Your votes are in. Congratulations to all of the RALtoday’s Best nominees. We’re excited to announce our roundup of local winners who truly shine and make Raleigh a better place to live. From high-level dining experiences and accommodations to places to hang with your friends — here are your top choices in each of our categories.
🍸 Adult Crowd (21+)
Amazing drinks, delicious food options, a vibrant social atmosphere — all of these make for a great place for locals to have a good time.
- First place: Watts & Ward
- Runners Up: Whiskey Kitchen and Dram & Draught
🧸 Kid-Friendly Activities/Venues
Raleigh is a fun hub for the littles in your family to explore, engage, and make childhood memories.
- First place: Marbles Kids Museum
- Runners Up: North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences and Howling Cow Dairy Education Center and Creamery
🎉 Venues for Family
Ditch staying at home for something new. Across Raleigh, there are plenty of fantastic activities to take your whole family for a fun outing with light bites and nature walks.
- First place: North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
- Runners Up: Pullen Park and North Carolina Museum of Art
🐾 Pet-Friendly Places
Did some-pawdy say bon-a-pet-treat? Raleigh has purr-fect hot spots for you to bring your BFFs — best furry friends — to stroll around + enjoy.
- First place: Sola Coffee Cafe
- Runners Up: Boxcar Bar + Arcade and West Street Dog
🥞 Brunch
When you’re ready for the avocado toast and mimosas, Raleigh’s variety of brunch spots are ever-growing with delicious cuisine options + morning libations.
- First place: Benchwarmers Bagels
- Runners Up: PRESS Coffee Crêpes Cocktails and St. Roch Fine Oysters + Bar
🍽️ Outdoor Dining
Between patios and rooftop bars, our town adds a charming twist to going out to eat.
- First place: Taverna Agora
- Runners Up: Wye Hill Kitchen & Brewing and Hummingbird
🎵 Music/Event Venues
Supporting local music has never been easier with Raleigh’s music halls and event spaces.
- First place: Red Hat Amphitheater
- Runners Up: PNC Arena and The Ritz
🍻 Brewery/Distillery
Ale you need is love? More like a fresh pint. RAL is home to some of the most creative distilleries and historic breweries in the area.
- First place: Trophy Brewing & Pizza
- Runners Up: Raleigh Beer Garden and Wye Hill Kitchen & Brewing
☕ Coffee Shop
Full steam ahead: The coffee shops in Raleigh are not your average joes.
- First place: Jubala Coffee
- Runners Up: Sola Coffee Cafe and Morning Times
⛳ Golf Course
You spilled the tee to us and let us know there’s quite a few incredible courses to check out locally for an afternoon of golf.
- First place: Lonnie Poole Golf Course
- Runners Up: Topgolf and North Ridge Country Club
🏠 Apartment Complex
From amenities like pools and tennis courts to varying floor plans, where you live is so important.
- First place: 400H Apartments
- Runners Up: The Dillon Downtown Apartments and Vine North Hills
🏋️ Fitness Center/Gym
Beyond the yoga classes and CrossFit gyms, fitness is all about the community you find, paired with your favorite workout styles.
- First place: A.E. Finley YMCA
- Runners Up: Life Time and O2 Fitness Raleigh - Seaboard Station
🍲 Restaurant
Raleigh knows how to eat. From creamy risotto to upscale barbecue, the restaurant scene exudes diversity, high quality, and memorable ambiance.
- First place: Stanbury
- Runners Up: Figulina and Angus Barn
📍 Staycation Location
Time to relax and recharge? Raleigh’s list of fun accommodations are worth booking for your next local vacation.
- First place: The Umstead Hotel and Spa
- Runners Up: The Longleaf Hotel & Lounge and JC Raulston Arboretum
🖥️ Home Service Provider
Whether it be plumbing, tree care, HVAC, car repair — you name it — RAL has some of the best and most reliable service providers.
- First place: Baker Roofing Company
- Runners Up: Air Experts Heating & Cooling and Oak City Car Care
💅 Salon/Spa/Wellness
Putting the ahhh in spa day, Raleigh’s most relaxing spots include salons, spas, and wellness centers that give you access to some of the best quality experiences.
- First place: Blue Water Spa
- Runners Up: FACE FOUNDRIÉ - Cary and Hush Hair Lash Brow
🏠 Real Estate Agent/Group
It’s all about location, location, location — in The City of Oaks. Your local realty groups are ready to connect you to your dream home, and you let us know who’s the best at matching you to the perfect property.
- First place: COMPASS | Raleigh
- Runners Up: Taylor Oldham Residential and The Coley Group
🧒 Childcare
While raising your family in and around RAL, you can’t do it without the help of your amazing local childcare providers.
- First place: La Petite Academy of Raleigh - Six Forks
- Runners Up: Primrose School of North Raleigh and Stonehenge KinderCare
🛣️ Road Trip Destination
Whether you’re looking for a picture-worthy spot or your next adventurous experience, Raleigh’s road trip destinations create vibrant memories for your local vacay.
- First place: Wilmington Beach
- Runners Up: Outer Banks and North Carolina Zoo
🧑💼 Coworking Location
It’s always fun when you get to work with other professionals in a coworking space, and Raleigh has the best spots for you to knock out your projects.
- First place: The Commons
- Runners Up: The Loading Dock — Dock 1053 and Frontier RTP
♻️ Community Impact Brand
Lending a helping hand to others and providing things like nourishing meals for impoverished families is a great way to give back to your community. There are amazing organizations throughout RAL that provide you with these opportunities.
- First place: A Place at the Table
- Runners Up: 321 Coffee and Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina
