Mouthwatering Bars in Raleigh

The Davie

★★★★★ 4.7 (6)

"This is such a cute spot in downtown Raleigh. As soon as you walk in, you can't help but feel welcome in the coziness of the space. The upstairs is open with comfy seating - perfect for after work cocktails or even a private event. I love that they'll adjust their hours to open for sporting events..not what you'd typically expect from a cocktail lounge! The bartenders will create craft cocktails for you, and they also have a great selection of local beers on tap.This really is a unique gem of a bar, and the owners are pure gold. I hope they stick around for a long time!"

The Northside District

★★★★☆ 4.3 (34)

"Their menu is very creative and a major step up from any bar food I've ever had. I ordered the tofu bites which were okay but i think a firmer tofu with a crispy coating would have made it better. The chicken satay sliders were good though I'm not a fan of the Hawaiian sweet buns which skewed the taste too much to the sweet side and the buns were soggy. I'd eat the chicken by itself though. It wasn't a huge win for me but I wouldn't rule it out for something out of the ordinary."

Jack's

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (11)

"Upscale dining place with quality (albeit overpriced) food. The BBQ shrimp comes with this sauce that goes well with everything. I had their fried oysters (good texture and flavor) and penne pasta (enormous quantity wise for what I could handle). The pasta was creamy, and the penne had clearly soaked in all the flavor of the cream. Highly recommend! Service was fine, the tables seemed relatively empty right after peak time on a Friday night."

Whiskey Rose

★★★★★ 5 (4)

"Country bar with live country music right in the heart of downtown Raleigh! Loved the vibe, love the live music, the drinks were flowing and crowd was awesome. We walked around that area on a Saturday night and Whiskey Rose (est. 2022) was probably my favorite stop. There were tons of people and I was probably the lone Asian dude in there. Lol. Had a hell of a time though, great times. No cover charge and decently affordable brews and cocktails. Thanks to the waitress at the Flying Biscuit for recommended the Whiskey Rose. If you like/love country, WR NC is your spot!"

Urban Angeethi Indian Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.6 (87)

"We tried this Indian restaurant for their amazing lunch buffet! They have sooooo many options and everything tasted so delicious!! From fresh cut fruits and salad, they have various varieties of chaat, indo Chinese, North Indian dishes, lots of veg and non veg curries, pappadum, 2 types of biryani, idli, vada sambhar and 2 types of desserts. I have never seen these many items in an Indian buffet.They bring fresh naan on the table which is an added plus. The service is good and restaurant has a very nice ambiance."

Johnson Street Yacht Club

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (14)

"JSYC was a fun time. The outdoor area was the only part open when we visited so I'll be interested to return and check out the inside once it reopens. My husband and I both had a Blue Moon. It was not clear on what their liquor options were since there wasn't a menu so I'm assuming it's your standard, easy to make drinks. This spot definitely gave us lake/beach vibes. Before you leave or during your visit, you can take a ride down the slide. Enjoy."

Pine State Public House

★★☆☆☆ 2.3 (8)

"I enjoyed Pine State Public House. The one bartender who assisted us was very friendly and fast with the drinks. A live guitarist Garland Mason played, and the music was completely satisfying. There was a large selection of songs played that I knew and enjoyed. We sat on the patio and had drinks. Nice experience and a great view to people watch."

Five Star

★★★★☆ 3.7 (287) • $$

"I regularly come here now and this is definitely my casual asian restaurant of choice. You can actually come here casual or dressed up, and it's always lively inside. It's very packed on weekends, so make reservations or be prepared to wait. They also have a DJ who plays really great mixes! Last night's mixes were great. They have this cute painted private room for large parties if you want to celebrate something. Also don't pay for parking because they validate it inside. My favorite dish here is actually the chicken fried rice. It's one of my favorite fried rice dishes if not my number one and I get it every time. I also ask for a side of yum yum sauce and pour it over. Second place goes to the heat seeker shrimp. I love that they have a featured menu list that is constantly changing with food and drinks. I will say their drinks are amazing. I've tried so many different cocktails in cute cups and garnishes from this place alone and I'm always excited to see what's featured. Last night's featured drink was a matcha lychee margarita and we loved it. From the featured food menu, we got red curry chicken and chili garlic noodles. The red curry chicken was soooooo good I really hope they permanently add the dish to the menu. Everyone loved it.Their portions are huge and their prices are amazing. You will be stuffed and have great drinks and not even spend that much."

