I mentioned in my last Love List that we have been really good about exploring our own city lately. Honestly, I wasn’t thrilled about the Triangle (Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill, all within half an hour of each other) when I first moved here–I was coming from Austin, a city I was completely head over heels for, and I missed it a lot, so I’m sure few places would have impressed me right off the bat. I’ve been here for four years now, and in that time, Raleigh has become such a special place to Dave and me…so much so that we sometimes entertain the thought of never leaving! Time will tell, but for now, I’m just grateful every day that we’ve found such a wonderful community, become part of a diocese that is growing tremendously (the new 2000-seat cathedral of the Diocese of Raleigh was dedicated yesterday!), and get to enjoy the many fantastic restaurants and creative businesses in town that seem to pop up weekly. I wanted to share a few random Raleigh spots we’ve been loving, especially for my local gals and anyone with plans to visit this area soon!

Whiskey Kitchen: I haven’t asked him, but I’m willing to bet this is Dave’s #1 favorite spot in Raleigh right now. Whiskey is beautifully designed, not too expensive, and in a perfect downtown location. We went here on a date night a few months ago and had the best time sitting outside with charcuterie, whiskey (for Dave), and rosé (for me).

Wylde Flowers: I was so excited when Nikelle of Wylde opened her gorgeous little boutique downtown. Along with a space for workshops, she carries a small, curated selection of products, plus an always-lovely display of flowers available for purchase by the stem. I can’t resist popping in anytime I’m nearby!

Treat: This ice cream shop has been on my list FOREVER and we finally made it there a few weeks ago. All of the flavors sound delicious, and the $1 mini cones mean you can try lots of them :) (P.S. Glitter Guide regrammed this photo!)

Vidrio: Easily one of the coolest restaurants I’ve been to! The design is incredibly interesting–there are so many details to admire throughout the space. We ordered a few small plates and dessert, and all were fantastic. Perfect spot for a date night or special celebration!

Driftwood Southern Kitchen: The entrées here are fine, but what I really love Driftwood for (besides the fact that it’s less than ten minutes from our house :)) is the appetizers. I’ve lost count of how many visitors we’ve brought here for the Southern cheese board, featuring house made pimento cheese, pepper jelly, bacon jam, and pickled veggies!

Taverna Agora: We have walked past this Greek restaurant literally hundreds of times (it’s on the same block as our church), but finally went in to eat a few months ago. It was such a fun, casual spot with tasty food and a fun rooftop dining area. We can’t wait to go back!

Brewery Bhavana: Let’s go ahead and file this one under “most Instagrammable place in Raleigh.” While we haven’t eaten at this brewery/dim sum restaurant/flower shop/bookstore yet, we poked around inside a few weeks ago and found both the space and the concept so inspiring.

The Cardinal: This bar/hot dog joint boasts a great view of downtown and a simple but tasty menu. A great place for a quick, inexpensive dinner.

Bonus! A Durham favorite: the rooftop bar at The Durham Hotel. If I’m out on a Saturday night, there are few places I’d rather be than a good rooftop bar, and the one at The Durham is everything I hoped it would be. Great views, delicious cocktails, and a fun, low-key atmosphere. I can’t wait to go back with Dave! (SW readers should recognize those lovely faces below :))

Raleigh friends, did I mention any of your favorites? And no matter where you’re from, I want to hear your number one favorite spot in your city in the comments so I can put them on my travel list!