Fridge empty from July 4th festivities? Here, we rounded up brunch spots around town that tout the trifecta—aka great cocktails, great food and great patios. Let’s get brunchin’!
Wye Hill
Go for the chef-driven brekky selects, stay for the skyline vistas (find a better view, we’ll wait). Resting brunch face commence. Reservations recommended, wyehill.com Served: Sat. & Sun. Our pick: Wye Hill Breakfast Sandwich—and the sauce slaps!
Rosewater
Relationship status: it’s caffeinated (and spirited). And romance is def in the air on Rosewater’s enchanting garden patio with its lush greenery surrounds and climbing roses. But you won’t need that excuse… as your full attention will be on chef Brian Jenzer’s beautiful, mouthwatering (and healthy) brunch menu—think breakfast risotto, fine herb omelet and tartines. Do it for the ’Gram—and your belly, of course. Reservations recommended, rosewaterraleigh.com Served: Sun. Our pick: Steak & eggs
Plates Neighborhood Kitchen
If your love for brunch is bottomless, meet us on the patio at Plates—where head chef David Mitchell dishes up an ever-evolving cast of globally inspired locally produced brunch selects five days a week alongside a full-service coffee shop. Ah, the perfect blend. Reservations recommended, plateskitchen.com Served: Wed.–Sun. Our pick: Sweet potato hash bowl
Young Hearts Distilling
Turn down for brunch at Trophy Brewing Co.’s DTR distillery serving a full program of farm-to-table bites, which pair well with its program of perf potables. Used primarily for private events, the roof space overlooking Wilmington Street is fair game for brunch dining—making it a must-reserve Sunday seat. Reservations recommended, trophybrewing.com Served: Sun. Our pick: Apple French toast
Photo courtesy of Young Hearts Distilling
Barcelona Wine Bar
Tapas for brunch? Brilliant. You’re gonna wanna squad up for the renowned regional juggernaut’s brunch tapas so that you can try everything—from the savory olive oil pancakes to the wild mushroom scramble to the gambas and grits. Best paired with the guava-lavender-lemon mimosa. Fizz the season! Reservations recommended, barcelonawinebar.com Served: Sat. & Sun. Our pick: Potato tortilla
Clouds Brewing
You’ll be on cloud nine after a leisurely brunch at Clouds thanks to its German-inspired eats + classic hearty brunch dishes (NTM brunch drinks and bloody bar!) Brunchin’ is a habit. Reservations recommended, cloudsbrewing.com Served: Sat. & Sun. Our pick: Pork Belly & Grits
Relish
Taters gonna tate—and tots are on order at this Northwest Raleigh brunch staple, paired with pretty much anything from the scrumptious Southern-inspired craft kitchen menu. First come, first served; join waitlist ahead, relishraleigh.com Served: Sat. & Sun. Our pick: Mama’s chicken biscuit
Mandolin
Happy hollandaise indeed from this longtime local fave where sublime herb and flower box surrounds serve as a the perf serene backdrop for NC-style elevated brunch selects (think farm-fresh eggs sourced straight from chef Sean Fowler’s own Mandolin Farm (!) to scratch-made buttermilk biscuits, local Tepuy Donuts and more). Reservations recommended, mandolinraleigh.com Served: Sun. Our pick: Confit Chicken Hash
St. Roch
Mary Smokes When She Drinks—just one of the buzzy beguiling beverages (an aptly named bloody) that brings us back to St. Roch again and again. And don’t even get us started on that best-in-class Nawlins-inspired cuisine. But, the epitome? Those in-the-know request the hidden back patio—aka a primo secluded spot for noshing on 2022 James Beard Foundation semifinalist chef Sunny Gerhart’s bold Cajun brunch dishes. A sweet escape, if you will. Reservations recommended, strochraleigh.com Served: Sat. & Sun. Our pick: Bolo ’n Grits
Humble Pie
No matter how you slice it, brunch on Humble Pie’s patio overlooking the ever-burgeoning Warehouse District has easily been one of the best seats in town since its humble beginnings in 1989. Period. Reservations recommended, humblepierestaurant.com Served: Sun. Our pick: Huevos Rancheros
Whiskey Kitchen
No Champagne, no gain. Grab your brunch buddies and head to WK for a “mimosa party”—aka a bottle of bubbles and orange juice—plus hearty brunch plates out on one of the best patios in town. And like mimosas, our love for it is bottomless. Reservations recommended, whiskey.kitchen Served: Sat. & Sun. Our pick: Nash Square Breakfast Sandwich
