Diners' Choice: Hot spot restaurants in Raleigh / Durham / Chapel Hill

OpenTable

Updated May 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants that are the best hot spots in Raleigh / Durham / Chapel Hill? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Mateo Bar de Tapas

4.8

4.8 (2457)

$31 to $50

Spanish

Durham

About the restaurant

Mateo Bar de Tapas is the first solo venture from chef Matthew Kelly, housed in the old Book Exchange building in the heart of downtown Durham. Featuring a menu that blends the flavors of Spain with beloved ingredients and dishes of the South. We offer a casual, yet refined, menu of Spanish small plates with Southern inflection. Accompanying the food is a robust Spanish wine list as well as one of the largest sherry offerings in the country!

Top review

Karen

Dined 2 days ago

Great place to eat in DT Durham. The hostess staff were awesome when we walked in the door. We thoroughly enjoyed all the tapas dishes. Upstairs dining was great as we had a nice table by the windows looking out. Great server. Will be back again soon.

PLUS Dueling Piano Bar

4.8

4.8 (470)

$30 and under

American

Raleigh

About the restaurant

PLUS Dueling Piano Bar is a one-of-a-kind live music venue and nightlife hotspot located in the heart of Glenwood South, Raleigh. Known for its high-energy, all-request dueling piano shows, PLUS offers a fun, interactive experience where the crowd drives the music all night long. Whether you’re celebrating a bachelorette party, birthday, or just looking for the best bar on Glenwood Avenue, PLUS delivers unforgettable entertainment, great drinks, and good vibes every weekend.

Open Friday and Saturday nights, PLUS is the go-to spot for live music in Raleigh, group nights out, and spontaneous singalongs. Reservations are recommended for the best seats in the house!

Top review

RashedaVIP

Dined on May 3, 2025

Baby…..I had a time!!!! My daughter went a few weeks ago and told me about this place. Took my hubby for his birthday & had so much fun. I can’t wait to go back. The band members were phenomenal & so very talented. I was thoroughly impressed. My husband got pulled on the stage & it was the best! Looking forward to the next time.

Aaktun Coffee + Bar

4.7

4.7 (151)

$30 and under

Latin American

Durham

About the restaurant

Our cozy cafe is a delightful haven where friends gather amidst the aroma of freshly brewed coffee, savoring delectable pastries and engaging in warm, leisurely conversations. Take a step into our dining room and allow us to whisk you away to a tropical paradise where contemporary tiki cocktails blend seamlessly with vibrant Latin American and Caribbean Flavors. Our culinary journey is guided by the talented Oscar Diaz, a two-time James Beard semi-finalist and our esteemed chef-owner.

Top review

KevinVIP

Dined 7 days ago

Everything was delicious. Waiter was incredibly knowledgeable and helpful.

Good Day Good Night

4.6

4.6 (147)

$30 and under

Unspecified

Raleigh

About the restaurant

Good Day Good Night, located within The Casso Raleigh, is a distinctive restaurant in the heart of the Warehouse and Glenwood South Districts. Currently open for Breakfast/Brunch and Dinner.
Good Day Good Night is led by chef Devin Bayles and is focused on bringing comforting, delicious food for intimate dinners or family get togethers. Join us for meals and stay all day and evening for drinks, our specialty cocktails are made with fresh juices and unique spirits to provide an experience like none other for all our guests.

Top review

LydiaVIP

Dined on Apr 20, 2025

Alex was gracious and served us with a spirit of excellence as always. Loved the new menu.

Gonza Tacos y Tequila - Wake Forest

4.5

4.5 (526)

$30 and under

Mexican

Wake Forest

About the restaurant

A Raleigh favorite opens a new location. Come experience the best Colombian-Mexican restaurant now with a location in Wake Forest!

Hand Crafted Latin Cocktails
Extensive List of Tequilas & Regional Spirits
Carefully Selected List of Latin Wines & Latin Beers

Voted Best Latin Restaurant in the Triangle by Wake County Living Magazine!

Won the Indy Award for Best Mexican / Latin American in the Triangle!

Top review

Wen-WenVIP

Dined on May 4, 2025

Best dinner out we’ve had in awhile. Great service, and the restaurant is cozy but not cramped. We love Gonza and have not had a chance to try this WF location since we moved a few years ago. Great to see the usuals on the menu, including some items that used to be on the secret menu. We’ll be coming back.

