Food Downtown Raleigh
Second Empire Restaurant and Tavern
A place to eat in Downtown Raleigh, a splurge ($$$$) and worth about 2 hours. Best time to go: Dinner.
Why go
Fine dining in the restored 1879 Dodd-Hinsdale House, with a formal upstairs dining room and a cozier tavern below.
It is one of 8 curated places we feature in Downtown Raleigh, alongside 3 places to eat, 1 activity and 1 place for a drink. 6 more of our picks sit within about half a mile in a straight line, so it pairs easily with Morgan Street Food Hall and North Carolina State Capitol.
- Type
- Food
- Neighborhood
- Downtown
- Price
- $$$$
- Time needed
- 2 hr
- Best time
- Dinner
Nearby
Our closest curated picks, including 1 beyond Downtown Raleigh. Distances are straight-line, not walking or driving.
- 1Morgan Street Food Hall
Warehouse District food hall with about 20 counters, from biscuits and ramen to tacos and a central bar.
Food · Dix Park & West Raleigh · 0.1 mi straight-line - 2North Carolina State Capitol
Greek Revival capitol from 1840 at the north end of Fayetteville Street, a straight sightline from City Plaza.
Sight · 0.3 mi straight-line - 3The Raleigh Times Bar
Bar in the 1906 building of the old Raleigh Times newspaper, with a rooftop patio a block from City Plaza.
Drinks · 0.4 mi straight-line - 4Poole's Diner
Ashley Christensen's diner in a 1945 luncheonette, known for macaroni au gratin and a chalkboard menu.
Food · 0.4 mi straight-line - 5Bida Manda
Laotian restaurant run by a brother and sister since 2012, known for crispy pork belly soup and lemongrass dishes.
Food · 0.5 mi straight-line - 6First Night Raleigh and the Acorn Drop
Artsplosure's New Year's Eve festival on Fayetteville Street, ending with the copper acorn lowered over City Plaza and fireworks.
Activity · 0.5 mi straight-line
On these curated routes
Second Empire Restaurant and Tavern is a stop on our Raleigh New Year's Eve route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.
More places to eat in Downtown Raleigh
Another curated place to eat in Downtown Raleigh. See the full Downtown Raleigh guide.
When to go
Average daily highs in Downtown Raleigh run from 48°F in January to 91°F in July; August is usually the wettest month. For Second Empire Restaurant and Tavern itself, we suggest: Dinner.
Modelled monthly averages for Downtown Raleigh from NASA POWER, not a forecast. Full Downtown Raleigh weather by month.
Getting there
Map links open a live search for Second Empire Restaurant and Tavern, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.
- Coordinates
- 35.78090, -78.64469
- Destination
- Downtown Raleigh, North Carolina
Second Empire Restaurant and Tavern: quick answers
How much time do you need at Second Empire Restaurant and Tavern?
Plan on about 2 hours at Second Empire Restaurant and Tavern. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.
When is the best time to visit Second Empire Restaurant and Tavern?
Our pick: Dinner. Insider tip: The tavern menu is a less formal way in on a busy night.
Which TripsCircle routes include Second Empire Restaurant and Tavern?
Second Empire Restaurant and Tavern appears on Raleigh New Year's Eve, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.
Add it to your crew's plan
Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to Downtown Raleigh.
Plan Downtown Raleigh
- Downtown Raleigh travel guide 8 places
- Best time to visit Downtown Raleigh weather by month
Lists & regions
Also in Downtown Raleigh
Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.