New to Raleigh? Allow me to introduce you to North Hills, one of the best places in Raleigh for boutique shopping, restaurants, cafes, bars, wellness studios, entertainment and events. It’s a place you’ll find us often, and it continues to evolve for the better!
If you’ve recently moved to Raleigh or are visiting for the first time and are looking for weekend plans or a place to base yourself, this first-timers guide to North Hills highlights why we think this district just north of downtown Raleigh is one of the best destinations in Wake County!
Where is North Hills?
Raleigh’s North Hills District, also known as Midtown Raleigh, is located just five miles north of downtown Raleigh and has become one of North Carolina’s most upscale locations, and one of the most popular neighborhoods in Raleigh.
With its own exit off I-440 (exit 8B), it is easily accessible from all points in Wake County. The official address is 4321 Lassiter at North Hills Ave and no matter where you are based in the Triangle, getting here is not difficult.
Approximate drive times from prominent areas in The Triangle include:
- Downtown Raleigh: 12 minutes
- RDU International Airport: 20 minutes
- Research Triangle Park (RTP): 20 minutes
- Cary: 16 minutes
- Durham: 35 minutes
- Chapel Hill: 40 minutes
About North Hills
This multifaceted district is home to 130+ local shops, high-end boutiques, restaurants, bars, salons and spas, cinemas, a bowling alley, Farmers’ Market, indie bookstore, outdoor concerts, greenspaces, apartment living, and on-site hotels.
North Hills is a one-stop destination and a popular place to live, work, shop, dine, and stay, not just for adults, but families too with plenty of kid-friendly events and activities. And conveniences such as groceries, banks, and a pharmacy are a short stroll away.
The original North Hills Mall opened in 1960 as a strip mall, then in 1967 it was reconstructed into an enclosed mall. In 2001, Kane Realty purchased the mall site in order to create what we now know as North Hills. Reopening in 2004, it has continued to grow and evolve ever since.
North Hills is divided into four districts (split by Six Forks Rd):
- Main District
- Lassiter District
- Park District
- North Hills Innovation District (NHID)
Each of the districts are pedestrian-friendly outdoor shopping promenades. Simply park your car and everything is within short walking distance, you can even walk within districts.
Some of our favorite Raleigh restaurants are located in North Hills offering various dining styles, cuisines, and price points from the quick and casual, to the more upscale special occasion experience.
As for shopping, whether you’re looking for fashion, home decor, or gifts, there’s an impressive array of shops in North Hills from well-known brand names to unique boutique stores.
There are fun events throughout the year (listed further down) and if you visit North Hills during the holidays, it’s a lovely atmosphere with a large Christmas tree and pretty decorations.
Quick Facts:
- 3,000 apartment homes
- 500 hotel rooms
- 2 million SF of Class A office space
- 1.2 million SF of retail
- Complimentary G.E.M. vehicles
- Electric charging stations
- Composting
- Solar power
- Pedestrian-friendly walkways
- Integration with parks and greenway trails
- Accessibility for public transportation.
Below is our guide to each of the four districts, where to eat, drink, shop and play including some of our personal favorites. Plus a list of events throughout the year, parking information, and hotels.
Parking in North Hills
The great thing about North Hills in Raleigh is its walkability. Park your car once and explore on foot. And that includes walking to shops, restaurants, bars or events.
There is parking both above and below ground. Keep in mind weekends, holidays, and during event times will obviously be busier. This parking map can help you quickly find parking and shows the full list of all the parking garages at North Hills.
Plus, a new underground parking deck with 1,100 spots connected to the existing Target garage is now open in Midtown District.
Main District
Main District is on the left (west side) of Six Forks Rd and is currently undergoing a $350 million expansion project known as NHX with phased openings and will include a 12-story apartment building, NHX offices, and a Restoration Hardware. Expected completion in 2024.
Food & Drink
Here are some of our personal favorite places to eat and drink in the Main District.
Coquette Brasserie
Dreaming of visiting Paris? Coquette is a French Brasserie featuring authentic French food and French wine list. Popular dishes include the French Onion Soup, Seafood Crepe, and Profiteroles. And, their Espresso Martini is fantastic!
