When I first moved to Raleigh, I made Camden Asbury Village my home. It was long before I worked for Camden, but just a simple walkthrough of the community, and I knew it was the place for me.

One of the closest downtowns to Camden Asbury Village is Downtown Cary. It is one of my favorite places to go, whether to sample some of the finest beer brewed locally or sip coffee and eat a croissant on slow Saturday mornings. Below I’ve compiled a non-exhaustive list of awesome places to go to downtown Cary whether you’re looking for coffee, dinner, dessert, or a relaxing place to grab a drink after work.

Photo by Nathan Dumlao from Unsplash

Coffee Shops in Cary, NC

Let’s get started, as all things should, with coffee. To me, Saturday mornings are best enjoyed with a big cup of coffee and occasionally a pastry at one of these places.

• BREW, my favorite coffee shop, outdoor and indoor options for seating. They also have beer later in the day.

• Once in a Blue Moon Bakery & Café is tucked away but very quaint.

• Esteamed Coffee makes a fine cup and has a great staff.

Bakeries

There are more bakeries downtown Cary than you’d expect for its size.

• Once in a Blue Moon, the coffee shop I mentioned previously, makes great cookies, pastries, and cakes aside from their coffee.

• La Farm Bakery has three Cary locations. They all produce all types of baked goods like bread, pastries, pretzels, cookies, etc., and I’ve not bit into anything there I didn’t love!

• Annelore’s German Bakery is my favorite baker! Among their many delicious and decadent treats is their shining star, their Bavarian pretzel. One bite brings me back to my time at Oktoberfest in Munich.

International Food

For some awesome international dishes, there are great restaurants in Cary.

• Taipei 101 was a runner-up in Indy Week’s Best of the Triangle 2022 in the Best Chinese Restaurant in Wake County category but if you ask me, it’s the best.

• Kababish Café serves up some fine Indian cuisine.

• Di Fara Pizza Tavern is a well-known pizza place in Cary serving pizza by the slice or whole pie.

Photo by Josh Olalde from Unsplash

Drinks

After a long work week, sometimes you just need a good drink to take your mind off things. Downtown Cary has several fine establishments providing you with a difficult choice of where to go.

• Bond Brothers was named Best New Brewery by USA Today in 2016 and remains one of the best breweries in the Triangle and the state.

• Cotton House serves great beer in an old house turned into a gorgeous bar.

• Bull City Ciderworks, a piece of Durham that Camden Durham residents will become very familiar with, has opened their doors in a new Cary location. Cideries are a rarity, but we’re lucky enough to have choices on the location of an amazing one!

• Pharmacy Bottle + Beverage has a lively atmosphere in the center of downtown Cary just a short walk from everything else the area provides.

________________________________

Finally, two honorable mentions in a category of their own! Ashworth Drugs is an operational pharmacy with a little piece of Americana inside of it, an old-timey soda fountain offering soda pop, hot dogs, milkshakes, and more. For dessert, check out Fresh Local Ice Cream and its many unique flavors. You will not regret it!

Whether you’re new to the Triangle or a lifetime resident, you probably haven’t given downtown Cary the attention it’s deserved. While looking for your next apartment home, make sure to reach out to Camden Asbury Village and Camden Westwood to set up a tour so you can live close to this thriving community!