Dine alfresco at these charming neighborhood breweries, restaurants and beer gardens
By Leah Berry | Photography by John Michael Simpson
The ideal backdrop for an unforgettable evening outdoors is easy to find at these neighborhood breweries, restaurants and beer gardens in Pittsboro, NC.
Goats, Cows and Live Music, Oh My!
Picturesque Fearrington Village provides an ideal outdoor environment, with several locations to dine and chat.
Roost Beer Garden is set in a casual tree-lined courtyard and offers exclusively outdoor seating. It’s open April through October on Thursdays and Fridays from 4-7 p.m., with live music from 5-7 p.m. Indulge in wood-fired pizza – from prosciutto to six-cheese and more – and unwind over a draft beer, largely supplied by the local Carolina Brewery, or wine by the glass. Catch Chatham County native Dmitri Resnik on July 26, or Holly Springs, NC-based folk singer-songwriter Hugh Willard on July 25. (If uncooperative weather arises, music will be moved to Galloway’s Wine & Beer Bar inside The Belted Goat. Otherwise, Galloway’s will be closed through the summer.)
Casual dining spot The Belted Goat offers breakfast and lunch on the patio from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sip your coffee from the full espresso bar and munch on your freshly made pastry, breakfast burrito or classic buttermilk pancakes for breakfast in the fresh air, or savor a Caesar salad and grilled pimento cheese sandwich as a midday meal under the sparkling sun. After lunch, pop back in to The Belted Goat market, which features a gourmet grocery section, giftable items and a wine shop, and remains open until 5 p.m. for all of your picnic needs.
Or, seize the sunshine at The Fearrington House Restaurant’s bar, open Thursday through Sunday from 4:30-8:30 p.m. Guests can sit on the patio with nibbles and drinks, including charcuterie, buttermilk fried chicken, spring pea risotto and hot chocolate soufflé. Complement your bar bites with a local beer from BMC Brewing, a signature cocktail like the “Risky Business,” – a fusion of Sutler’s gin, lemon, orange, thyme and olive – or a crisp glass of rosé. Patrons can also enjoy the bar menu on the The Fearrington House Restaurant patio if weather permits.
Pull up a Chair
Red Moose Brewing Company, a family-, veteran- and woman-owned business in downtown Pittsboro, has an expansive back deck and patio area and offers a variety of craft beers to satisfy any palate, from the “Redneck Hot Tub” lager to the “Squatching It” IPA. The brewery prides itself on great beer and good company and is open Sunday through Thursday from 1-9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from noon to 10 p.m. Weekly events, including potluck trivia, karaoke and live Irish music, provide plentiful entertainment, and regular motorcycle and auto shows are a great way to meet fellow car and bike enthusiasts. Bring your little ones and your furry friends along with you – a chalkboard wall will keep the small humans occupied, and house-made dog treats are always on hand at the bar.
Pizza and Pints
Pittsboro eatery The Mod has a little something for everyone. The restaurant – where it regularly serves up gourmet sandwiches, salads and artisanal pizzas – is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., and the “The Other Side” bar, which offers beer, cocktails, the full restaurant menu and entertainment in the form of billiards, cornhole and live music nearly every weekend, is open Tuesday through Friday from 4 p.m. to midnight, Saturday from noon to midnight and Sunday from noon to 8 p.m.
Beer enthusiasts can enjoy a curated selection of local and national craft brews, from hoppy IPAs to rich stouts and more local and international favorites. The back patio is spacious, and service animals are always welcome.
A Sprawling Oasis
The diverse 17-acre eco-industrial park known as The Plant is home to a local economy full of small businesses.
The community hub is the perfect hangout spot, with an art gallery, retailers, the Pittsboro Farmers Market, outdoor spaces for gatherings and events and an abundance of options for dining and drinking – including “farm to fork” food truck Lilly Den Farm Meats & Eats, BMC Brewing, Fair Game Beverage Company, JDub’s PoBoys (currently open on Sundays only), Starrlight Mead, Jamaican eatery Kingston 99 Kitchen, coffee shop Metal Brixx Cafe (which serves joe from local Vortex Roasters) and mobile beverage cart Vita Mielie.
There’s plenty of room to walk dogs, play games and for kids to ride their bikes, among other family-friendly activities on-site like giant chess and the Smelt art gallery. The park is open seven days a week, but hours for individual businesses differ.
Summer on Tap
The City Tap is open seven days a week and serves a rotating daily menu of creative comfort food, including hot and cold sandwiches, soups and salads. Hot dog fans can explore a range of toppings, including a bahn mi dog with pickled carrots, jalapenos and sriracha mayo or the classic Carolina dog with chili, mustard, slaw and onion.
The menu also offers several vegetarian options, including a spicy Mediterranean grilled pita. Pair your dish with a local draft or cool off with an iced tea while you tap your feet to live bands on weekends. Or, bring your own records in for vinyl nights and share your favorite music with friends. Menu updates and special event news are posted daily on The City Tap’s Instagram, @citytapbar.
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