The BBQ Lab
The BBQ Lab is an award-winning restaurant originally out of nearby Benson. You can expect generous portions, and popular dishes include pulled pork, burnt ends, beef ribs, brisket, fried okra, and jalapeño mac and cheese.
Bartaco
Love tacos and fresh Margaritas? Bartaco is an experience to savor. Step inside for tasty Mexican food and fun vibes making you feel like you’re at a beach bar. 13 proteins to choose from plus vegetarian and vegan options, and a 100% gluten-free menu! One of our favorite spots for a date in North Hills.
Ruth’s Chris Steak House
Premium steak lovers are in luck. Ruth’s Chris is back open in Main District, and their steaks are seasoned to perfection and served sizzling on 500-degree plates. Pair your dish with the finest spirits, service, and relaxed environment.
Edible Art, Bakery & Dessert Cafe
Edible Art Bakery and Dessert Café make sweet, Southern, Scratch-made cupcakes and desserts. Try a box of four to taste test, or order one of their custom cakes made from their 100+ year old family recipe.
Ben & Jerry’s
Ice cream lovers have two great options in North Hills. In the Main District you’ve got the iconic Ben & Jerry’s (we have visited their factory in Vermont) and our kids will always be big fans!
Shopping & Retail
Copper Penny
Copper Penny specializes in clothing, shoes, jewelry and accessories and their products are curated with a Southern eye.
Liles Clothing Studio
Liles offers tailor-made clothing for men. This high-end boutique store partners with designers in New York to provide the best clothing, accessories and handmade shoes.
Kendra Scott
Kendra Scott is an American accessories brand inspired by the personal experiences, travel, and sense of community of its CEO, designer, and philanthropist Kendra Scott.
Monkee’s
Monkee’s is a ladies store known to have the finest lines in shoes, clothing and accessories. Choose from a variety of the world’s hottest designers.
REI
REI needs no introduction. They’re dedicated to outfitting its members with products from the top brands for camping, climbing, cycling, fitness, hiking, snow sports, and travel.
Paper Source
Paper Source is a unique retailer of specialty paper, custom invitations, gift wrap, and craft supplies from their collection of scrapbooking and crafting supplies.
Artsource Fine Art & Framing
Art lovers can head to Art Source Fine Art and take in the fantastic art on display. One of the premiere fine art galleries with more than 2,000 works of art from over 60 artists from the Southeast and beyond.
Regal Cinema
Regal Cinema is a state-of-the-art movie theater, offering the latest and greatest films. Regal’s policy for a Child’s ticket is age 3 to 11, and children under 3 are free except in reserved seating and recliner locations.
The Main District is also home to the big-box store, Target. And coming soon to the NHX expansion in Main District includes Restoration Hardware Gallery, a furniture gallery complete with a rooftop restaurant.
Lassiter District
The Lassiter District in on the same side of Six Forks Rd as Main District and easily accessible on foot (you could park at either).
Food & Drink
Vivace
Vivace is a contemporary restaurant serving authentic Italian cuisine with unique twists, handmade pasta, an extensive wine list, excellent kids menu, and delightful mini desserts. Upscale rustic setting with indoor and outdoor dining.
Bonefish Grill
Bonefish Grill specializes in market-fresh fish from around the world and hand-crafted cocktails. Open for lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch. Gluten-free and kids menu!
Clean Juice
Clean Juice is a locally owned juice bar specializing in cold-pressed juice cleanses, smoothies, acai bowls, small bites like avocado toast. It’s more than just a juice bar, it’s the best juice bar in North Hills.
Aladdin’s Eatery
Aladdin’s serves up healthy and flavorful Lebanese American foods with over 40 vegetarian dishes, 30 vegan dishes, 40 gluten-free dishes and 40 meat and chicken dishes (antibiotic-free).
Total Wine
Total Wine is a superstore and carries 8,000 different types of wine, and 1,000 different beers. Their wine consultants are knowledgeable and passionate about wine.
Bul Box
Bul Box offers a variety of mouth-watering signature boxes inspired by our favorite destinations, as well as a variety of customizable options to please fitness fiends and carboholics alike.
