What's New in Raleigh, N.C.

The Raleigh area is booming with new visitor experiences, creating great story ideas. Get the rundown on new hotels, culinary and nightlife, noteworthy attractions and more.

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Culinary and nightlife

 

Crawford Brothers Steakhouse
James Beard Nominated Scott Crawford's next venture Crawford Brothers Steakhouse opened in late 2024 in Cary's mixed-use Fenton development. This is Crawford Hospitality's largest restaurant, with seating for up to 120. The concept celebrates the nostalgia of an old-school steakhouse with a lighter and edgier twist, featuring in-house dry-aged beef, a breathtaking seafood tower, an extensive wine and craft cocktail program and two private dining rooms. 

Meat, sides, and wine on a candlelit table at Crawford Brothers Steakhouse

Diced
Diced, a locally owned, woman-owned fast-casual restaurant specializing in fresh, made-to-order salads, wraps and grain bowls, opened their newest location on downtown Raleigh’s Fayetteville Street. The local restaurant was started by Michelle Woodward, a former competitive gymnast and cheerleader, to offer a healthier alternative to fast food with a focus on quality ingredients and convenience. Diced is also planning a new location in Holly Springs to open in early 2025.

State of Beer
Located next door to Raleigh’s newest neighborhood bar, The Bend Bar, Trophy Brewing’s newest location of State of Beer opened in January 2025. Trophy Brewing acquired and renovated three historic bungalow-style homes on Raleigh’s Morgan Street. This strategic location connects neighborhoods and breathes new life into aging architecture. State of Beer serves some of Raleigh’s favorite sandwiches, salads and beer. It also serves as a bottle shop, with numerous beers and ciders from near and far.

La Farm Bakery – Six Forks
La Farm Bakery’s newest location opened in Raleigh’s Creekside Crossing shopping center. From three-time James Beard Foundation “Outstanding Baker” nominee Lionel Vatinet, this newest La Farm location will offer a bit more than European breads and pastries baked on-site and served alongside Counter Culture Coffee.  Guests at the newest La Farm can expect evening hours with a pizza oven and full bar program.

Giorgio's Epicurean Market
Also known as GEM, Giorgio's Epicurean Market brings gourmet groceries to Raleigh's booming East End Market area. In addition to market and grocery options, GEM also offers prepared foods, pastries and coffee. The new market is a go-to stop for your next little treat.

Giorgio's Epicurean Market (GEM)

Little Rey
Atlanta-based celebrity chef and James Beard semi-finalist Ford Fry has opened a new location for his taco brand Little Rey in Raleigh Iron Works. Centered around "al-carbon" wood-roasted cooking, the restaurant boasts popular Tex-Mex dishes like pollo al carbon, charcoal-roasted whole chickens, traditional street-style tacos and more. 

Birdie's Barroom and Kitchen
This exciting new concept at the base of one of Raleigh's tallest skyscrapers breathes new life into Fayetteville Street through gourmet food, cocktails and good vibes. It's a space designed to foster connection, whether you're meeting friends for a casual lunch, enjoying a romantic dinner or unwinding at the outside bar with colleagues after a long day.

RH Rooftop Restaurant
Enjoy a menu of enduring classics and signature dishes, along with a curated selection of champagnes and wines. Dine in a year-round skylit garden escape with heritage olive trees, sparkling chandeliers and a cascading, cast-stone center fountain. The RH Rooftop Restaurant is located on the third floor of RH Raleigh, The Gallery at North Hills.

La Terrazza
Samad Hachby of Mulino Italian Kitchen & Bar has opened a new terrace dining concept at The Dillion in Raleigh's booming Warehouse District. The restaurant focuses on southern Italian and Mediterranean offerings accompanied by a stunning atmosphere, tasteful cocktails and a variety of wines that perfectly complement each dish.

La Terrazza Patio

Brodeto
Acclaimed James Beard-nominated chef Scott Crawford's latest venture in Raleigh Iron Works is now open with a menu inspired by his trips to the Adriatic region. Brodeto is a Croatian-Italian eatery featuring the restaurant's namesake dish, a traditional fish stew with a rich tomato-wine broth. The menu focuses on raw and cooked seafood as well as dishes from the wood-fired grill and unique handmade pasta and rice dishes.

