Raleigh, N.C., Media Accolades and Quotes

Raleigh continues to receive praise from national travel, culinary and meetings-focused media outlets. Below are some highlights of great stories and excerpts!
 

Accolades

(January 2019)
One of The World’s Top 10 Beer Destinations for 2019
VinePair

(January 2018)
"Attendees Experience a Confluence of Creativity in Raleigh"
Prevue Meetings

(January 2018)
Brewery Bhavana named one of the Best New Restaurants of 2017
USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards

(January 2018)
North Carolina ranked number one for 2018 Travel Destinations
CTV Vancouver (Canada)

(February 2018)
Town of Cary named one of The Most Romantic Weekend Getaways in America
MSN 

(February 2018)
Top 25 Convention Cities in the U.S. for 2018 and Top Convention Cities for Innovation
MeetingSource.com 

(February 2018)
One of The Best Places to Go in April
Town & Country

(February 2018)
"Raleigh, North Carolina, Offers Tasty Cuisine and Modern Art in the Perfect Romantic Getaway"
DatingAdvice.com 

(April 2018)
Named one of 7 Mouthwatering Destinations for Food Hall Fun
Forbes Travel Guide

(May 2018)
Watts & Ward named one of 9 Great Cocktail Venues for Groups to Network and Unwind
Meetings Today

(July 2018)
Taste Carolina Gourmet Food Tours named one of 10 Must-Try Food Tours in North America
USA TODAY

(July 2018)
Ashley Christensen named one of the 31 People Who Are Changing the South
TIME

(August 2018)
Brewery Bhavana named one of The 32 Hottest Breweries in America Right Now
Thrillist

(August 2018)
Cary ranked number one Most Under-the-Radar Cities in America
Expedia Viewfinder

(October 2018)
Downtown Raleigh Food Truck Rodeo named in What to Eat and Drink Around the World This Week
Departures

(November 2018)
Trophy Tap + Table named one of 13 Brewery Brunches You’ll Love
CraftBeer.com

(January 2017)
One of the 12 Top Destinations of 2017
Forbes Travel Guide

(April 2017)
One of Five Underrated Food Cities on the East Coast
USA TODAY

(June 2017)
Hopscotch Music Festival named one of nine Southern festivals well worth adding to the calendar
Garden & Gun

(June 2017)
Sixth Most Adventurous City in America
Men’s Health

(August 2017)
Brewery Bhavana named one of The Hot 10 Best New Restaurants in America
Bon Appétit

(September 2017)
One of Five Surprising Southern Food Towns
Garden & Gun

(October 2017)
Warehouse District named one of 12 Neighborhoods Across America That Are About to Get Crazy Popular
Thrillist

(December 2017)
Brewery Bhavana named one of The 10 Coolest Places to Eat in 2018
Forbes

(December 2017)
One of the 30 Most Exciting Food Cities in America 2017
Zagat

 

Quotes

Prevue Meetings
(January 2018)
“Raleigh is thought of as the “Smithsonian of the South” not only due to an abundance of high-quality, free museums, historic attractions and educational institutions, but where they converge with the stories of natural landscapes and the creative and pioneering spirit.”

The Globe and Mail
(January 2018)
“’The more vulnerable we are and the more we share, the more empathy we can create,’ said restauranteur Van Nolintha [of Bida Manda and Brewery Bhavana]. From the city's chefs to its thriving art and maker cultures, it's an objective that seems to be prolific here.”

USA TODAY
(January 2018)
“The word community is used a lot when talking about Raleigh, N.C.’s food and drink scene. From cocktail bars to coffee shops to breweries, there’s a huge sense of people coming together in the city to make business successful.”

“You’ll see this a lot in Raleigh. At restaurants like Brewery Bhavana, employees feel like family, and it’s evident the minute you walk into the stunning space that feels more like a movie set than a brewery. Employees chat while carefully curating a stunning bouquet or peruse a beautifully bound book with a customer. It’s unlike anywhere else in America.”

MSN
(February 2018)
“The walkable downtown of Cary, North Carolina, strikes a great balance of small-town charm and bigger city delights.”

