50 Best Bars in Raleigh

“My man and I went here last weekend for the first time. From the time we entered until we left, we had a phenomenal experience. Our waitress Meredith was attentive, poised and very friendly. The other staff were friendly as well.We ordered calamari for appetizers and salmon+seafood pasta for our main courses. We also had refreshing mocktails. EVERYTHING was delicious and flavorful.The icing on the cake was dining on the rooftop terrace. Although we went during the day, the vibes were definitely there and the views were amazing. We will definitely be back here soon.“

“Reese is our favorite bartender. Always a great experience.“

“Great vibe! Mixologist Jefferson skillfully guided our craft cocktail selections. Impressive knowledge, real ingredients. At his recommendation we grabbed a couple of slices (authentic NY pizza) from Oakwood Pizza Box next door, that did not disappoint!“

“I really enjoyed my first time at this food hall. It’s completely different from Morgan st food hall in terms of the atmosphere and food options. Its not as crowded and its not as much noise around you. I was pleased with the space. There is indoor seating with upstairs options and outdoor seating. Food was prepared fast and tasted great“

“Well executed. I like how unique everything feels (ambience and the food). Really enjoyed my corzetti. Maybe the best pasta dish I've had in Raleigh. Excited to come back.Pros (in order of impressiveness):- Service was awesome. Feels very intentional and professional.- Ambience - community table seating was fun. Wish there were more of these in Raleigh.- Food - the pasta dishes were great. Nice selection to choose from and really fresh taste. I liked that they weren't excessively buttery/cheesy as many pasta dishes are at a typical nice Italian restaurant. Good wine selection as well.- Portion sizes were perfect thanks to the service team. For 2 people: 2 starters, 2 pastas, and a dessert was the perfect amount to be full but not stuffedCons:- The starters were fine, but didn't stick out to me as much as the pasta did- Limited dessert menu, but we liked what we got“

“Our server was great, service was fast. The watermelon juice was delicious & the bipolar sushi. We’ll be back to try more things.“

“Was recommended to photograph a boudoir session here by two girlfriends who had stayed. And I loved it so much I booked my husband & myself the honeymoon suite for a romantic night away! This place is just magical and exquisite. The atmosphere was amazing, the staff was so accommodating and kind, and the cocktails at the cocktail bar were just divine. 10/10 recommend and I cannot wait to come back!“

“A swanky & tasty place for brunch. They had their own unique stamp on everything, from the steak & eggs to the chairs, & silverware.“

“SERVICE/ATMOSPHERE:This place was lovely. All the staff were so sweet and helpful. Definitely a gem in downtown, great for a date or an intimate catch up with an old friend.FOOD:We started with the pimento cheese, local jam, and fig tostadas, which were INCREDIBLE!! A must have if you visit here.I got the portobello mushroom and avocado grilled cheese with tomato soup, which was okay. The cheese and avocado together were a bit heavy. My partner got the burger, which he said was awesome! He said the hand cut fries were very good.OVERALL:We had a lovely time. Shoutout to our server Dvir, impeccable vibes from him.“

“Took my son Alvin back for the 3rd . Erin had Alvin hitting the bullseye almost every time.“

“Romantic 32nd anniversary. Cocktails, dinner and service were perfecto.“

“Food here was amazing!! Service was really fast, and my avocado dosa was super good. My server Edwin was really nice and encouraged us to try new things, would definitely go back again!“

“I am at Glenwood often and love the main dining area and the atmosphere. The food is great especially the salmon.“

“Our server was great, service was fast. The watermelon juice was delicious & the bipolar sushi. We’ll be back to try more things.“

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“I had a custom cake made for my daughter’s medical school graduation. She’s going to be an OBGYN and I had an unusual request for the cake I had in mind. The whole process was wonderful. They were very excited to make an unusual cake and had great idea that they emailed to me to review. A follow up phone call to finalize the cake made the whole process so easy. The cake was a huge hit, not only with our crowd, but the staff at the restaurant all stopped by our table to see it. It was a huge hit! And also very tasty! So many thanks to the whole staff, will definitely be back!“

“One of our favorite restaurants hands down! The food and service is consistently delicious!! Went in for lunch today and ordered an appetizer-asked for the sauce on the side because it was spicy but it came out tossed in the sauce. Our waitress was so apologetic about it and the manager came out and apologized and took it off the bill! We were completely blown away as my husband still ate the whole thing so we didn’t mind paying for it at all and really thought nothing of it. They really want their customers to be happy and really went above and beyond today! Our daughter also has a Peanut Allergy and the way they handle food allergies is amazing. This is one restaurant she feels confident eating at. Already looking forward to our next time back!! Thank you for the consistently delicious food, amazing wait staff and management!!!“

“I’m front central Kentucky and I must say this bourbon establishment has quite the collection. You can tell the owner works very building that collection. I’ve already recommended this to several folks to visit“

“Been here quit a few times now. The beer is always ice cold, the service has always been great and the menus choices are many and everything we’ve ordered has been great! Check it out, you won’t be disappointed!“

