Known as the City of Oaks for its beautiful oak trees and green spaces, Raleigh is a charming and romantic destination in North Carolina.
| Activity | Description |
|---|---|
| Dine at Intimate Restaurants | Offers romantic settings for dinners. |
| Attend Performances | Enjoy shows at Memorial Auditorium. |
| Stroll through Arboretum | Explore the JC Raulston Arboretum’s gardens. |
| Kayak at Shelley Lake | Paddle together in a serene setting. |
| Cooking Classes for Couples | Learn to cook gourmet meals together. |
| Visit Contemporary Art Museum | Explore art exhibits. |
| Stargaze at Yates Mill Park | Romantic stargazing location. |
| Couples Massage Class | Learn massage techniques together. |
| Wander Oak View County Park | Enjoy nature walks. |
| Take Dance Classes | Learn new dance moves as a couple. |
| See Live Jazz | Enjoy jazz music in cozy venues. |
From scenic parks and gardens to innovative fine dining to cultural attractions, Raleigh offers many wonderful date spots and unique couple’s activities. Here are 12 of the most romantic things for couples to do in Raleigh.
Dine at an Intimate Restaurant
Name and Location: Death & Taxes in downtown Raleigh offers an intimate restaurant setting perfect for couples.
History and Significance: Opened in 2010, Death & Taxes is helmed by expert chef Ashley Christensen, serving seasonal New American cuisine paired with craft cocktails in a warm, sophisticated atmosphere.
What to Expect: Market-driven small plates bursting with flavor presented beautifully. Extensive wine list and reserve specialty cocktails crafted with care. White tablecloth ambiance makes it a great date spot worth booking ahead.
Visitor Information: Located downtown at 105 W Hargett St. Open for dinner Monday-Saturday. Validated parking available next door. Smart casual dress code recommended.
Raleigh boasts a thriving culinary scene with many options for an intimate dinner for two. For a special occasion splurge, highly acclaimed restaurants like Death & Taxes serve exquisitely crafted tasting menus with wine pairings in a romantic Victorian-era cottage. Upscale yet cozy restaurants like Second Empire, inside a stunning 1879 mansion, offer incredible views from the aerie rooftop bar and grille alongside creative regional cuisine. More casual spots like Humble Pie serve wood-fired pizza baked in a stone hearth oven with romantic back patio lights strung throughout the trees.
Attend a Performance at Memorial Auditorium
Name and Location: Memorial Auditorium in downtown Raleigh hosts various performing arts events.
History and Significance: Built in 1932, the historic multipurpose venue has staged performances from classical concerts to Broadway touring shows for the community for decades, recently renovated.
What to Expect: Soaring interior hosting musicians, comedians, theater, dance and more on its main stage. Visit website for upcoming program schedule. Bars sell wine, beer and cocktails on site before shows and during intermission.
Visitor Information: Located on E Edenton St downtown. Box office hours Mon-Fri 10am–5pm. Paid parking deck beside/behind venue.
Known for outstanding acoustics, the Memorial Auditorium is home to the North Carolina Symphony as well as Broadway touring shows, concerts, and other beloved performances. Enjoy an evening taking in world-class music or a hit musical cuddled close together in the beautiful mid-century modern theater, which often offers special Valentine’s entertainment options. After the show, enjoy a moonlit walk hand-in-hand through the adjacent tree-lined Progress Energy Park.
Stroll through the JC Raulston Arboretum
Name and Location: The JC Raulston Arboretum at NC State University encompasses 44 acres.
History and Significance: Named for renowned horticulturalist J.C. Raulston, the gardens provide a world-class plant collection for university research and public enjoyment since 1976. Beautiful spot for wandering together.
What to Expect: Diverse displays like perennial and winter gardens, Southern Native Plant Collection among 8 distinct sections on site. Benches scattered throughout to stop and enjoy views of vibrant flowers and foliage.
Visitor Information: Free entry, located on Beryl Rd. Open daily 8am-8pm. Public parking lots adjacent, some meter parking along roads on campus.
Part of North Carolina State University, the idyllic JC Raulston Arboretum features one of the most diverse flourishing gardens in the Southeast. Wind along curving brick pathways past thousands of radiant flowers including winter-blooming camellias and hellebores. The 10-acre arboretum’s textures, shapes, scents and colors at each twist and turn provide natural enchantment—and many sweet photo backdrops for couples.
