Wow. The restaurant scene in North Hills sure does not disappoint. This trendy district, located just five miles north of downtown Raleigh, is well known for its shopping, entertainment, and events, but it’s also a go-to place to sample some of Raleigh’s best culinary delights.
It’s not just North Carolinian and Southern cuisine you find here though. What makes North Hills’ restaurants worth checking out is that there is a cuisine from all corners of the world, offering diners a chance to satisfy any craving. From Mexican to French, Indian, Greek, Italian, Japanese and Southern American, no matter what your taste buds are salivating over, you can find it here. To help you find a restaurant in North Hills that gets your stomach rumbling, here are our favorite gems!
Best North Hills Restaurants
Sixty Vines
- Address: 4000 Center at North Hills
- Website: sixtyvines.com
My favorite restaurant in Raleigh, now with a rooftop patio Run, don’t walk. This is your sign to reserve that table on the new patio at Sixty Vines in North Hills. Sixty Vines was my most exciting new restaurant in Raleigh last year, and this patio has elevated it to new heights, like rooftop heights. Exceptional design. Exceptional views. Exceptional food. Exceptional wine. Exceptional (and happy) service.
This is not just about the patio though, as much as it is the headline. Downstairs is also beautifully designed, with an open kitchen so you can watch the chefs cook your meal. The food story is the same throughout. Delicious, plenty of gluten free and vegetarian options, locally sourced produce where possible, and the kind of attention to detail that keeps showing up across the meal.
I love that Sixty Vines is sustainability-forward, with 60 wines on tap and prices that are actually affordable for the experience. At $24, their pork chop is as good as, if not better than, others I’ve had in the $35 to $45 range. Shane is the most joyful bartender in Raleigh. He remembered the chardonnay I liked from our first visit months ago, when I did not even remember. And Veronica is a fantastic server. It’s my favorite restaurant in Raleigh and reminds me a lot of Australia. I’m sure this patio will be calling me all summer long.
A few highly recommended dishes from us: the pork chop, wood-grilled shrimp, bacon wrapped dates, truffle fries, brussels sprouts, fried chicken (gluten free) and their Centerpiece Old Fashioned for two. Seems like a steep price at first for $36, but Craig and I got almost two drinks each out of it, so that pours into a good deal – and it was good.
Coquette Brasserie
- Address: 4351 The Cir At N Hills St
- Website: CoquetteRaleigh.com
Let’s stay in France with a wonderful meal at Coquette, a true French Brasserie and one of our favorite date spots in North Hills. It has a classic bistro design with tiled floors, dark wood, marble table tops and an impressive zinc bar. A meal at Coquette Brasserie must begin à la française with a charcuterie board (enough for two), followed by Escargot. If you don’t have a few French terms down just yet, now you will. Escargot is French for cooked land snails.
If you insist on skipping the food adventure this time round, their French Onion Soup (lunch menu only) is said to be fantastic, and their croquettes are another house favorite. I highly recommend the Crepes on the Sunday Brunch menu, and for dessert their mini-desserts like Profiteroles or Macarons are delectable.
Featuring authentic French food, an all-French wine list, classic French cocktails and Belgian beers on draft, dinner (or lunch/brunch) at Coquette is a lovely dining experience with warm and attentive staff. You’ll feel like you’re in a Parisian Cafe. To learn more, read our full review of Coquette Brasserie.
Rosewater Kitchen & Bar
- Address: 110 Park at N Hills St
- Website: rosewaterraleigh.com
I fell in love with Rosewater as soon as I walked into their European chic garden room decorated with flower bouquets and shelves of pot plants all leading out to a beautiful patio. Am I in Paris? My travel soul was happy indulging on brunch in this Midtown restaurant inspired by European romance. Rosewater, Raleigh, is a restaurant by Giorgios Bakatsias, the Southeast’s most prolific and visionary restaurateur. It has undoubtedly become one of the best places in Raleigh for brunch!
While it feels like you’re on another continent, the focus here is on LOCAL with food sourced from local gardeners, farmers, fishermen, and foragers, plus unique cocktails and local NC craft beer. Each dish is flavorful and well presented. The Chicken Fried Pork Chop is amazing (smoked marrow red eye gravy, sunny side up eggs, preserved lemon), and the kids will be blown away by the GIANT Cinnamon Bun (brown sugar, cream cheese frosting).
Other brunch favorites include steak and eggs, crab cakes, eggs your style, and fine herb omelet. And of course, Bloody Mary’s and Mimosa’s – and mocktails for the kids! The octopus appetizer also gets a lot of chatter about from past patrons. They also do a wide selection of craft cocktails to wash it all down with. The Rosewater Martini is delicious!
