Raleigh is such a fun beer city to visit nestled in The Research Triangle of North Carolina. It is absolutely booming and one of the fastest growing areas of the country, so there are plenty of things to do and a plethora of breweries to explore! Below is a two day guide to hit the highlights of Raleigh. If you’ve got more time to explore check out my full guide to Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill here!
Wye Hill Kitchen & Brewing
Day 1
Today you will conquer downtown Raleigh!
Start your day at A Place at the Table. This is a delicious spot for breakfast sandwiches plus you can support others through their pay-what-you-can model. Do good for the community you are visiting!
Next head over to the North Carolina Museum of History to get your nerd on, an 11 minute walk from breakfast. It is free to enter and they have some fantastic exhibits!
Okay we’ve eaten, we’ve learned, now let’s get to the important things—beer! From the museum walk 15 minutes to Burial Brewing: The Exhibit. Burial’s Raleigh location is a must visit and some of the best beer in the city.
For lunch or a snack, Burial is nestled in Transfer Co. Food Hall that has a plethora of food options to choose from that are each fantastic!
Next take a longer stroll (22 minutes) or a quick Lyft (5 minutes) to State of Beer, a beer bar with a solid tap list and a large outside patio to enjoy your brews on.
From State of Beer head over to Raleigh Beer Garden, a 12 minute walk to the world’s largest selection of beers on tap. Seriously, check out their Guinness World Record.
For dinner we’re heading to Trophy Brewing and Pizza, a 19 minute walk or 4 minute drive from the beer garden. They have delicious pizzas and a wide variety of beers to choose from!
End your night at Crank Arm Brewing Company, a 15 minute walk from Trophy to work off some of your pizza. This bike themed brewery is super fun and has a large selection of beers to indulge in.
Altered State Brewing Company
Day 2
For day 2 where you will explore some really fantastic breweries on the northwest side of Raleigh!
To start the day, there are two routes you can go:
Option 1: Grab breakfast pastries from the incredibly delicious Boulted Bread and then go for a hike! There are a plethora of options in the Falls Lake Recreation Area ranging from 2 miles to 26 miles and from easy to hard, so pick your own adventure and enjoy your time in nature!
Option 2: Brunch at Wye Hill Kitchen & Brewing! This is a great spot downtown with views of the skyline and great food and drink.
From your breakfast/hike or brunch head over to Barrel Culture Brewing & Blending, a 10 minute drive from the hiking area or about 25 minutes from brunch downtown. Barrel Culture has particularly fantastic Sours and Wild Ales.
After Barrel Culture check out one of the newer breweries in Raleigh, Heyday Brewing, a 15 minute drive away, on your way back down towards the city. They’ve got Louisiana flair, great beers, a nice outdoor space, and tasty food if you’re ready for some lunch after your hike! Brunch folks you can eat again too, no judgment here!
Your next stop is Funguys Brewing, a fantastic brewery 15 minutes from Heyday. They specialize in Fruited Sours and juicy IPAs in their little industrial taproom and are well worth checking out!
From Funguys make the 5 minute drive or 14 minute walk to Altered State Brewing, another newer brewery in Raleigh. They have a tiny taproom but plenty of outdoor seating and great beers! Black Fire Brewing is right next door as well!
For dinner walk 5 minutes over to Wilson’s Eatery which shares a space with Lynwood Brewing Concern. If you are still looking for more brews afterwards Big Boss, Bowstring, Nickelpoint, and Neuse River are all in the area as well.
Need a place to stay? We absolutely loved our time at The Origin in downtown Raleigh! It is within walking distance of most things downtown, super new and cute, and dog friendly!
If you’ve got more time in Raleigh, here are the rest of my recommendations!
The Origin Hotel