Top 15 Attractions in Downtown Raleigh You Can’t Miss

At first glance, Downtown Raleigh, the historic center of North Carolina’s capital city, may seem to be a tranquil and understated location with limited activities. However, upon exploration, you will quickly discover a lively environment brimming with attractions.

Raleigh has earned its designation as the city of oaks for a reason; the streets of Downtown are spacious and lined with majestic trees. Concealed behind these trees are a large amphitheater and a street-long mall abundant with shops, restaurants, and hidden, underground speakeasies.

In Downtown Raleigh, you will find a vast beer garden paired with an extensive selection of craft cocktail bars, along with numerous science and history museums, art galleries, and even a chocolate factory.

Explore these top fifteen attractions in Downtown Raleigh to uncover where the excitement lies before your arrival.

1. Crank Arm Rickshaw

Board one of these vibrant yellow three-wheeled rickshaws for an engaging and informative ride around Downtown Raleigh. This eco-friendly mode of transport allows you to experience the sights of Downtown comfortably.

The driver-guide handles all the pedaling, providing insightful historical commentary about Downtown and the landmark sites you are passing. This allows you to maintain the freedom to capture photos at your leisure.

The tours generally last around an hour. If historical insights or sightseeing are not to your preference, consider the three-hour evening rickshaw bar crawl instead. It promises a delightful experience.

2. Fayetteville Street

Take a leisurely stroll along Fayetteville Street in Downtown Raleigh, where you will quickly notice that you have entered the bustling core of the area. It is, quite literally, the street that remains perpetually active.

During the day, the street becomes crowded with shoppers exploring the numerous retail outlets, while local workers take their lunch breaks on the terraces of various restaurants and cafes. As night falls, the bar scene comes alive, the club crowd emerges, and the nightlife continues until the early hours.

Fayetteville Street hosts a weekly Farmers Market from April through September, along with several large food and music festivals throughout the year.

3. North Carolina Museum Of Natural Sciences

Two of the four facilities of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, specifically the Nature Research Center and Nature Exploration Center, are located on Jones Street in Downtown Raleigh.

The Nature Exploration Center features four floors of exhibits showcasing everything from fossilized dinosaur skeletons to various minerals and North Carolina’s insect life. Among its highlights are a 3D theater and a conservatory housing a living representation of a dry tropical forest.

The Nature Research Center comprises three floors filled with diverse exhibits, including investigative laboratories, displays of emeralds and meteorites discovered in North Carolina, and DNA replicas. It is genuinely an intriguing venue to visit.

4. Raleigh Beer Garden

The Raleigh Beer Garden, located on Glenwood Avenue, boasts a larger selection of beers on tap than any other bar in Downtown and likely any other bar globally.

Set within a rustic wooden structure featuring a full-size tree indoors, an extensive outdoor seating area, and a rooftop terrace, this bar offers over three hundred and fifty draft beers. Moreover, beer is integrated into the food offerings, with items such as beer-battered pretzels and frites, in addition to a lengthy list of appetizing snacks that complement the brews.

Do not miss the daily beer tastings showcasing newly arrived brews. The Raleigh Beer Garden serves as a paradise for beer aficionados, but they also provide other beverage options for those who prefer alternatives.

5. Red Hat Amphitheater

The Red Hat Amphitheater is a noteworthy open-air venue situated in Downtown Raleigh. The venue, located on South Salisbury Street, features a substantial plaza and accommodates almost six thousand attendees.

This venue is frequently utilized for major concerts and theatrical productions, with a season spanning from April to October. You have the option to hire a VIP box that includes food and drink, or enjoy a laid-back experience on the lawn with a container of popcorn. It is an excellent location within the city for experiencing outdoor festivals.

6. Art To Heart

The Art To Heart is a walkable or bikeable trail extending six miles through Downtown Raleigh. Joining the trail on Fayetteville Street leads you past the Red Hat Amphitheater and the Raleigh Convention Center before wrapping around Pullen Park.

This trail incorporates both on-road and off-road sections and culminates at the North Carolina Art Museum park. Bicycles are ideal for exploring the park, which is adorned with numerous path-side sculptures over its expansive one hundred and sixty acres.

The trail presents an excellent opportunity for exercise while also allowing you to enjoy some of the most appealing aspects of Downtown Raleigh. If you require a bicycle, utilize the Downtown Raleigh short-term bike-share program, which has multiple stations throughout Downtown for obtaining an electrically assisted bicycle.