Chef's Palette Restaurant & Bar

★★★★☆ 4.2 (349) • $$

"This was our first visit. Our server was David and he was friendly and attentive just the right amount. The duck taquitos were great (the white sauce was a bit spicier than what I enjoy, but the cheese sauce was great and not spicy.) I tried the shrimp and grits for my meal. The meal was tasty but a little spicier than I anticipated and the grits were ever so slightly undercooked (still very edible and tasted good). I really enjoyed the Honeycrisp Bees' Knees (gin) cocktail. I think their hostess table may need a little work, and that the eclectic art for sale on the walls was interesting. I appreciated that the sound levels were pretty good in the restaurant."

Brookland Eats

★★★★☆ 4.1 (121)

"I've eaten here twice now but this last visit really hit the mark. The staff is always friendly and helpful with the menu and recommendations loved by the locals. Donna Jade was our server and was top notch. I got the fish and it was quite good well seasoned and delicious. The prices are very reasonable and I will visit again to be sure. Plus they did have a bottle Of Tabasco sauce on hand as mine was left in the car. I put it on just about everything. When you visit Roxboro make sure you grab at least one or more meals here."

State of Beer

★★★★☆ 4.4 (118) • $$

"Pretty cool beer place on the northern end of downtown that I passed when walking back to my hotel. They had a few beers on draft with a list you can either scan a barcode or see at the bar. They also have a LOT of cans from which to choose as well. The prices on the cans that were marked (some were not which is a pet peeve) seemed pretty high for a single beer or multipack, so I ended up just getting a wheat draft from Trophy which I enjoyed very much. They gave me a sample first which was nice as well. Staff was friendly! Outdoor seating was nice too. This was a beer only visit as I think the kitchen was closed."

Bad Machines

★★★★★ 4.7 (3)

"I had the opportunity to check out this place for its opening. I had the potion flight that featured three different gaming inspired cocktails. The blue and amber colored options were my favorites; the yellow less so. They had a variety of beer and cocktail selections. The space itself, was relatively open with four TV screens showcasing different gaming systems. If gaming systems aren't your thing, there were also board games and arcade style games. The staff was friendly and informed me that that they host different game nights, every day of the week. The prices were on bar with other bars in the area. You'll have to find street or deck parking -- both cost, depending on the time of day. Overall, a pretty cool experience with one of the first e-sports bars in the triangle area. Will definitely come back to check out the other drinks and other gaming systems."

El Cantarito Bar & Grill

★★★★☆ 3.6 (46)

"El Cantarito Bar & Grill is a new Mexican spot that has opened up in Downtown Fuquay. My mom and I dined in for lunch and had a good experience. I started off with a beer then a margarita. We split the queso then I ordered the lunch chicken chimichanga. The food, drinks and service were all good."

Surf Club

★★★★☆ 3.9 (85)

"Great vibe. Cool outdoor and indoor elements to attract fun-lovers galore. Eclectic mix of people from, literally, ALL walks of life socializing with one another. And decent-mixed cocktails and/or beer served up by the most welcoming bartenders. What more could you want?! Definitely a must-visit if you're out on the town in Durham, NC."

Jimmy V's Osteria & Bar

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (373)

"This place was in the hotel lobby and after getting in the late evening, I dined here out of convenience. I got a pizza which was ok (there's no such thing as bad pizza, right?). I ate it, it was filling, and I went to my room and didn't look back (does anyone really look back when they leave a restaurant).There are so many other places around, but it's not bad if it's raining or you don't feel like going out."

Chris's Open Hearth Steak House

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (171) • $$$

"I had done some research on this place a while back looking for a Christmas gift certificates and saw it was pretty good. Finally got to visit it! Very cool décor. Nice atmosphere with dining area and a big bar area. Noticed outside seating too for when the weather is niceOthers have noted the cheese and crackers. I thought given that they are a higher end steak house this was a bit strange however the cheese was good. We started with meatballs and stuffed mushrooms. Meatballs were awesome! Great red sauce and flavor in the meat. The mushrooms were ok. Seemed to lack a little flavor. We then moved on to the wedge salad. Great flavors. Just the right amount of dressing and lots of bacon! Then Deb and I split the Ribeye. It was cooked perfectly. Good flavors. Delicious. The side of onion rings were great too. Nice and crispy. The service was great. Food was brought out in good time. Overall a good experience"

Boxcar Bar + Arcade

★★★★☆ 4.2 (680) • $

"Boxcar is a unique place to unleash your inner child in the triangle. I previously visited their Durham location which is huge in comparison to Downtown Raleigh. This location does not have as much real estate, games or the cool pizza counter, however there is a little bit of something for all gamers and 80's babies alike to enjoy. I visited after 10 p.m. while celebrating a birthday with a friend and he really enjoyed being a big kid for the evening. Mario Kart, Air Hockey, Skeeball, NBA JAM, Pinball, StreetFighter and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are all classics. The staff were very friendly and worked hard. I love the late night hours and parking was seamless when scoring a spot right in front of the building."