Brodeto

La Farm Bakery - Glenwood South
La Farm Bakery has expanded to downtown Raleigh, with its newest semi-permanent location opening on Glenwood South in May 2024. Later this summer, La Farm will open another full-service bakery and cafe in North Raleigh. The bakery's flagship location in Cary is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. 

Tamasha Modern Indian
An ode to modern Indian cuisine, co-owners Mike Kathrani and Tina Vora recently opened this extravagant and upscale Indian concept in North Hills. Chef Bhavin Chhatwani introduces innovative and genuine Indian cuisine to the Raleigh community, enhancing the city's already diverse food scene.

Figulina: Pasta and Provisions
The most recent chef de cuisine of Poole's Diner, David Ellis, has opened his first restaurant in Raleigh. Figulina is an Italian concept emphasizing fresh, hand-made pasta while utilizing local ingredients that add a Southern flair. The restaurant also includes a small market of take-home prepared foods, cookbooks and more.

SAAP
SAAP, which means 'delicious' in Laotian, is the newest restaurant from chef and Laos native Lou Bounsanga, formerly of Bida Manda and Brewery Bhavana. SAAP's menu is divided into small plates, large plates and a wok section for fried rice and noodle dishes. The 2,600-square-foot, 70-seat restaurant includes 10 bar seats, a 10-seat private dining room and 16 seats on the patio overlooking Downtown Cary Park.

Saap

Ajja
Led by beloved James Beard Foundation Award-nominated chef/owner Cheetie Kumar and partner Paul Siler is Ajja, in the Five Points neighborhood. The Hindi/Urdu word for “come over,” Ajja invokes a destination that is celebratory and inviting. Ajja’s menu draws inspiration from the diverse foodways and cultures, vibrant spices and cooking techniques of the Mediterranean, the Middle East and beyond. Building on Garland’s legacy, Ajja continues telling the rich story of North Carolina’s growers, farmers and purveyors in a vibrant indoor-outdoor neighborhood restaurant.

Madre
Fresh and inventive Spanish tapas arrived in Raleigh's Smoky Hollow development in June 2023. Madre is "a celebration of motherly hospitality and the beautiful way of life along the Mediterranean." Madre's interior was beautifully designed by local designer Bryan Costello, well-known for his collaboration with Heights House Hotel and the NCMA Cafe

Madre

321 Coffee
A nonprofit coffee shop staffed by individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, with a mission to incorporate these individuals into the workplace in a meaningful way. 321 Coffee has locations at the State Farmer's Market, on Hillsborough St., and has just opened its latest location in N.C. State's Centennial Campus

Zest Sushi & Small Plates
Now open in the heart of downtown Cary, from the masterminds behind Sono, Zest captures casual elegance in a relaxed yet chic setting with an approachable Asian-focused menu, vibrant bar program and genuine hospitality.

Drift Coffee & Kitchen
The Triangle's first location of the popular N.C. beach-based coffee shop Drift recently opened in Raleigh. The cafe offers breakfast, lunch, coffee and more. Their signature coffee blend, Minor Moments, comes from Raleigh's own Black + White Coffee Roasters.

Flour & Barrel Kitchen and Bar
The latest brainchild of Top Chef and Chopped Champion Katsuji Tanabe, Flour & Barrel offers rustic Italian small plates, artisan cocktails and craft beers.

Press Coffee, Crepes & Cocktails
Press emphasizes simple ingredients treated with integrity and care. The restaurant believes that locally sourced, quality food should be accessible to all. Press brands itself as a European-inspired, Carolina-made cafe. 

Jaguar Bolera
A Mexican-Southern fusion restaurant meets entertainment complex in Raleigh's booming Iron Works District, bringing delicious food and drinks along with duckpin bowling, cornhole, karaoke, darts and more to the area.

Jaguar Bolera

M Test Kitchen
Chef Michael Lee is dedicated to high-quality seafood sourced directly from Japan, Korea and the U.S. M Test Kitchen is Michael Lee's culinary experimentation, with Asian-fusion style food including a modern take on Asian-American staples such as beef and broccoli. 

Gussie's
A fresh version of the old concept of a neighborhood bar from North South Hospitality group. This "third place" hotspot provides a comfortable, lounge-like space for the community with a grab-and-go retail shop, outdoor patio seating and bar area for unfussy drinks and chef-driven sharable bites.

