Downtown Raleigh
EXPLORE DOWNTOWN RALEIGH
When you research downtown Raleigh, you’ll find six destination districts: Capital District, Fayetteville Street, Glenwood South, Moore Square, Warehouse District, and Seaboard + Person Street. When you work with us, we’ll help you find your perfect neighborhood.
But we know that it helps to have a starter guide.
FAYETTEVILLE STREET DISTRICT
Fayetteville Street is the one of the oldest streets in the City of Raleigh. At the north end, it begins at the majestic State Capitol building, and at the south end it emerges as the central hub for the arts with the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts—home to the NC Symphony, the Carolina Ballet, and traveling Broadway musicals through NC Theatre.
In this downtown district, you’ll walk to see mixed-use high rises, office skyscrapers, and over 50 restaurants and bars—including many of the restaurants from James Beard winner Ashley Christensen.
Living here offers you walkability to the majority of Raleigh’s most acclaimed restaurants, multiple options for live music, and easy access to the best community festivals held in the Downtown—from the local arts festival SparkCON to the International Bluegrass Festival.
Where:
North Downtown, begins at the Capitol Building
Attractions:
Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts, Red Hat Amphitheater, and James Beard Award-winning Poole’s Diner
Monarch’s Picks:
Death & Taxes, DECO, Lucettegrace, Capital Club 16, Garland, Kings, Neptunes, Foundation, St. Roch Fine Oysters + Bar, Slims Raleigh, Fox Liquor Bar, Young Hearts, and Trophy Brewing.
MOORE SQUARE DISTRICT
Adjacent to the Fayetteville corridor and an 8-min walk southeast of the Capitol Building, the Moore Square district is marked by the two recently-renovated anchors: the beautiful Moore Square Park and the GoRaleigh Transit Center.
Moore Square is one of the most dynamic parts of downtown Raleigh, home to both corporate headquarters, high-rise residential buildings, nationally-acclaimed restaurants, and even a museum for kids. It’s also becoming the most densely populated with recent developments such as SkyHouse, The Lincoln, and The Edison Lofts.
Moore Square offers the most artistic side of downtown living—from multiple music venues to galleries with artists-in-residence.
Where:
East Downtown, 8-min walk from the Capitol Building
Attractions:
Moore Square Park, Lincoln Theater, IMAX Theater, and Marbles Kids Museum
Monarch’s Picks:
Pour House Music Hall, Transfer Co. Food Hall, and Artspace
HISTORIC WAREHOUSE DISTRICT
You know you’re in the Warehouse District when you spot the historic red bricks and feel the artistic revitalization. In the last ten years, Raleigh’s downtown Warehouse District has evolved into a vibrant mix of art museums, restaurants, destination retail, and technology firms. It offers convenient access to expanding transit travel with Raleigh Union Station and both for-sale living options like the condos at The Fairweather (see those listings here) and for-rent choices, like the apartments at The Dillon.
Featuring nationally-recognized architecture, the Historic Warehouse District is one of the most dynamic parts of downtown. Living here gives you easy access to downtown’s first grocer, an expanding restaurant scene, and multiple options for coffee and drinks.
Where:
Southwest Downtown, 10-min walk from the Capitol Building
Attractions:
Contemporary Art Museum, HQ Raleigh, Raleigh Union Station, Nash Square, Weaver St. Market, and the non-profit art gallery VAE
Monarch’s Picks:
Videri Chocolate Factory, Humble Pie, A Place at the Table, Heirloom Brewshop, and Tasty Beverage
CAPITAL DISTRICT
As you walk north along Fayetteville Street, you arrive at Raleigh’s oldest district: the Capital District— home to both the North Carolina’s State Capitol Building and the Governor’s Mansion. Built in 1840 with the Greek Revival style, the State Capitol Building presides on a park square dating back to a city plan designed in 1792. Many of the government buildings reflect the popular Classical Revival style of the late 19th century, but a few buildings from the late 18th century still stand, including Haywood Hall and the White-Holman House.
Although state government buildings and facilities define this district, it’s also home to the NC History Museum and the NC Museum of Natural Sciences. Combined, these two museums attract over 1.5 million visitors annually—more than any other attraction in the state of North Carolina. As the center of downtown, the Capital District is a short walk away from the hundreds of businesses, bars, and restaurants that fill the nearby downtown districts.
Where:
Central Downtown
Attractions:
North Carolina State Capitol Building, North Carolina Museum of History, North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Centro, Virgil’s Original Taqueria, and a short walk to the Fayetteville Street District
Monarch’s Picks:
Longleaf Hotel and Lounge, State of Beer, and Taverna Agora
SEABOARD/PERSON STREET DISTRICT
Peace University anchors the quietly hopping commercial centers of Seaboard Station and Person Street Plaza on this northern end of downtown Raleigh. This neighborhood offers some of Raleigh’s most beloved local businesses—from bakeries and restaurants to cycling and boutiques, and as more residents move in, more businesses will continue to set up shop.
Nearby subdivisions include the beautiful historic neighborhoods of Mordecai, Oakdale and Oakwood, and nearby residential developments Blount Street Commons (which includes row homes, lofts, and carriage homes), Elan City Center Apartments, and Peace Street Towne luxury townhomes.
In addition to the new residential developments, a mixed-use redevelopment of Seaboard Station will bring new life to the area with a boutique hotel, 650 apartments, and 90,000 square feet of restaurant and retail space.
Where:
North Downtown, 10-min walk north of the Capitol Building
Attractions:
Raleigh City Farm and Seaboard Station
Monarch’s Picks:
Oakwood Pizza Box, Logan’s Garden Shop and Cafe, Escazu, Stanbury, ish-Delicatessan, Krispy Kreme, Edge of Urge, Galatea, Oak City Cycling, Unlikely Professionals, and Crawford and Son’s from 5-time James Beard semifinalist Scott Crawford
GLENWOOD SOUTH DISTRICT
Sitting just northwest of the Capitol building, Glenwood South describes both a street name and a vibe; it has an identity all of its own within Downtown Raleigh—and maybe even two identities. While in the daylight, Glenwood South draws people to business lunch spots, art galleries, and boutique stores, at night, it’s lit—literally. Neon signs invite social club goers, and live music escapes into the streets. As the weekends turn late-night, sidewalks fill up with dancers queueing behind velvet ropes.
This neighborhood has long been considered an entertainment district, but in the last decade, it’s shifted toward supporting more residential units. Residents of this district can enjoy the cooperation of the Glenwood South Neighborhood Collaborative (GSNC), which provides residents and businesses a platform to communicate and work together to shape the future of the neighborhood. This collaborative will continue to expand; over 1,300 new units have recently been delivered or are under construction.
Where:
Northwest Downtown, 15-min walk west of the Capitol Building
Attractions:
42nd St Oyster Bar and Tin Roof
Monarch’s Picks:
Cortez Seafood and Cocktail from James Beard-nominated Oscar Diaz, Revolver Consignment, and Raleigh Wine Shop