401 Main

★★★★☆ 4.2 (62) • $$

"I didn't expect much, but surprisingly the cocktails were solids. Both cocktails I've had were awesome. Friendly bartenders. Good vibes. I could see myself frequenting this lovely neighborhood bar if I lived here."

Tonic Bar & Social Club

★★★★☆ 4.1 (20)

"Tonic is a local hot spot so expect it to be packed on the weekends. We were finally able to check this place out during an off time to try a round of cocktails. The orchard exchange for me and the blackberry smash for my husband. They were both good. It's cute inside and is the perfect place to stop in for a drink while exploring downtown Wake Forest."

San Jose Tacos & Tequila

★★★☆☆ 2.9 (43) • $$

"San Jose was previously located in the Walmart parking lot in Rocky Mount. This location was convenient, and at that time San Jose was my family's favorite restaurant in Rocky Mount, and my family would eat there at least twice a week.A few years ago, San Jose closed their previous location and opened a new restaurant in the Golden East Mall parking lot. The new location is much larger. We were so excited about the new spot, and the first few times we went there it was fine.However, the service, cleanliness, speed, and tastiness of the restaurant really plummeted shortly after the move. Because the restaurant has gone downhill, we don't visit San Jose as much now, but I did stop in for lunch today.Lunch was fine, but the place was not busy. I would love for this restaurant to return to how it used to be."

Locked & Loaded Bar & Grill

★★★★☆ 3.7 (89) • $$

"It's a biker bar but only when there are a crowd of bikers out front. If you're seeing minivans and SUVs, there aren't going to be too many bikers. And this evening when I arrived, it was not a biker bar.I went right to the chicken wings and ordered the 25 "hot." They're cooked fresh because they took a good 20 minutes or so to be prepared but when they arrived, they were hot and tasty and definitely not swimming in sauce. Very meaty wings, a decent mix of both one- and two-bones. I was definitely bigger eyes and belly this evening, as a bunch of them went back to the hotel room for later snacks.Service was decent but the wings were the highlight here. Lots of televisions tuned in to sports.[Review 11929 overall, 1711 of 2019.]"

Pantana's Pool Hall & Saloon

★★★★☆ 4.3 (16) • $

"I wished I knew about this place during my time in college at State. What an awesome bar/pool hall! I stopped in on Thursday night and met up with some family. It was such a chill night from start to finish. Traffic was flowing in but at a comfortable rate. The bartenders were attentive and kind. Can't beat that! The pool tables were clean and well-balanced. I look forward to going back to support this establishment."

Gatehouse Tavern

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (180) • $$

"Not sure why this place has less than 4 stars. It's not a high end bougie restaurant, but the menu is extensive and has something for everyone. I would call this upscale/craft bar food. We came on National Margarita Day so I opted for the premium margarita. Not the best I have ever had, but it was smooth and not cheap tasting. Very good. We got the zucchini fries to start. Amazing. Light and crispy with the best homemade ranch. I always ask my server what their favorite menu item is if I've never been. I opted for her recommendation which I had been eyeing anyways - the sweet spicy fried chicken sandwich. Had a major kick without too much sweet which I loved. Get yourself some ranch or blue cheese on the side to dip it in to cut the spice a bit. My friend got the cheeseburger flatbread. It was huge. Our server says the size differs based on who is in the kitchen just fyi. Loved our server Sarah. We also came in on a Tuesday which happened to be trivia night so even though we were terrible it was fun!"

Shenanigans Taproom

★★★★★ 5 (2)

"Nice lil spot to have a drink, play darts or games and you can order food in if you get hungry."

Viceroy

★★★★☆ 4.4 (452) • $$

"Super charming local restaurant with insanely good service and food. Highly recommended for a dinner with friends, colleagues, or a date night. I dined with my boss while in town for work and absolutely loved everything about the experience. The restaurant's vibe is chic and trendy while being upscale with a comfortable, casual feel. We ordered the cauliflower appetizer (I don't remember the name, but you'll know when you see it/the staff will know if you ask for it) and it couldn't have been better. I'm a vegan so you don't have to take my word for it when I say that it had a "meaty" texture, but it was certainly far better than what you'd typically expect from a cauliflower based dish (my boss also said it was meaty and he's an omnivore).I had the Chana masala with a medium spice level for my main course, and it was perfection. The basmati rice it was served with was perfectly cooked and fluffy and paired perfectly with the dish.Oh, they have a great selections of wines as well. I went with an orange wine that was described as a bit funky. It was fabulous and paired very well with the food.Overall, I had an amazing experience at Viceroy and highly recommend it!"

