Five Points East is coming into its own! The ever-expanding (s/o soon-to-bow Trophy Brewing Outpost!) offshoot of central Five Points is burgeoning into a destination—boasting a smattering of personality-filled shops and tasteful sup spots.
All is fair(view) in love. … Meet the mod, rustic event venue flaunting DTR views, cozy powder rooms and light-filled spaces—perf for getting hitched or hosting any kind of social gathering. @thefairviewraleigh
Belgian inspired 🤝 Carolina crafted. Sip on experimental and contemporary brews while digging into Euro-style fare like croque-monsieur, roast duck and the like. Alfresco vibes strongly suggested. @neuseriverbrewingco
*Donut* hold back on these doughy decadent sweet treats made from locally produced organic flour. For that bonus bright spot, wash ’em down with Black & White coffee.@brightspotdonuts
Come over! Taste the diversity of the Mediterranean and Middle East via Cheetie Kumar’s vibrant cuisine and energetic atmosphere. Pro tip: The creamed feta is a must. @ajjaeats
Consider your preexisting beauty enhanced. Truly a cut above—color, cuts, styling and extensions’ll keep those lovely locks looking and feeling their best. @bungalowhairshop
“Where urban meets vintage,” this curated outpost touts home decor pieces of days past—from hard-to-find lighting to midcentury-mod pieces. Your home is sure to serve *lewks*! @urbage
Answering the call for “trendy and affordable” kids clothing, this stylish consignment spot hosts a smorgasbord of ops for the tots—from elevated brands to toys, books and baby gear. @littleoakcollective_raleigh
Gear up for bikes, custom cycle fittings and an active cyclocross team at this local outpost riding toward a total bicycle renaissance. After all, “you see the world differently on a bike.” bergerhardwarebikes.org
Saturday is every day when you can tap into good brewskis and an even better time via 16 taps and a chill hang sesh or catching your fave team on the telly. Cheers! @rnd_brewing
Whether or not you savored some gastronomic globetrotting at this month’s Raleigh’s International Food Festival, extend your palate passport all summerlong—and beyond—via these authentic local worldly eateries.
Don’t judge a book by its cover—or restaurant by its exterior. Once inside this Korean outpost, you’ll def be sold on the made-to-order fried chicken—aka the perf balance of spicy, crispy and flavorful. The bibimbap is also, well, boppin’. 2815 Brentwood Road, facebook.com
It’s hard to ~ramen~ calm when slurping the creamy broth + flavorful ingredients featured in this Japanese joint’s ream of ramen ops, aka the international version of soup for the soul. The sushi rolls, bao buns and karaage fried chicken are also worth a try.2330 Bale St., Ste. 112, @genramen_raleigh
What to order: Get the royal treatment via the Royal chicken curry
Raleigh’s OG Indian oasis doesn’t miss with its award-winning curry curations. Belly up for some spice-forward and veggie-loaded flavor. Or, if curry ain’t your thing, the chicken tikka masala doesn’t disappoint. 3901 Capital Blvd., Ste 103, @royal.india.nc
Skip the DoorDash deep dive and just Chuan it. Experience the flair of the Middle Kingdom (minus the Great Wall) when diggin’ your chopsticks into the fan-fave sesame chicken. And you can’t go wrong with lo mein, dry-fried string beans or General Tso’s chicken either. 2004 New Bern Ave., @chuanxiacafe
Embrace fresh Far East flavor when dining at this authentic gem flaunting mouthwatering and belly-warming pho—NTM bangin’ banh mi and gobbleworthy rice vermicelli soups. 4011 Capital Blvd., phofareastrestaurant.godaddysites.com
Feeding Raleigh like (Sicilian) family one slice and bowl at a time since it bowed in the early ’80s, Sicily-native Frank Amato’s love affair with contemporary casual Italian eats will transport you straight to the “Boot.” Did we mention the dough, sauces and soups are all scratchmade?! 423 Woodburn Road, @ncpiccolaitalia
Ashley Christensen famously once said she gets her chicken from this Peruvian paradise when she’s not cooking it, and we can’t blame her—it’s the place in Raleigh for rotisserie! Pro tip: Don’t sleep on the sweet plantains. 2401 Wake Forest Road, mamislatinrotisserie.com
Comfort from the Land of 13 Sunshines comes in the form of food and atmosphere as you taste Ethiopia through beef-, chicken-, and veggie-based dishes with a ginger tea to pair. So hearty! 2109 Avent Ferry Road, Ste. 146, @nafkot2109
A strip-mall standout, this authentic south of the border eatery boasts tantalizing tacos of all types topped with its signature spicy green sauce. After stuffing yourself, wash it all down with a Mexican Coke and an order of flan, natch. 3601 Junction Blvd., facebook.com
What to order: Stay fruity with pineapple fried rice
You’ll surely be feeling like you made a pit stop in the Land of Smiles itself after pigging out on some of the best fried rice in town (trust us). And if the mood for noods strikes instead, opt for an order of the fan-fave pad thai or pad see ew. 8320 Litchford Road, Ste. 142, lemongrassnc.com
Escape to the Mediterranean when you dine at Neomonde—and while the kebabs’ll have a stake on your heart, the pita pockets, hummus and baklava are all worth coming back for. 3817 Beryl Road, @neomondemediterranean
Five Points java hot spot extended its hours—and added a ~dope~ lineup to its offerings
Prepare to perk up. Local fave Five Points java + foodie joint The Third Place lengthened its hours by popular demand Fri.–Sun until 2pm (!). And extending the grind, the nearly 30-year-old spot (nee 1994) recently debuted a WINK line of Delta-8-infused baked goodies.