Sushi Blues Cafe

4.3

4.3 (662)

$30 and under

Sushi

Raleigh

About the restaurant

Sushi Blues Cafe is located on Glenwood Avenue, the heart of downtown Raleigh district known as Glenwood South. With great food, great music, and a friendly and courteous staff, Sushi Blues is an excellent choice for your night out on the town. Come and join in on the fun!

Sushi Blues has something for everyone. Enjoy fresh appetizers, sushi, makimono, temaki hand rolls, nigiri, salads, and katsu. We also have vegetarian options!

But, don't stop there. Have one of our featured cocktails from our fully stocked bar, or choose from a wide selection of import and domestic beers. We also have a have a great wine list to satisfy anyone's taste.

Come enjoy the game on the TVs in our lounge.

If you have an event coming up, we can cater any size party!

BOGO sushi rolls special ALL DAY EVERYDAY

Top review

Liz

Dined on Mar 27, 2025

Best sushi I have ever had! And the service was top notch! Not to mention the BOGOs. My only sushi stop moving forward :)

High Rail

4.2

4.2 (65)

$31 to $50

American

Raleigh

About the restaurant

High Rail is a vibrant new bar and restaurant in Seaboard Station, downtown Raleigh, offering breathtaking views and a lively atmosphere. Our world-class cocktail program features handcrafted drinks using the freshest ingredients, expertly made by our talented bartenders. Our menu features refined New American style cuisine, to perfectly accompany the stunning views. High Rail is perfect for after work drinks, date night on the terrace, or a celebration with friends.

Top review

alison

Dined 2 days ago

Parker took care of us, He was very knowledgeable about the menu and helped us select a perfect meal for 4. Cool signature drink selections. The Hot and spicy chicken was great !!! Nice to split with 4 as an appetizer.

Sushi O

4.0

4 (44)

$30 and under

Sushi

Raleigh

About the restaurant

With a culinary career since 1993, John Tang is an expert in diverse Asian cuisines. In 2005, he innovatively fused his experiences into an Asian Bistro. In 2010, he launched Sushi O in Raleigh, blending modern comfort with traditional Asian ambiance. Join us for a memorable dining experience in Downtown Raleigh at the heart of Glenwood Avenue. Your presence is eagerly awaited, and we are dedicated to ensuring an enjoyable experience for all patrons, both new and returning.

Top review

MacLeanVIP

Dined on May 5, 2025

Wonderful food and atmosphere, great service, have been many times and it’s always consistent.

Sports and Social Cary

4.0

4 (65)

$30 and under

Sports Bar

Cary

About the restaurant

Sports and Social Cary is your ultimate fan experience this season. Don't miss a moment of the action with a huge 42-foot HD big screen and more than 65 HDTVs. Sports and Social Cary takes sports viewing to the next level with big eats, outdoor patio and crush bar, extensive beer selection, and social games like skeeball, foosball, hoops and more! Come see how we're raising the sports bar at Sports & Social Cary. Located in Fenton, exit 291 off I-40.

Top review

StellaVIP

Dined on Apr 29, 2025

Great service and tasty happy hour specials that start at $4 - the boneless wings, arancini and egg rolls were all delicious and portions were generous. Our server Emerson provided great recommendations and the manager was also very helpful. We will be back!

Bar Louie - Brier Creek

3.8

3.8 (11)

$30 and under

American

Raleigh

About the restaurant

At Bar Louie, we're passionate about delivering flavor packed experiences. Defined by our award-winning handcrafted martinis and cocktails, our lunch, dinner and happy hours elevate the top-shelf bar experience. In a vibrant atmosphere energized by our local community, we serve all guests looking to create unforgettable moments - making us the go-to-spot for all occasions, from a spontaneous happy hour hangout to a celebratory spot for milestone events.

Top review

Sonia

Dined 2 days ago

Our server could have been a little more in tune with the orders for the table. It was like he didn’t know who ordered what. He also could have offered the other menu because everyone did not want brunch. He also should have made sure the food orders were correct because I asked for scrambled eggs hard with cheese. The first plate was a fried egg and then the 2nd plate the eggs were burnt with no cheese . I did not bother as he said he doesn’t make the food he just serves it. My potatoes were cold so it tells me that the first plate was brought as my second plate just with different eggs. I should have received a whole new plate. This was my first time at this establishment and wasn’t that impressed. My tables were mixed up because I reserved for 12 but was seated at a table for 10. Come to find out my table was behind us but accommodations were made by adding a table and additional seating. Better organization is needed especially if reservations are made. Thank you 1st time patrons

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