Fayetteville Street

After being converted in the 1970s to a pedestrian mall closed to automobile traffic, downtown Raleigh, N.C.’s central thoroughfare, Fayetteville St., was restored in 2006 to a drivable main street; the city’s central business corridor has exploded with energy and activity ever since. This district distinguishes Raleigh as a sophisticated Southern city, with an abundance of restaurants, bars and galleries mingling with contemporary high-rises and restored historic buildings.

The arts are alive and well, and this area is home to Carolina Ballet and the North Carolina Symphony at the Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts (and the state-of-the-art Meymandi Concert Hall), as well as Red Hat Amphitheater, which attracts major artists and national touring talent.
 

Fayetteville Street is regularly closed off during music and arts festivals and a variety of annual celebrations. Brewgaloo, Hopscotch Music Festival, Raleigh Wide Open and Raleigh’s acclaimed St. Patrick’s Day Parade are just a few of the crowd-drawing events that take place on Fayetteville Street throughout the year.

At night, you can check out the district’s unique bars, clubs and restaurants, including Foundation, The Haymaker, The Big Easy and ORO Restaurant & Lounge.