Baldy and I spent a romantic anniversary weekend in Winston-Salem, North Carolina a few weeks ago and it was a perfect celebration of 33 years together. We stayed in the charming Sheppard House which is part of the Summit Street Inns, two historic homes that are side by side and perfect for a weekend getaway.  The beautiful historic homes turned inns are full of character and warmth and we loved the quaint ambiance of our surroundings…including original stained glass windows and beautiful wood paneling.  We enjoyed mornings on the porch and being able to walk to most of our destinations.

We started off our first morning with a visit to the Cobblestone Farmers Market where we bought goodies to eat throughout the day, the most beautiful soaps, honey and coffee!  We then drove to Old Salem where we walked the cobblestone streets and explored this charming and historic part of Winston Salem.  

Next, we ate a delicious lunch at Bobby Boy Bakeshop where we ate the best quiche and bought beautiful cupcakes to take home to our grandsons. We also did a little boutique shopping at Rebecca and Co. and we found a few treasures to bring home to our grandchildren!

Our culinary adventures were nothing short of exquisite, starting with a cozy dinner at Mozelle’s Fresh Southern Bistro, where the rich flavors of the South combine beautifully with contemporary cuisine.

Our favorite meal was the tasting menu at Mission Pizza Napoletana. Misson Pizza has been recognized among the best in America by Food and Wine, Thrillest, 50 Top Pizza, and the James Beard Foundation. Our tasting menu included the most divinely delicious pizza, roast chicken, seared tuna, a fabulous salad, dessert and more… we were so full we could hardly walk…and I’m not kidding!  I highly recommend putting this gem of restaurant at the top of your list if you visit Winston Salem and be sure to arrive hungry!  

We savored great wine and delicious meals and made memories we won’t forget!

Our weekend continued on Sunday with brunch at Founders located in The Shaffner Inn, a charming and historic inn located in downtown Winston-Salem. I will admit that I was still so full from the dinner at Mission Pizza that I didn’t eat very much but we will definitely go back and enjoy a meal at Founders on our next visit.

After brunch, we ended our trip with a visit to the historic Reynolda House Museum of American Art, where we enjoyed an organ performance of spooky music (it was the weekend before Halloween) and leisurely walked through the beautiful house and explored the grounds.  The house is absolutely fabulous and filled with interesting and ever changing exhibits.

We had planned a trip to Pilot Mountain but the weather wasn’t great on Sunday so we decided not to go but we will definitely be back very soon!

Where to Stay, Dine, Shop, Drink & Sightsee in Winston Salem

The Summit Street Inns

Winston-Salem Historic Inns showcases two distinctive and historically significant properties in the esteemed West End neighborhood of downtown Winston-Salem: The Shaffner Inn and The Summit Street Inns. Each inn exemplifies unique architectural styles and are renowned for their luxurious amenities, impeccable service, and exceptional complimentary breakfast each morning.

Cobblestone Farmers Market

“With the tantalizing aroma of freshly picked strawberries and ginger cookies wafting through the air, Cobblestone Market's colorful venue is a treat for the senses. Held at the Old Salem Museum & Gardens in Winston-Salem, N.C., the market boasts a lush setting, backed by ancient Moravian gardens. The gorgeous surroundings not only provide shoppers with a lovely ambience, but also a peek into centuries-old organic gardening practices. Every Saturday from May through November, more than 20 vendors gather in Old Salem to sell their fair-trade products. Health-conscious shoppers will be happy to note the market contains only "pesticide-free" produce. ~Source - US News & World Report

Old Salem

Old Salem is a historic district of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, which was settled by the Moravians in 1766. Old Salem Museums & Gardens is an 18th/19th century living community and village showcasing trades including crafts, pottery, quilting, shoemaking, coffee roasting, and more. It is also home to the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts (MESDA), which showcases the finest collection of Southern decorative arts in the country.

