Downtown / Fayetteville Street
A day on Fayetteville Street
Coffee at seven, lunch on a corner, and a table worth changing your shirt for.
By The OnlyInRaleigh Editors
5 stops
Tue–Sat. The Capitol is closed Sundays; the museum is closed Mondays.
Photo: Raskuly, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Fayetteville Street runs south from the State Capitol, finished in 1840, to the performing arts center. In between are the holiday parade route, the Hopscotch festival stages and a lot of downtown’s lunch. In 1977 the city closed it to cars and made it a pedestrian mall. That didn’t work, and in 2006 the cars came back. The blocks in between were listed as a National Register historic district in 2008. Raleigh’s first skyscraper, an 1874 hardware store, still stands at number 220. This list walks the street in one day, from the first coffee to the last table.
Before you go
5 stops, in order through the day
When to go
Tue–Sat. The Capitol is closed Sundays; the museum is closed Mondays.
Morning ·
From 7am
Evening ·
From 5pm weekdays
The Day
01
Morning
Sir Walter Coffee + Kitchen
Coffee
02
Morning
North Carolina State Capitol
Landmarks
03
Morning
City of Raleigh Museum
Museums
04
Midday
Brewery Bhavana
Restaurants
05
Evening
The Willard Rooftop Lounge
Bars & Nightlife
Morning
·
From 7am
01
Coffee
Downtown / Fayetteville Street
A coffee bar and kitchen at 555 Fayetteville Street, near the south end of the street.
555 Fayetteville St Ste 110, Raleigh, NC 27601
Sun 7am–5pm
Mon–Sat 7am–7pm
Photo: Sir Walter Coffee + Kitchen
Morning
·
Opens 9am weekdays, 10am Sat
02
Landmarks
Downtown / Fayetteville Street
Fayetteville Street starts at this door. The Capitol opened in 1840 and has been the seat of state government ever since. It once held the governor’s office, the Supreme Court and the chambers of the General Assembly. It is a National Historic Landmark, built in the Greek Revival style, and a statue of George Washington stands in the rotunda. Self-guided visits are free during open hours. Free guided tours run Saturdays at 11, 1 and 3, with no reservation needed. The grounds are under sidewalk repair, so watch your footing.
1 E Edenton St, Raleigh, NC 27601
Mon–Fri 9am–5pm
Sat 10am–5pm
Closed Sun and state holidays
Photo: DiscoA340, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Morning
·
Until 4pm
03
Museums
Downtown / Fayetteville Street
The Briggs Hardware Building went up in 1874 and is generally counted as Raleigh’s first skyscraper. Its first and lower levels are now the City of Raleigh Museum. The original storefront, hardwood floors and pressed-tin ceiling are still in place. Exhibits rotate and cover the city’s people, places and history, from its founding as the state capital to now. Admission is free, with a suggested $5 donation for adults. Open Tuesday to Saturday 9 to 4, and Sunday 1 to 4. Closed Mondays.
220 Fayetteville St, Raleigh, NC 27601
Tue–Sat 9am–4pm
Sun 1pm–4pm
Photo: City of Raleigh Museum
Midday
·
From 11:30am
04
Restaurants
Seaboard & Person Street
A brewery and restaurant on South Blount Street, two blocks east of Fayetteville Street.
218 S Blount Street, Raleigh, NC
Mon–Thu 11:30am–10pm
Fri–Sat 11:30am–11pm
Sun 11:30am–9pm
Photo: Brewery Bhavana
Evening
·
From 5pm weekdays
05
Bars & Nightlife
Glenwood South
A rooftop lounge at 9 Glenwood Avenue, about a 10-minute walk west of the Capitol along Hillsborough Street.
9 Glenwood Ave, Raleigh, NC 27603
Mon–Thu 5pm–11pm
Fri 4pm–midnight
Sat noon–midnight
Sun noon–9pm
Photo: The Willard Rooftop Lounge