7. North Carolina Museum Of Art

The North Carolina Museum of Art, located on Blue Ridge Road in Downtown Raleigh, is surrounded by vast parklands, filled with impressive sculptures and featuring forty internal galleries showcasing artworks spanning five millennia.

The museum’s permanent collections include ancient art from Italy, Greece, and Egypt, modern and contemporary paintings by both European and American artists, as well as thirty distinctive sculptures, including renowned works such as “The Thinker” and “The Kiss” crafted by the master sculptor Rodin.

8. Foundation Bar

Concealed beneath Fayette Street in Downtown Raleigh lies the Foundation Bar.

The expertise of the staff at this underground cocktail and bourbon bar is evident in their skillfully crafted beverages designed for patrons with discerning tastes. The establishment features polished wood and bare brick décor, creating a speakeasy ambiance befitting exquisite drinks.

Look for the glowing red neon sign displaying the bar’s name at 213 Fayette Street; locating it can be challenging since it is halfway down a flight of stairs. Ensure not to overlook this gem.

9. Videri Chocolate Factory

Located in a charming, historic brick building on Davies Street in Downtown Raleigh, the Videri Chocolate Factory is where delightful alchemy occurs.

Observe through viewing windows as cacao beans undergo roasting and grinding, transforming into delectable chocolate bars.

Indulge in coffee and chocolates at the Coffee Bar, then attempt to resist the temptation of purchasing one of everything from the Chocolate Counter before your departure—a nearly impossible task.

10. North Carolina Museum Of History

Gain insights into North Carolina and Raleigh’s captivating history at the North Carolina Museum of History located in Downtown Raleigh.

This museum features four floors and over fifty-five thousand square feet of exhibit space where visitors can explore the impact of cash crops like tobacco on the state’s agricultural sector or discover information about the making of the iconic film “Gone With The Wind.”

Additionally, an independent exhibition, the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame, highlights the state’s most renowned sports figures.

11. Roast Grill

An iconic destination for lunch or dinner, the Roast Grill on West Street in Downtown Raleigh is known for its simplicity, serving only hot dogs.

Having been in operation for over seventy years, it specializes in a customizable hot dog experience, featuring toppings such as onions, chili, mustard, and slaw. The Roast Grill has become a cherished tradition in Downtown Raleigh.

No fries, no sides, no cheese, and no ketchup; in fact, the list of unavailable items exceeds that of available ones. If hot dogs do not appeal to you, consider another dining option.

12. Raleigh Times Bar

The Raleigh Times Bar, situated on East Hargett Street, is almost as much a historical exhibit as it is a bar.

Contained within a century-old building that formerly housed the offices of the Raleigh Times newspaper, the bar features decor adorned with press-related memorabilia. Guests can peruse snippets of Raleigh’s history while savoring one of the bar’s specialized imported beers or enjoying signature dishes such as catfish and chips.

The Raleigh Times Bar also boasts a rooftop terrace that offers breathtaking views of the Downtown skyline, making it a prime spot to unwind at the end of the day.

13. Historic Oakwood

Historic Oakwood is a neighborhood in Downtown Raleigh that appears to exist in the nineteenth century, featuring numerous restored homes and grand properties that serve as architectural museums.

If you visit Downtown Raleigh in the spring, be sure to participate in the Garden Tour and Tea, where the public is permitted access to private gardens followed by a traditional Victorian tea. During December, the annual Candlelight tour allows guests to enter some properties to observe their interior decorations.

14. CAM Raleigh

The Contemporary Art Museum (CAM) in Downtown Raleigh occupies a refurbished twenty-thousand-square-foot warehouse that features continually evolving exhibitions of modern artistry.

This visually striking building, located on Martin Street, is characterized by a geometrically sloped roof and a glass-fronted entrance. Inside, the open-ceiling galleries create a luminous and airy atmosphere, perfect for showcasing colorful artworks.

Visitors can expect to see a diverse range of displays, from basketball-themed sculptures and paintings to portraits of former President Barack Obama.

15. Pit Authentic BBQ Restaurant

Downtown Raleigh demonstrates a strong affection for barbecue, and at the Pit Authentic Barbecue on West Davie Street, only a whole hog roast suffices.

Utilizing North Carolina’s traditional pit-barbecue methods, the Pit serves an array of options including pulled pork, ribs in various combinations, smoked meatloaf, and blackened salmon. In addition to these meat choices, there are vegan options like pit-grilled tofu or soy nuggets, alongside an impressive selection of fifteen sides and numerous salads to choose from.