Hummingbird
She’s got eggs and she knows how to use them. Chef/owner Coleen Speaks is easily serving up some of brunch’s best bites in town at Dock 1053 with a cocktail program that you’re gonna wanna mimosey on over for. Reservations recommended, hummingbirdraleigh.com Served: Sat. & Sun. Our pick:Chicken & waffle
STIR
Stir up your brunch plans with scratchmade brunch classics like shrimp and grits, avocado toast, and biscuits and gravy—best accompanied with a $5 mimosa or bloody mary. And it’s never too early for oysters (get ’em raw or steamed) and a craft cocktail made with artisanal ice. stirraleigh.com Served: Sat. & Sun. Our pick: Shrimp and grits
Airplane mode: on. I’ve been to 15 airports on three continents during the last two years alone. I’ve dealt with delays, TSA traumas, disappointing dining options and airports that simply don’t pass the vibe check (cough, cough, O’Hare). I’ve also bopped through boujee travel pads touting nap rooms, capsule hotels, customer service robots, eye-catching artwork and droolworthy fare (s/o to the noodles at Narita International Airport!).
Yet, as they say, distance makes the heart grow fonder. After all my travels, one airport continues to soar above the rest for me. *Cue the drumroll* … it’s none other than our local, lovable and what some might call little Raleigh-Durham International Airport (“though she be but little she is fierce,” and I’d even argue RDU’s smaller size adds to its appeal).
To wit, our airport has friendly TSA agents and local eateries boasting our city’s impressive foodie scene (La Farm Bakery! Char-Grill! Raleigh Brewing!), with more hometown eats and drinks on the way—think Conniption Cocktail Bar, Raleigh Beer Garden and Lonerider Brewing, to name but a few. And going the extra mile, RDU continues to extend its direct flight options. Translation: way less layover drama.
Then there’s the unbeatable vibe. Call me sentimental, but there’s no feeling quite like returning to Raleigh after a long flight and rolling my suitcase past the iconic Raleigh mural toward my pickup point. The whole airport gives off a warm ambiance—so much so that I would just visit for fun… and I have (don’t @ me).
Whether it was love at first flight or I’ve got my head in the clouds, RDU will forever be an airport standout in my heart. And I can’t wait to see how it keeps spreading its wings and flying higher in the future. Essentially, if I’m starting my travels from Raleigh… consider me ready for takeoff.
Don’t call them dreams, call them plans. While you may have already arranged your big vacation this year, we’re of the mindset that summer weekends are made for making memories. So we encourage you to take your Saturdays and Sundays (and, heck, maybe even play hooky a few Fridays… we won’t tell) to wander where the Wi-Fi is weak and disconnect to reconnect via a haul of 25 easy road trips from Raleigh, choose-your-own-adventure style. Whether you’re looking to get nauti, campy, schooled, active or urban… your adventure awaits.
If your vibe is more lake hair don’t care then beach bae, shave a half-hour off your Wrightsville trek in favor of a short 90-minute roll north for a waterful life via 20,000 aqua acres straddling the NC/Virginia border. Lapping up 350+ miles of shoreline, the manmade lake promises boundless ops for the brood, the bros, the besties or the boos—from watersports, boating and fishing to camping and swimming. OK, Mother Nature—we see you flexing. Yeah, buoy!
Rent your adventure: If you ain’t got no boat but you’ve got the “Yeti 110 iced down with some silver bullets,” you can still go decks, docks and flip-flops with Lake Gaston Jet Ski, Powersports & Marine. Hungry fisherman? After you catch fish, not feelings, dock, dine and drink at The Pointe at Lake Gaston for casual waterfront lake life vibes with live jams and “flip-flop elegance,” or head to WatersView Restaurant for, well, water views and fab fare. Thirsty for more? Wine down with a tasting excursion at Rosemont Vineyards & Winery, or “take a dive” with a nightcap at Shady Shack Bar and Grill.
