Y’all, one of the questions I get asked the most is what Raleigh restaurants open on Mondays for dinner service. It is a great question, because Monday is the night where restaurants choose to close up shop and take a breather. So if you have ever stood in your kitchen at 6pm on a Monday thinking, “surely something’s open,” you have come to the right place. This started as a short downtown list, and after years of y’all asking for more, it has grown into the full roundup — my downtown go-tos plus favorites from Cameron Village, North Hills, NC State, and beyond.
Quick answer: My original Raleigh picks for Monday night dinner are Ajisai, Barcelona Wine Bar, Players Retreat, St. Roch Fine Oysters + Bar, Taverna Agora, Tazza Kitchen, Vidrio, and Wye Hill Kitchen & Brewing. Beyond those, RH Rooftop, Birdie’s Barroom & Kitchen, Village Tavern, Brodeto, Figulina, O-Ku, Standard Beer + Food, Vivace, Sam Jones BBQ, La Santa, Ponysaurus, Gringo A Go-Go, Trophy Brewing & Pizza, and Poole’s Diner are all open and serving dinner on Mondays too — 23 spots in total as of 2026.
One thing I say every single time and will say again here: restaurant hours change, especially around holidays, so please double check the website or social media before you head out, and grab a reservation if you can. Okay, let’s get into it!
This article was originally written in March 2022 and has since been updated and recirculated for September 2026.
23 Best Raleigh Restaurants Open on Mondays (2026 Guide)
Ajisai
Ajisai in Village District is one of my go-to sushi spots in the Triangle, and it is a great pick when you are craving something other than small plates and burgers on a Monday night. The fish is consistently fresh, the rolls are creative, and the dog-friendly patio makes it an easy stop if you are out and about in the Village District. Start with the miso soup or a salad with the ginger dressing and then order one of their speciality rolls. I like the Ajisai or the Pink Lady roll.
Ajisai is at 427 Woodburn Rd, Raleigh, NC 27605.
Barcelona Wine Bar
Barcelona Wine Bar is a warm, welcoming tapas spot inspired by the culture of Spain, tucked into Raleigh’s Warehouse District. The menu is ever-changing and built around clean flavors, seasonal ingredients, and rustic small plates from a genuinely talented kitchen team, plus one of the best Spanish wine programs you’ll find in the U.S. Their patio is still one of my favorites in Raleigh, and it is a fantastic spot to bring friends and share a table full of small plates. If mussels are on the menu when you go, order them.
Barcelona Wine Bar is at 430 W Martin St, Raleigh, NC 27603.
Players Retreat
If you want a little slice of Raleigh history with your Monday dinner, head over to Players Retreat — affectionately known as “PR” — near NC State University. This is an old-school, no-frills neighborhood bar that has been slinging burgers and chicken retreats since 1951, and it is one of the oldest continuously running taverns between Atlanta and D.C. It is not fancy, and that is exactly the point, though it has an incredible wine list and chef specials. Go for a chopped salad with chicken retreats and a side of fries, a cold beer, and some people-watching, and settle in with the TVs for whenever there is a game on.
Players Retreat is at 105 Oberlin Rd, Raleigh, NC 27605.
St. Roch Fine Oysters and Bar
One of my very favorite places to eat in Raleigh, period, is St. Roch. I start with the pimento cheese and fried saltines every time, then move on to the pimento’d oysters and pommes frites. This New Orleans-inspired spot keeps a delightfully no-frills approach to the dining experience, and they have got options for every mood — I love sitting at the bar, though the window seats are a close second, and there is a patio and front seating if you want to be outside.
St. Roch Fine Oysters and Bar is at 223 S Wilmington St, Raleigh, NC 27601.
Taverna Agora
Taverna Agora is an authentic Greek kitchen and bar where good wine, simply prepared food, and good company come together. Their rooftop remains one of the best unofficial happy hour spots in the city. If I get there early, I am ordering the trio of spreads — spicy feta, sun-dried tomato hummus, and tzatziki — every time. Do not skip the Flambéed Saganaki (yes, flaming cheese, y’all), and the Souvlaki Skewer Platters are a great order, too.