Shopping & Retail
Uniquities
Originally from Chapel Hill, Uniquities is a women’s boutique carrying contemporary designer apparel, shoes, accessories, and gifts. Denim is just one of their specialties!
Voda Boutique
Voda Boutique creates a laid-back, stylish shopping experience where customers always feel welcome. Whether shopping for brunch, date night or your next vacay, Voda offers everything you need to be the best dressed in all of your life experiences.
Gene Chandler
Gena Chandler is a sophisticated contemporary women’s apparel boutique specializing in designer denim, clothing, handbags and shoes.
La Maison & Trellis Floral
La Maison is a home boutique offering furnishings, accessories, gifts and interior design services. And Trellis is a full-service specialty floral boutique that offers beautiful and unique fresh flowers by the stem, hand-trimmed topiaries, and gorgeous custom flower arrangements.
Lamb’s Ear Childrens Clothing & Shoes
Lamb’s Ear Children’s Clothing & Shoes is the go-to shop for the perfect baby gift and timeless classics. Large selections of Noodle & Boo, Jellycat soft toys, Little Giraffe blankets, and much more!
Quail Ridge Books
Quail Ridge Books is a local independent bookshop. Founded in 1984, this bookstore provides a wide variety of carefully selected books, events, discussion groups and town hall meetings.
Learning Express Toys & Gifts
Learning Express Toys & Gifts is stocked with unique and classic toys and those that have passed the test of time. You can get personalizations and gift wrap for free!
Park District
Park District is across Six Forks Rd on the eastern side of North Hills and is a personal favorite district of mine with some of my favorite Raleigh restaurants, coffee shop, wine bar, wellness spa, and events in the park!
Food & Drink
Giorgio Pizza Bar
Giorgio Pizza Bar offers fantastic Italian food. A seasonal approach to both hand-tossed, sourdough pizzas as well as small Italian style shared plates in a cozy and stylish dining room. And of course, a great selection of Italian wines and cocktails.
Las Ramblas
Las Ramblas features Spanish sourced tapas-style dishes, plus Spanish wine, craft beer and craft cocktails. Hot tip: arrive early for a pre-dinner drink at their fantastic bar!
STIR
STIR is one of the most popular brunch spots in Raleigh. They specialize in premium local oysters and brunch classics like Deviled Eggs, Strawberry Nutella Waffles, Bloody Marys, Mimosas and made from scratch food.
CO.
CO is where you’ll find excellent Asian food. They focus on contemporary twists on staples like Pho, Noodles, Banh Mi and Dumplings. Popular dishes include their Pad Thai, Laksa, and Hanoi noodles. The portions are big, and the vibes are on point.
Jubala Coffee
Jubala is a specialty coffee shop with professionally trained baristas serving up excellent lattes and a full coffee bar menu.Plus seasonal specialties and tasty comfort food such as fluffy biscuits, and banana Nutella waffles.
Rosewater Kitchen & Bar
Rosewater Kitchen & Bar is inspired by European romance and the charming space creates one of the nicest dining spots in Midtown Raleigh. A focus on food from local gardeners, farmers, fishermen, and foragers, plus unique cocktails and local NC craft beer.
Vita Vite Wine Bar
Vita Vite is a local wine bar/art gallery. The name comes from the Italian words for “life” and “vine” with the idea that life revolves around wine and food, and bringing people together. If you love quality wines, grab a seat on a plush armchair, at the bar, or outside on the balcony.
Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar
Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar is a popular spot to grab lunch or go for a night out for dinner. Cowfish offers an array of fresh, hand-crafted sushi, plus burgers and milkshakes with brightly colored walls and original pop art adding to a fun vibe!
Level7 Rooftop Bar
Level7 Rooftop Bar is at the top of the AC Hotel. A European inspired and sophisticated bar and cocktail lounge specializing in craft cocktails, small batch brews, wines, and small bites. When the weather is nice, the outdoor patio offers stunning views out over Midtown.
