Cute little wine bar downtown that closes on the early side (10pm Tues/Wed/Thurs, 11pm Fri/Sat, 7pm…read moreSun) but nice for an early evening sip. It's got modern, slightly rustic vibes, lit brightly for the art gallery in the back room. There's a good amount of seating and it's not completely filled with the undergrad crowd like other bars in the area. I see they host a book club and if I lived in Raleigh, I'd be all over that-- this is the perfect atmosphere! They have a nice bubbles by the glass selection (4 options, including a Lambrusco), which is really impressive since so many wine bars give you one, two at most. Vegan options on the menu include hummus, olives and pickles. I was planning to eat there, but time got away from me and they do a strict closing time, so maybe next time.

One of my favorite after-work haunts. Very little beats sitting on a swing with a good friend, a…read morebowl of cheese crackers, and a generous pour of wine. I particularly love the work of independent artists hung around the interior! We're having our holiday party here this year and I'm super excited for it - didn't even know this was also an event space.

It's been well over 9 months since I last raved about Barcelona Wine Bar, located in the heart of…read moredowntown Raleigh. I am compelled to remind every resident and every visitor to make this a "must go to and enjoy" place for either brunch on Saturday or Sunday, or for dinner any night of the week. Go for the amazing cuisine, vast wine list, and stay for the outstanding service! Recently, we have found ourselves trying not to enjoy just our go-to favorites that are mainstays on the ever-evolving menu. We have been blown away by the flavors of the large plate option called Chicken Pimientos. Don't let the name throw you, because it's not super spicy, it just has a nice kick to it with delicious potatoes accompanying the very moist and flavorful chicken. The way the kitchen team at Barcelona handles the preparation of the eggplant caponata is impressive and very unique. Other favorites on the tapas section of the menu recently are stuffed piquillos, corn zucchini bunuelos (think fair food turned healthy!), Wagyu carpaccio, lamb kofta, and pulpo gallego. Remember that their tapas offerings rotate in and out, oftentimes based on the season and availability of fresh products. The wine offerings are unparalleled in the city of Raleigh, and when you visit for dinner on a Monday evening, every bottle is half-priced. Can't beat that for a way to jump-start your work week! We tend to sit at the bar on most visits as bartenders Kira and Cameron truly handle their bar with a welcoming vibe and impressive ease. General manager Jed is a visible leader of this great team and makes every guest feel appreciated. Awesome job all the way around!

We dined at Barcelona Wine Bar for Mother's Day. The restaurant decor is modern and beautiful. I…read moremust also not that our service was truly exceptional. We shared a glass of cava, which was crisp and delicious. I chose the aperitivo board and my husband ordered the paella mariscos. My husband lived in Spain for a while so he had high hopes for the paella; alas, it was very salty and the calamari was missing. It was so salty that we only had one or two bites. I keep telling my husband that he just shouldn't order paella in the US anymore. The manager was extremely accommodating and offered many options to help! The aperitivo board was divine. The items were bursting with flavors. My favorites were the marcona almonds, the aged manchego, and the potatas bravas. The table bread and oil were also fresh and delicious. There was another dish that I'm not sure if we ordered or if it was included, but the fish flavor was too strong for me so I passed on that. My husband enjoyed it though. I'd love to try some different menu options for our next visit.

This is such a cute space!…read more It's extremely photogenic - which ironically (to me anyways) is how we ended up here for a late afternoon cocktail. I've had them bookmarked for a bit and my friend suggested we stop in for a drink after another event. There is space outside (with heaters if needed) and inside (with blankets - if needed) and we opted to sit inside. They have wine, desserts, and small food plates (including charcuterie and sandwiches) , and several cocktail options. I loved my seasonal old-fashioned, and my friends loved their espresso martinis. Our server was super sweet and answered all our questions. It was a great experience.

We are thrilled to have found a neighborhood gem such as Vino Wine Bar. It is within steps of so…read moremany apartment communities in downtown Raleigh - our 400H building being one! The owners have thoughtfully created a warm & welcoming space both inside & out. Beautiful landscaping greets you as you walk up to Vino's patio. We truly forgot we were a stone's throw away from downtown streets thanks to the trees, fire pits, strung lights, and overall chill vibe. They even have blankets for those chilly Raleigh nights! The wine list is purposefully pieced together and offers such variety at fair & affordable pricing. We look forward to many future visits to experience so many unique varietals & countries represented. I know which food item I am going to try on my next visit - the Brie & prosciutto panini! Sounds scrumptious! The inside decor of Vino Wine Bar in downtown Raleigh has nooks to settle into in addition to a beautiful bar. Great hospitality greeted us at every turn.

Our experience at Wolfe & Porter was interesting to say the least with the second round of drinks…read morethat we ordered and a bartender change but the issue was addressed after the fact by Management. I was not a fan of the beer selection but the cocktails were tasty. We tried the Broken Dream, Wolfe of Morgan St., Last Word and Captains Daughter. Check out their social media pages and/or website for events. Cheers!

