Activities for Kids
Marbles Kids Museum
Downtown Raleigh
We love going here! It’s great for a wide range of ages and has a lot of activities for kids.
Bumble brews
Cary
An indoor play space for kids that serves delicious coffee (and wine/beer in the evening!). It’s great for crawlers through about 4 years old.
Notasium
Cary & Durham
A indoor play space that revolves around music! They offer “open play” time during the week. It’s a great place for kids to discover music and have fun. This is great for walkers through 7 or 8 years old.
Over the moon
Cary
An indoor play space that is outer space themed. They’ve got lots of things to climb on, a free educational activity to do every day, and a little obstacle course. Liam (2 years old) likes it, but it’s geared towards older kids, about 4-10.
Places To Eat
Barcelona Wine Bar
Downtown Raleigh
This is a tapas and wine bar. It’s a fun date night or girls night out spot. Expect to get about 4-5 small plates to share if going with one other person or you can each opt for one of the large plate options.
Coquette
North Hills - Raleigh
This is a great brunch spot! I got a cappuccino, eggs benedict, croissant french toast, and some biscuits for the table. It’s a popular spot so account for the fact service can be a little slow – but worth it! The North Hills area is also full of shops so be sure to walk around those afterwards if you have the time.
Gonza Tacos y Tequila
Cary, Central Raleigh, & North Raleigh
A fantastic Colombian-Mexican restaurant serving great margaritas, tacos, and my favorite queso dip. You can’t go wrong with anything on the menu!
VIDRIO
Downtown Raleigh
Mediterranean “communal dining” (shareable plates). The food was delicious and the restaurant had a really cool ambience. My favorite dishes were the cornbread, buratta and root vegetables, fettucine, and roasted chicken.
Places To Shop
Southpoint Mall
Durham
Not technically in Raleigh, but worth the drive to Durham for good shopping! Anthropologie, Madewell, J.Crew, Nordstrom, and more great stores are there.
Village District (Formerly Cameron Village)
Central Raleigh
A cute outdoor mall with boutiques and restaurants. This is a fun place to walk around on a beautiful day!
Crossroads Plaza
Cary
If you’re looking to places to run errands, Crossroads is a good spot! Target, Old Navy, Aerie, DSW, Home Goods, and more can be found there.
Breweries, Wineries, and Bars
Killjoy Cocktail Bar
Downtown Raleigh
This is a trendy, fun, cocktail bar that would be great for a girls night or double date. I tried the Laventini when we went and it was great! Make sure you make a reservation or you’ll likely have to sit at the bar.
Vicious Fishes Brewery
Apex, Angier, & Cary (opening soon)
We visited the Apex location. It’s a casual brewery with a big outdoor space to enjoy on a beautiful day. There’s a large grassy area for kids to play, so you can sit back and enjoy a drink!
Winestore
Village District - Central Raleigh
We happened upon this place one day and it’s a very cool concept! You can go around tasting different wines that they have on tap for a fun, DIY wine tasting or to discover a new bottle you may love. It’s a good place to spend a little time ahead of a dinner reservation or while taking a break from shopping around the Village!
Coffee Shops / Places To Work
Thanks A Latte
Holly Springs
A coffee shop/gift shop that offers great drinks and a really cute environment to get a little work done.
Coworking Station
Holly Springs & Apex
If you’re looking for a private conference room or office to work in for a day, I like this spot! It’s conveniently located right downtown, so you can grab lunch nearby or meet a friend for happy hour after you wrap your work day.
Loading Dock
Downtown Raleigh, West Raleigh, and North Raleigh
Another fun co-working space for a change of scenery! I visited the Dock 1053 location near the Five Points area. It’s close to breweries and restaurants if you want to relax post-work!
Places On My List To Try Next
Sitti
Downtown Raleigh
This is a well known Lebanese restaurant downtown and the outdoor space looks really cute!
Bull City Ciderworks
Durham & Cary
This looks like a great spot to enjoy nice weather and a drink!