restaurants
Staying Cool Downtown!
If there has been any doubt, summer is here. Just look at the outdoor thermometer or walk outside. If you need some quick tips for staying cool downtown, here you go:
- Eating at one of our many air-conditioned restaurants or under a large umbrella on the patio. Keep hydrated and check out the menus of lighter summer fare such as salads, sandwiches and wraps.
- See a movie at the Cameo Theatre. Plush seats and all Hollywood has to offer will greet you at this celebrated cool spot on Hay Street.
- Sundresses and hats! There are cute items at Belle Curve and Kindred Spirits as well as fun bags and other accessories to make keeping cool a little more stylish. Seersucker and hats can be bought for the men at Sunny’s and Leon Sugar’s.
- Ice cream is always a fun treat and what a wonderful way to keep cool in the summer. Horne’s Café and The Chocolate Lady now have scoopable ice cream or you can get frosty beverages at the Green Bean Coffee Shop, Rude Awakening Coffee House or other restaurants.
- To burn off some of those calories from the ice cream, try walking in our heavily shaded parks with beautiful fountains such as Linear Park. The Linear Park trail next to the water is a fun way to get some exercise and stay beneath some shade.
- Come out at night! We have a terrific nightlife scene downtown and something for everyone. Fourth Fridays are especially fun with the addition of Arts Alive at Fourth Friday and the many shops and restaurants open with guest artists and specials.
Staying cool is literally a breeze downtown! And if you don’t mind the heat, try Fayetteville after Five sponsored by the Fayetteville Museum of Art. The museum has selected fantastic bands that will keep you movin’ and shakin’ in Festival Park. Fun for the whole family!
Top 10 Reasons to Love Downtown Fayetteville!
1. Festivals and events that fill the streets
The Dogwood Festival, 4th Fridays, International Folk Festival, Fayetteville after Five concerts and other special events make downtown a family friendly fun place to be and most are free so a full night of entertainment won’t break the bank!
2. More than 2 dozen restaurants and bars with open doors, great menus and a fantastic atmosphere
With cuisine ranging from Italian pasta to delectable tapas to lighter fare salads to mouth watering desserts, this is your place to bring a date, your family or have a lunch or dinner out with friends. Patio seating make it all the more fun to see and be seen while having a delicious meal!
3. Beautiful historical buildings and streetscape – just look around and know you are in one of the best places
Any history or architecture buff can explore the many exceptional buildings that have been beautifully restored and the examples of Neo-Classical, Gothic Revival and Romanesque Revival styles and more. The Market House alone is one of less than 40 National Landmarks in the state of North Carolina.
4. One of a kind shops with unique gift items, clothing, local products, you name it
Personal service and fantastic merchandise make downtown one of the best places to shop in the region. New clothing stores such as Leon Sugar’s and gift shops like Holmes Fine Gifts have items to suit any taste, or any occasion.
5. Our fantastic parks – Festival Park, Linear Park, Cross Creek Park, just to name a few
Talk about wonderful places to have a fabulous picnic, walk or see a concert! Events and activities are commonplace in these parks, but if you just wanted to get healthy and take a nature walk, our trails in Linear Park are for you!
6. A truly cool atmosphere
Our heart of the City has been described as trendy, artsy, charming, picturesque, creative and diverse. Urban living, nightlife, friendly people, museum tours and lunch groups have people from all over having different experiences with the same result – returning over and over again!
7. The Airborne and Special Operations Museum and the new State Veterans Park
The Airborne and Special Operations Museum, affectionately known as ASOM, is one of our region’s top attractions and brings thousands of people downtown every year. The new North Carolina State Veterans Park will sit adjacent to the museum and is moving quickly towards their goal of debuting on July 4, 2011.
8. The Field of Honor
The Downtown Alliance hosts the Field of Honor every year and it is truly a sight to behold with sponsored flags lining the field in front of ASOM. Our appreciation for our soldiers, veterans and their families is worth a stand alone in this top ten list to say the least.
9. Award winning performances and gallery worthy art
Plays, performances, displays and world renowned exhibits are featured downtown with so many options to see local shows at the Gilbert Theatre, The Arts Council, the Fayetteville Museum of Art and many more. Our museums, art studios and shops showcase the best that our community has to offer!
10. More shops, restaurants, luxury condos and the like on the horizon
More than ten years has gone by since our community started its plan for downtown revitalization and, in that time, we have made great strides towards building our center city, commercially and residentially. Downtown is growing and has new developments around every corner. Be a part of seeing your downtown grow in this next year and onward!