It’s always better to wake at the lake. For NC #LakeLife at its finest via 520+ miles of shoreline—aka NC’s largest man-made lake—happiness comes in waves just outside Charlotte, from watersports gone wild to galleries, restos and surrounding shops (oh, sale yes!). Livin’ la Vida Lake Life, indeed.
Rent your adventure: Feeling knotty? Grab a dose of vitamin D on the water playground via Get My Boat, set sail with Lake Norman Sailing Charters (Ay, ay, captain!), or drop a line and Fish On! Waterlogged? Take a break from nature’s poolside and take a hike at Lake Norman State Park. Hungry sailor? Dock, dine and drink on the deck at Hello, Sailor—having sailed on the pages of Bon Appetit and GQ—or nab sunset views and lakefront bites at North Harbor Club. Thirsty for more? Aquaholics unite! Stock your boat at Carbonation Craft Beer and Wine Shop or scoop the world’s No. 1 ice cream (you heard it here first) at Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream.
Answering Biggie’s age-old Q “Where’s the (Lake) Party At?” is this “Jewel of South Carolina” just west of Columbia. Known for its 1.6-mile dam (the largest earthen dam in the world at build)—and a damn fine time—the ~50K-acred lower piedmont reservoir with some 620 miles of shoreline nee late 1920s has produced both hydroelectric power and plenty of electric memories. Ayeee, I dip, you dip, we dip.
Rent your adventure: Life’s better on a boat with friends in tow. Escape the shore life and get shipfaced with Fifty-Fifty Water Sports boat and Jet-Ski rentals. Fuel the fun: Throw in an anchor at the Lighthouse Marina and dock it at Rusty Anchor and Catfish Johnny’s—where you can take your order to float or hang on the deck for live entertainment. Or lean into lowcountry life at Liberty on the Lake to lap up fab views (pro tip: Book a table in time for the sunset), lively atmosphere and fresh seafood fare. You’ll be hooked, like for reels. Thirsty for more? Go wild offshore at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden—voted by myriad media as a top 10 animal house—er, attraction.
John Denver should’ve penned an additional backwoods ballad called “Smoky Mountain High.” … Sprawling along the Tennessee and NC border, this iconic Appalachian Mountain range is a must-see for the NC explorer. Camp near your car or out in the backcountry—and be sure to see the waterfalls and trek the trails while you’re there. Stay smoky!
Feelin’ in tents? No matter what type of outdoorsy person you are, you’ll get a kick out of this pristine mountain land, which features remote camping sites for the rustic and stargazer domes, car-accessible sites and cabin rentals for those who prefer a more glamping-esque experience—so even Meredith Blake from The Parent Trap might have a good time here. With its gorge location nestled in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains (and only 8 miles from Boone!), this spot is a surefire way to grab a breath of fresh air.
“Cause I’m on top of the world”—er, on top of the highest point east of the Mississippi River, that is! Pick your pitch among nine campsites built for backpackers and scattered throughout the elevatedstate park. And after you’ve caught all your Z’s, be sure to explore the 40 miles of hiking—from chill forays into the fir forest to more challenging explorations along the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. Happy hiking!
Who needs fake ocean sounds when you have actual waves to lull you to sleep? For seaside sunsets and a snooze on the sand, Cape Lookout boasts miles and miles of beach camping opps—plus chances to explore nature trails, wildlife and roaming horses; practice those swimming strokes; perfect your paddle; and more. ’Tis the sea-sun, indeed.
Landlubbers better stay ashore for this one. With some campsites only accessible by boat (!), overnight adventurers must paddle out to their sleeping arrangements linked along the rippling Roanoke River. The area has ~15 riverside camping platforms from which to pick, each with its own offerings (think screened-in platforms, group platform ops, fire pits and bathrooms). Alexa, play “Just Around the Riverbend.”
FIVE STARS!
Pitch, don’t kill my vibe. Here’s how NC camping stacks up in 2023’s Best States for Camping in America.
Number of campsites: No. 6 Number of campsites with toilets: No. 5 Number of camping supply stores: No. 7 Phone coverage: No. 28 Average nightly campground rate: No. 18
