Best Restaurants for Date Night (Near Kid-Friendly Hotels) in the Triangle
Every parent deserves a date night, and one of our favorite moves is the "staycation" — book a kid-friendly hotel, let the grandparents or a sitter watch the kids at the hotel pool, and enjoy a proper dinner nearby. Here are the best restaurant and hotel pairings in the Triangle.
Downtown Raleigh
Hotels
The Longleaf Hotel on S. McDowell Street is a boutique hotel with a great location in downtown Raleigh. Walking distance to numerous restaurants and the Fayetteville Street district. Rooms typically $150-250/night.
Raleigh Marriott City Center on Fayetteville Street has a central location and a pool (the kid entertainment factor). Walking distance to restaurants. Rooms typically $150-220/night.
Date Night Restaurants (Walking Distance)
Poole's Diner on S. McDowell Street is one of Raleigh's best restaurants. The mac and cheese is legendary, the wine list is excellent, and the community table seating creates a fun atmosphere. Entrees $16-26. Reservations recommended.
Bida Manda on S. Wilmington Street serves incredible Laotian-Thai food in a beautiful space. The cocktails are creative, the curries are complex, and it feels like a special occasion. Entrees $14-20. Reservations recommended.
Crawford and Son on S. Person Street is a more intimate date-night spot with creative American food and a great cocktail program. The menu changes frequently, and the small-plates format encourages sharing. Plates $12-22. Reservations strongly recommended.
Death & Taxes on Hargett Street has a fireplace, excellent cocktails, and wood-fired meat and fish. The atmosphere is warm and inviting without being stuffy. Entrees $22-38. This is our "anniversary dinner" spot.
Durham
Hotels
21c Museum Hotel on N. Mangum Street is a boutique art hotel in downtown Durham. The lobby doubles as a contemporary art museum (free to visit), and the location is walking distance to Durham's best restaurants. Rooms typically $180-280/night. The hotel restaurant (Counting House) is also excellent.
Durham Hotel on N. Mangum Street has rooftop bar views of Durham and a hip, modern design. Walking distance to restaurants. Rooms typically $170-250/night.
Date Night Restaurants (Walking Distance)
Mateo Bar de Tapas on W. Main Street serves Spanish-influenced tapas with local ingredients. Sharing small plates is inherently romantic, and the wine and cocktail list is excellent. Tapas $8-16 each, plan on 4-5 plates per person for a full meal.
Vin Rouge on Shannon Road is a French bistro that's one of Durham's most romantic restaurants. Classic French dishes, an excellent wine list, and an atmosphere that says "this is a special evening." Entrees $22-34. Reservations recommended.
Piedmont on W. Main Street offers farm-to-table dining with impeccable ingredients. The seasonal menu means there's always something new, and the cocktails are well-crafted. Entrees $16-26.
Chapel Hill
Hotels
The Carolina Inn on Pittsboro Street is a historic, elegant hotel right on the UNC campus. Beautiful grounds, walkable to Franklin Street restaurants. Rooms typically $180-300/night.
Date Night Restaurants
Acme Food & Beverage in Carrboro is one of the area's best restaurants. Locally sourced, beautifully prepared food in a stylish-but-comfortable space. Entrees $18-28. A short drive or taxi ride from The Carolina Inn.
Kipos Greek Taverna on Franklin Street has a romantic patio and excellent food. The meze (shared plates) and wine make for a perfect date night. Sharing plates $8-14, entrees $15-24.
The Staycation Playbook
Here's how we plan a date-night staycation:
The Setup
1. Book the hotel with a pool (this is key — it's kid entertainment). 2. Invite grandparents or book a sitter for the evening. Many hotels can recommend local sitting services. 3. Check in early afternoon. Let the kids swim while you decompress. 4. Make dinner reservations for 7:00-7:30 PM (late enough for kids to be settled with the sitter or grandparents).The Evening
5. Walk to dinner. No driving, no parking stress. 6. Order whatever you want. No kids menu considerations, no rushing. 7. Get dessert. When's the last time you had a leisurely dessert at a restaurant? 8. Walk back to the hotel. Maybe stop for a cocktail somewhere.The Morning
9. Sleep in. The kids are with grandparents or the sitter handles morning. 10. Hotel breakfast. Or walk to a nearby coffee shop. 11. Check out. Return to real life, refreshed.Budget Estimate
| Item | Cost | |———|———| | Hotel (1 night) | $150-280 | | Dinner for two (with drinks, tax, tip) | $80-150 | | Sitter (4-5 hours) | $60-100 | | Breakfast/coffee | $15-30 | | Total | $305-560 |
Worth every penny, once or twice a year.
Quick Reference
| Area | Hotel Pick | Restaurant Pick | Walk Time | |———|—————-|————————|—————-| | Raleigh Downtown | Longleaf Hotel | Poole's Diner | 5 min | | Raleigh Downtown | Marriott City Center | Death & Taxes | 5 min | | Durham Downtown | 21c Museum Hotel | Mateo Bar de Tapas | 5 min | | Durham Downtown | Durham Hotel | Vin Rouge | 10 min | | Chapel Hill | The Carolina Inn | Kipos Greek Taverna | 10 min |
You deserve a date night. These pairings make it easy to plan.
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