If you don’t get seated in the inviting garden room, Rosewater is another of the restaurants at North Hills in Raleigh with a fabulous patio area. We recently enjoyed a fantastic spring dinner! We highly recommend the grilled branzino, served whole with salsa verde, charred lemon, calabrian chili and zest for dinner or lunch. Also open for lunch on Saturdays, and dinner Tuesday-Saturday. Reservations recommended.
Tamasha
- Address: 4200 Six Forks Rd
- Website: tamashanc.com
Tamasha is an award winning, upscale Indian restaurant. The name in Hindi translates to “a grand performance,” which is exactly what you can expect here. Everything from the decor to the show-stopping food styling oozes elegance and craftsmanship. Speaking of craftsmanship, the interiors are incredibly striking. With warm earthy tones and hanging art installations, it feels like dining in an art gallery. In fact, it was voted one of the top 50 most beautiful restaurants in the USA by People Magazine. The wow-factor doesn’t just extend to the decor though; the food is exceptional.
Steered by Executive Chef Bhavin Chhatwani, every dish has been created with care and passion. The lamb shank (dum ki nalli gosht) and the butter chicken are to die for! In 2025, it was a semifinalist in the James Beard Foundation awards.
Village Tavern
- Address: 4140 Lassiter Mill Rd
- Website: villagetavern.com
Hailing from Winston-Salem, the Village Tavern makes its way to Raleigh in our beloved North Hills neighborhood. This warming upscale yet casual restaurant is all about good food, and even better prices. We love the plush seating and lattice flooring, which feels very European. Grab a seat at the bar if you can, it’s the place to sit to watch the buzz of this place. Craig ate here when it just opened and loved his meal of fried calamari, steak, and chocolate cake for dessert.
People rave about the spring rolls and the crab dip, which taste fresh and leave you feeling full and satisfied. Be sure to finish it all off with the warm butter cake!
The girls and I have only had brunch here so far and we loved it. Highlights were their shrimp and grits and chicken waffles! Next, we want to enjoy dinner or lunch here outside on their lovely patio.
Foxcroft Food & Wine
- Address: 4421 Six Forks Rd, Raleigh
- Website: www.Foxcroftwine.com
A great Modern American option in North Hills is Foxcroft Wine, a wine bar and shop, which we especially love for its patio. The inside is surprisingly spacious, with lots of seating. They have small plates and tapas style food, and their wine selection is excellent, making it an ideal spot for a date night or a light dinner with friends.
Excellent flat breads, salads, and a great burger. If you’re a fan of desserts, you won’t be disappointed here. The creme brulee with the chocolate surprise at the bottom is easily the best creme brulee in Raleigh. We also highly recommend looking on the website for events, especially the wine and dinner nights. We attended the Columbia Valley Washington Wine Night, which was awesome. They created dishes that pair with the wines of the region.
STIR
- Address: 4242 Six Forks Rd Ste 100
- Website: StirRaleigh.com
Premium oysters, craft cocktails, and deviled eggs? Yes Please! STIR is one of the popular brunch spots in Raleigh with outdoor seating who offer signature drinks and dishes with a Southern twist. We loved its open-air concept and large outdoor patio. We visited for a Sunday family brunch and experienced a buzzing atmosphere with a diverse crowd. Service was also exceptional.
You’ll find brunch classics like bloody marys, mimosas, craft cocktails and their made from scratch food using the finest produce, meats, and seasonal ingredients (sourced locally whenever possible.) I recommend experiencing one of their craft mimosas, as they blend their own syrups and bitters for unique flavors such as strawberry basil and honey peach. You’ll also find them in their craft cocktail creations, which feature artisanal ice made in-house cut to various shapes and sizes for their popular cocktails.
To start with, order the deviled eggs, with its selection of four different creamy flavors – classic, pimento cheese, bacon, avocado – and then a serving of mixed oysters from their signature raw bar.
We followed up with the following meals: Shrimp and Crab Benedicts and a Baja Omelette, whilst our kids are fans of their housemade malted waffles with whipped butter. Brunch is the main event on Saturday and Sunday, but they also serve lunch and dinner daily!