Season Magazine
(February 2018)
“Whether you want to dance along to the street’s rhythms, soak up some history or take in some family fun, you’ll find no issue getting it all in here in the City of Oaks.”

Alicia Tenise Blog
(February 2018)
“[The Mayton Inn] has all of the amenities of a five-star hotel, yet has the charm and intimacy of a bed and breakfast.”

DatingAdvice.com
(February 2018)
“The progressive and welcoming city provides the perfect locale for a romantic getaway.”

“Whether you enjoy talking about art or listening to jazzy tunes, you and your date can find an affordable and stimulating date activity in this cultural hub.”

Smart Meetings
(March 2018)
“Raleigh has a youthful energy.”

Katie Couric, National Geographic Channel
(April 2018)
“Raleigh is a very progressive, welcoming community in many ways.”

Meetings Today
(April 2018)
“Raleigh, N.C.’s thriving and increasingly popular cuisine scene is as impressive as it is delicious. Groups meeting in this capital city can easily include an auxiliary event incorporating its variety of flavors.”

AAA Carolinas’ GO Magazine
(April 2018)
“The culinary scene in Raleigh is straight up legit, and my restaurant list here reads like a James Beard Foundation advertisement. It’s safe to say that if you visit the Capital City and you eat at a chain restaurant even once while you’re there, you’ve failed.”

Global Traveler
(May 2018)
“Raleigh boasts a business-friendly environment and culinary treasures.”

“North Carolina’s hospitable, laid-back capital city quietly emerged as one of the country’s most dynamic business cities.”

Tribune News Service
(May 2018)
“An unexpected and remarkably affordable destination choice exists just outside of Raleigh, N.C. With a downtown area featuring a retro theater, subtly shaded street murals and picturesque churches, the town of Cary has a fair amount to offer the traveler searching for a more leisurely escape.”

Metro UK
(May 2018)
“The United States is brimming with travel hotspots but few states can match the diversity, charm and beauty on offer in North Carolina.”

Forbes
(July 2018)
”The Warehouse District is the hottest neighborhood in Raleigh.”

“Vansana Nolintha and his sister Vanvisa [of Bida Manda and Brewery Bhavana], along with Garland's Cheetie Kumar, are shining examples of the robust influx of immigrants, many working in the technology and science industries, who are making Raleigh more exciting and diverse than ever before.”

TIME
(July 2018)
“[Charlie Ibarra and Oscar Diaz] now see themselves as ambassadors for their prismatic view of the South. “I’m repping not just the restaurant; I’m repping Raleigh,” Diaz says. “I’m repping Latino culture and American culture. I’m repping the South.”

“… immigration is not just introducing new cuisines to the South; it’s also redefining how Southern food spreads far beyond the Mason-Dixon line.”

National Geographic Traveler Online
(August 2018)
“All are welcome in this booming North Carolina city, known as the City of Oaks for the number of majestic oak trees lining its streets. There's a diverse population that's evidenced by the city’s broad demographic of college students who come to study in high-class institutions and savvy local entrepreneurs bursting with creativity who are establishing homegrown brands.

“There's a vibrancy and energy here, mixed with friendly Southern charm.”

“Raleigh, North Carolina, offers big-city energy with a small-town vibe, Southern hospitality mixed with mouthwatering brews, cutting-edge Southern cuisine, history, culture, and the great outdoors—all at a price that's easy on the pocketbook.”

Thrillist
(August 2018)
“Raleigh’s beer scene is quickly blossoming as a standout destination city for both craft brew fanatics and gourmands; the stunning Brewery Bhavana is a major reason why.”

Boomer Magazine
(August 2018)
“Though it has burgeoned into a bustling city, part of the Research Triangle with Durham and Chapel Hill, Raleigh still wields the charm of a hospitable Southern town.”

BadCredit.org
(October 2018)
“Visitors to the capital of North Carolina will find a number of low- or no-cost options suitable for children and adults, including free museums and an amusement park.”

Andrew Harper’s Hideaway Report
(November 2018)
“The region’s 21st-century economy gives residents a hunger for the new that supports sophisticated restaurants by nationally known and up-and-coming chefs alike.”

