5 Best Restaurants in Central North Carolina, North Carolina

Brandwein's Bagels

$ | Downtown
North Carolina--grown and --milled flour, boiled and baked in the New York style, make these perfect bagels both local and authentic. Toasted and smothered with pimento cheese, bacon, and avocado, they're perfection.
505 W. Rosemary St., Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27516, USA
919-240--7071
Known For
  • house-made sweet and savory bagel spreads, including vegan options
  • hefty bagel lunch sandwiches like the Hot Honey Turkey
  • gluten-free bagel options

Cheesecakes by Alex

$ | Downtown
Swing by this local favorite for a café au lait and a chocolate croissant in the morning, and then visit again after dark for the decadent desserts.
315 S. Elm St., Greensboro, North Carolina, 27401, USA
336-273--0970
Known For
  • two dozen cheesecake flavors, from sweet potato to chocolate chip mint
  • coffee and pastries in the morning
  • rich cupcakes and muffins

Monuts

$ | West Metro
Whether you opt for a hearty avocado-stuffed breakfast burrito, go healthy with a granola bowl, or just stop in for a drip coffee, you'd be remiss to leave without one of the signature house doughnuts. Don't even try to fool yourself into just eating half.
1002 Ninth St., Durham, North Carolina, 27705, USA
919-286--2642
Known For
  • sea salt dark chocolate glazed doughnuts
  • seasonal coffee like iced mint lattes
  • build-your-own biscuit sandwiches

Recommended Fodor's Video

The Parlour

$ | Downtown
It's worth the line down the sidewalk for the house-made ice cream with seasonal flavors at this boutique spot with a dozen daily flavors.
117 Market St., Durham, North Carolina, 27701, USA
919-564--7999
Known For
  • fun flavors like guava cheesecake
  • the chocolate habanero float, with spicy cold brew over vanilla ice cream
  • vegan baked treats
Restaurants Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues.

Winkler Bakery

$

No trip to the Old Salem Museum & Gardens is complete without a stop at the Winkler Bakery, where you can buy bread and their pillowy, best-selling sugar cakes, baked in traditional brick ovens. Moravian ginger cookies, paper-thin and dense with spice, are a classic treat. You can also try them dipped in chocolate.