Flavor Hills Restaurant and Bar
Flavor Hills was conceived with a heartfelt mission: to infuse the world of dining with energy, excitement and a deep sense of community. Rooted in the vision of its Marine Corps veteran owners, hailing from bustling cities, the restaurant was born from a longing for upscale modern dining in a place where people could truly be themselves and unwind. Flavor Hills aims to create a haven where individuals can rediscover the joy of human interaction in a positive and inviting atmosphere.

Nightingale Rooftop Restaurant & Bar
Perched atop downtown Holly Springs is Nightingale, a chic destination for date nights, special occasions and after-hours drinks serving locally sourced, seasonal small plates in an upscale cocktail culture environment.

Taco Bamba
Chef Victor Albisu's menu at Taco Bamba honors traditional flavors and cooking methods with a selection of classics like chicken tinga, al pastor, carne asada and barbacoa. Still, its most famous dishes diverge from taco tradition. The headliners of the menu are always tacos unique to the specific location. With the Raleigh location being the first outside of the northern Virginia and Maryland area, the menu boasts Raleigh-themed items like the Sir Walter Raleigh torta with Carolina-style beef franks and the Wolfpack poutine.

Year of BBQ
With a plate of barbecue in hand, all is right with the world! Pitmasters across the state are converging on Raleigh to make it the BBQ Capital of N.C. Longleaf Swine, the beloved BBQ food truck named for the state’s signature pine, opened its first brick-and-mortar in downtown Raleigh's historic Oakwood neighborhood. The BBQ Lab in North Hills is now slinging 'cue from scientists Jerry Stephenson and Roxanne Marley, who have over 40 Kansas City Barbecue Society Championship awards. Others opened in recent years include Sam Jones BBQ in downtown Raleigh and champion pitmaster Christopher Prieto's Prime Barbecue in Knightdale. Now open: Midwood Smokehouse, a wildly popular Charlotte-based barbecue joint known for its all-hickory-smoked 'cue that draws influence from Texas, the Carolinas and beyond; and Mac's Speed Shop, another Charlotte-based barbecue chain offering bar snacks, beer, burgers, wings and salads alongside classic BBQ favorites is now open in Raleigh's Five Points area.

Nightlife

  • The Bend Bar: Trophy Brewing’s new cozy neighborhood bar on Morgan Street in a historic, renovated home with a sprawling patio and outdoor space.
  • High Rail: A rooftop bar that pays homage to Raleigh’s industrial heritage in the heart of the dynamic Seaboard Station neighborhood. Featuring a globally inspired menu with shareables and handcrafted cocktails, this sophisticated space is the premier stop to sip, snack and soak in the city skyline.
  • Moon Room: A jazz and vinyl lounge from the masterminds behind Madre in the Smoky Hollow district. 
  • Sous Terre: Scott Crawford's newest opening in the Oakwood neighborhood. Sous Terre is an intimate underground bar that focuses on the classics like the famous French 75, a modern take on the Paloma and the legendary shaken-to-order Ramos Gin Fizz.
  • The Parlor at Trig Modern: A speakeasy-style bar inside a modern furniture store.

Coming soon 

Marian Cocktails & Tapas
From the chef behind The Dirty V and Element Gastropub, Leila Kidd, Marian Cocktails & Tapas will serve globally inspired cocktails, small and large plates in downtown’s Glenwood South district.

Brewery Bhavana
The acclaimed brewery and dim sum restaurant based in downtown Raleigh will expand in Cary’s Fenton mixed-use development with an April 2025 opening. The new restaurant’s design is inspired by the concept of dining inside a greenhouse and will feature large murals and plenty of natural light.

Rendering of a restaurant interior

Benchwarmers Bagels
Beloved local eatery Benchwarmers Bagels is expanding with two new locations in the North Hills Innovation District and Rockway in Raleigh. Both new locations will offer expanded menus with bagels, sandwiches, nightly pizzas and an enhanced beverage program. Benchwarmers bagels use locally milled organic flour, a 36-hour fermentation process and a wood-fired oven for baking.

Lloyd’s Full-Service Restaurant
The team behind Cary’s The Mayton, Peck & Plume and other North Carolina historic hotels is plotting to revive a 1950s-era service station into a full-service restaurant on a prime corner in Downtown Cary.