Congress Social Bar

★★★★☆ 4 (4)

"Went for a going away party for a friend. Bartender was very friendly and helpful and suggested a virgin drink for me as I didn't plan to drink alcohol that evening. waffle up truck was there for the party and that was also very delish! Overall nice event at a nice spot. Would definitely go back."

Cornerstone Tavern

★★★☆☆ 2.6 (139)

"Went on a Monday around 11:30pm for a last drink after karaoke (up the street) before heading home. Bartender Kahlil remembered me from months ago when I had been in there once. Very impressive! Lots of sports screens and energizing music. As an older lady I felt a sense of safety in this place which is why I passed by other places and stopped in there. Kahlil confirmed it. Give him a raise!"

Lola's Beach Bar

★★★★☆ 3.8 (70)

"It was packed last night. Not a very spacious place, yet they have food, cocktails and beer. We got there late so the kitchen had already closed for the night. The relaxed ambiance was inviting and perfect to enjoy a drink to catch up w friends."

La Cocina Mexican Restaurant #9

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (104) • $$

"Yum! My hubs and his fam love Mexican food. We've tried a ton of places over the years. Solid fare from La Cocina tonight. Their prices were super reasonable compared to other local places and the food options were nice and diverse without the menu being too big. I had to call with a question about the menu for my hubs family and the person who answered was super friendly! Everyone said they loved their food. Definitely will be grabbing food from here again."

Coco Bistro & Bar

★★★★☆ 4.3 (98) • $$

"I'd go back!My favorite thing about Coco was the service. The people working there were really nice and friendly and helpful. I also liked the prices! They were pretty good for a sit-down restaurant in Chapel Hill. Keep in mind that the pictures attached to my review are not the normal portions. Finally, the ambiance is pretty good! I like the lights and the windows. I was here at night, but I think it would be prettier during the day."

Dead Mule Club

★★★★☆ 3.8 (44) • $$

"Since I was staying at The Franklin Hotel next door, I couldn't help but mosey on over to this little establishment that is tucked away. You might mistake it for someone's house if you didn't know what you were looking for. It was a rainy night before my graduation and I was in need of a celebratory drink with my wife! We stopped in, had a few, played Operation, chatted with the friendly bartender, and had a chill time.We learned that drinking establishments in Chapel Hill (and I'm guessing the whole state) must be classified as a club so we were asked to put our names on a sign-in sheet. Weird. Either way, the bar was quaint, intimate, there's awesome wall decor, and there were board games to pass the time. The bartender had mentioned that it's not really where the young college students go, but older (more refined) folks.Great place for a drink as you hobble along Franklin St.!"

Ruby Deluxe

★★★★☆ 3.8 (31)

"Yessss. YESSSS.When I left Durham, I missed The Pinhook something fierce. I craved an interesting venue that felt safe, welcoming, and wild. After traveling around the country and getting back to Raleigh years later, Ruby Deluxe filled that void and then some.It's a $10 membership fee, but can you really put a price on nightlife freedom? Make the investment and prepare to hand your life over to the kickass bartending staff.Shine your schnazziest shoes (or classic Chucks - whatever works) and prepare to dance your heart out to sick beats from some of the best DJs in the area. There are occasional move nights and interesting performances. But the raucous party nights are the best. There are great people to talk to, a decent beer selection, and sometimes Capri Suns shot full of rum. Bring your kickass attitude and leave your lamest friends at home."

Winston's Grille

★★★★☆ 4 (444) • $$

"The location is weird to me so we avoided it for a few years but on a whim went and pleasantly surprised. Nice porch and wide variety on menu. We opted for the specials of the evening. My gnocchi was some of the best I've ever had. Our old fashioned were well balanced and made well. I'm not the pricey side but enjoyed it"

The Cardinal Bar

★★★★☆ 4.3 (129) • $

"cool little dive bar with yummy hotdogs. slither in grab a basic beer and enjoy listening to the local banter. the afternoon i visited they were all watching slasher horror flicks. it was pretty fun. the bartender was a cross between a young robin williams/bradley cooper/and my son-in-law maybe it was the cocktail he concocted for me. worth a visit!"

The Big Easy Oven & Tap

★★★★☆ 3.6 (221)

"I would probably go with 3.5 stars. We stopped by on a Tuesday for lunch. It's right next door to the tire store. We got new tires in my car while we ate lunch.It's a nice little restaurant. Seat yourself. The menu was pretty big. I had the Reuben. It was a Turkey Reuben and was quite yummy. The fries were also good.Hubby had half a Muffaletta. Would not recommend this one. We were spoiled at Central Grocery in New Orleans. A Muffaletta should be served on soft bread. This bread was crunchy. The toppings were kind of sparse. Service was good even though it did seem like they were short handed on staff."