Greensboro, North Carolina's Best Kept Secrets

So we all know that Greensboro has a bunch of cool places, but if you're getting bored of Greensboro or looking for something new and different, check out some of these cool places that are kept a bit more under wraps.

Great Restaurants in Greensboro:

Coliseum Country Cafe: This restaurant is easy to miss, small and tucked in along Coliseum Blvd in a not particularly exciting location. But it's worth checking out if you love delicious country cooking at great prices. While not many people know about it, those who do love to heap it with praise. Its regulars will be the first to tell you that the food is delicious, and that if you're looking for home-cooked comfort food, this is the place to go.
located at 1904 Coliseum Boulevard

Villa Del Mar: Mexican food is delicious, but if you ever feel like all the Mexican restaurants you go to have pretty much the same Americanized options that are starting to get boring, you definitely need to check out Villa Del Mar. While they do have many of the standard entrees that can be found at any Mexican restaurants, they also offer more interesting and authentic Mexican dishes such as grilled cactus for an appetizer, or octopus in chili sauce and onions for an entree. Definitely check out their seafood dishes if you go.
located at 3738 High Point Road # A

Riva's Trattoria: This place offers a lovely, cozy atmosphere and delicious Italian food, but its location (downtown, but not near any of the other major downtown restaurants) make it less patronized than some of the other Italian restaurants in town. It's a small family restaurant and the prices are decent considering the quality of the food. Great for a date or on a cold, rainy night.
located at 257 N. Greene Street

Print Works Bistro: Print Works is connected to the Proximity Hotel, and therefore is not that well known to those who have never stayed at the hotel. However, it is an amazing, high quality restaurant with a beautiful atmosphere, great service, and delicious food. Try it for Sunday brunch--their beignets are out of this world! It's also a great place for a fancy dinner, with a large selection and uncommonly found items such as escargot (seems to be the only place in Greensboro to get it, in fact!).
located at 702 Green Valley Road

Great Stores in Greensboro:

Empire Books, Pages Past: With all the commercials and the choice location, Ed McKay's has become the go-to used bookstore in Greensboro. But if you're sick of the long lines and growing prices that have become commonplace since Ed McKay's gained popularity, check out these less-frequented used bookstores in Greensboro. Used books, rare books, great prices...what's not to love? Ditch the crowds and browse in calm silence.
located at 5711 W Friendly Avenue (Empire Books)
and 1837 Spring Garden Street (Pages Past)

Songbirds, The Clothesline: If you want to save money on clothes, but don't want to shop at the usual disorganized thrift stores, check out Songbirds and/or The Clothesline. Both stores sell high-quality used clothing and jewelry for good prices. Songbirds also has a large selection of fancy dresses, as well as various wedding dresses available. The Clothesline has, in addition to modern clothing, vintage furniture and other home accessories. So if thrift stores are too messy for you, and Plato's Closet either too busy or too young, Songbirds and The Clothesline are the places for you.
located at 2610 Lawndale Drive (Songbirds)
and 901 Spring Garden Street (The Clothesline)

Swish : Only open for a few months now, the dress boutique Swish still is not very well known. But if you love dresses, it's the place to be. The medium-sized shop is filled with cocktail dresses, fancy gowns, and more casual dresses as well. They even have a kid's section.
located at 1603 Battleground Avenue, Suite B

Great Music Venues in Greensboro:

Legitimate Business: Located in the Glenwood neighborhood, and mostly known about through word of mouth, this venue hosts local bands, as well as functions as a practice space and recording studio. If you're a local band looking to get a show or just someone wanting to hear some cool local music in a neat, DIY space, check them out.
located at 1317 Grove Street

Somewhere Else Tavern: Somewhere Else Tavern is easily visible from Friendly Avenue, right across from Guilford College, but the fact that the entrance is hidden in the back makes it quite confusing. I was aware of the building for years before I ever actually made it inside. And once I did, I was not disappointed. It's a really cool music venue with a small bar (only beer and wine, no liquor) that hosts mostly rock and metal bands. Many of their shows are all ages so it's a great place to hang out on the weekends if you're too young to go to bars and clubs.
located at 5713 W. Friendly Avenue (but parking and entrance is around back!)

Great Art Galleries in Greensboro:

The Weatherspoon: Located on UNCG's campus, this museum is open to the public and totally free. They're constantly changing up their exhibits, so it's definitely a place you can go to again and again. Only thing is they have kind of weird hours (I think Thursdays are the the only days they're open past 5pm) so make sure you check to see if they're open before going.
located at 500 Tate Street

Lyndon Street Artworks: More of an artists' collective than a gallery, this super cool place has a ton of studios with over 40 artists who work in them at various times and it's all open to the public. Not only can you see great art, but if you're lucky you can see the process and meet the artist as well.
located at 205 Lyndon Street