Giorgio Pizza Bar
- Website: giorgiopizzabar.com
- Address: 141 Park at N Hills
Dreaming of visiting Italy? Get a taste of Italy right here at the Giorgio Pizza Bar, another restaurant by Giorgios Bakatsias and dine on delightful pizzas and pastas with accompanying Italian wines. Whether it’s a romantic dinner for two, or as a family dining spot in North Hills. The pizzas and pastas have big portion sizes – definitely big enough to share! Our kids absolutely loved their four-cheese pizza (Quattro Formaggio) and the Tre Pepperoni, and of course their desserts!
If anyone is gluten free, they have excellent cauliflower crust pizza bases, and of course a great selection of Italian wines and cocktails for pairing with all their dishes. Giorgio offers a local, seasonal approach to both hand-tossed, crispy, sourdough pizzas and other regional pizza styles, as well as small Italian style shared plates, and is now one of our favorite North Hills restaurants!
NOTE: If dining as a family, lunch is recommended here during weekends as weekend dinners tend to lend more to “date night” and would not highlight the same elements that a family forward service would. You can enjoy your meal in the cozy and stylish dining room, or for a more casual experience on their colorful outdoor patio. Read our full review of Giorgia Pizza Bar here.
Bartaco
- Address: 4121 Main at North Hills
- Website: Bartaco.com
Tacos are the specialty of this upscale street food Mexican restaurant in North Hills. It has a fresh squeezed and shaken cocktails, and a fun vibe that will leave you wondering just which beach culture you’ve stepped into – is it the Carolina Coast, Florida, Mexica or South America? The upbeat and friendly global ambiance is complemented by flavor combinations from a variety of cultures such as Asian, Spanish, Mediterranean, Mexican and Southern California.
There are 15 fillings to choose from, with their most popular being the glazed pork belly, which has a spicy arbol sauce you now want to put on all the things! And, in keeping with being a place for all – cauliflower, mushrooms, and chickpea will march on in for our vegan friends! Choose between corn tortilla or a bibb lettuce shell for a healthier option. But to start, don’t miss their creamy guacamole, which is seriously fresh and delicious, plus my favorite has to be from the ‘not-taco” taco menu and a quesadilla dish I am now calling Absolutely Sensational. Oh, and the plantains are addictive!
If you’re not looking for tacos, their rice bowls are also hearty and filling, and they also do some lovely, refreshing salads. For seafood lovers, the tuna poke or ceviche are perfect for a summer’s day in Raleigh. Let’s not forget, you can wash all that down with refreshing Margaritas – I suggest their spicy Mezcal Margarita. Otherwise their sedate traditional margarita is great too. Anyway you like it, they have it.
If you are looking for bars in North Hills, you’ll notice that a sprawling bar sits at the center of the restaurant and is a hive of activity as patrons sit and laugh with bartenders shaking their cocktails (open till midnight on Fridays and Saturdays). Parents of children and dogs will be happy to know, this establishment is very kid-friendly and dog-friendly. Note that this is a cashless restaurant so bring cards. You can read more about Bartaco in our complete review here.
Vivace Raleigh
- Address: 4209 Lassiter Mill Rd
- Website: VivaceRaleigh.com
Who said you can’t get good Italian in Raleigh? Vivace serves up authentic Italian cuisine with unique twists, handmade pasta, an extensive wine list, excellent kids’ menu, and delightful mini desserts. All this in an upscale rustic setting with dining offered indoors and on their lovely patio during the warmer months. Plus, they have signature cocktails and a solid beer selection.
It’s safe to say we overindulged on their popular dishes of Meatball Spaghetti, Bolognese Pappardelle, Crispy Brussel Sprouts, and Steamed Prince Edward Isle Mussels. I loved their mini desserts – enough deliciousness to fit in a full stomach and satisfy the sweet tooth without being caked in guilt. The tiramisu is absolutely exceptional. If you are looking for semi-upscale North Hills restaurants where you can dress up or dress down with courteous service and a lovely ambiance, Vivace is your kind of place
Cucciolo Terrazza
- Address: 4200 Six Forks Rd
- Website: cuccioloraleigh.com
The family-owned Cucciolo Terrazza is the sister restaurant to the Cucciolo Osteria in Durham, and offers innovative and unique Italian dishes. The vibe is trendy, but also casual and welcoming. You could easily feel at home in your best dress, or in jeans and a t-shirt. Whatever you feel comfortable in. The menu is seasonal, using ingredients that are in season. It’s more of a pasta focused Italian restuarant rather than pizza – the most popular dish here is the wild boar agnolotti, which leaves no one disappointed.
For the vegetarians, the spicy vodka tomato cream rigatoni is a unique dish that hits the spot. Our daughter Kalyra loved that one! I loved their octpus for starter and Savannah fell in love with their Tiramasu!
