When it comes to college basketball, there's nothing in the world like Raleigh. North Carolina capital and exploding Cosmopolitan City – Raleigh, part of Tobacco Road rivalry, opens the door to visitors across the country for the NCAA tournament.
Bleeding in two shades of red and blue, Lowry's NCAA Tournament, UNC, Duke, and NC status Fans are showing their colours – and while the 2025 tournament may lack some sheen thanks to Chapel Hill and Wolfpack down seasons, there is still plenty of local interest.
If you're coming to Raleigh for the game, here are some things you need to see, eat while you're in town.
Welcome to Tailgate Country.
The ample parking available at Lenovo Centre makes it an ideal location for tailgates, and locals are used to holding parties. Arena that also houses the NHL Carolina Hurricaneone of the only places in hockey, allowing fans to tailgate for pleasant weather. That should continue throughout the tournament.
The first and second rounds coincide with the first weekend of spring, with forecasts predicting high temperatures from the mid-70s, which is perfectly perfect. Lenovo Center allows you to arrange your tail completely and open throughout the day. The only provision is that vehicles left overnight by 8am the next morning must leave the parking lot.
So if you're having a little fun excessivelythe next day, get your Uber back and collect the car.
Things to do in Raleigh
Obviously you're here, so watch basketball and I get it – but if you're a new visit to the area, there's absolutely some things you should do if you have a break between games or have only tickets for a particular session.
North Carolina Museum of Art
It's truly wonderful to be part of a museum in a city you travel to just want to taste local art and local specialties. The North Carolina Museum of Art has a solid collection of Renaissance paintings, but Egyptian antiquities are even more impressive.
Two special exhibitions will also be exhibited Time is always now Focusing on African diaspora artists and NC artist David Rachapel, he shows his unique pop art photos, including hand-drawn films from the film before processing for a completely unique look.
Take a walk along Franklin Street
With UNC sneaking into the NCAA Tournament slightly, there's no doubt that there's a damper at Chapel Hill in March, but a drive from Raleigh will be the heart of state college basketball. Franklin Street, near UNC, is a bar hop for games nights. Grab a late-night chicken sandwich from the “timeout” or take in the history of the area.
Visit Downtown Carry Park
Located on the outskirts of Raleigh, the town of Carrie is a completely unique suburb worth experiencing. Downtown parks are especially great if you want to get out and suck up the sun with fountains, vendors and open spaces.
Where to eat in Raleigh?
Now, let's do the most important thing: food. If you travel anywhere, you always hunt something to eat, and the worst is to arrive without a plan. And at the last moment you have to search fiercely and settle for fast food.
Obviously this is very personal and there's no doubt the restaurant everyone thinks of you I have it To go to the city, whenever someone says they're visiting Raleigh and looking for advice, these two picks.
When it comes to good North Carolina barbecues, the best spots usually tend to be desolate huts in places that are almost anywhere. All of these places are great, but the pits are also true to the whole hog's BBQ roots while upscale the form.
Get the pulled pork, the sides of the collard, and some mac and cheese. I promise you won't regret it.
A totally strange mix of dim sam, East Asian cuisine and craft beer – the brewery Babana has become a must-see place for snacks, meals or just delicious beer. Everything is made on the premises and having IPA and Bao bread may seem strange at first, but the quality is very high and everything just works.
A burger facility, Char-Grill is a great place for late-night burgers and shakes. A 50's style drive with simple outdoor seating has been like this since 1959 and is called a “splitter” except that it has not changed since then.
If it is not broken, do not fix it.
The best place to celebrate victory
This is simple and I can thank you later.
For 68 years, the Player Retreat was the best sports bar in Raleigh and perhaps one of the best sports bars in North Carolina.
PR, as known to locals, is a spot for NC fans, with classic bar dishes to eat until 2am, a large collection of whiskeys and a deep roster of beers. Jim Valvano is all over the wall, with David Thompson headlines in faded frames.
It's not just a place to drink and celebrate, it's an experience.
The best place to overcome losses
That's why the team was eliminated. It sucks. Get some sweets. Look, I was able to give you something really flashy and custom made Lucettegrace (This is incredible) – But there's only one thing sports fans need at night to forget about bad losses.
This is a facility in North Carolina. It is open until 4am and boasts more milkshake flavors than it takes to last a lifetime, but the phrase “milkshake” doesn't really apply.
Pro Tip: Don't get in the way with the menu. Ask, you can mix the shaking into one. Have a cheesecake shake with Heath Toffee. I promise it will make you forget everything else in life.
Most importantly, enjoy
North Carolina is welcoming, diverse and incredible to people who have never visited before. From the mountains to the sea it has everything and Raleigh is a great place to visit.
Locals believe in hospitality and even if you're a crazy jerk rooted in your home team, they're still kind. Explode and enjoy the tournament.
