WHERE TO GO IN APEX
BY PAIGE HACHET JACOBS
You’ve got a date for Valentine’s Day! Now—what should you do on the big night? Apex offers opportunities for drinks and dinners, creative activities and romantic getaways.
Offering Southern contemporary cuisine and handmade cocktails, The Peak on Salem is a top location for a romantic dining experience. Set in downtown Apex, it offers live music with signature cocktails and mouthwatering menu options. You might also savor the ambiance at Peak of the Vine with wine and music.
For a twist on a classic date night idea, try one of their wine-tasting classes. This venue often offers other entertaining events—you can laugh together at a stand-up comedy night or enjoy a special musical performance, for example—so check their website to see what you and your date might enjoy.
How about a date experience that brings out the creative side? Unleash your inner artist at Mad Splatter in Beaver Creek Crossings. Whether you’re in the mood to create a fun, messy canvas or prefer a more structured session to craft a masterpiece, Mad Splatter is the perfect place to let loose and have fun together. After working up an appetite, head for a bite to eat at one of the many nearby dining options.
Want to enhance the romance with a night or weekend away with your partner? Book a stay at the charming Boho Bungalow. Within walking distance of the restaurants, bars and shops on Salem Street, this modern cottage offers a chance for couples to enjoy the charm of Apex and share time away from their everyday routine.
Make the night unforgettable by discovering some of the unexpected opportunities Apex offers, and let the sparks fly!
WHERE TO GO IN CARY
BY JUDITH COOKE RUBENS
MC Modern Asian Cuisine
Featuring cozy fireplaces, candlelight and its historic setting, MC Modern Asian Cuisine is a good pick for a romantic evening out. MC serves inventive Asian cuisine in the Queen Anne–style, 1902 Sams-Jones House, across from the new Downtown Cary Park. Chef Michael Chuong (the name behind Cary’s former An Cuisines and Chapel Hill’s Elements) changes his Asian fusion menu weekly. You’ll find East-meets-West pairings like crispy jumbo prawns with candied almonds, Vietnamese nuoc cham sauce and small plates of wagyu dumplings, to a wide sampling of sushi and sashimi. Homespun touches of flowers and colorful ceramic dinnerware add warmth. Make reservations early for a three-course Valentine’s Day prix fixe menu.
324 S. Academy Street | mccuisines.com
Date Night in the Park
A no-cost romantic outing could include strolling the now 1-year-old Downtown Cary Park, hosting a Valentine’s Day romantic date night on February 14. Grab beer or wine at The Bark Bar, order dinner from the nearby taco truck, buy treats at the park’s Market 317, or bring a picnic of cheese and charcuterie from nearby gourmet market Pro’s Epicurean. Valentine’s night details are still in the works, but its inaugural event featured live jazz, couple-oriented crafts and custom poems-on-demand from Durham’s poet laureate, the Poetry Fox.
Downtown Cary Park | 327 S. Academy Street | downtowncarypark.com
Pro’s Epicurean | 211 E. Chatham Street | prosepicurean.com
The Mayton
If you want to extend your romantic evening, downtown Cary’s charming 45-room boutique hotel is the perfect spot for an overnight stay. Start with dinner and cocktails at Peck & Plume, the hotel’s upscale eatery featuring Southern American classics with international flavor hints. Follow with a nightcap at a local brewery (Cotton House is right next door). The Mayton’s Valentine’s Day room packages include chocolate-dipped strawberries, a bottle of bubbly and breakfast for two the next day. A Valentine’s Day three-course prix fixe dinner menu is planned at $65 per person.
The Mayton | 301 S. Academy Street | themayton.com
Cotton House Craft Brewers | 307 S. Academy Street | cottonhousenc.co
WHERE TO GO IN FUQUAY-VARINA
BY HEATHER DARNELL
The Library Steakhouse
Check out Fuquay’s newest fine dining establishment, The Library Steakhouse. With delightful decorative nods to the building’s former use as a library, the steakhouse brings a highly anticipated date spot to the heart of downtown Fuquay. Enjoy 100% Certified Angus Beef along with extensive whiskey, wine and cocktail menus. With locally sourced ingredients and fan favorites like clam chowder and crispy fried Brussels sprouts, The Library will have you and your date checking in again and again.
