A Few Stops in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Even though I spent a large part of my childhood in North Carolina, I never spent much time in Winston-Salem. The city was built around the tobacco industry, which declined decades ago. Even though a strong university and hospital presence remained, the city was left with a lot of abandoned warehouses and historical structures. But a recent renaissance has filled those empty spaces with cool breweries and trendy restaurants. I was pleasantly surprised by the city during a recent trip to visit one of my best friends. I look forward to going back to explore Old Salem, the Moravian influence, and nearby hiking, but for now, let me share a few stops I enjoyed in Winston-Salem:

Village Juice Co.

Start your day with an Instagram-worthy acai bowl, smoothie, or cold-pressed juice at this cute shop tucked into a shopping center near Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. If you want something a little more filling, their wholesome toasts and grain bowls make a great lunch or afternoon snack.

Yoga @ Foothills Brewing

On Saturdays from 11am-noon, head over to Foothills Brewing tasting room for the YOGAmmunity class. The $8 ticket includes an all-levels yoga class and a beer ticket to redeem right after you get your sweat on. Check their events page for upcoming classes.

Mary’s Gourmet Diner

On the edge of the downtown Arts District is Mary’s Gourmet Diner, a comfortable brunch restaurant serving fresh, made-from-scratch takes on diner classics. Try one of their “gritz bowls” with local, stone-ground grits, or another seasonal breakfast entree. Sandwiches, soup, and salads round out the menu if you want lunch food. In addition to indoor seating, they have a covered outdoor patio, and they have free parking next door.

Black Mountain Chocolate

Across the street from Mary’s is Black Mountain Chocolate, where you can find bean-to-bar, small batch chocolate. Walk through a self-guided tour of their visible factory + kitchen or just go for the chocolate samples. The shop serves chocolate desserts, gelato, and coffee. They also have a small retail section with chocolate bars, locally-blended teas, and coffee beans.

Wise Man Brewing

Wise Man Brewing is one of the new kids on the block with their downtown taproom that opened a little less than a year ago. The converted warehouse space is dog friendly, and they have a regular rotation of food trucks that serve right outside. They have a variety of their small-batch beers on tap, along with kombucha and Bull City Ciderworks hard cider.

The Katharine

Step back in time at The Katharine, the Southern-influenced, French brasserie and raw bar in the Reynolds building downtown. The restaurant is named for the wife of building’s namesake, tobacco magnate R.J. Reynolds. The 1920’s Art Deco building is known as the design inspiration for New York City’s Empire State Building. A recent renovation leaves the historic building and restaurant feeling fresh, hip, and thoughtful.