More than a dozen interpreted buildings and experiences are open to tour, including, the Visitor Center, MESDA, Winkler Bakery, Muddy Creek Cafe, The Boy’s School, Timothy Vogler Gun Shop, The Miksch House, Seed Lab, Single Brother’s House, Blum House and Doctor’s House.

Growing up, we went to Old Salem often because my mom loved it there and visiting again brought back so many memories. As a child I remember eating at the Salem Tavern, which is closed now for renovations, but reopening in December.

On our visit, we especially enjoyed touring the The Doctor’s House and enjoying the beautiful weather. We ended our visit at Winkler Baker and purchased some Morovian Sugar Cakes to serve on Christmas morning…in honor of my mom!

Old Salem is also home to Salem College (pictured above)…

ReyNolda House Museum of American Art

Reynolda House Museum of American Art is located at the center of Reynolda's 180 acres, and considered a rare gem among the nation's cultural institutions and historic green spaces. The museum presents a renowned art collection in a historic and incomparable setting: the original 1917 interiors of the country manor of R.J. and Katharine Reynolds. Spanning 250 years, the collection is an uncompromisingly selective one, a chronology of American art, with each artist represented by one work of major significance. Highlights include Georgia O’Keeffe, Mary Cassatt, Grant Wood, Andy Warhol, Frederic Church, and John Singer Sargent, among others.. The collection was assembled by the unerring eye of Barbara Babcock Millhouse, granddaughter of R.J. and Katharine Reynolds.

In addition to exhibitions located in the historic bedroom galleries, Reynolda is currently showing "Founder's Vision: The Private Collection of Barbara Babcock Millhouse." A celebratory exhibition honoring the Museum's founding president, and granddaughter of R.J. and Katharine, Founder's Vision presents the best of American modernism with works by Alex Katz, John Singer Sargent, Georgia O'Keeffe, Romare Bearden and more.

In addition to touring the Reynolda House Museum, be sure to stop by Reynolda Village Shops. The shops are housed in buildings which once supported the 1,067-acre estate of the R.J. Reynolds family. These buildings were modeled after an English Village and included dairy barns, a cattle shed, school, post office, smokehouse, blacksmith shop, carriage house, central power and heating plant, as well as cottages to house the family’s chauffeur and stenographer, the village’s school master and the farm’s head dairyman and horticulturist. The buildings now house stores, restaurants, galleries and more.

Downtown Arts District

Not to be missed is the Winston Salem Downtown Arts District - The Downtown Arts District is an eclectic collection of working artist studios, galleries, shops, residences, restaurants, and night spots.  While there are dozens of great shops and galleries, a few must-see spots include Mast General Store, Fancy Groceries, Piedmont Craftsmen, Visual Index, and Body & Soul.    

Additional Restaurants & Bars in Winston Salem

Restaurants

Bobby Boy Bakeshop - Enjoy artisan breads, baguette sandwiches, and pastries where every detail is deliberate and made fresh daily.

Mission Pizza - Conceived and founded by Peyton Smith, Mission Pizza Napoletana opened in January of 2014 following a six year labor of love to bring one of the world's great culinary traditions to his hometown. NC's first Napoletana pizzeria, Mission Pizza Napoletana is a leader in the region offering wood-burning oven pies and a full menu of Italian fare.  Award-winning, the restaurant has been recognized for "Best Pizza" by Food & Wine, The Local Palate and Thrillist, as well as a semifinalist for "Best Chef, Southeast" by the James Beard Foundation.

Enjoy an evening of Pizzakase, which is based on the Japanese custom of omakase, which means "I leave it up to you". From the pizza counter, enjoy a curated selection of unique, off-menu pizzas and snacks highlighting various special and seasonal ingredients and techniques. This was truly one of the best meals I’ve ever eaten in my life!