Taverna Agora is at 326 Hillsborough St, Raleigh, NC 27603.
Tazza Kitchen
Also in Village District, Tazza Kitchen brings wood-fired pizzas and a Baja-meets-Mediterranean menu to the Monday night lineup. It is a laid-back, family-friendly spot with a fun, lively vibe, and I love it for a casual weeknight dinner. The menu is incredibly diverse, so I recommend either starting with chips and guacamole or the cast iron goat cheese dip. For entrees, I like the white pizza with the black pepper honey instead of caramelized onion, the mixed greens salad with a crab cake, or the baja bowl with seared ahi tuna. I do recommend making a reservation.
Tazza Kitchen is at 432 Woodburn Rd, Raleigh, NC 27605.
Vidrio
Oh, y’all. Vidrio is gorgeous, with a fun atmosphere that makes it a great pick for date night or a girls’ night dinner. I always recommend ordering a bunch of small plates to share. My personal favorites to order are the charred octopus, burrata flight, and steamed mussels.
Vidrio is at 500 Glenwood Ave #100, Raleigh, NC 27603.
Wye Hill
Wye Hill is one of my top picks for outdoor dining in Raleigh, and you cannot beat the skyline views from the patio. I cannot recommend the deviled eggs and pimento cheese enough as starters, and I alternate between the Wye Caesar with grilled shrimp and the Farmer’s Burger for my main. Make a reservation for the patio.
Wye Hill is at 201 S Boylan Ave, Raleigh, NC 27603.
More Favorites Open on Mondays, By Neighborhood
Once I started keeping track, this list kept growing — here are 15 more Raleigh spots I trust for a Monday dinner, grouped by area so you can pick whatever’s closest.
Downtown Raleigh
Trophy Brewing & Pizza: A Most-Loyal and a Daredea
- Birdie’s Barroom & Kitchen on Fayetteville Street — a light-filled, all-day spot for coffee, lunch, and dinner. Get the deviled eggs, ahi tuna wontons, chopped cobb-esque salad, and a side of fries. Birdies is at 150 Fayetteville St, Raleigh, NC 27601.
- Figulina in the Warehouse District — handmade pasta with a Southern-Italian sensibility. Get the whipped ricotta to start and ask your server for a recommendation since a lot of the pastas are seasonal. Figulina is at 317 S Harrington St, Raleigh, NC 27603.
- Gringo a Go-Go on Person Street — authentic Mexican with a great patio. Start with the chorizo queso and one of their seasonal margaritas. I like their chicken quesadillas, their shrimp tacos, and their carne asada tacos. Gringo a Go-Go is at 100 N Person St, Raleigh, NC 27601.
- La Santa on Glenwood South — modern Mexican with a full bar. Their chips & queso are a must and I order either their ACP or their chicken quesadilla. Order their skinny margarita with a little soda water for an even lighter version. La Santa is at 222 Glenwood Ave Apt 107, Raleigh, NC 27603.
- O-Ku at The Dillon — gorgeous, upscale sushi in the Warehouse District. Some of my favorites are the gyoza, edamame, crispy rice, and whatever you do, order the O-Toro spoons. The spicy tuna crunch and the angry salmon are my favorite rolls. Make a reservation! O-Ku is at 411 W Hargett St, Raleigh, NC 27603.
- Poole’s Diner — one of my original favorite places in Raleigh. Make a reservation for the bar or the horse shoe for a quintessential Raleigh dining experience. While we have seasonal favorites, the two standing dishes we will always order: pimento cheese to start and the au gratin mac & cheese as a shareable side. Poole’s Diner is at 428 South McDowell St, Raleigh, NC 27601.