If you haven’t been downtown lately, you need to see what you are missing! Grab some friends or your family and come explore Downtown Fayetteville. You’ll be glad you did!
Eat Down the Street, Downtown!
Now that the 3/50 Project, encouraging residents to “save their local economy three stores at a time,” is catching on in Fayetteville, know that we are not just talking about retail shops (although we love those too!). It is any type of brick and mortar building including restaurants and founder Cinda Baxter of Minneapolis, Minnesota has a new initiative called “Eat Down the Street,” which is all about committing to eat in a local independently owned restaurant every week. And Downtown Fayetteville has something for even the pickiest of eaters from appetizers and entrees to salads and desserts so it is the perfect place to support your community and find new haunts in the process!
One of our newest additions to the district as of April 16 is Lidos, The Euro Spot, located at 102 Person Street specializing in European and Russian cuisine. The restaurant will also offer dancing and live music along with the signature dishes such as Russian goulash and Hungarian chicken paprikash. Almost next door is Circa 1800, which most residents in Fayetteville have marked their new favorite. Located at 108 Person Street, the filet tips are the house special and their bananas foster is a fantastic way to end a great meal.
A little further up downtown, McDuff’s Tea Room located at 114 Gillespie Street specializes in gourmet salads and sandwiches to pair along with scrumptious desserts and the finest of tea. They also serve an Afternoon Tea (reservations only) Tuesday through Saturday at 3 p.m. For those wanting an Italian flair, Pierro’s Italian Bistro located at 217 Hay Street serves up only the best grilled and pasta specialties, pizzas and Italian classics in town.
For more casual dining, Hamburger Heaven located at 132 Person Street offers wings, salads and hamburgers including their Carolina Favorite Burger, which has slaw, chili and onions for those who still need to try some local flavor. Dock’s at the Capitol located at 126 Hay Street has an extensive menu of sandwiches, appetizers and house specialties up in the Sports Bar along with entertainment and games downstairs.
Another couple of options for casual dining are Beef O’ Brady’s located at 229 Hay Street and Subway at the Depot located at 472 Hay Street. Both are great if you want a quick sandwich and Beef O’ Brady’s even has trivia nights and is a fun place to watch all of the games on big screen televisions.
Another new restaurant in the district is Fresh Café, which is marketed as Downtown Fayetteville’s premier organic and natural food restaurant. Located at 212 Hay Street, they serve fresh salads, sandwiches and quiches and also host an acoustic open mic night on Thursdays.
For those who are looking for a good brew to pair with their entrees, the Blue Moon Café located at 310 Hay Street has seasonal menus, patio seating and a large selection of craft beers. Also, Huske Hardware House and Brewery located at 405 Hay Street is gaining recognition in this area as a regional supplier of custom crafted brewed beers. They also have a large pub menu and an active night life with music and entertainment. Next door, Wet Willie’s, a restaurant and bar with a variety of daiquiris, will be opening later this year.
Of course, they say breakfast is the most important meal of the day. For a quick cup of coffee and a delicious croissant, try Rude Awakening Coffee House located at 227 Hay Street. A trip there is guaranteed to give you that needed caffeinated jolt in the morning to start the day! If you have a bit more time, sit down at Horne’s Deli located at 124 Hay Street. Breakfast items include eggs Benedict, omelets, hash browns, bacon and so on. Both places also serve lunch too.
Desserts are a specialty downtown. Not only do all of the restaurants have great options, but we have four stores specifically catering to those with that proverbial sweet tooth. Seek out Baskets of Blessings for delicious concoctions of fudge at 136 Person Street along with truffles and other candy goodies. The Cupcake Gallery, located at 107 Person Street, hosts a generous array of cupcakes with old favorites and daily surprises. If you are a new customer, make sure to get a dozen so you can try it all! Just Desserts, located at 314 Hay Street, is the place to order your special occasion cake including weddings, anniversaries and birthdays. They also offer baked goods from scratch made cookies to pie and everything in between. Another place to satisfy that chocolate craving is The Chocolate Lady located at 318 Hay Street. Your eyes will grow wide at the sight of the counters carrying a variety of chocolate dipped items and specialty gourmet treats all for the taking.
The biggest thing to keep in mind about the 3/50 Project is for every $100 spent in locally owned independent stores, $68 returns to the community through taxes, payroll and other expenditures. If you spend that in a national chain, only $43 stays here and if you spend it online, nothing comes home. Join us in supporting our local cafes, coffee shops, bistros and restaurants in Downtown Fayetteville and remember you can always walk downtown to burn some of the calories off!