Top Rated Restaurants & Cafes in Chapel Hill

Vinos Finos is a departure from run-of-the-mill drinking and dining experiences. Located inside European-themed Lafayette Village, the wine bar is designed to sample tapas-style dishes and world-class wines. The staff here is more than happy to help with wine selection and pairings. Dark woods, leather furniture, and warm colors make the interiors feel like an old-world wine shop. Vinos Finos encourages patrons to converse, and the intimate, colorful setting is doubly suited for first dates or casual business meetings.

This vibrant cafe, bakery, and German restaurant can safely be called a local favorite. Seasonal menus feature eclectic German specialties made with only locally-sourced ingredients. The bakery offers a generous menu of breads, cakes, pastries, and cookies. Guglhupf’s interiors are stunning, and feature an interior terrace and courtyard, a beautiful patio for outdoor dining, and an atrium. The cafe also often hosts wine and local food-related events, and exhibits the work of local artists.

Gonza is a colorful Mexican restaurant that specializes in tacos and tequila. The interior is eclectic: mannequins greet diners at the door, and Mexican artifacts are mounted on the dining room walls. The menu is a burst of flavor, combining classic Mexican dishes alongside some surprises. Start with a pitcher of strawberry margarita and move on to tacos prepared with chicken tinga poblana, or a scallop and pork belly combination. Patrons can order food online for pickup.

Sola stands apart for its absolute dedication to coffee and its stylish, friendly atmosphere reminiscent of European coffeehouses. The cafe offers a rotating list of espresso, French press, and pour over coffees. On mornings and weekends patrons line up for hot mini donuts. There is plenty of outdoor seating from where you can enjoy a nice menu of sandwiches, flat breads, and salads. If you’re short on time, all of the coffee and menu items are available through a call-ahead drive-through.

Bean Traders is dedicated to the art of roasting and slinging coffee. Since being opened by an optimistic, coffee-loving couple in 2000, the coffeehouse has won nearly a dozen local magazine awards for its coffee and atmosphere. The interior here is inviting, a little chaotic, and funky—the way a loyal, quirky friend might be. Coffee slingers here serve bagels and cookies, and trade in the likes of specialty pour-overs, southern pecan iced coffees, and pumpkin lattes.

Glenwood Grill offers upscale, contemporary cuisine inspired by the American South and coastal Carolinas. The restaurant prides itself on farm-to-table policies and use of regionally sourced food. Menu highlights include fried green tomatoes, seafood and grits, and she crab soup. Choose wines from California, South America, and Europe, and finish your dinner with chocolate bread pudding. This sleek restaurant is a good choice for a romantic dinner. During the evening, the lights dim and the night becomes visible from floor to ceiling windows