133 S. Fuquay Avenue | thelibrarysteakhouse.com
Khao Sen
Celebrate love and spice at Fuquay-Varina’s new Thai restaurant, Khao Sen. This restaurant brings the delectable flavors and hospitality of Thailand to Bengal Towne Centre. Featuring both rice (khao), and noodles (sen), the menu at Khao Sen highlights popular Thai flavors like coconut, lemongrass and curry. Enjoy rich flavors found in traditional Thai meals and savor fragrant broths and noodle dishes. Try the restaurant’s namesake dish or celebrate your love over passion fruit boba tea. The atmosphere is relaxed, polished and cozy, perfect for a casual date night.
2100 Gathering Square Court | khaosen.com
WHERE TO GO IN HOLLY SPRINGS
BY MIKE RUMBLE
Pimiento Tea Room
Want to enjoy an intimate atmosphere with a quirky twist? Look no further than Pimiento Tea Room. Located in a 180-year-old farmhouse, Pimiento Tea Room brings together the warmth and history of its building with a fun and funky atmosphere (one of the ground floor fireplaces has an elegant, gold-framed portrait of Mr. T ensconced above it). The menu changes often, and you can enjoy a fun and fancy tea brunch or a nice dinner that includes Southern-inspired seasonal food. The venue often brings in live music. They will have a prix fixe menu for couples on Valentine’s Day; look for an announcement about what they will be serving around mid-January.
200 N. Main Street | pimientotearoom.com
Mamma Mia Italian Bistro
In 2019, having built a successful Mamma Mia location in Apex, Chef Ciro Formisano sold the Apex location to his daughter so he could open a new restaurant in Holly Springs. Mamma Mia features scratch-made lunch and dinner Italian specialties. You can go casual and share a pizza with your date or order a more elegant pasta or salad dish. Pair your meal with a glass of wine or cocktails from the bar. Located on picturesque Main Street, the atmosphere at Mamma Mia is warm and friendly, and the service is excellent.
300 S. Main Street, Suite 200 | mammamiahs.com
Niche Wine Lounge
Niche is full of comfy nooks and polished wood. It’s a nice place to have a drink and a conversation with a person you’d like to get to know better. Share a bottle of wine or enjoy a glass from the establishment’s extensive wine list. In warmer weather you can enjoy your drinks on the large outdoor patio, which combines a rustic look with Mediterranean-inspired elegance. You can buy cocktails as well as wine, and sometimes you can enjoy live music with your drinks.
109 N. Main Street | nichewinelounge.com
WHERE TO GO IN MORRISVILLE
BY ELIZABETH LINCICOME
For those looking to celebrate a romantic Valentine’s Day out of the house, Morrisville offers several great options. Leo’s Italian Social, located in Park West Village, offers authentic Italian food with a wide range of menu options including hand-rolled meatballs, mussels, lobster corn chowder, chicken Parmesan and pizza. In keeping with their Valentine’s Day tradition, general manager Chris King says the restaurant will offer a special filet option and a seasonal dessert. “The atmosphere alone with our candlelit patio makes this a romantic option, but the food here is also amazing,” he says. (The patio has fire pits but no heat lamps.)
Babymoon Cafe also offers fine Italian cuisine that includes pizzas, pastas, seafood, steaks, salads and more. General manager Jimmy Boykin says that between their low-lit main dining room, which features a starlit ceiling, and their outdoor patio, which features a fountain and trellis (as well as heat lamps for chilly weather), the ambiance at Babymoon couldn’t get any more romantic. Their Valentine’s Day dinner will include five specialty menu options in addition to their regular menu, and every guest leaves with a rose.
For a slightly more casual vibe, Georgina’s Restaurant & Pizzeria off Davis Drive will offer a prix fixe menu that includes several appetizer options as well as a main course and homemade dessert. The family-owned establishment, which offers over 112 items on its regular menu, has been serving Morrisville and the surrounding community since 2006. It offers a pleasant, low-key atmosphere, and when spring arrives, diners can enjoy its newly renovated patio.
