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Where to get your game and nosh on outside Raleigh.
Thousand Hills Coffee
MORRISVILLE
Wake up and smell the matcha. Located just minutes from RDU Airport, the cozy cafe serves up “good coffee by friendly humans” in a light-filled space ideal for posting up with your laptop or catching up with friends. Pro tip: Sip on a tasty periwinkle latte or an iced matcha latte paired with a doughnut or slice of coffee cake. Not your average joe, each bev also helps a network of Rwandan coffee farming communities with living wages, education, health care and clean water. Sustainable, ethical and delicious? Say less. @thousandhills.coffee
Apex Racing Lab
CARY
Feeling the need for speed? Channel your inner Max Verstappen and navigate an F1 track—or even wind your way through a Mario Kart course (!)—via a unique virtual driving experience, complete with realistic steering wheels, pedals, dashboards and advanced software. To boot, drinking and driving is encouraged at this state-of-the-art simulator racing lab and cocktail bar merging tech, community and the joy of putting the pedal to the metal via raced-themed bevs like The Viper or ARL Mule. Ready, set, drive! apexracinglab.com
Napoli Pizzeria & Gelateria
CARRBORO
Love at first slice, found. Those who love a classic pie are going to want to spring for the wood-fired Margherita or pepperoni pizzas, while more adventurous types should try the likes of the spicy pork sausage or Calabria (chile oil, Calabria peppers, Spanish chorizo, goat cheese, honey) pies. Don’t sleep on the starters either (sharing is caring!), ranging from roasted turnips and burrata to pecorino and herb polenta fries—or the housemade artisanal gelato, naturally. Make it a true Euro experience by sitting on the patio with an Aperol spritz—or another tasty ’tail, beer or glass of vino—in hand. Bon appetit! napolicarrboro.com
High Dive
DURHAM
Making a splash in Bull City, warm hospitality meets traditional dive bar at Bar Virgile and Annexe owners’ wallet-friendly drinking den. Think classic beers such as Sam Adams, Stella and Miller; simple but tasty cocktails; and an inviting vintage vibe complete with darts, a pool table, pinball machines, foosball, Golden Tee and other games—plus an old-school jukebox to set the vibes. And when you inevitably get hungry, there’s late-night bites like cheesy jalapeno nachos and free popcorn. Basically, you’ll want to jump—or, ahem, dive—right in! @highdivedurham
Kiichi Ramen
DURHAM
Serving up bowls of happiness one noodle at a time is this cozy ramen eatery offering tasty bites and other belly-warming dishes. Start off your meal with the likes of Japanese fried chicken, gyoza and spring rolls, then move on to the hibachi shrimp bento box or chicken katsu curry rice bowl. Here for the oodles of noodles? Slurp up everything from the Kiichi shoyu ramen and tonkotsu ramen to yakisoba noodles and shrimp tempura udon. Soup for the soul, indeed! kiichiramenonline.com
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