- Sam Jones BBQ near Red Hat Amphitheater — Eastern NC whole-hog barbecue done right. I always get the chopped BBQ sandwich with slaw and a side of mac & cheese. Sam Jones BBQ is at 502 W Lenoir St, Raleigh, NC 27601.
- Standard Beer + Food — a laid-back beer-and-food hangout downtown. Order a smashburger with a side of queso tots. Walk next door to Person Street Bar and say hi to the best bartender around, Tom. Standard Beer + Food is at 205 E Franklin St, Raleigh, NC 27604.
- Trophy Brewing & Pizza on Morgan Street — craft beer, great pizza, and a Detroit-style pizza special on Mondays and Tuesdays. My go-to order is the Most Loyal with one of the Trophy brews. Trophy Brewing & Pizza is at 827 W Morgan St, Raleigh, NC 27603.
Glenwood Avenue
- Sushi Mon — a low-key neighborhood sushi counter. Order the X-O tuna and the salt rock seared salmon to start. The Truffle Tuna and Crunch Salmon rolls are my go-to order. Sushi Mon is at 3800 Glenwood Ave #100, Raleigh, NC 27612.
Iron Works
A bunch of small plates, including the linguine el Nero.
- Brodeto — chef Scott Crawford’s Adriatic-inspired seafood and handmade pasta spot. Try one of their crudos (I love the red snapper and the tuna), the focaccia, whipped ricotta, little gem hearts, and the linguine el Nero. Brodeto is at 2201 Iron Works Dr Ste 137, Raleigh, NC 27604.
- Ponysaurus Brewing Co. — good beer, good food, and Monday trivia night at 7pm. Order a pizza or one of their sandwiches and grab a spot on the patio. Ponysaurus is at 2221 Iron Works Dr Ste 100, Raleigh, NC 27604.
North Hills
- RH Rooftop Restaurant at The Gallery at North Hills — a stunning, plant-filled rooftop dining room. Make a reservation. Order the Gem lettuce with salmon or the lobster roll. RH Rooftop Restaurant is at 4120 Lassiter Mill Rd, Raleigh, NC 27609.
- Village Tavern — a reliable, classic American tavern menu. Make a reservation or grab a seat at the bar. Some of my favorite orders are the tuna tartare, the cobb salad, or a wedge salad and a cup of she crab soup. Village Tavern is at 4140 Lassiter Mill Rd Ste 140, Raleigh, NC 27609.
- Vivace — contemporary Italian with a lively bar and patio. Order the ricotta gnocchi or one of the pizzas. Vivace is at 4209 Lassiter Mill Rd Ste 115, Raleigh, NC 27609.
FAQ: Monday Night Dinner in Downtown Raleigh
What Raleigh restaurants are open on Mondays? As of September 2026, confirmed Monday-night options include Barcelona Wine Bar, St. Roch Fine Oysters + Bar, Taverna Agora, Vidrio, Wye Hill Kitchen & Brewing, Players’ Retreat, Ajisai, Tazza Kitchen, Trophy Brewing & Pizza, Poole’s Diner, Birdie’s Barroom & Kitchen, O-Ku, Standard Beer + Food, La Santa, Sam Jones BBQ, Ponysaurus Brewing Co., Brodeto, Figulina, Gringo A Go-Go, RH Rooftop Restaurant, Village Tavern, Vivace, and Sushi Mon — 23 spots in total across downtown, North Hills, Village District, and beyond.
Do I need a reservation for Monday night dinner in Raleigh? While it may not always required, I recommend making one when you can — especially at popular spots like St. Roch and Vidrio, since Mondays have gotten busier over the past couple of years as more restaurants have closed for the night.
Should I confirm hours before going on a Monday? Yes! Restaurant hours shift around holidays and seasons, so check the restaurant’s website or social media before you head out, just to be safe, especially if you did not make a reservation.
Use this Google interactive map to plan your next Monday night dinner.
Know another great downtown Raleigh restaurant open on Mondays? Let me know — I’m always adding to this list!