Mozelle’s Fresh Southern Bistro uses only the finest and freshest ingredients in their cuisine. Named after the owner’s grandmother, Mozelle’s serves classic favorites mixed with unexpected ingredients, such as the Southern Spring Rolls, stuffed with pulled pork barbecue, shiitake mushrooms, Napa cabbage and collards. A favorite among locals is the savory and cheesy tomato pie. This year, Mozelle's is celebrating their 10-year anniversary.

Boutique Shopping

Hanes Park/Reynolda Mile area
Elizabeth's at Hanes Park - A collection of creativity - vintage, repurposed, new and re-newed furniture and home goods.  

Yours Truly: This amazing upscale consignment shop features top brands and an ever-changing stock of inventory. The shop features furniture downstairs and clothes and accessories upstairs.

Idlewood Interiors - Featuring contemporary furniture and design. Each of the home furniture pieces displayed in the Winston-Salem showroom is made in North Carolina.

The Boho Depot - Locally owned, one-stop bohemian shop, offering a curated collection of unique boho gifts and wellness items.

Rebecca & Co. - Located in a former service station, this stylish women's boutique offers some of the most fun fashion finds in town. Shop a wide selection of high-quality brands and clothing options for all ages.

Primm's Boutique: This women’s designer contemporary boutique offers stylish ready-to-wear apparel, shoes, and accessories. They prioritize selling up-and-coming, independent designers and ethically-made and sustainable brands.

Gaia: Women's boutique selling a selection of stylish, globally influenced casualwear & shoes.

Burke Street area
The Snob Shop - First consignment shop in Winston-Salem. Locally owned by friends and family since 1974. Offers furniture and home decor. Owned by Anne Rainey Rohkar who also owns Trouvaille Home.

Trouvaille Home - An extraordinary shopping experience of fine furnishings & accessories that saturate the senses with color, texture & endless possibilities.

Bars

Dogwood Hops and Crops - offers 14 hand-picked draft beers and wines in a trendy and relaxing atmosphere.

Fiddlin’ Fish Brewing Company - features an inviting tasting room complete with a colorful mural by a local artist and filled with flat-screens that have made it a favorite for catching the game. 

Foothills Brewing - the second-largest native North Carolina Brewery and famed for their annual limited release of Sexual Chocolate Russian Imperial Stout, and a North Carolina favorite – Jade IPA. Not to mention, Foothills took home a bronze medal from the Great American Beer Festival for their Torch Pilsner in 2016 and 2017.

Incendiary Brewing - located in the lower level of Bailey Power Plant in downtown Winston-Salem. Incendiary Brewing marries wide open outdoor spaces with original, industrial construction. Ever-rotating taps include local favorites, like the Ritual Pilsner, Milk Stout and more.

Joymongers Barrel Hall - one of the few breweries in the nation to dedicate its production of special, barrel aged beers in a separate facility with its own taproom. Joymongers Barrel Hall serves the best of its beers

Radar Brewing - an exciting new brewery and taproom in Winston-Salem. Radar offers an ever-increasing variety of beers in a unique space located in the city’s newest arts and entertainment district, Industry Hill.

Small Batch - Taking pride in the philosophy of "quality over quantity," brews their craft beers one barrel at a time. An equal dose of diligence and patience is blended into each "small batch" allowing Small Batch beer patrons to focus on every ingredient used to create the final product. Oh, Small Batch is also known for its legendary milkshakes that tower over the table. They’re kind of a big deal. Just ask Instagram.

Wise Man Brewing - nestled on the border of Winston-Salem’s Downtown Arts District. Founded by three wise guys…seriously…a chemist, lawyer and accountant all made this happen – seems like the beginning of a great joke but their beers are no laughing matter. Winston-Salem's newest brewery, is located in the historic Angelo Brothers building just on the edge of the Downtown Arts District.

This is just a small piece of what Winston Salem has to offer! I hope you’ve enjoyed my little tour and remember to come back if you’re planning a trip to the area! North Carolina is a beautiful state and Winston is definitely a place you’ll want to visit!