50 Best Cocktail Bars in Raleigh

“Tamasha is nothing short of incredible. A beautifully appointed restaurant that provides first class service and amazing food. This is truly one of Raleigh's finest.“

“This was our first time at Madras. Great food…loved the roasted cauliflower with green goddess dipping sauce. My husband loved the octopus. The outside Wednesday night band was an excellent bonus!!“

“Excellent liquor selection and great bartenders!“

“Awesome!“

“Great ambiance and a really nice place for drinks and appetizers. We ordered the Hummus and Patatas Bravas to start, and both were very good. For drinks, we had the Carajillo Rum Old Fashioned and Noda Radio Haze, and enjoyed both.

For the main course, we tried the Pappardelle Alla Ragu and Bucatini Con Tomate. The entrees were okay, but they didn’t stand out nearly as much as the appetizers and drinks. I was also disappointed with the vegetarian selection—there was basically only one real vegetarian entree option.

Service was okay, while the ambiance was excellent. Overall, a good spot for drinks, appetizers, and atmosphere“

“Christmas Eve dinner 2025. Everything delicious. Counter seating, so entertaining watching the pace and positive attitudes of those working the line. Roasted oysters, agnolotti divine, NC fish perfect. Staff friendly and, well, just a special evening all together. We have only been twice, but were greeted like regulars.“

“The changing seasonal menu is something to look forward to! Creative Desserts, delicious drinks, you can't go wrong at Bittersweet!“

“Lovely atmosphere. The bartender was amazing and created very lovely little drinks for us. Thank you for the experience. we ❤️ steph“

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

“What a great addition to N Raleigh. Possibly the best Indian food in Raleigh. Beautiful presentation, aromatic food, tasty and delicious. Great cocktails and wonderful service. A beautiful restaurant“

“First time eating here had delivered for lunch baby bang taco was so good . Salsa and chips- the chips were so fresh salsa soooo good I will order again .“

“Anthony literally saved the night the other night from a horrible restaurant experience at another restaurant down the street to his prime location in Downtown Raleigh it was a night and day experience, 1000% recommend to anyone who wants a great dining and great food experience.“

“Great bartenders and truly unique atmosphere. Very creative cocktail menu.“

“🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩 By far the Best Tacos I have ever had in my life, They where all fresh and the corn is out of this world and the Service is Fantastic ask for Bre this place sir passes 10 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

“I always have a fun time at Killjoy - whether it's packed with little room to walk around or it's a small crowd with space at the bar and on the dance floor! The music is great, and the people are there to chill, sing and dance a little - just a nice vibe. Attractive people, nicely dressed, friendly energy!“

“Great new hangout place, Must see And try“

“Nothing beats a passionate chef. Tonight was my first experience, and it's only the beginning! The staff was amazing and did not make me feel rushed. 5-star plus. I've never been to a restaurant where all the mussels were open and full of flavor until Northside Bistro. It was impressive and absolutely delicious, and they also serve some of the best cocktails I've ever had!“

“Recently a friend introduced me to the Oak and I was impressed well beyond my expectations. The drinks and the food are all top notch. Lots of places have “good bar food” but that’s not the case here, they have custom eats not “bar food”. There’s nothing we ordered that have us scraping up the crumbs. Justin the bartender is particularly knowledgeable and friendly, he’s a sharp guy who is eager to please and quick to serve, we never had to flag him down or ask for help, he was on the spot the whole time! I’ll be back for client lunches and meet ups for sure!“

“Me and my coworkers went here for his birthday we all ate the Lamb Burgers the burger was different and very good also Caleb invited us there the the management and staff was amazing it was amazing experience would definitely go again thank you whiskey kitchen again. Sincerely, James“

“My first time at Wood’s Bar and Lounge loved it…Everyone was welcoming and friendly. Shoutout to the DJ who shouted out PRESSURE~N~STEPPAZ I really appreciate the love as the CEO. I will be back real soon and hopefully have a few of my members with me! Thanks for the love again❣️“

“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!“

“Great experience Food was GREAT. Leona and Hampton are the best.“

“Since moving here a year ago from NYC, this was one of the first places we've been coming to once a weekend when we're in Raleigh. It gives us the NYC lounge feel we initially missed. It's good for my night cap before we go home. Good music, drinks and I enjoy their popcorn 😁!“

“Super cool vibe at this place. Drinks and food are good and our server, Kyra, welcomed us and introduced herself which made the experience more personal. She didn’t know the place used to be an actual dry cleaners though. Management could really improve the experience by creating a culture and story based on the history of the “The Dry Cleaners”.“

“One of my favorite places in town. Ben’s stalwart Gussie’s manages to tick so many seemingly disconnected boxes - great bar, with inventive cocktails. But a comfort food local place. Or maybe a beer geek temple - for those who know good breweries that aren’t trendy but were solid 20 years ago and still frigging are. Someone knows. Yeah Budweiser maybe could be upscaled a little but someone knows Lawson’s and 3 Floyd’s and even tonight’s surprise of Festina Peche from Dogfish Head that’s been awesome for what, 25 years? They regularly find things that I’ve not seen on tap in ages. The food - non beef eaters might need a minute but there’s choices there but the smash burgers are a work of art. Cocktails are inventive and excellent and the staff is awesome. A quibble - it’s a loud room so maybe the music could be a smidge lower so people don’t shout over it and it just gets very loud. But that’s a quibble. It’s comfy, it’s familiar, it’s good. Come here. Except when I want to come here because I want a seat at the bar, ok?“

