Started in 2015, Hops for Hope pairs 30 local corporate teams around town with a local brewery to create a one-of-a-kind beer benefiting Children’s Flight of Hope. After all, teamwork makes the dream work—especially when it’s for a good cause. Join us on July 13 from 5 to 8pm at Crank Arm to try out our custom brew and help us come up with a name for it (choose between Hope Rides Eternal, Bunny Hops for Hope and Wheels of Hope!). Plus, be sure to mark your cal for the main event at Midtown Park in North Hills on Sept. 16 feat. live music, food trucks, a kid’s zone, and beer tasting + judging. … We’re all about drinking for good!
Where you can find the RM team brunchin’ around Raleigh.
Life happens, brunch helps. And on Saturdays and Sundays, there’s no egg-scuse not to gather your crew and get fizzical over mimosas and arguably the best meal of the week (it’s like breakfast, but better—and you don’t even have to set an alarm!). Whether you’re looking for an excuse to day drink or are in dire need of a hefty hangover nosh fest, brunch is always a good idea. Here, the RM team’s fave brunch spots in town.
“I love Cucciolo Terrazza’s atmosphere—and the brunch is delicious.” —Debby Serena, Account Executive
“First Watch has the best biscuits and gravy… and iced coffee!” —Cam Rhinehardt, Account Executive, @camrht
“St. Roch for Southern brunch with Cajun flair (think gator bolognese paired with Lowcountry grits and a housemade chile oil). The Sinner Rolls are a must!” —Kelsie Barton, Contributing Writer, @kelsie_barton
“I could eat pizza any hour of the day, so Poole’side Pies’ new Sunday brunch is my dream. A Carbonara pizza followed by focaccia French toast? Perfection!” —Matt Lardie, Contributing Writer, @matt_lardie
“Parkside in the Warehouse District. Their handhelds are life-giving!” —Emily O’Brien, Contributing Writer
“Jubala (or Waffle House, which I would be equally happy with)” —Chelsea Sutton, Contributing Writer, @chelsearsutton
“It’s not brunch per se, but a sesame bagel with lox and scallion cream cheese from NY Bagel & Deli is also the move.” —Eric Ginsburg, Contributing Writer, @eric_ginsburg
“Cucciolo Terrazza for the Suciello, sub English muffins for grilled bread.” —Sean Junqueira, Contributing Photographer, @seanjunqueira
“If I’m brunching I’m not usually driving to Raleigh, but my fave Chapel Hill brunches would be Bluebird (croque madame) or Bombolo.” —Forrest Mason, Contributing Photographer, @fmasonmedia
Hit the high notes at these six local karaoke nights.
Ready to sing to a different tune? Drop the mic at these six weekly karaoke nights in Raleigh. Even if you can’t carry a tune in a bucket, these bars will provide all the liquid courage you need. Just don’t quit your day job.
Beat the Monday blues by belting your heart out at 9:30pm at the “Classiest Dive Bar in Raleigh.” Pro tip: All bottled beers are $4 on Mondays. Rock on!
Wednesday night at Sammy’s not only includes karaoke, but half-price entrees for students, $9 Busch Light pitchers and $3 Truly’s—all the necessary ingredients for the perfect performance.
Celebrate Friday Jr. by croonin’ some of the weirdest songs to exist at this divey bar where you don’t need to feel embarrassed by your subpar singing skills. #SorryNotSorry
This Hillsborough Street sports bar hosts karaoke every Friday at 9pm. Stage fright? Check out the pool tables and patio while cheering from the sidelines.
“Is there anyone here who’s not an alien?” Pull up to Moore Square’s pop-up for food trucks, games and a free screening of Men in Black. @popupcarolinas
7/7 Rachel Bay Jones
“Today, no matter what else, today at least you are you.” Appreciate the Dear Evan Hansen alum as she takes the stage at Theatre Raleigh in Concert. theatreraleigh.com
7/7 TayTay Party
“This night is sparkling, don’t you let it go.” Swifties are bound to have the “best day” at this Taylor Swift-inspired dance party. Be sure to dress as your fave era! lincolntheatre.com
7/7–9 2023 North America Yu-Gi-Oh! World Championship Qualifier
Got (card) game? Find this qualifying competition bringing in card connoisseurs by the droves—and highlighting the “first and largest major esports competition for a card game genre to be held in Raleigh’s history”—with winners having the chance to travel to Tokyo for the world championship round. Ready, set, duel! raleighconvention.com
7/7–9 Raleigh Tattoo Arts Festival
Get inked up—literally; and by some of the world’s best tattoo artists at that—at the world’s largest tattoo convention tour at the NC State Fairgrounds. Also making their mark are vendors, sideshow entertainment and live human suspension. worldtattooevents.com
7/8 Dirty Dancing Outdoor Movie Showing “So I carried a watermelon?” Fete the cult-classic film and have the time of your life with this showing under the stars at NCMA. Nobody puts Baby in a corner…ncartmuseum.org
7/8 RBC Summer Party
Summer’s in full swing… so spend the afternoon enjoying live tunes, yard games, food truck fare and warm weather fun at Raleigh Brewing Company. Let’s brew this! raleighbrewing.com
7/8 Summerfest: Tango Caliente
Wanna dance? Move those feet over to Koka Booth Amphitheatre for a tango performance sure to excite. ncsymphony.org
7/8 Tears For Fears & Cold War Kids Find us careless in our summer clothes, splashing around in the muck and the mire as the indie rock band brings the house down. walnutcreekamphitheatre.com
7/11 Barcelona Wine Bar Benefit
Wine down for a good cause at this uncorked event celebrating unsung bottles that deserve a bit more recognition—with a portion of each purchase/ticket benefiting A Place at the Table. Cheers to charity! barcelonawinebar.com
7/11 Brennan Clark
Bop over to the Bodega for strummin’, swayin’ and sippin’ on the patio—aka a summer night well spent! brooksidebodega.com
7/12 Matchbox Twenty
There’s no feeling “unwell” when this rockin’ band is around! Forget about the real world for a while and jam the night away at Walnut Creek. concerts.livenation.com
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