“Yummy and fresh! Great atmosphere!“

“We have found our new favorite place! The food was delicious and our server Adrian was even better! The atmosphere was amazing and just an overall great experience! Ty and y’all will be see us again for sure“

“I have only been to PLUS a few times, but every time has been so much fun! Great vibes, great music on the dueling pianos and talented musicians! I even got to try out my singing there once (not my strong point haha). My Belles and I did a dance performance there, around Thanksgiving time last year (Carol of the Belles), and I can not even begin to say enough about the staff, the accomodations, and the absolute joy that filled the room that night. PLUS is a place of happiness and fun, no matter which night of the week!“

“I am a bit bias but house of hops is amazing. My neighbor owns it and as a result we're always heading over when we need to stock up on beer. Doesn't matter if it's just a six pack for ourselves or more for a party Keith always has what we're in the mood for. I love this og location and there are a rotating selection f food trucks weekly as well. Highly recommend if you haven't already checked out house of hops!“

“Had a great dinner with my cousin and her husband Saturday night. I got the Buffalo Chicken Meatballs with Blue Cheese Cream sauce and had it on a bed of the OG Mac N' Cheese... WOW! So good!!! Everyone enjoyed their meal. Great food and service was excellent!!“

“We had a wonderful time here, it almost feels like you know a little secret when you first show the bouncer your ID an d start walking down stairs. The drinks are perfect, and the vibes are so laid back. There a couple of rooms that feel more secluded, booths for more space, but primarily mostly couches to keep that chill energy while you sip on an amazing drink and catch up with your people, or even do some work like I did. Highly recommend Watts & Ward!“

“Phenomenal lunch and dinner—we went twice in one weekend, and will absolutely come back. So impressed with the simple, yet thoughtful dishes. Happy af. 10/10“

“I appreciated all the efforts to get the stage and equipment ready for our groups, nice experience. Looked like they booked another group too closely behind us, I hope they are typically more organized there.The venue was enjoyable, good sound system. Bartender was knowledgeable, helpful, friendly. Looking forward to visiting again.“

“Amazing variety, diverse pursuit of a good time & academically rich clientele environment specializing in NC State’s finest availability - to young adults willing to concentrate their knowledge.Come in, grab a drink, & study hard in this place. If you don’t, I will, frfParking: Free after 8 pm. Park in the honors quadrant lot at NC State, outside of Clark, outward facing away from university, towards Western Blvd. .Well-kept secret, the outer spots are owned by Pullen Park. Free.Kid-friendliness: Located between North Raleigh and a state university.Wheelchair accessibility: Close to main Hillsborough St. sidewalk, obviously worth the 30 ft. push, & door is big enough. So are you!“

“Great vibe, friendly staff, nice game selection! Had an awesome time!!“

“Always one of my favorite staples in Raleigh! I go almost every time I am in Raleigh! Col B! Is the freaking best. Has so much knowledge about anything you want to know about the drinks or the liquor he has behind his bar. The drinks taste phenomenal every single time. I have never had a beverage I didn’t like.“

“We went for a late dinner, and I was so impressed! The chicken and rice soup was good, but I took one bite of the chicken and bacon sandwich one pressed sourdough and abandoned it completely. Wow was the sandwich delicious! I ate every bite and didn’t even offer my husband a taste!“

“Came in on a BUSY Sunday for a pick up order, decided I really wanted a milkshake, last minute. Brianna greeted us with a warm welcome and made my milkshake right away!!10 thumbs up to Brianna for making the BEST peanut butter oreo milkshake in record time!!!“

“Incredible food: can't decide if the pierogis and sides are the best or the desserts. Such a relaxing and fun atmosphere: you are able to mingle with friends while enjoying your meal at your own pace. Highly recommend for the menu selections (which are creative and delicious - try the smoked trout, mushroom and cheese pierogis, cheese spaetzle, peanut butter and banana pudding...!!) and atmosphere.“

“Fun dive bar with all walks of life hanging out. Nice selection of alcohol for drinks. Friendly fun staff! Dont wear your best outfits as, unfortunately, some of the local frat guys get a little sloppy. Last visit more than 3 drinks were dumped on me and a friend. (Hint, tighten up guys, offer a drink to those ya covered in yours and let's all just hang out and have fun. Stuff happens but be aware and polite about it)“

“Excellent craft beer selection.“

“The people/staff made our night, thank you! In a world where everyone’s so angry it was the most refreshing thing to see people not only have good service but wanting to engage. We had the best time playing games & even more fun joking with staff. Thank you so much!“