“Great food! Amazing staff at the location on Spring Forest. We sat at the bar and Hope was very attentive, always making sure we had all we needed.“

“This place is amazing. It’s like a speakeasy with a cool, loung-y area inside, winding hallways, and a torch-and-fire pit outside garden area with dim lit bars and chill cocktails. Great for friends, couples or a date. Highly recommend.“

“I am so glad this place opened in the subdivision! great food! great staff!“

“Postino is a nice place for a date night or gathering with friends. It's a lovely atmosphere. The lighting is well done. It can be a bit loud though. The design should have done more for sound control. Most of the food that I have eaten has been tasty. Their boards are fun to share. The shrimp were overcooked, so I don't recommend those. The wine selection is good but a bit overpriced.“

“I honestly don’t know but i live on the same block and it sounds like its happening over there, the parking lot is always packed out and overflowing on pros nights, aka: Thursday and Sunday. A parking lot with huge overflow means a good crowd, and that speaks for its self.
A good crowd on the regular can’t be wrong!“

“Very good food. I had the elk burger and it was amazing 😋“

“I would like to say I really enjoyed my Birthday at Nuvo. The music was lit and the vibe was great. If you looking for a nice place to have a great time on the weekends you should go check them out. Thanks to Randy Jone for the invite and the love he showed while me and my family and friends were there.“

“Food and mocktail- Thyme drink were delish!“

“We have eaten at The Mill in Old Raleigh a couple of times and have never been disappointed. The daily fish specials are amazing - well balanced flavors and unique ingredients w a lovely presentation. My wife had the steak frites most recently and loved it!! The wait staff is very attentive, Madison was terrific! The entire evening was a pleasure from the starters through dessert. Do not hesitate to give The Mill a try. You will not be disappointed.“

“The AM Party at La Mala was an amazing experience from start to finish! The food was fantastic, the drinks were excellent, and the atmosphere was absolutely electric. The reggaeton music kept the energy going all day and created the perfect vibe for a great time with friends.

What truly made the experience special was the hospitality. A huge thank you to Jesse, for providing us with a complimentary VIP table. Their attention to guests and commitment to creating a memorable experience really stood out and made us feel genuinely welcomed.

La Mala delivers the complete package: amazing food, great drinks, an incredible atmosphere, and exceptional hospitality. I highly recommend it and can't wait to come back!

Muchas Gracias !!“

“The atmosphere was romantic and the food was absolutely amazing! My husband had one of the best filets that he has ever had and the homemade pasta was as close as I’ve found to true Italian pasta. Highly recommend for a romantic date night ❤️“

“My husband and I stopped in after a dinner out as this spot has been one of our “oh yeah! We haven’t been there in a minute” places and with our most recent visit we were reminded just how wonderful Foundation truly is.

I adore walking down the steps into the cozy
Lounge and I don’t think there has been a time that I’ve walked in that I wasn’t greeted at the door by the bartenders working inviting us to find a spot we’d like.

The staff have always been great at noticing the kind of experience you’d prefer- be it a “chat ‘em up” kinda evening or a lighter touch.

We each tried something off the rotating menu after getting a super customized recommendation - both absolutely stellar! And after chatting further we were also invited to try something a little more curious from off menu (a NY take on “green chartreuse liquor”) mixed into a pina colada that knocked our socks off.

Truly a spot worth checking out both on a weeknight for a more personal feel and during the weekend when the place gets packed. Kyle and the team will take you on an adventure your taste buds won’t forget.“

“Great bourbon selection including vintage whiskey. The craft cocktails are amazing! Beautiful and masculine decor!“

“Food the service the drinks amazing!“

“We really enjoyed our food and will definitely return for more!“

“Great food, cocktails & service!“

“For NCSU graduate lunch- Bill and staff treated us as 🐺family from our first reservation request. Communication was clear and totally invested in making our day perfect. From the delicious food to the custom Wolf Tracks ice cream order and of course the epitome of NCSU landscaping- it was beyond expectations.“

“Amazing food, friendly customer service... Yuummmmm“

“Live music 🎶, Great 🍺 🍹and the best Wings in Raleigh, hands down!!! You won’t be disappointed at this place! Come in during the week for some music 🎵 bingo or karaoke 🎤.“

“Great Green Bay packer bar!“

“It's lit. Went to the wonderland event on a thurs they had fire local djs and vendors with sick jewelry and rave stuff. Nice mix of bass music from riddin and trap to more upbeat

Went there another time too on a Friday and it was sick, house music that time“

“Awesome place! Great staff! Great food! Amazing beer!“

“What's Understood doesn't have to be explained...If you exemplify Masculinity then this is your spot! If you love to grow mentally then this is your spot! Mike & The Cigar Aficionado's behind the bar are Awesome & really good people.“

“Live music 🎶, Great 🍺 🍹and the best Wings in Raleigh, hands down!!! You won’t be disappointed at this place! Come in during the week for some music 🎵 bingo or karaoke 🎤.“

“The food is amazing! Though I haven’t tried every yet👀 I’m sure it won’t disappoint!“