Embargo
A new drinking and entertainment experience, Embargo, has broken ground in the Glenwood South district. The establishment, built from nearly two dozen repurposed shipping containers, is expected to open in early 2025. The facility will include outdoor seating, food truck vendors and space for 400 people. 

Peregrine
From the creators behind Vidro and Watts & Ward, Saif Rahman and Patrick Shanahan's Peregrine is set to open at The Exchange Raleigh in early 2025. Dubbed Peregrine after the migratory peregrine falcon, the New American eatery will take inspiration from the experiences and many cultures, ingredients and traditions that define present-day America. 

La Cucina Italiana
Known for its fresh, handcrafted dishes, casual-meets-sophisticated. La Cucina Italiana will feature pizza, pasta and Italian specialties when it opens in Smoky Hollow in early 2025.

NOCO Beverage
From the creators of Bond Brothers Beer Company, Raleigh's Salvage Yard and Iron Works development is anticipating the opening of NOCO taproom (meaning No Company). A wide selection of craft beer will be brewed on-site. The taproom will also offer coffee, tea, craft cocktails and food. 

Mala Pata
Meaning "bad luck" in Spanish, Mala Pata will open in 2024 in Raleigh's Gateway Plaza by Angela Salamanca (of Centro) and Eric Montagne and Zack Gragg of Locals Seafood. The restaurant promises excellent fish tacos and fresh corn tortillas from an on-site corn mill. 

Lawrence Barbecue
The renowned Lawrence Barbecue will make its permanent home in downtown Cary in 2025. This brick-and-mortar location will encompass all three of chef-pitmaster Jake Wood's concepts, including Lagoon Bar and Leroy's Taco Shop. There will be a patio, smokehouse, bar and merchandise on-site.

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Accommodation news

New hotels

Tempo by Hilton and Homewood Suites Raleigh Downtown (dual-brand hotel)
The fourth Tempo hotel in the world, Hilton's new concept promises guests the ability to relax and recharge in The Tempo by Hilton Wellness Rooms with Peloton. The Homewood Suites concept offers studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom suites with distinct spaces designed to flex to the needs of a longer stay. The dual-brand property is also home to Moonsong Bar + Café, which focuses on natural, healthy food options and Australian coffee from Bluestone Lane, and rooftop bar and restaurant Urban Oak, a sophisticated and inviting lounge that promises intimate and relaxing vibes.

Sun-soaked lobby of the new Dual Brand Tempo Homewood Suites hotel in downtown Raleigh
Hyatt House Seaboard Station
Settle into downtown Raleigh’s newest hotel at Seaboard Station, which opened in October 2024. Visit local shops and restaurants or zip up to the High Rail rooftop bar for scenic views, dining and drinks. Stay close to universities, the Raleigh Convention Center, Warehouse District and more in these comfortably appointed rooms and suites, complete with fully equipped kitchens. Experience downtown Raleigh for a weekend or an extended stay with convenient amenities, including a pool, hot daily breakfast buffet, fitness center and meeting facilities.

The Westin Raleigh-Durham Airport
The 236-room hotel—opened in late April 2023—is just the second location of the Westin luxury brand from Marriott to open in the Tar Heel State, and the first in the Raleigh area (24-hour room service and a rooftop pool? Yes and yes!). James Beard Award-winning chef Bradford Thompson was brought on by CMC Hotels—the Cary, N.C.-based, family-run hotelier—to develop the menu for Il Falò, an upscale restaurant offering wood-fired Italian cuisine in a gorgeous, modern dining room. Thompson was awarded the title of Best Chef: Southwest in 2006 by the Beard Foundation for his work at The Phoenician, a luxury hotel in Scottsdale, Arizona. This property is an excellent option for business and leisure travelers alike looking for a comfortable and luxurious stay near RDU International Airport.

Il Falo

Coming soon

Oberlin Hotel is the first hotel from the Curio Collection by Hilton Hotel in the Raleigh area. The hotel will be situated in the heart of the Village District and will have 153 guest rooms (including presidential suites), a high-end restaurant, a rooftop bar and a courtyard for the hotel guests and residents to enjoy. Construction will begin in 2023, spearheaded by Winston-Salem-based Quality Oil Company LLC. The inspiration for the hotel's decor is to honor the Black history of the neighborhood with artwork and descriptions of notable Black figures who were influential in the construction of the area and Raleigh as a whole. 

