This annual insiders guide to Raleigh from the editors of WALTER will help you find the best places to dine, shop and explore.

by Ayn-Monique Klahre & Kendall Campos

One of my favorite discussions to have: What should we do this weekend?

Raleigh offers so many ways to answer that question. You could spend it relishing city life: window shopping, walking to downtown museums, going out to eat at some cool new place. Or you could fill it with nature, having a picnic before taking a gentle hike through a shady grove. If you have little ones, there are plenty of parks with great playgrounds — and plenty of eateries with ample room to feed a group. If you’re looking for something quieter, grab a book or a friend and head to a nice restaurant where you can find immersive cuisine and attentive service, then see a show at one of our varied performing arts venues such as the Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts and Theatre Raleigh.

It’s that balance of offerings that I love the most about this town. We’ve got big-city amenities with a small-town heart. Whether you’re looking to spend a date night at Angus Barn, take an evening stroll through Dix Park or shop gently used luxury at MODE Boutique, Raleigh has a little bit of everything. And we don’t just want to shop at a store — we want to know who started the business and how they’re carrying it forward. When you try someplace new, you can feel like a regular by the end of the night. And there’s about a 95% chance you’ll see someone you know every time you leave the house, whether that’s to go for a walk around the block, to the grocery store or to the neighborhood watering hole.

At WALTER magazine, we have the privilege of being the first to learn about what’s new around town — restaurants and bars, art exhibits and performances, retail developments — but we’re also deeply invested in making sure we honor and patronize the spaces that create the fabric of Raleigh. Supporting local businesses keeps the spirit of Raleigh alive, and there’s no shortage of quality entertainment, goods and services to add to your bucket list.

So that’s what OUR TOWN is: a giant list of WALTER’s recommendations, broken down into the categories that we think will be most useful to you. Inside, you might find inspiration to explore a different neighborhood, dine at a new-to-you restaurant or shop at that store you have always wondered about. We hope OUR TOWN helps you broaden your palate, appreciate what we’ve got and, most of all, to live to the fullest in this wonderful city we call home. 

Read it online or find OUR TOWN for free in 14 local Harris Teeter locations and other area retailers and restaurants. You can also swing by our office (421 Fayetteville Street, Suite 104; Monday – Thursday from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.), to pick up a copy from us directly. If you would like to have one mailed to you, please click here (there will be a small fee to cover our costs).

We hope you enjoy it!

This article was originally published on waltermagazine.com in July 2026.