Meet Our New Neighborhood: Tutu School North Raleigh’s Lafayette Village Favorites

Our favorite family-friendly places to sip, snack, shop, play, and spend a little more time while at Lafayette Village.

Long before Tutu School North Raleigh opened its doors, I had my eye on Lafayette Village.

I first toured a space here back in 2014, dreaming about what it might be like to someday bring Tutu School to this little corner of North Raleigh. More than a decade later, we’ve finally joined the neighborhood—and it feels especially sweet to call Lafayette Village in North Raleigh home.

There were so many things that drew me to the Village over the years, but one of the biggest was simply seeing how many families gather here. With its European-inspired architecture, walkable paths, outdoor seating, and tree-lined Green at the center of it all, Lafayette Village feels like so much more than a shopping center. It’s a gathering place.

On any given day, the Green seems to be bustling with families, little ones running and playing, neighbors meeting for coffee, and events bringing everyone together. We’re so excited for Tutu School to become part of that community, too—and to participate in Village events, including the upcoming Oktoberfest on October 3rd!

And now that we’re officially here, we thought it would be fun to introduce our Tutu School families to a few of our new neighbors. Because ballet class certainly can be the main event—but it can also be the beginning of a whole little Lafayette Village outing.

FOR COFFEE, SMOOTHIES & A BITE TO EAT

Jubala

If you haven’t had a Jubala biscuit yet, consider this your sign to run—not walk. 😉

Lafayette Village was the original home of this beloved local coffee shop, and it’s easy to understand why it’s almost always bustling. Along with really wonderful coffee, Jubala serves breakfast and lunch, pastries, waffles, and, yes, those biscuits.

A few favorites from our family: the biscuit with apple butter, the Nutella banana waffle, and chai for me. My husband would also like it officially noted that their almond milk latte is the best in town.

Whether you’re grabbing coffee before a morning ballet class, splitting a waffle with your dancer afterward, or staying for lunch, it’s an easy addition to a Tutu School day.

Juicekeys

Juicekeys practically became my second office while we were building Tutu School North Raleigh, so I got very well acquainted with both their menu and their incredibly kind team.

This locally owned juice and smoothie bar serves cold-pressed juices, smoothies, smoothie bowls, and healthy little bites that make it an especially easy stop with kiddos. We drank a lot of Juicekeys during construction—and our Tutu School team has already continued the tradition since opening.

Little ones may also be particularly fond of Ollie, the Juicekeys mascot, and the adorable fruit-shaped stools inside. 🍓

FOR A SWEET LITTLE DATE WITH YOUR DANCER

Le Macaron French Pastries

We are a ballet school, after all, so we’re never going to say no to a little French flair.

Le Macaron is an especially sweet stop for a post-class date with your dancer. Choose a colorful macaron together, share some gelato, pick out a chocolate, or take home a French pastry for later.

Sometimes the very best family traditions are the simplest ones: ballet class followed by a tiny treat together sounds pretty magical to us.

The Chocolate Boutique

And if chocolate is more your family’s love language, Lafayette Village has you covered there, too.

The Chocolate Boutique is filled with handcrafted chocolates and sweet treats and even hosts chocolate-making experiences. This is one Village neighbor we’re still looking forward to exploring ourselves—which feels like a very good assignment to have.

FOR A LITTLE SHOPPING

Drool & Co

We’re not the only new kids in the Village!

Drool & Co opened just a few months ahead of us and is such a beautiful addition to the neighborhood. Their thoughtfully curated shop is filled with baby and children’s clothing, books, gifts, gear, and finds for growing families.

If there’s a new baby—or a baby shower!—somewhere in your life, this is a particularly fun shop to have right around the corner.

Ella Collective

And not every stop has to be for the tiny dancer. 😉

Ella Collective is a beautiful modern-bohemian lifestyle boutique filled with women’s apparel and accessories, home finds, and a curated collection of clothing for babies and kids, too.

Consider this your permission to arrive a few minutes early and browse before ballet pickup.

AND DON’T FORGET THE FURRY FAMILY MEMBERS…

Directly across from our studio is Woofinwaggle, a dog wash, grooming spa, and boutique filled with treats, toys, supplies, and goodies for four-legged family members.

One of our favorite little perks of our studio windows is watching freshly fluffed pups parade by after their appointments. So if your family includes a furry member, be sure to pop across the way and say hello.

OR SIMPLY…STAY AND PLAY

Honestly, one of our favorite Lafayette Village recommendations doesn’t require buying anything at all.

After ballet class, take your coffee and a snack and head over to the Green. Let your little dancer get the rest of those wiggles out running beneath the trees while you sit for a few minutes and enjoy being there. It’s one of our favorite family-friendly places in North Raleigh to linger before or after ballet class.

If you’re ever looking to get your exercise in with a community of other Moms, you can right at Lafayette Village with Fit4Mom Stroller Strides, a stroller-based fitness class designed for moms to exercise while bringing their little ones along for the fun. Classes combine walking or jogging with strength and toning exercises, plus songs and activities to keep babies and kiddos engaged. Even better: your first class is free!

Learn more + register for Stroller Strides at Lafayette Village 

And we may just have something fun with our Fit4Mom friends in the works, too… stay tuned. 😉

That’s one of the things I’ve always loved about Lafayette Village: families don’t just come here to complete an errand and leave. They linger. They meet friends. They eat together. Kids play. Moms work out together. The Village hosts events. It feels like a place where community can actually happen.

And these are only a few of our new neighbors. Lafayette Village is filled with locally owned restaurants, shops, and services, with plenty of options for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or an afternoon spent wandering around together.

Explore the full Lafayette Village directory 

We dreamed about joining this neighborhood for a long time, and now that we’re finally here, we’re so excited to become part of the community that already makes Lafayette Village special.

We hope ballet class becomes just one piece of the memories your family makes here. Come a little early. Stay a little late. Grab a coffee, share a treat, discover a new favorite shop, or simply let your dancer twirl around the Green.

We’ll see you around the Village. 💕