Kings Dining & Entertainment
Kings is an upscale bowling lounge. A fun place for families during the day, and couples in the evening. There’s a gaming area with pool (billiards), ping pong tables, foosball, and dart boards. Decent selection of food with burgers, wings, pizza, and tacos.
Shopping & Retail
Woodhouse Spa
Woodhouse Spa is the place to go for everyday luxury and resort-style spa treatments including Facials, Body treatment, Salt Therapy, Infrared sauna, and of course various massages.
Flour Power Cooking Class
Flour Power Studios offer cooking classes for kids including their popular Friday night Kid’s Night Out program. They do themed weekly classes for preschool to teens with a focus on hands-on kids cooking class sessions, plus summer and school break camps, and adult cooking classes!
Midtown Yoga
Midtown Yoga offers an elevated hot yoga experience for all levels. They make the practice of yoga approachable so that YOU can access the physical and mental benefits of yoga in your everyday life. Check out their new client special, 10 days for unlimited classes for $25 or a 10 class pack.
iCRYO
iCRYO offers whole body cryotherapy, compression therapy, infrared sauna, cryo facials, body sculpting, and IV Infusions.
Midtown Park
Midtown Park is an outdoor gathering place in the heart of the Park District. The space is surrounded by apartments and retailers, and hosts several of the annual events in North Hills (see events section down below), as well as being a popular green space for the community to enjoy.
North Hills Innovation District (NHID)
The newest district, North Hills Innovation District (NHID) is a place where technology, life sciences, and entrepreneurship collide with natural open spaces.
NHID will offer open natural areas including outdoor working spaces and walking trails, and a walkable ground level experience with retail and food and beverage options that are a hub for meeting and celebrating. Plus a plethora of parking and bike/pedestrian connections.
Retail + Entrepreneurs
The NHID is within walking distance of Park District and consists of micro-retail spaces, it includes Makers Alley, a hub and alley way for hyperlocal businesses owners and creators to show off their products and services on a walkable ground level.
In Makers Alley you can shop from the following local stores:
- Designed For Joy – provides women in crisis with stability through immediate employment and support. They sell amazing handbags and jewelry.
- Green Rabbit – house plants and planters designed for home living.
- Hellbent – curated boutique clothing, accessories and lifestyle collections.
- Amelia’s Flowers – flower arrangements, greeting cards and gifts.
- Balloonz – Balloon installs, boutique party goods & fashion for teens and tweens.
- Ky’s Kandles – luxury, refillable candles hand poured in NC.
- Bofémme – quality and unique jewelry.
- Dose Yoga + Smoothie Bar – hot yoga and healthy smoothies.
HomeTurf – indoor cycling experience revolving around community, connection, movement, and music by Julie Ferrer. HomeTurf will set up shop in Tower 5. See all retailers.
Food + Beverage
Standard Beer + Food, a locally-owned and operated restaurant and brewery, will occupy one of two standalone food and beverage buildings with a large dedicated outdoor dining space. Standard takes pride in its locally sourced menu to harmonize with their signature brews.
Residential + Office Space
The 33-acre district will house two high-rise Class A office towers totaling 700,000 SF and four residential buildings totaling 1,500 apartments.
Strategically positioned 17 stories high on Raleigh’s Interstate 440, Tower 5 will have immediate access to both active urban and natural spaces.
Designed to cater to forward-thinking workers, Tower 5 will offer 300,000+ SF of rentable office space, thoughtful common areas, integrated parking, and 60,000 SF of ground-level experiences. Due to open summer of 2024.
The four Districts at North Hills combined truly offer endless choices to shop, dine, play, live, work and stay. See the full directory of services here. They also have an interactive map.
Events at North Hills
Throughout the year North Hills hosts several fun events for all ages and interests. Put the below events in your calendar so you don’t miss the fun!
Midtown Farmers’ Market
Each Saturday morning from mid April to early November, head to the vibrant farmers market located on the Commons in the Main District of North Hills from 8am – noon. You’ll find local farmers, crafters, and creators from around the region selling a variety of locally grown produce and goods.