Quaint little cocktail bar in an area of West Raleigh I don't frequent much! It can be easy to miss…read moreif you aren't keeping an eye out. We came here for their Christmas pop-up; 8 cocktails for the Christmas menu, not including their wine options. They were all delicious! I recommend the Polar Pear :) The bartender was friendly, and made sure to serve everyone to the best of his ability. Not overly crowded which was nice. Proper ambient lighting as well.

There's nothing ordinary about this little corner. It's the kind of place that feels both familiar…read moreand delightfully strange -- like stumbling into someone's dream of what a bar should be. Velvet couches beckon you to stay too long, the lighting flatters everyone, and the drinks come with the faint sense that they've been designed to start conversations. One of the best things in this bar are the hosts, the minute you cross the threshold, they're there -- equal parts host, therapist, and cheese evangelist. Their mission? Your comfort. Their secret weapon? A fine Old Fashioned and fresh-made pimento cheese dip so addictive it should come with a warning. This isn't a bar for rushing through a drink; it's a place to linger, laugh, and let the night unravel in slow motion. Cheers!

Reasonable and delicious food and drinks! Really quick and friendly service. Shrimp basket,…read morechicken tenders, and fries snacks were so well done! Will try entries next time. Gin fizz, amaretto espresso martini and sangria were all well done. Highly recommend. Space is welcoming with some cozy corners to chill with your people.

A hidden gem coffee shop! It's in an unassuming location (attached to the lobby of a Residence…read moreInn), but has great service and fun, unique coffees! I got a blueberry pie latte that well exceeded expectations! It had a homemade blueberry syrup that had a hit of cinnamon and spices, that was surprisingly not overly sweet. One of my new favorites in Raleigh!

Great lattes Friendly Staff…read moreComfortable Coffee shop feels! Don't let the Residence Inn Location throw you off Not sure about their food, didn't try it but they do have decent to go grabs and can warm up some breakfast sandwiches or pastries

Some many types of 'healthy' soda/komuchas/sparkly waters etc (along with craft-ish canned beers…read moreavailable for grab and go. Chips... a few sandwiches in their cooler. I was kinda disappointed in the selection (it's a Tuesday around noon). But the service was great and attentive. There is also a little gift shop area where you can buy shirts, hats etc. If I could make a suggestion... if it were my store... I would sell picnic baskets (vintage and new... or any kind of largish container or trays) and have packaged fresh fruit, veggies, individual hummus (actually, they might have had this) and way more prepared salads like potato salad, macaroni salad... salad-salads etc. It's such an excellent spot for a picnic! I also really appreciated the brochures about the park, the trail system and the TROLLS! Lovely park and a really cool spot to hang out... I can't wait to come visit again!

My partner and I visited House of Many Porches while we were at Dix Park on Saturday. The space…read moreitself is gorgeous with tons of outdoor seating. I believe it is a converted home. It sits right beside Gipson's Play area. We each grabbed a beer, which they have on draft and in cans to enjoy. The beers were good and it was nice to sit out on the porch sipping it in the afternoon sun. The one thing to be wary of is there appears to be only one or two bathrooms in the house, which can make the wait a bit long when it is busy. House of Many Porches also offers coffee and other canned cold drinks. They have a run club that meets there on Thursday evenings as well.

We were back at Foxcroft Food & Wine this weekend. A second, third, or fourth trip is usually a…read moregood sign. The North Hills spot ( 4421 Six Forks Road in Raleigh, beside Total Wine) feels settled in the best way. Comfortable, Welcoming, Cozy. We started slowly. A wine flight. Truffle fries with truffle aioli, parmesan, oregano. Marinated olives layered with citrus and herbs. Nothing too over the top, but generous and satisfying. The kinds of plates you keep reaching for without realizing it. For dinner, we had the the NY Strip (North Carolina pasture-raised Angus with Diane sauce and a French onion potato gratin). And the roasted whole fish (with hazelnut gremolata, citrus beurre blanc, and confit sunchoke). Both cooked to perfection, nothing missing, and absolutely delicious. What stuck with us the most htough, the service. Ben and Oscar were sharp, attentive, and present without being overbearing. They made the evening feel even more incredible. Some places try hard to impress - Foxcroft Food & Wine just delivers (time and time again).

Foxcroft is located in the North Hills area. Once we arrived we were seated right away. I loved the…read moredecor in the restaurant with multiple wine bottles on display. The business was clean and there is also a bar inside. The restaurant has a large selection of wines and offers flights for purchase. The restaurant had some people dining in but they were not overly packed. Initially our server was pleasant and attentive. I got a blood orange sparkling water. It was ok. I ordered the whipped ricotta for an appetizer to share and a burger with fries for my entree. The whipped ricotta was ok. It would taste better with some sort of seasoning in it. My fries were served hot but needed some salt. I asked for my burger to be cooked well done but I was brought a burnt burger. I took one bite but it was too overcooked. I then requested that my server have my burger be cooked medium well so I didn't get another burnt burger. When my burger was brought back out, our server had me cut into my burger to make sure it was to my liking. The preparation was better but it was bland and tasted like there wasn't any seasoning on it. After this our server wasn't as attentive anymore. For dessert we got the donuts. They were served warm and I enjoyed them with the cherry sauce. I did not like the chocolate sauce that was served with the donuts.