This one’s going to be short and sweet, as I don’t want you to be late to Downtown Raleigh’s largest hot cocoa bar and all-you-can eat dessert café.
This newly opened Raleigh holiday experience will be long on sweetness through!
If an all-you-can-eat dessert bar with pastries, multiple forms of cake including cheesecakes, cupcakes, assorted holiday cookies, gingerbread pudding, and 51 hot cocoa toppings gets your taste buds zinging, you’ll want to buy your tickets ASAP.
You may wish to bring a seat belt to strap your child in as they’ll be zinging all over the room from one sweet station to another.
I did my best to keep an eye on mine at the preview showing, but I lost count after the second plate of tiramisu.
All the sweets have been hand-crafted by Duke Energy Center or the Performing Art’s own pastry chef.
While limited in selection, there are choices for those who are gluten free and vegan.
As I’m not a sweet tooth person myself, and I was busy chatting to fellow media friends and my kids, I didn’t seek high and low for them, but the girls led me to a deliciously creamy gluten-free chocolate that paired perfectly with a smooth glass of Chilean red wine.
There is a cash bar at the Dessertery if hot chocolate is not enough for the adults in your group.
There will be a range of holiday-themed cocktails the bartender can make for you – think a reindeer cocktail made with prosecco and cranberry juice. I was very happy to see non-Californian red wine. A nice Cab Sav from Chile and a Merlot from Washington State.
Where is the Dessertery Cafe?
The Dessertery Cafe is located in a small rehearsal room of the Kennedy Theater at the back of the Duke Energy Center for the Performing arts.
All of which is beautifully decorated to keep you in the festive spirit. There are 11 Christmas trees, 215 hanging elements – including Santa and his sleigh riding high above across the room – and 400 sq feet of snow.
Video of the Dessertery
Special Events
Throughout the Dessertery’s holiday season, there will be special events and programming. Santa will be one of them! We got to have our photo taken with Santa – our teen and tween are somehow too cool for that now, but Craig and I aren’t!
Although Savannah did enjoy her conversation with Santa at the hot chocolate station, “We spoke about life. Like what I want to do when I’m older. It was a cool conversation actually.”
Santa is scheduled in for:
- 12/10 – 4-8pm
- 12/16 – 5-8pm
- 12/21 – 3-7pm
On Dec 9th (5-8pm) there will be live bluegrass with PineCone, which should be a fun event.
How much is the Dessertery?
Cost: $15 (ages 2-6), $25 (ages 7 and above) under 2 are free but must register!
🎄 Tickets: in person at the box office (M-F 10am- 2pm or online.
What are the opening hours for the Dessertery?
You’ll want to plan well as the Dessertery is only opened for select days during the Holiday Season, and with America’s love for sugar, I expect it to be busy.
- Nov 19th – Nov 20th
- Sat: 12-8pm
- Sun: 12-2pm
- Nov 25 – Dec 3
- Fri-Sat: 6-8pm
- Dec 4 – Dec 10
- Fri: 5-8pm
- Sat: 12-8pm
- Sun: 5-7pm
- Dec 11 – Dec 17
- Fri: 5-7pm
- Sat: 12-7pm
- Sun: 12-2pm
Keep the Holiday Fun Going
Don’t just end the Christmas cheer with your spoon down. This year there are an incredible amount of Holiday experiences in Raleigh – all of which are the perfect accompaniment to the Dessertery.
Here are a few ideas:
- Nothing goes better with dessert than a live performance. As the Dessertery is in the Duke Energy Center, pairing a Holiday show like the Nutcracker or Christmas Carol is a wonderful idea.
- Why not overindulge in sweets, and then skate it off at The Rink in Raleigh’s Red Hat Amphitheater?
- Walk the streets of Downtown Raleigh enjoying Illuminate Art Walk and include the Dessertery as a stop. Some of our favorite installations are outside Duke Energy Center.
- Shop for your Holiday gifts at the local stores in Downtown Raleigh and then take a break at the dessert café.