- Dates: April-November
- Location: Main District
- Times: 8am-noon
- Website: MidtownFarmers.com
Midtown Beach Music Series
Make your way to North Hills on a Thursday night from mid-April towards the end of June for the popular Midtown Beach Music Series in Midtown Park featuring Beach Music, Motown, Oldies, R&B and more!
- Dates: April – June
- Times: 6pm-9pm
- Location: Midtown Park
- Cost: $5
- Website
Pop Up Music
In the Commons and Midtown Park, Pop Up Music is an initiative intended to provide background ambiance. These events will be a surprise and delight for guests as they shop, dine, live, and explore the property. A total of 20 acoustic music events, showcasing a variety of genres from artists local to the area.
- Dates: April-June
- Times & Location:
- Fridays in The Commons (6pm-9pm)
- Sundays in Midtown Park (2pm-5pm)
Wellness Wednesdays
During Spring and Fall, Wellness Wednesdays is a series consisting of fitness opportunities. Each session is made up of an evening class on the grass in Midtown Park on a Wednesday evening from 6pm-7pm.
They do different types of workouts each week for $5 per session. Caroline enjoyed her outdoor yoga session hosted by Midtown Yoga. This Wellness series welcomes participants of all ages and fitness levels.
- Cost: $5
- Tickets & schedule
North Hills Kids Series
This is a summer series for kids from June-August in Midtown Park. This is a series of fun-filled events that provide an opportunity for children to come together to learn, exercise, and socialize in an outdoor environment.
- Dates: Every 3rd Tuesday in June, July, and August
- Time: 9:30am – 11am
- Location: Midtown Park.
- Website
Winter Market
A mini market version of the above farmers market with produce, the winter market features seafood, meats, and baked goods. Each Saturday in the Commons, November to April, from 10am-noon.
Christmas at North Hills
Don’t miss the annual Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration in North Hills. It is a beloved holiday event for our family. The holiday program features live entertainment, kids crafts, and a vendor village. As Santa Claus arrives, the 41 foot Christmas Tree is lit amidst a joyous chorus of “Santa Clause Is Coming to Town.
- Dates: November 24 (2004)
- Time: 4pm-7pm
- Location: The Commons in Main District
Sip & Stroll
North Hills has a Sip & Stroll program, meaning you can sip on an adult beverage as you stroll. Beverages must come in an approved 16 oz clear plastic cup with the required labels. And beverages must stay within the approved outdoor consumption area shown on the Sip & Stroll map.
Hotels in North Hills
You can stay the night, or longer, at one of three North Hills Hotels on-site. Even though we live 20-minutes from North Hills, we’ve previously enjoyed a staycation and being within walking distance to all the shopping, restaurants and activities.
AC Hotel by Marriott
Located in Park District, the AC Hotel by Marriott makes for the perfect base for couples, families, groups of friends and business travelers.
This hotel features a timeless European design, the lobby is sleek and spacious with a small shop stocked with necessities, and on the top you have the Level7 rooftop lounge.
- Address: 101 Park at N Hills St, Raleigh
- Website: Marriott.com
Renaissance Raleigh Hotel
This four-star hotel is in the heart of the Main District. The Renaissance offers valet parking and valet dry-cleaning service, gym access and a European-style spa.
There’s an on-site restaurant and bar, but you’re steps away from great restaurants such as Bartaco, Coquette, and BBQ Lab. Plus all the boutique and specialty shops are within a short walk.
- Address: 4100 Main at North Hills St, Raleigh
- Website: Booking.com
Hyatt House
Located in Park District, Hyatt House is an alternative to a typical hotel. There are separate spaces that allow you to live like you might in your own home.
The suites offer full kitchens, living rooms, spacious bedrooms and stylish bathrooms. The outdoor pool, fire pit and fitness center provide relaxation and a healthy lifestyle while away from home.
- Address: 160 Park at N Hills St, Raleigh
- Website: Booking.com
In Summary
As you can see, North Hills has become the ultimate destination in Raleigh, with exciting new offerings still to come. I hope this first-timers guide has opened your eyes to everything it has to offer.
Whether you’re looking for a new restaurant to try, a new outfit to buy, or to entertain yourself or your kids, you can find it all here! Check out the official website to learn more.
