoor shopping mall (1950's). Very fun, selection of restaurants and shops. Best shop is Chesire Cat, an underground flea market with over 100 booths.
128 locals recommend
Cameron Village
USA's first outdoor shopping mall (1950's). Very fun, selection of restaurants and shops. Best shop is Chesire Cat, an underground flea market with over 100 booths.
Cheshire Cat Gallery
2050 Clark AveIndoor flea market, super fun!
Raleigh's outdoor flea market every weekend, SUPER FUN!!! 9 am - 3 pm, Sat/Sun.
37 locals recommend
Raleigh Flea Market
4285 Trinity RdRaleigh's outdoor flea market every weekend, SUPER FUN!!! 9 am - 3 pm, Sat/Sun.
Nice privately owned bookstore, in North Hills, a pleasant shopping area.
6 locals recommend
Quail Ridge Books
4209-100 Lassiter Mill RdNice privately owned bookstore, in North Hills, a pleasant shopping area.
Entertainment & Activities
NC Symphony and our Ballet are great! The hall is a gem. Highly recommend.
9 locals recommend
Meymandi Concert Hall
2 E South StNC Symphony and our Ballet are great! The hall is a gem. Highly recommend.
Vintage movie theater with artsy selections, beer and wine :) Bring CASH, they don't take cards...
35 locals recommend
The Rialto
1620 Glenwood AveVintage movie theater with artsy selections, beer and wine :) Bring CASH, they don't take cards...
Great traditional movie theater, in a pleasant area, near the Villa (6 miles?)....
19 locals recommend
Regal North Hills Stadium 14
4150 Main at North Hills StGreat traditional movie theater, in a pleasant area, near the Villa (6 miles?)....
Bowling, pool, etc., with really tasty, healthier, cheap food :) Great decor, new, at North Hills.
26 locals recommend
Kings Bowl-North Hills
141 Park at N Hills StBowling, pool, etc., with really tasty, healthier, cheap food :) Great decor, new, at North Hills.
If you're going to see that blockbuster movie, go to see it here at Park West in the PDX Cinema (huge screen). It costs a bit more $12 (Tuesdays are $8!!), but the seats are the best ever and the screen is insane. Sit right up front on the ground level, it's the best... There are a few restaurants around as well. Which which, a great sandwich place, is right next door.
13 locals recommend
Park West 14
Park WestIf you're going to see that blockbuster movie, go to see it here at Park West in the PDX Cinema (huge screen). It costs a bit more $12 (Tuesdays are $8!!), but the seats are the best ever and the screen is insane. Sit right up front on the ground level, it's the best... There are a few restaurants around as well. Which which, a great sandwich place, is right next door.
Great food, fun movies, nice vibe, good people. $8.00 movies before 6:00 pm (eat/drink while watching a movie).
41 locals recommend
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Raleigh
2116-D New Bern AveGreat food, fun movies, nice vibe, good people. $8.00 movies before 6:00 pm (eat/drink while watching a movie).
Drinks & Nightlife
Best Jazz Club in Raleigh. Great drinks, fabulous staff, awesome decor (1920's speak easy). Great music, of course...
40 locals recommend
C. Grace
407 Glenwood AveBest Jazz Club in Raleigh. Great drinks, fabulous staff, awesome decor (1920's speak easy). Great music, of course...
Neuse River Brewing Company
518 Pershing RdMy favorite brewery in Raleigh.
Big Boss Brewing Company
1249 Wicker DrGreat brewery, free ping-pong, and out of the way...
The Umstead Hotel and Spa
100 Woodland Pond DrNice bar for an upscale drink, right next to SAS.
Lincoln Theater
126 E Cabarrus StGreat music venue with national/regional acts.
Nice outdoor amphitheater 3 miles from the Villa.
44 locals recommend
Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
3801 Rock Quarry RdNice outdoor amphitheater 3 miles from the Villa.
Red Hat Amphitheater
500 S McDowell StGreat amphitheater right downtown, 2 miles away.
Essentials
Whole Foods Market
621 Broad StBakery, pizza, health food, bath and beauty... all there...
The Fresh Market
400 Woodburn RdNice bakery, and small grocery. Located in Cameron Village.
Best grocery store closest to the Villa, right next to Cameron Village.
132 locals recommend
Harris Teeter
500 Oberlin RdBest grocery store closest to the Villa, right next to Cameron Village.