Kayak through Shelley Lake
Name and Location: Shelley Lake offers kayak and paddleboard rentals in west Raleigh.
History and Significance: Encircling a man-made lake constructed last decade, Shelley Lake Park spans over 130 acres. Its convenient recreational facilities allow enjoying nature with easy lake access.
What to Expect: Paddle along the 2 mile scenic loop trail together via kayak or stand-up paddleboard rented onsite seasonally. Life jackets provided. Calm lake conditions make for a relaxed, pretty float trip.
Visitor Information: Located at 108 Cone Rd. Rentals offered May through September, weather permitting. Hourly rates $15 single kayak, $20 double. Parking available at Shelley Lake Lot 2 nearby.
Surrounded by billowing trees and beautiful wetlands, the peaceful man-made Shelley Lake offers a wonderful opportunity to kayak as a couple. Rent a two-person kayak and paddle your way around this glistening hidden gem located inside North Carolina State University’s Centennial Campus. Spot turtles sunbathing on logs and keep an eye out for egrets, herons, wood ducks, and even the occasional shy beaver. Afterward, enjoy a picnic on the grassy shoreline together soaking up nature’s romantic solitude.
Take a Cooking Class for Couples
Name and Location: Couples cooking classes offered at Glasserie restaurant in downtown Raleigh.
History and Significance: Led by expert chefs, Glasserie opened in 2018 as an intimate restaurant focused on Mediterranean cuisine served at a chef’s counter surrounding an open kitchen. Their classes aim to be fun, educational date nights.
What to Expect: Hands-on cooking demos from Glasserie’s culinary team guiding you to prepare specialty dishes and artisan cocktails together. Different themes from pasta making, beyond cheeseburgers, mixology and more.
Visitor Information: Located downtown at 521 Foster St. Ticket prices $125 per couple. Street parking available. Offered monthly, visit website to view upcoming class themes.
Instead of going out to dinner, create lasting memories learning to prepare a gourmet meal in an intimate setting. Couples’ cooking classes at spots like Whole Foods Market, Southern Season, or La Farm Bakery provide hands-on instruction in modern kitchen classrooms with everything you need to craft a delicious multi-course meal together—and then feast upon your collaborative creations. Offerings range from classic French fare to sushi rolling, so you can always find a cuisine suited to you and your partner’s tastes.
Check out the Contemporary Art Museum
Name and Location: Contemporary Art Museum on Blue Ridge Rd in Raleigh.
History and Significance: The museum has offered dynamic modern art exhibitions and educational programs since 1980, providing cultural enrichment to community while pushing boundaries. Worth a visit for adventurous couples.
What to Expect: Engage with provocative contemporary works across mediums that challenge perspectives and foster dialogue between you. Thought-provoking way to spend an afternoon discussing art. Exhibits rotate.
Visitor Information: Located off Wade Ave. Admission $7. Free parking beside museum. Open Wed-Sat 10am-6pm, Sun noon-5pm, closed Mon/Tues. Raleigh Art Bus stops nearby.
Expand your perspectives while getting insight into your partner’s reactions to thought provoking works at Raleigh’s acclaimed Contemporary Art Museum. As you explore the multifaceted exhibits, steal a sideways glance and gently brush hands strolling through the creativity on display in this modern architectural marvel. After admiring the regional, national, and international artists’ cutting edge creations, discuss your impressions and favorites over coffee at the museum’s amber and azure Parkview café.
Stargaze at Yates Mill County Park
Name and Location: Historic Yates Mill County Park sits on over 180 acres in south Raleigh near Yates Mill Pond.
History and Significance: The 175-year-old restored gristmill adjacent demonstrates a lost way of life in Wake County. Night stargazing events allow glimpsing wonders in its dark night skies.
What to Expect: Join monthly astronomy club gatherings in the expansive meadow beside the mill. Peer through high powered telescopes at planets, clusters and galaxies visible overhead together while guides educate.
Visitor Information: Free entry. Regular stargazing events listed on Park’s online calendar. Onsite parking in lots near Mill and meadow. Flashlights recommended while walking to gaze site.
Escape from city lights bringing a blanket for stargazing over the tranquil lake at Yates Mill County Park. Close to downtown yet seemingly worlds away, wander tree lined trails before picking the perfect spot to snuggle to admire dazzling night skies. Against this stunning natural backdrop, share your dreams under the stars floating like shimmering sparks over the shimmering water. For extra romance, pack a basket of chocolate-dipped strawberries and champagne to toast beneath the heavens.