True Food Kitchen
- Address: 4104 Center at North Hills St
- Website: truefoodkitchen.com
If you’re looking for healthy food options, then you don’t need to look further than True Food Kitchen – they are the only restaurant in Raleigh that creates dishes fundamentally based on science, designed to increase the longevity of our people and planet. We love their commitment to healthy eating and always cook with organic ingredients, and they use no seed oils. They also have plenty of gluten free options.
We’re also big fans of their cocktails, which just like the food, are made with fresh ingredients and no added junk! They make excellent pizza, and for vegetarians, try the edamame dumplings – they are divine!
Barking Dog
- Address: 201 Park at Park District
- Website: barkingdognyc.com
Dog-friendly NYC import. They have a puppy menu. We enjoyed a great breakfast at the new Barking Dog in North Hills. Originally out of NYC, this is their first location in North Carolina, and the whole place leans fully into its name. This is a dog-friendly restaurant and bar, where your furry companions can dine outside with you on the lovely patio. They even have a puppy menu. Service dogs are welcomed inside. Breakfast and brunch run from 8am to 4pm, then dinner is on until 10pm.
We ordered the Southern Croque Madame (cheesy sourdough toast, sausage gravy, smoked ham, Dijon mustard, fried eggs) and the Chef’s Special Omelet with goat cheese, spinach, mushrooms, and chorizo sausage. Both were excellent. The wider menu also covers burgers, benedicts, sandwiches, pancakes, waffles, and salads, so you can come back for any meal and find something new. A few small details that made me smile. The doggie wallpaper in the bathrooms. The dog paintings and decor scattered around the bar. The whole place commits to the theme without overdoing it.
Good Graces
- Address: 540 St Albans Dr
- Website: goodgracesraleigh.com
A relatively new dinner option in North Hills. Good Graces is relaxed, welcoming, and quietly buzzing with life, friends popping in for wine plus a bite to eat after yoga next door, and that easy “everyone belongs here” energy we love. The dinner menu leans into light bites, fresh salads, pimento cheeseburger, and their famous chicken salad sandwiches — with plans to evolve, so definitely watch this space.
Even better? Every Thursday brings a new pasta dish to the lineup. We tried the giant cheese & ricotta gnocchi (00 flour, tightly wound) with a prosciutto + beef bolognese, finished in a creamy parmesan sauce — rich, comforting, and full of depth. One of those plates you keep thinking about. Don’t skip the charcuterie board (more than enough for two) paired with an Italian red. And the fried Brussels sprouts? Easily among the best we’ve had in Raleigh. This is the kind of gathering spot you’ll want to make part of your routine.
Velvet Tacos
- Address: 4208 Six Forks, Raleigh
- Website: www.velvettaco.com
We recently had lunch at the new taco spot in North Hills, Velvet Taco, and enjoyed their unique creations. Popular choices are the Bacon Smash Burger (tasted just like a burger), Slow-Roasted Angus Brisket, and Grilled Salmon (cooked perfectly), chicken & waffle, and quesa birria. NOTE: Gluten-free taco options available.
We really liked the Red curry coconut queso (GF), definitely check that out. Not the cheapest tacos around, but they are BIG and 2 tacos and queso and chips were super filling! They also have bowls and a kids menu. Nice outdoor patio area to enjoy the warm weather. Indoor seating also. And yes, they have margaritas. Overall, a unique & funky fast-casual setting.
Map of these North Hill Restaurants, Raleigh
To help you decide which of these restaurants in North Hills to visit, here is a helpful map to show you the location of each.
Final thoughts
We have been eating our way through the North Hills area, and with these eating options on hand, I can imagine why many don’t want to leave the Midtown border. I hope this list gave you some inspiration for where to eat in the North Hills district and helped you pick out a few options. As you can see, the restaurants in North Hills represent a diversity of cultures and cuisines from around the world, so whether you’re looking for lunch, brunch or dinner, you can be sure to find something for everyone on this list.
More North Hills Tips
- 48 Hour Itinerary For North Hills, Raleigh (Things To Do + Places To Eat)
- 12 Fun Things to Do in North Hills with Kids!
- 15 Fun Date Ideas for North Hills (Midtown Raleigh)
- Unveiling North Hills: A First-Timer’s Essential Guide (shop, eat, play, stay)
- North Hills Gift Guide – 18 Places to Shop This Holiday Season!
- Fall Season Fun in North Hills (events, seasonal menus, shopping)
Which of these North Hills Raleigh restaurants will you be dining at first? Let us know in the comments.
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