“After our 4/20 celebration [last year], our customers started asking for our recipes to include Delta-8,” says the shop’s operations manager JJ Johnston. “We are thrilled to offer our traditional in-house baked goods right next to the new, ‘special’ (*wink, wink*) baked goods and beverages our customers have loved for the last thirty years. Come hang out with us until 2pm!”
Beyond the buzz, keep your eyes peeled for WINK-infused bevs in the works. … Ready to get your munch(ie) on? thirdplaceraleigh.com
News flash: Moving your body doesn’t have to be high maintenance.
It’s no secret that hitting the gym can be a real drag. After a long day in the office or wrangling the kids, sometimes the last thing you want to do is voluntarily opt for a laborious sweat sesh on the treadmill or the strain of lifting heavy weights. Enter the low-impact workout craze.
With oodles of boutique sweat studios popping up around the city, there’s no question supply is rising to meet demand for a different fitness regimen—from Pilates to hot yoga to rowing to Barre classes. Case in point: Raleigh Iron Works’ newly debuted duo of yoga- and Barre-, and reformer-based outposts, YoBa Studio and [solidcore] (respectively), and the ever-thriving and expanding Dose Yoga (hey, new North Hills Innovation District location!)—never mind the bevy of other buzzy outposts leaning into low impact with killer results to boot.
“Pilates is a buzzword right now because a lot of high-profile people do it,” notes Allison Bowers of DTR’s Heights Pilates. “But the reason it’s still around and there are so many ‘spinoff’ versions is because it works.”
Beyond results, with gym membership comes accountability and community. Which also begs the Q: Are gymgoers also paying for camaraderie as they condition? Either way, whether you’ve been on the low-impact train from the jump or are just now burning out on HIITs, here’s what your slimnastics pref says about you.
HOT TAKE: 9/10 chance you’ve got a six-pack and a slew of side hustles
CELEB DOPPELGANGER: Cameron Diaz
Glen Powell, Simone Biles and Cameron Diaz DFree/shutterstock.com; Julianne Hough Kathy Hutchins/shutterstock.com; Kristen Bell Tinseltown/shutterstock.com; Matthew McConaughey Denis Makarenko/shutterstock.com; Jennifer Aniston Featureflash Photo Agency/shutterstock.com
Let’s be frank: Raleigh has earned its rep as a top-tier hot dog hub (see: our area’s No. 1 ranking last year for per-capita consumption of hot dogs in the nation). And with the arrival of summer comes hot dog’s time to shine—especially with the City of Oaks’ smattering of storied wiener oases. So, wherever you opt to grub on a glizzy, it’s sure to be a hot (dog) summer indeed.
Cloos’ Coney Island: Detroit hot dog stand 🤝 Raleigh. Bringing Midwest vibes down South, Cloos’ touts delish dogs and some of the best french fries in the Triangle. @cloosconeyisland
The Cardinal: You got (grilled) buns, hun! Play your cards right when you pick your toppings for a beer-soaked dog prepped on the flattop grill right before your eyes. And further ~relish~ the experience with a pepperoncini shot to pair. @thecardinalbar
Snoopy’s: Ready to chili out?! Serving up delish made-to-order dogs since 1978, this OG Raleigh sup spot was the first in the city to flaunt after-midnight hours, with its four locales bringing in wiener lovers in droves. @snoopyshotdogsandmore
The Roast Grill: Calling all hot dog purists: Go back to the basics (ahem, no ketchup) when bellying up to the Downtown-based dog dive attracting in-the-know locals since 1940. Hot diggity dog! @theroastgrillhotweiners
Char-Grill: Slip your order down the slide and get your glizzy Carolina-style with a Carolina Packers red dog across a smattering of outposts around town. Pro tip: Always wash down your dog with a shake.@char_grill1960
