Recommendations

Downtown Winston-Salem

Current families’ wisdom

We asked current Wake Forest families to share their favorite local restaurants and hotels with incoming families.

Hotels

  • Recommended by Multiple Families

    Most often mentioned appears first.

    Name
    Kimpton Cardinalhttps://www.thecardinalhotel.com/
    Graylynhttps://www.graylyn.com/
    Hotel Indigohttps://www.ihg.com/hotelindigo/hotels/us/en/winston-salem/intdt/hoteldetail
    Marriott on Cherry Streethttps://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/intmc-winston-salem-marriott/overview/
    Courtyard Marriotthttps://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/intcy-courtyard-winston-salem-university/overview/
    Courtyard Marriott (downtown)
    		https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/intcd-courtyard-winston-salem-downtown/overview/
    Embassy Suiteshttps://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/inteses-embassy-suites-winston-salem/
    Brookstown Innhttps://brookstowninn.com/
  • Other Recommendations
    Name
    Best Western Plushttps://www.bestwestern.com/en_US/book/hotels-in-winston-salem/best-western-plus-university-inn/propertyCode.34181.html
    DoubleTreehttps://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/intwudt-doubletree-winston-salem-university/
    Hampton Innhttps://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/intuvhx-hampton-suites-winston-salem-university-area-nc/
    Hilton Garden Innhttps://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/intwsgi-hilton-garden-inn-winston-salem-hanes-mall/
    Holiday Innhttps://www.ihg.com/holidayinnexpress/hotels/us/en/winston-salem/intms/hoteldetail?cm_mmc=GoogleMaps-_-EX-_-US-_-INTMS

Places to Eat

  • Breakfast
    Recommended by Multiple Families

    Most often mentioned appears first.

    Name
    Krankieshttp://www.krankiescoffee.com/
    Dough Joe’shttps://www.doughjoesnc.com/
    Bobbyboy Bakeshophttps://www.bobbyboybakeshop.com/
    Breakfastimehttps://breakfastimenc.com/
    Katharine Brasserie (downtown in the Kimpton Cardinal Hotel)https://katharinebrasserie.com/
    Midtown Café and Desserteryhttps://www.midtowncafews.com/
    Young Cardinal Café and Co.https://andrewsrestaurantsws.com/young-cardinal/
    Camino Bakeryhttps://www.caminobakery.com/
    Louie and Honey’s Kitchenhttps://www.louieandhoneyskitchen.com/
    Famous Toasteryhttps://famoustoastery.com/locations/
    Penny Path Cafe and Crepe Shophttps://www.facebook.com/thepennypathwsnc/
    Village Tavernhttps://www.villagetavern.com/location-winston-salem-reynolda-village
    Biscuitvillehttps://biscuitville.com/location/3388-robinhood-rd/
    Other Recommendations
    Name
    Acadia Foodshttps://acadia-foods.com/
    Anchor Coffee (coffee only)https://shop.anchorcoffeeco.com/pages/winston-salem
    Bitty and Beaus (coffee only)https://www.bittyandbeauscoffee.com/location/winston-salem/
    Duke’s Restauranthttps://www.dukesws.com/
    First Watchhttps://www.firstwatch.com/locations/winston-salem/
    Fourth Street Filling Stationhttps://www.theoldfourthstreetfillingstation.com/
    Mama Zoe Michaelshttps://mamazoes.com/
  • Lunch
    Recommended by Multiple Families

    Most often mentioned appears first.