The Gables is an old motor lodge in downtown Raleigh that’s being renovated into a boutique motel by Raleigh native and Grammy-nominated folk singer Tift Merrit and Daniel Robinson (who developed the Durham Hotel). Construction is slated to begin soon and will have a mid-century modern vibe with 17 guest rooms and a neighborhood bar and lounge. 

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Noteworthy attractions

There's no shortage of ways to find peaceful escapes to explore the outdoors in the City of Oaks. Use any of the Raleigh area’s 180 miles of greenways—many of them connecting to attractions and letting you travel all over the destination—or numerous other miles of trails traversing through parks, and you’ll find runners getting in workouts, cyclists out for leisurely rides, parents pushing strollers and people of all ages soaking up the fresh air. Check out the destination's Top Sports & Outdoors Experiences!

Triangle Rock Club Salvage Yard
The newest and largest Triangle Rock Club facility opened in late 2024. The facility is the largest climbing gym in North Carolina and boasts more than awesome rock climbing – the Salvage Yard location has a yoga studio, functional fitness and strength training area, a gear shop, bouldering space and more.

RH Raleigh, The Gallery at North Hills
RH, also known as Restoration Hardware, has reimagined itself to become the leading brand in luxury home furnishings, offering the most comprehensive and compelling collection of furniture, lighting, textiles and decor in the world. Now open in North Hills, this multi-platform design company is redefining the retail experience. Reflecting the brand’s continued commitment to hospitality, RH Raleigh features a dramatic, glass-encased Rooftop Restaurant offering a thoughtfully curated menu of enduring classics featuring the freshest ingredients, simply and elegantly prepared.

RH Raleigh

Golf Golf Golf
From the visionary behind Videri Chocolate Factory, Sam Ratto expanded his entrepreneurial portfolio with the opening of Golf Golf Golf. Players of all skill levels are welcome to come together and enjoy the game they love at this indoor golf club and lounge. A unique blend of golf with a fresh, laid-back vibe, the 1,500-square-foot venue features two golf simulator bays, a four-hole indoor putting green and a selection of tabletop and arcade games.

Pin Point
A state-of-the-art indoor pickleball and golf facility. From friendly matches to competitive tournaments and leagues, there’s room for everyone to join in on the fun. Plus, the exclusive viewing platform offers the perfect vantage point to catch all the action as it unfolds below. The facility is more than just pickleball courts and golf simulators; there is also a sports bar and pro shop to entertain every guest.

"Dueling Dinosaurs" exhibit (at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences)
An exhibit 67 million years in the making features what's thought to be the only 100% complete skeleton of a Tyrannosaur in the world (plus a Triceratops skeleton, among the most complete ever found). An entire new lab, opened April 2024, has been built for this exhibit, and visitors can get up close and personal with the fossils and meet some of the scientific team as they uncover long-buried secrets. The new SECU DinoLab built for the exhibit is the first open-air paleontology lab in the world that is free and open to the public. Free timed-entry tickets can be reserved here

Dueling Dinosaurs at North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences

Downtown Cary Park
First proposed in 2001, the Town of Cary City Council approved the master plan for Downtown Cary Park in March 2019. The newly opened park offers an iconic, seven-acre public gathering space including food and beverage facilities, interactive water features, a great lawn and an outdoor entertainment pavilion. Construction of the park broke ground in the summer 2021 and opened to the public in November 2023.

Downtown Cary Park

North Carolina Freedom Park
A long-planned park aiming to honor the African American struggle for freedom and liberty for all broke ground in late 2020, just a few blocks from the North Carolina State Capitol. The park includes phrases and quotes from famous Black North Carolinians engraved throughout the space, and a large sculpture in the middle of the park shines a light into the night sky—the Beacon of Freedom—to reflect the fire for freedom. Designed by the internationally known late architect Phil Freelon, the park opened in August 2023. 

North Carolina Freedom Park (cropped)

The Rialto Theater
Raleigh's oldest movie theater has been recently renovated and reopened to the public in 2023. Originally built in 1942 in the Five Points neighborhood, this classic and historic theater features live music, comedy acts, showings of foreign and independent films as well as the Rocky Horror Picture Show every third Friday at midnight. 