“We ate here for our anniversary and really enjoyed it! We made reservations for 2 at the bar because all the table reservations before 9 pm were full, but when we arrived, a table was open and offered to us, which was really nice! (LIkely, we also would have been happy at the bar, but I'm pregnant, so the comfy booth seat was welcome.) The service was superlative, both from our attentive server and others who jumped in any time they walked by and saw something that could be done. The non-alcoholic cocktail was fantastic! Both food and drink menus are curated rather than extensive. We are parents of a small child who rarely get out to restaurants, so when we do go, we love to taste a variety of options on the menu. Your ordering style may vary. For starters, we ordered the yellowfin crudo (a standout and possibly the best dish from my perspective) and crispy porcelet belly (very tasty, although the skin was more tough and chewy than crispy). The manchego-herb biscuits were amazing in taste and texture, like, how do they do that? For entrees, we had the lamb loin and bavette steak. My lamb was nice, but the flavor of the steak dish (my husband's) was unreal. (Normally, I would have ordered the seafood, but the only option was swordfish, and I had already used up my weekly serving of potentially-high-in-mercury seafood with the yellowfin crudo, worth it!) After sharing two appetizers, biscuits, and an entree each, we were really full. However, I had been anticipating the triple cheesecake with rhubarb, so we got a portion to go. It was unusual - very strong on the savory cheese flavor in the cake - but we both really liked it. (Would I have liked more rhubarb? Yes, but I love rhubarb, and not everyone agrees. Rhubarb skeptics, this is a safe dish for you.) Two starters, two entrees, a side, two drinks each, and one dessert put our total just north of $200. Not a huge consideration for us, but it's a small-ish space with dark decor and modern, minimal lighting. I've spoken with others who remembered it as a bit cramped. The music is... not quiet... with prominent bass, but we sat next to each other and were able to talk. We definitely plan to go back. Edited to add: We were also really impressed by the short ticket times! Our food came out very promptly, and we finished three courses and had our take-out dessert ready to go in just over an hour. We also didn't feel rushed, as though we could have lingered without any pressure from the server to free up the table. As folks who no longer get out much, that's a huge plus.“

“its like a hidden gem...great use of space, very personable staff great drink selection & Martini's wished I lived closer“

“Great place to hang out and watch live bands ! The atmosphere there is wonderful very friendly crowd and bartenders are awesome“

“Yang is the best bartender in Raleigh. Great 1st date spot local to downtown Raleigh. Super nostalgic and warm, edgy interior. Nice nods to local writers. Wonderful experience. If you're in Raleigh you need to see this bar. 10 Stars. Thanks Yang!“

“Absolutely horrible, I ordered the pork shank. First it comes out cold and on a cold plate. So I sent it back. Next they bring it back to me and they added some lukewarm aju, now my mash potato have separated... and now i have mash potato soap. The shank was dry as hell and has Absolutely no FLAVOR. Not even salt and pepper!!!. It's like these new chef love to presentation but for get to flavor their food. Very nice plating, but the flavor is nonexistent. But let's be fair, white people don't like their food flavored. And this place makes sure they do not get any flavor at all. I would rather have a meal with flavor than a pretty plate any dayWrong restaurant sorry ?“

“Best Bar I’m downtown. Highly recommend!!!!!!“

“Cool old school vibe. Great beer selection.“

“Fun beach atmosphere- time to wind down after a long day, plenty of cold beer and wine, meet up with friends and watch the game!“

“Hadn't been to YH in a long while. Was a busy Sunday afternoon so had to wait a while and waited a bit for our waitress to come but the service was great once it started and the food was very good. I had the Korean BBQ Cheesesteak...didn't eat a lot of the bread, just the toasted part.. It was delicious...as was the Cocacola chocolate dessert! I will definitely go back for those items!Parking: There are a few parking spaces right next to the restaurant but those can fill up quickly. There is a parking deck directly across from the restaurant and a couple others available of you want to enjoy a nice little walk.“

“Football at its best- and that is coming from an English man. Although the owner kev is a gooner fan but hey ho lol. Check it out.“

“Loved the beer selection and video game tourneys!“

“Mixerz was the obvious choice for our September 18, 2021 wedding. April was so easy to work with, always had great suggestions, and even helped me narrow down my selections and the quantity of each. Not only were they great in the planning process, but the bartenders went above and beyond on the day-of. As soon as my husband and I sat down for dinner at the reception, the bartender made a special trip to our table to ask if we wanted anything specific to drink. The whole evening, they had a small cooler set aside with our (bride and groom) favorite preferences (a couple of each beer and a bottle of wine) so that if we went for a drink, they’d never run out of what we wanted. At the end of the night, the bartenders sent us off for our exit with a complimentary bottle of champagne to enjoy. They also did a great job accommodating our non-alcoholic preferences like soda and water behind the bar which I appreciated. If you’re planning a wedding or event, sincerely look no further. The price was extremely reasonable for the excellent service they provided and they truly love what they do! Of all the wedding vendors we used, Mixerz was one of the best. Thanks April!“

“My type of ominous basement cocktail bar. It was tucked away off the sidewalk down some stairs, illuminated by the red Foundation light.Dimly lit stone/brick walls with some awesome local artwork throughout. Hefty selection of bottles. I was striking out with too-sweet cocktails throughout my road trip and finally caught a strong old fashioned! The bartender nailed it. Add it to you late night craft cocktail stop.“

“Fun atmosphere with a wide range of patrons. Great spot for people watching and a wide variety of drinks. Recommend this spot for anyone looking for a quick drink. Will come here again!“