    NameCuisine
    Village Tavern https://www.villagetavern.com/location-winston-salem-reynolda-villageAmerican tavern fare
    Cugino Forno Pizzeria https://cuginoforno.com/Pizza
    Mozelle’s https://mozelles.com/Fresh Southern bistro
    The Porch https://theporchws.com/Innovative Tex Mex
    Penny Path Cafe and Crepe Shop
    		https://www.facebook.com/thepennypathwsnc/Crepes
    Dioli’shttp://diolis.com/Italian deli and bakery
    Krankieshttp://www.krankiescoffee.com/American
    Cin Cin Burger Barhttps://cincinburgerbar.com/Burgers and more
    The Carving Boardhttps://thecarving-board.com/Soups, salads, sandwiches, and more
    Elizabeth’s Pizzahttps://www.elizabethspizzamenu.com/?utm_source=gbpPizza/Italian
    May Way Dumplingshttps://maywaydumplingsvillage.com/Dumplings
    Mojito Latin Soul Foodhttps://mojitolatinsoulfood.com/Fresh Latin cuisine
    TJ’s Delihttp://www.tjsdeligrill.com/Deli sandwiches and more
    Hero Househttps://www.herohouse.com/Greek, sandwiches, salads, and more
    Other Recommendations
    NameCuisine
    600 Degreeshttps://sixhundreddegrees.com/Wood fire grilled, locally-sourced food
    Acadia Foodshttps://acadia-foods.com/Deli and coffee shop with healthy alternatives
    Alma Mexicanahttps://almamexicanawsnc.com/Upscale Mexican
    Basil Leaf Thaihttps://basilleafthai.com/Thai
    Bobbyboy Bakeshophttps://www.bobbyboybakeshop.com/Boulangerie/Patisserie
    Camel City BBQhttps://www.camelcitybbq.com/Barbecue
    Curry and Noodlehttps://www.clover.com/online-ordering/curry-and-noodle-winstonsalemIndian
    Finnegan’s Wakehttps://www.facebook.com/FinnigansWake/Irish/pub food
    Foothills Brew Pubhttps://www.foothillsbrewing.com/Brewpub
    Fourth Street Filling Stationhttps://www.theoldfourthstreetfillingstation.com/American fare
    Heff’s Burger Clubhttp://www.heffsburgerclub.com/Burgers
    Ketchie Creek (in Clemmons)https://ketchiecreekbakery.com/menu/clemmons/Bakery, sandwiches, salads
    Mama Zoe Michaelshttps://mamazoes.com/Homestyle cooking
    Mayberryhttps://www.mayberryicecream.com/Ice cream
    Puttershttp://putterspatioandgrill.com/Bar/pub food
    Real Q (BBQ)http://real-q.com/Barbecue
    River Birch Lodgehttps://riverbirchlodge.com/Mountain casual dining
    Ronni’s Restaurant (in Clemmons)
    		https://ronniswings.net/Wings
    Rooster’s Wood Fired Kitchenhttps://roosterskitchen.com/a-noble-grille/Wood-fired, artisan cooking
    Sweet Potatoeshttps://www.sweetpotatoes.ws/Southern inspired uptown, down-home cooking
    The Quiet Pint Tavernhttps://quietpinttavern.com/Bar/pub food
    Theodore’s Bar and Markethttp://www.theodoresnc.com/Sandwiches, salads, soup
    West End Cafehttps://www.westendcafe.com/American cafe fare
  • Dinner
    Recommended by Multiple Families

    Most often mentioned appears first.