Take a Couples Massage Class
Name and Location: Couples massage workshops offered at Root and Wellness Spa in north Raleigh.
History and Significance: Led by certified therapists, the spa opened in 2018 with a focus on holistic wellness. Their couples services teach massage techniques to take home and nurture connections.
What to Expect: 2 hour hands-on class guiding massage strokes for neck, shoulders, back, feet and more to relax your partner. Learn to enhance intimacy while promoting healing through human touch. Oils and tools provided.
Visitor Information: Located at 9650 Strickland Rd Suite 118. $180 per couple. Bookable on website or call 919-900-7484. 24 hour prepayment required.
Treat your sweetheart to soothing pampering while deepening your connection learning massage techniques designed for couples. Sessions at spots like BodyLyncx Wellness Boutique begin with instruction in proper techniques to melt away tension before practicing hands-on with your partner in your private room, accompanied by soft music and flickering candles. Continue the relaxation by soaking in a private whirlpool and admiring city views from a steamy sauna built for two.
Wander Oak View County Park
Name and Location: Oak View County Park encompasses over 250 acres of preserved natural areas and trails off Mitchell Mill Road in Raleigh.
History and Significance: Offering a peaceful escape to nature, the park’s shaded trails cross wetland boardwalks and meander through forests rich with plant varieties native to the Carolina piedmont region.
What to Expect: Immerse yourselves strolling along rustic footpaths observing tranquil ponds, meadows, pine and hardwood glades together as you identify plants and wildlife. Interpretive exhibits describe park habitats.
Visitor Information: Free entry daily 8am-6pm November-February, open until 9pm other months when trails are accessible. Ample parking at trailhead off Mitchell Mill Rd.
Escape into nature hand-in-hand meandering along rustic trails through the quiet woodlands and meadows of Oak View County Park. Listen for birds chirping in the canopy of mighty oaks as shafts of sunlight dance through the trees. Stop at a babbling creek rushing over granite stones to sneak a kiss on a quaint wooden bridge. Lay out a blanket for two to share treats from a local bakery while hidden in a hillside meadow thick with clover before venturing back out on the paths.
Take a Dance Class Together
Name and Location: Salsa dancing classes offered at Durty Dogs Dance Studio in north Raleigh.
History and Significance: Taught by experienced competitors and performers well-versed in Latin dance styles, Durty Dogs opened in 2013 dedicated to nurturing local dance culture across various genres from salsa to tango and more.
What to Expect: Upbeat beginner 60-minute salsa partnering lesson guiding spins, dips, taps and more set to the rhythms of Caribbean/Latin music. No experience needed, fun learning together while getting some exercise.
Visitor Information: Located at 8341 Brier Creek Pkwy Suite 105. $20 per couple drop-in class pricing available. Visit site for schedule. Dance shoes not necessary.
Trying something new together sparks romance as couples learn moves side-by-side with laughter echoing under glimmering disco balls at a spot like Gotta Dance Studio. Cut loose learning to salsa together, get sultry perfecting your tango, practice prim proper fox trot frames, or see if you can master sequencing during fun-loving line dancing lessons. Building physical chemistry paired with smiles and stumbles as you match each other’s steps builds rapport and intimacy between partners.
See Live Jazz at Night
Name and Location: Southland Ballroom in downtown Raleigh hosts live jazz performances.
History and Significance: Restored landmark ballroom venue known as Raleigh’s “village dance hall” when opened in 1940s. Regularly presents dynamic genres from swing bands to funk to jazz artists across its storied dance floor recently.
What to Expect: Sway together to talented jazz soloists, ensembles, and big bands channeling icons like Miles Davis, Duke Ellington in an intimate concert setting with small tables and a dance floor to get your groove on. Full bar available.
Visitor Information: Located downtown at 220 Fayetteville St. Ticket prices vary by artist. Street parking, gear deck nearby. Doors 90 minutes before showtime.
From tiny hole-in-the-walls to upscale lounges, Raleigh’s jazz scene hits all the right notes for a romantic night out. Stylish listening rooms like Papa Mojo’s Roadhouse offer cozy leather banquettes, craft cocktails, and nightly live jazz ensembles ranging from sultry singers to funk bands firing up fast tempos. Grab your date and snag an intimate table near flickering candles to admire one another’s visages illuminated by the glittering stage lights while letting smoky sax notes and silky vocals provide the perfect audio backdrop for romance.