Raleigh Iron Works
This historic industrial site just outside of downtown aims to restore the past and forge the future with office space, residential units, retail shops and restaurants in the new Raleigh Iron Works. Vendors now open and coming online soon include James Beard-nominated chef Scott Crawford's Brodeto, a third location for Ponysaurus Brewing, Durham-based Eastcut Sandwich Bar’s second location and Andia’s Ice CreamBond Brothers Brewing will open NOCO in the adjacent Salvage Yard development in 2025, joining the newest Triangle Rock Club as anchor tenants.

Smoky Hollow
This mixed-use urban district is the "northern gateway" to downtown Raleigh featuring several new local shops and restaurants, including a new Milklab location; Madre, a tapas place from Happy + Hale founder Tyler Helikson; and Midwood Smokehouse.

Fenton Mixed-Use Development 
Fenton is a mixed-use development located in Cary near WakeMed Soccer Park off Cary Towne Blvd. The $850-million project includes one million square feet of office space, 444,000 square feet of retail space, more than 800 multi-family housing units and more. Tenants include Colletta Italian Food & Wine, CRU Food & Wine Bar, Dram & Draught (cocktail bar), Honeysuckle Gelato, M Sushi (Michael Lee), Superica (Tex-Mex from chef Ford Fry) and more. Scott Crawford's Crawford Brothers Steakhouse is slated to open in late 2024, plus a second location of Brewery Bhavana in 2025 and plans for an anchor hotel are moving forward.

Image of the Fenton development

Coming soon

Beech Bluff County Park
Wake County's newest park project, Beech Bluff County Park will be located in the southeast corner of the county, adjacent to the towns of Garner and Fuquay-Varina. The 300-acre site will include hiking trails, nature prairies, a classroom, playgrounds and more. A flyover and rendering of the park can be viewed here. The park is expected to open in 2025 with construction already underway. 

Swing Racquet + Paddle
Swing will be the world's largest multi-racquet and paddle "Sportstainment" facility. The 45-acre project broke ground in Summer 2024. The facility will feature more than 70 different courts for various racquet and paddle sports, an on-site restaurant and a major presence from Wilson Sporting Goods, which will operate a retail space and research lab and development hub. 

Dorothea Dix Park
In July 2015, the City of Raleigh acquired 308 acres of the Dorothea Dix Campus from the State of North Carolina. The City’s acquisition of the property is to plan and develop a new destination park—Dorothea Dix Park. A master plan for the park—the city's largest green space—was unanimously approved by the Raleigh City Council in Feb. 2019. The master plan proposes the park be transformed through six distinct landscapes, with ideas on how each landscape could be used by visitors (open space, playgrounds, plazas, gardens, performance spaces, public art etc.). Implementation of Phase 1 of the plan, which began in late 2020, calls for physical improvements to the park, including creek restoration, cemetery enhancements, rehabilitated buildings, a new main entry to the park, a new multi-use path and interim parking. Phase 1 of the plan may take 10-20 years to implement.

Gipson Play Plaza—named for generous Raleighite donors Tom and Pat Gipson and focused on providing a space to play for visitors of all ages—is expected to open in 2025 as one of the main entrances to the park, acting as a central gateway connection to the rest of downtown Raleigh. The 18-acre area will receive new landscaping, fountains, gardens, a waterfall, an amphitheater, picnic grounds, a civic plaza and a playground with climbing towers, a sand bowl, swings and much more. The project broke ground in 2022.

RUS Bus Project 
Raleigh’s Union Station, an incredible train station and transportation hub that opened in 2018, has begun construction on the Raleigh Union Station Bus Facility, a multimodal transit hub. The mixed-use development incorporates existing Warehouse District facades to preserve the area’s history and character. Expected to be completed in 2025, RUS Bus will provide the community with unparalleled access to major transportation routes and networks throughout the local and regional area. Beyond train and bus access, the facility will include pedestrian and bicycle enhancements, including a new pedestrian bridge and infrastructure to support a future Bus Rapid Transit station. The facility will house 500,000 square feet of mixed-use space, including retail, multi-family housing (including 10% affordable housing) and hotel rooms. 