    NameCuisine
    Mozelle’shttps://mozelles.com/Fresh Southern bistro
    Village Tavernhttps://www.villagetavern.com/location-winston-salem-reynolda-villageAmerican tavern fare
    Ryan’shttps://ryansrestaurant.com/Upscale steakhouse and seafood
    Cibo Trattoriahttps://www.cibotrattoriaws.com/Italian
    The Porchhttps://theporchws.com/Innovative Tex Mex
    Fratelli’s Italian Steakhousehttps://www.fratellissteakhouse.com/Italian steakhouse
    1703https://www.1703restaurant.com/Creative cuisine and seasonal daily menus
    Bernardin’shttps://www.bernardinsfinedining.com/location/winston-bernardins/Sophisticated, succulent cuisine
    Jeffrey Adams on Fourthhttps://jeffreyadamsws.com/American, wood-fired grill
    Katharine Brasserie (downtown in the Kimpton Cardinal hotel)
    		https://katharinebrasserie.com/Parisian brasserie-inspired menu
    Rooster’s Wood Fired Kitchenhttps://roosterskitchen.com/a-noble-grille/Wood-fired, artisan cooking
    Spring Househttps://www.springhousenc.com/Southern-style, seasonally-inspired dishes
    Diamondback Grillhttps://diamondbackgrill.com/Sports bar with casual fare and delicious dinners
    Fourth Street Filling Stationhttps://www.theoldfourthstreetfillingstation.com/American
    Nawab Indian Cuisinehttp://www.nawabindiancuisine.com/Indian
    Quanto Bastahttps://www.quantobastanc.com/Italian
    Sir Winston Wine Loft and Restaurant (downtown in the Indigo Hotel)
    		https://sirwinstonrestaurant.com/Exquisitely prepared farm-to-table cuisine
    Mizuhttp://mizuwinstonsalem.com/Japanese, sushi
    600 Degreeshttps://sixhundreddegrees.com/Wood-fired, artisan cooking
    Meridianhttp://www.meridianws.com/Upscale cuisine inspired by the flavors of the Mediterranean
    Other Recommendations
    NameCuisine
    Arriba Villa Taqueriahttps://www.facebook.com/arribavillataqueria/Mexican
    Burke St. Pizzahttps://www.burkestreetpizza.com/Pizza
    Di Lisio’s Italianhttps://dilisiositalian.com/Italian
    Firebirds Wood Fired Grillhttps://winston-salem.firebirdsrestaurants.com/American
    Hakka Chow Asian Eatshttp://www.hakka-chow.com/Asian cuisines such Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, or Indian
    Heff’s Burger Clubhttp://www.heffsburgerclub.com/Burgers
    Honky Tonk Smokehousehttps://www.honkytonksmokehouse.com/Barbecue in the Texas- or Memphis-style
    Mellow Mushroom Pizzahttps://mellowmushroom.com/location/nc-winston-salem-314-w-4th-st-27101/?utm_source=gmb&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=Winston-Salem-NC&utm_content=26Pizza, salads
    Milner’s American Southernhttps://gotomilners.com/American Southern
    Mission Pizza Napoletanahttp://www.missionpizzanapoletana.com/Pizza
    Mojito Latin Soul Foodhttps://mojitolatinsoulfood.com/Fresh Latin cuisine
    Playa Azulhttps://playaazulnc.com/Mexican
    River Birch Lodgehttps://riverbirchlodge.com/Mountain casual dining
    Sweet Potatoeshttps://www.sweetpotatoes.ws/Southern inspired uptown, down-home cooking
    Thai Harmonyhttp://thaiharmonyws.com/Thai
    Tulumhttps://tulumws.com/Modern Mexican
    Willows Bistrohttps://willowsbistro-ws.com/Bistro featuring farm-to-table cuisine

Other Local Recommendations

  • Faith-Based
    Name
    Easter service at God’s Acre/Home Moravian Churchhttps://www.homemoravian.org/who-we/our-worship/easter-sunrise-se/
  • Museums, Arts, & Culture
    Name
    Reynolda House Museumhttps://reynolda.org/
    Reynolda Village and Gardenshttps://www.reynoldavillage.com/
    Old Salem historical tour and Winkler’s Bakeryhttps://www.oldsalem.org/
    The Stevens Centerhttps://www.uncsa.edu/performances/stevens-center/index.aspx
    Tanger Center in Greensborohttps://www.tangercenter.com/
  • Nightlife, Breweries, & Bars
    Name
    ROAR (dining and entertainment)https://www.roarws.com/
    Fiddlin Fish Brewing Co.https://fiddlinfish.com/
    Foothills Brewinghttps://www.foothillsbrewing.com/
    Recreation Billiardshttps://www.facebook.com/RecreationBilliards/?paipv=0&eav=AfaimbDHEZejV0xT0TF_vP9xWXiaf4KQ5NR2tQXUTQYx0Jkt75ascutG0ukuUDXYWeg&_rdr
    Joyner’s Barhttps://joynersws.com/
    Wise Man Brewinghttps://shop.wisemanbrewing.com/
    Incendiary Brewinghttps://www.incendiarybrewing.com/
    Divine Llama Vineyards (in East Bend)https://www.divinellamavineyards.com/llama-trekking-new
  • Outdoor Recreation
    Name
    Salem Lakehttps://www.cityofws.org/2129/Salem-Lake
    Tanglewoodhttps://www.forsyth.cc/parks/tanglewood/
    Hanes Parkhttps://www.cityofws.org/Facilities/Facility/Details/Hanes-Park-73
    Winston-Salem Dash baseballhttps://www.milb.com/winston-salem
  • Shops
    Name
    Bookmarks (independent bookstore)
    		https://www.bookmarksnc.org/
    Dewey’s Bakeryhttps://deweys.com/pages/reynolda-manor?utm_source=local&utm_campaign=googlemybusiness-Reynolda&utm_medium=organic
    Hanes Moravian Cookie factoryhttps://www.hanescookies.com/

Additional Resources

Subscribe to the Daily Deac for WFU parent and family news

Subscribe to the Daily Deac »

A-Z of WFU

A glossary of terms to help undergraduate students and families understand some of the basic terminology and offices of Wake Forest

View the Glossary »