Picture a jazz lounge mixed with a dimly-lit retro diner, complete with red leather banquettes and a handwritten chalkboard menu. That’s Poole’s Diner, and it’s one of the best and most famous restaurants in Raleigh. Grab one of those booths for a double date or to impress the in-laws, and always order the gooey macaroni au gratin and any iteration of the restaurant’s steamed mussels. The entrees really set Poole’s apart, including dishes like a roasted snapper with summer squash.

Vidrio’s dining room gives off strong oil tycoon vibes, with soaring ceilings and a smaller bar overlooking the street, but this Mediterranean restaurant isn’t all show. The menu might read kind of generic—there’s roasted chicken, hangar steak, and seared salmon—but everything is expertly executed. The skillet cornbread with truffle butter will make you wonder why you ever settled for boxed, and seasonal specials like lamb tagine or baklava are worth trying if you spot them.

Practically all of Raleigh rejoiced when St. Roch reopened after a kitchen fire gutted much of their small space downtown. The New Orleans-inspired restaurant now has custom seafoam wallpaper featuring Louis Armstrong and Mississippi paddle boats on the walls, and flavorful alligator bolognese with sweet potato gnocchi and massive fluffy beignets on the menu. Come here with a big group for a Happy Hour filled with painkillers, hurricanes, and a bunch of North Carolina oysters.

If you’re looking to impress a date, take them to Cortez, a seafood hot spot that serves gambas al ajillo, North Carolina snapper ceviche, and al pastor-marinated tuna tacos with street corn. The drink menu also features standouts like the Dreamcatcher cocktail with cachaca, gin, pineapple, hibiscus, and mint, and a great South America-heavy wine list. The vine-covered patio out front, which feels like somewhere you might see celebrities in LA, only adds to the romantic atmosphere.

If there’s one place in Raleigh to come for a quick bite or fresh baked goods, it’s Union Special. They cover the basics, like a BLT, turkey melt, or egg sandwich, without actually being basic. A grilled cheese might come with kale pesto, fontina, and pepper jelly or a BLT might sub out mayo for chow chow aioli. This place also works for a quick working lunch or some grab-and-go treats, like a chocolate croissant or a vegan thumbprint cookie.

Wye Hill might have "Brewing" in the name, but this place feels more like a restaurant than anything else. You’ll find dishes ranging from a hearty shakshuka with focaccia and a falafel waffle with beet hummus at brunch, to a bistro filet steak au poivre with broccolini or pan-seared salmon with hominy and pea purée for dinner. The restaurant’s airy patio looking east across Raleigh’s skyline is perfect for a romantic dinner, a breezy brunch, or for just sitting outside and day drinking.

Good luck getting a Salty Chipwich Ice Cream Sandwich. It’s hard enough to get a late-night seat at this dessert and cocktail bar on weekends, but Bittersweet’s ice cream cookie sandwich is so popular that they’re limited to one per customer and typically run out. If you show up and they're gone, there’s no need to stress—the list of desserts here is long, with hits like lemon lavender crème brûlée, derby pie, and a spin on the childhood classic Dirt & Worms.

Raleigh’s first downtown distillery comes from the team behind Trophy Brewing and State of Beer and is split into several spaces, ranging from a covered upstairs patio ideal for a quieter dinner date to the street-level bar perfect for an afternoon hang with friends. Young Hearts specializes in clear spirits including one made out of agave that’s similar to a tequila and a lemongrass, lavender, and elderflower gin, and the food is truly excellent.

With its selection of several hundred whiskeys, Dram & Draught is one of the city’s best cocktail bars. Since opening in 2016, this neighborhood spot has been whispered about like a cult movie for its classic and seasonal cocktails. Cap any night out downtown, by snagging a seat at the crowded bar to enjoy their signature Old Fashioned with barrel-aged bourbon, a PBR boilermaker special, or even a more elaborate cocktail like the Candy Crush White Mai Tai with cognac, pineapple rum, and Curaçao.