Traveling Mom
(November 2018)
“Raleigh, North Carolina, is a stately yet vibrant city that’s fun for the whole family. Known to offer a big city feel with Southern charm, Raleigh is a modern-meets-historic destination that definitely succeeds in combining the two vibes.”

Successful Meetings
(December 2018)
“Those who visit Raleigh, N.C., during the International Bluegrass Music Association's World of Bluegrass, which takes place each fall, will find not only a city transformed by music, but a festival and a convention transformed by a city.”

AAA World
(January 2017)
“For a city of its size… North Carolina’s capital is blessed with surprisingly rich cultural opportunities. Foremost among these are three large, state-owed museums that rank among the best in the Southeast.”

USA TODAY
(April 2017)
“Raleigh, North Carolina’s capital, embraces its southern heritage while continuing to evolve and grow.”

Meetings Today
(April 2017)
“Raleigh impresses with infrastructure and off-sites”

Garden & Gun
(June 2017)
“Easily one of the South’s most eclectic music lineups, the Hopscotch roster brings together Americana, hip-hop, electronica, rock, and more. But the festival’s real headliner might be its hometown.”

Improper Bostonian
(August 2017)
“North Carolina's capital offers a walkable downtown with plenty of diversions.”

Group Tour Southeastern
(September 2017)
“In Raleigh, groups can explore the heritage and history behind North Carolina’s capital city.”

Northern Virginia Magazine
(September 2017)
“Forward-thinking business owners infuse new energy into neighborhoods, and Raleigh’s neglected factories and warehouses are transformed into galleries, restaurants and boutiques.”

Meetings Today
(October 2017)
“Offering five walkable entertainment districts, 80-plus performance venues and a genre-spanning scene that goes from bluegrass to reggae, Raleigh, the state capital, is also a seat of live music.”

Orbitz.com
(October 2017)
“Raleigh isn’t trying to be like any other city; it’s cool with who it is and what it’s becoming. Folks in Raleigh live by the state motto, ‘To be, rather than to seem.’”

Food & Wine
(November 2017)
“Blocks from the downtown capitol, a less buttoned-up Raleigh [the Person Street district] is cultivating its entrepreneurial spirit led by an expanding creative class.”

AAA Northeast
(November 2017)
“Raleigh, North Carolina’s capital city, is a delight to visit, with a compact downtown, thriving restaurant scene, exploding craft brewery industry, and several free museums and green spaces.”

Metro News Canada
(November 2017)
“Yes, there are barbecue joints. That’s a given. But the Raleigh region is about more than finger-licking ribs and corn bread. Restauranteurs are spreading their influence outside of the kitchen, entrepreneurs are embracing authenticity, and art institutions are telling new and forgotten stories.”

Food & Wine
(November 2017)
“As North Carolina’s capital city, Raleigh has it all: a thriving downtown, several notable music venues, sports teams for days, an exploding arts community and, as of late, a growing culinary scene that rivals its neighboring Southern cities—going way beyond shrimp and grits, biscuits and pimento cheese.”

“Let it be known that Raleigh has a shining personality of its own—and quite frankly, some of the most notable chefs in the South who continue to pave the way.”

Marriott Traveler
(December 2017)
“The City of Oaks is both steeped in rich history and moving boldly into the future, with a large population of students and scientists drawn to the area’s universities and the tech companies that dot Research Triangle Park.”

“Downtown Raleigh especially has expanded by leaps and bounds in recent years, with forward-thinking startups and co-working spaces opening next to government buildings and local artisans, retail entrepreneurs and award-winning chefs keeping the area buzzing after hours.”

TOWN
(December 2017)
“Raleigh, North Carolina, emerges as a world-class food city with a local focus.”

Forbes
(December 2017)
“Raleigh's transformation from an underachieving food town to a serious eating destination is complete.”

Eater
(December 2017)
“When she [Ashley Christensen] thinks about what makes a restaurant an ‘Ashley Christensen restaurant,’ her answer is the people: Her staff, her guests, and how her restaurants can play a role in the community.”