North Carolina Museum of History
The North Carolina Museum of History, a free, Smithsonian Affiliate public attraction, has announced an exciting transformation that promises an extraordinary journey into the heart of North Carolina's history. The reimagined exhibits and museum are expected to take two to three years to construct. While the museum will close to the public for its metamorphosis on October 7, 2024, the museum will continue to offer a plethora of digital resources throughout and beyond the duration of its closure.

Hone-Sharpen Cooking School
A woman-owned startup, this innovative new cooking school from Chef Cherisse Byers will feature a demonstration and commercial kitchen. The space will offer classes both for the general public and people training in the culinary arts. Hone-Sharpen will host pop-ups, group classes, cooking demonstrations and events in Smoky Hollow in early 2025. 

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Transportation

RDU International Airport currently averages approximately 400 arrivals and departures daily and services more than 14 million passengers annually. RDU provides service to more than 60 other airports via nonstop flights and consistently has the lowest average fare among North Carolina’s commercial airports.

Air France has resumed the nonstop route to Paris and American restarted its direct flight to London Heathrow. Since 2019, both airlines have increased the aircraft size on the route, adding comfort and capacity. 

RDU continues pursuing international expansion, including its newest additions: Reykjavik, Iceland, on Icelandair; Frankfurt, Germany, on Lufthansa; Panama City, Panama, on Copa Airlines; Mexico City, Mexico, on Aeromexico; Calgary, Canada, on WestJet; Bermuda on BermudaAir; Vancouver, Canada, on Air Canada; Montego Bay, Jamaica, on Avelo Airlines; and Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, on Avelo Airlines.

Now Open

Local coffee from award-winning Black & White Coffee Roasters is now being served in Terminal 2 just past the TSA checkpoints. This location positions the local coffee purveyors, along with their local pastry supplier Union Special, as a staple for all who come through RDU International Airport. 

Crawford's Genuine, crafted by five-time James Beard-nominated chef Scott Crawford, is now open in Terminal 2. The upscale bar and grill serves from 4am to the final departure of the night. The menu includes braised short ribs, crispy trout, plus lighter fare for breakfast and lunch. Grove Bay Crawford, a collaboration between Grove Hospitality and Raleigh's Crawford Hospitality, also opened an additional concept in Terminal 2, Carolina Craft, an open-air kiosk serving craft beer, cocktails and light bites.

Coming soon

Adios! by Cortez chef Oscar Diaz will join the marketplace in Terminal 2. Raleigh Beer Garden will be opening a location in Terminal 1. Bongiorno & Son Italian Specialties, a local family-owned market and deli with popular local sandwiches will open in Terminal 2 later this year.

These local businesses will join other anchors already in the airport, including Lonerider Brewing CompanyBond Brothers Beer Company and La Farm Bakery Café.

RDU 10-199.jpg cropped

Downtown Raleigh’s Warehouse District now houses the new Union Station transportation hub, which opened in July 2018. This major project accommodates longer trains and provides larger platforms, among other improvements. As part of a 10-year strategic Wake County Transit Plan approved by voters in 2016, Union Station serves Amtrak passengers and acts as a multi-modal transit center connecting riders to other forms of transit. New in 2024, the train station opened an on-site gourmet Deli, Union Station Deli & Catering. The concept promises a taste of New York with bagels, deli sandwiches hot pressed paninis, salads and more. 

The plan includes the expansion of bus service from 17 to 83 miles, including 20 miles of Bus Rapid Transit-related infrastructure improvements and will be complete with the activation of 37 miles of Commuter Rail Transit (CRT) running from Garner to downtown Raleigh, North Carolina State University, Cary, Morrisville and the Research Triangle Park and continuing to Durham and will leverage the bus network to connect riders to RDU as well.

Raleigh Union Station

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Crawford Brothers Steakhouse photo courtesy of Jessica Crawford; Brewery Bhavana rendering courtesy of Liezl Pacult/Maurer Architecture; RH Raleigh photo courtesy of RH; Giorgio's Epicurean Market photo by Forrest Mason; La Terrazza photo by Derrick Bryant, Raleighwood Media Group; SAAP photo by Baxter Miller; Tamasha Modern Indian photo by Harsha Sipani; Tempo Homewood Suites by Hilton Downtown Raleigh photo by Molly Milroy.

Right Now in Raleigh, N.C.

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