American Football
A city guide to Raleigh if you are visiting for March Madness
Raleigh is hosting the first and second rounds of the 2025 men’s NCAA tournament.
There’s nowhere in the world quite like Raleigh when it comes to college basketball. The capital of North Carolina, part of the tobacco road rivalry, and an exploding cosmopolitan city — there’s a little bit of everything for Raleigh will open its doors to visitors from all around the country for the NCAA tournament.
Bleeding red and two shades of blue, the NCAA tournament in Raleigh boils down to UNC, Duke, and NC State fans showing their colors — and while the 2025 tournament might lack some of the luster thanks to down seasons from Chapel Hill and the Wolfpack, there’s still going to be a ton of local interest.
If you’re coming to Raleigh for the games here are some things you need to see, do, and eat while in town.
Welcome to tailgate country.
The ample parking lot at the Lenovo Center makes it an ideal place to tailgate, and locals are well accustomed to bringing the party. The arena, which also houses the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes, is one of the only places in hockey where fans can tailgate because of the agreeable weather — and that should continue throughout the tournament.
The first and second rounds coincide with the first weekend in spring, and forecasts are predicting temperatures in the mid-to-high 70s, which will be absolutely perfect. The Lenovo Center allows full and open tailgating throughout the day, with the only provision being that vehicles left overnight have to be out of the parking lot by 8 am the following morning.
So, if you enjoy yourself a little too much, please just take an Uber back and retrieve your car the next day.
Things to do in Raleigh
Obviously you’re here so see basketball, I get it — but if you’re a first-time visitor to the area there are absolutely some things you should do if there’s a break between games or you only have tickets for a specific session.
North Carolina Museum of Art
It’s really great to take in an art museum in whichever city your travel to — if only to get a taste of local arts, and regional specialities. The North Carolina Museum of Art has a solid collection of renaissance paintings, but more impressive are their antiquities, from Egypt on.
Two special exhibits will also be on display, with The Time Is Always Now focusing on artists from the African diaspora, and NC artist David LaChapelle showing his unique pop-art photography that involves hand painting on film before processing for an entirely unique look.
Take a stroll down Franklin Street
There’s no doubt that having UNC narrowly sneak into the NCAA tournament puts a damper on March in Chapel Hill, but a short drive from Raleigh will put you in the heart of college basketball in the state. Located near UNC, Franklin Street is THE place to be to bar-hop on game nights, grab a late-night chicken sandwich from “Time Out,” or just take in the history of the area.
Visit Downtown Cary Park
Located on the outskirts of Raleigh, the town of Cary is a wholly unique suburb worth experiencing. The Downtown park is especially great if you want to get outside and soak up some sun with fountains, vendors, and open space to stroll — or just lay in the grass and reconnect with things.
Where to eat in Raleigh
Okay, so let’s get down the most important thing: Food. If you travel somewhere you’re always hunting down something good to eat, and the worst thing is to arrive without a plan, then have to furiously search at the last second and settle for fast food.
Obviously this is an intensely personal thing, and there are no doubt restaurants that everyone thinks you have to go in a city, but these are three two picks whenever someone tells me they’re visiting Raleigh and want some advice.
When it comes to good North Carolina BBQ normally the best spots tend to be run-down shacks that are almost in the middle of nowhere. While those places are all great, The Pit upscales the form, while also being true to the roots of whole-hog BBQ.
Get some pulled pork, a side of collards, as well as some mac and cheese — I promise you won’t regret it.
A wholly bizarre mix of dim sum, East Asian cuisine, and craft beer — Brewery Bhavana has fast become a must-visit place for a snack, meal, or just a damn good beer. Everything is made on premises, and while having a Bao Bun with an IPA might seem weird at first, the quality is so high it all just works.
A burger institution, Char-Grill is the best place for a late-night burger and a shake. Their 50’s style drive in format with simple outdoor seating would be called a “throwback,” except it’s been like this since 1959 and hasn’t changed since.
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Best place to celebrate a victory
This one is simple, and you can thank me later.
For 68 years The Player’s Retreat has been the best sports bar in Raleigh, and perhaps one of the best sports bars in North Carolina.
PR as it’s known by locals is THE spot for NC State fans, and with classic bar fare to eat up until 2 a.m, a massive collection of whiskey, and a deep roster of beers — the best thing about PR has to be the atmosphere, which is dripping in moments from NC State history. Jim Valvano is everywhere on the walls, David Thompson headlines are housed in faded frames.
It’s not just a place to drink and celebrate, but experience.
The best place to get over a loss
So, your team was just eliminated. That sucks. Let’s get you something sweet. Look, I could give you something really fancy and bespoke, like lucettegrace (which is incredible) — but there’s only one thing a sports fan needs at night to forget about a bad loss.
It’s a North Carolina institution. Open until 4 a.m and boasting more milkshake flavors than you could handle in a lifetime, the phrase “milkshake” really doesn’t apply — because you’re getting a massive cup of soft serve with stuff mixed in and it’s perfect.
Pro tip: Don’t feel hemmed in by the menu. You can mix any of their shakes together into one if you just ask. Get a cheesecake shake with Heath toffee in it. I promise it will make you forget about everything else in life.
Most importantly: Have fun
North Carolina is welcoming, diverse, and surprising to people who haven’t visited before. From the mountains to the sea it’s a state that has it all, and Raleigh is an amazing place to visit.
Locals believe in hospitality, and even if you’re a good-natured jerk rooting against the home team, they’ll still be kind. Have a blast, and enjoy the tournament.