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One of those spots that you love so much but try to stay away from because... sugar. Their menu is ever changing and their sweets are absolutely delicious. They typically have a daily special and their menu changes 4 to 5 times per year. Known for their selection of gin, don't hesitate to grab a gin and jam or any kind of classic cocktail. I've been coming here for years and will continue to.
Go here for espresso martinis, mocktails, and desserts. After hearing many praises for Bittersweet, I excitedly stopped by on a Sunday afternoon. The bar is inviting and I love the menu design. We enjoyed all of the items ordered especially the market riot mocktail, espresso martini, and key lime tart. The employees were so friendly and patient. They checked in on us regularly and politely answered our questions.
A fun concept bar of cocktails + desserts! We sat at the bar and received great service. Make sure to take the time to read the whole menu because there are some very unique offerings! We also learned the menu is updated seasonally, so it was a perfect pairing to the beautiful spring weather
I have a never ending love for this place. The espresso martinis are so good and perfectly sweet. My go to is pirates coffee which is iced and coconut flavor. Even when it's not on their seasonal menu they make it for me. I've never had a bad drink or treat from this place. My favorite bar to take out of town guests! Always a must!
This place was amazing and I'll def be back again. Came on a weekday, the place was moderately packed which was nice because it didn't make it awkward just being us two. The noise level is medium with everyone talking but nothing too crazy. The workers were super friendly and attentive, answering our questions and making sure we understood the menu. The drinks here are also very delicious and presentable. We also ordered an ice cream sundae for 2 which was very yummy; I def recommend you stop by for drinks and a good time.
The literal definition of a dessert bar. They have amazing unique treats, a great alcohol selection. They also have mocktails coffees, and teas. I believe this place is known for their gym and they have a large gin collection. Sat at the bar here the service was great. The dessert and the drinks came out quickly. They do have special desserts of the day and baked goods also. After a night out if you need a sweet treat and another drink, this is the place to go.
Came on a Sunday night and had to wait in line until we could get seated. Unfortunately, a lot of things ran out by the time we got seated so we couldn't try the desserts we really wanted. The sundae was still nice to try with the different toppings. Their almond drink was also tasty. Wish we could have tried more of their desserts.
Bittersweet was pretty bittersweet... we came for desserts for a friend's birthday and there was about a twenty minute line outside. We were super excited to try these drinks and desserts and were surprised by the lack of flavor in everything. The presentation looked really appetizing but the cupcake was dry, the pecan pie was more like a chocolate with pecans on top and the ice cream sandwich looked cool but tasted like stale popcorn. The drink was okay also. I will say that the vibe was chill and has a really nice date atmosphere.
Loved this cocktail bar! Espresso martinis were perfect and they had a variety of options! All people of my party loved their drinks. The pretzels/nuts bar snack was tasty too. The staff and our waitress in particular was awesome- so friendly and fun and engaging. Definitely would go back next time in the Raleigh area!
One of my new favorite places in downtown. This was one of the stops for my birthday and I know I will be back soon. Service was friendly and the staff gave great recommendations for popular items. We tried a variety of drinks and desserts. Even had a cute birthday shot with a candle in it. The Derby pie was by far my favorite dessert that night. We also had the s'mores sundae which had a cool presentation. For drinks the Caribbean Thunderstorm was my favorite. Definitely give this place a try.
Not so Bittersweet...This is one of my favorite Raleigh spots. Service always amazing! The staff is here is very friendly, helpful, and I have never had a bad cocktail. Drinks are bussin! I love the Gin and Jam and the Espresso Martini's are the best in the city! I would also recommend you trying a seasonal drink. Definitely a cute spot for a date night, drinks with friends, or a solo date. On the weekends get there early to beat the line. But, trust it is worth the wait!
We've known about this place but only just visited, and we had an absolutely wonderful time! We came in on a Saturday afternoon around 4pm. No wait, which you won't find as it gets into the evening. Our server was lovely and attentive. I got the boozy peppermint latte and my partner got the I Smell Ice, and lemme tell you, they are heavy handed with that liquor. We also got the coffee crème brûlée and both agreed that it is probably the smoothest crème brûlée we had ever had. $42 in total with the tip so not bad for what you get. A great place to pop in on the weekend with your SO or friends.
Pretty great! I came here with a few friends for my birthday. The service was super nice and attentive, and were really accomodating taking our chaotic orders. The cocktails I had were very good - my personal favorite was the Seaside Garden. I tried other drinks my friends ordered and everything was good (gin & jam for one). We got the shot special and since there were 5 of us played shot roulette. That was super fun and I like that you can mix and match. The prettiest lemon tart was quite beautiful and the berries on it were fresh and delicious. However, I thought the tart wasn't "tart" enough - it tasted more like a slice of cheesecake. The salted choc. chip cookie ice cream sandwich was delicious - I would definitely come back again specifically for that. Overall, highly recommend and I hope to try more of their offerings.
7 months ago
3 years ago
Bittersweet was the final stop on my food tour. I was not impressed although the reviews and the tour guide placed the bar/bakery as exceptional. I did enjoy my mocktail but the cupcake and the cookie were just ok. I found the cake dry and the frosting overly sweet. I had to take most of it off. The cookie was ok but nothing I'd go back for. read more
3 years ago
I had a really great experience here with my spouse and our friends. I am constantly on the hunt for the world's best espresso martini and Bittersweet has a lot of excellent coffee based alcoholic drinks. They also have really delicious regular desserts and weekly specials. I am really looking forward to returning and trying out additional drinks and desserts. read more
3 years ago
Food: sweet tooth nation Service: fast, thorough, friendly Ambiance: cafe style I don't always come here for food but when I do I always get their creme brûlée. Gin and jam is my go to although I'll venture off to their seasonal cocktails that are bangers. Most importantly five stars for their staff, amazing people and is why I keep coming back read more
1 year ago
9 months ago
2 years ago
I've been here a couple of times and this place never really disappoints. They have the best after dinner craft cocktails downtown, so if you're having dinner and want something a little sweet, this is the place to go! I love their shot special, they let you pick and choose between the 5 shots they offer so if one doesn't interest you then you can get more of a different flavor. The only thing I will say is that this place can get really busy and you'll be pretty close to others if you have a neighboring table. read more
Great place for desserts and drinks! Bonus that it closes at midnight, so this was a good spot to end the night after dinner and hitting up a couple of bars in the area. We did come on a Saturday night though, so it was quite busy. Waited in line outside for 15 mins. read more
1 year ago
3 years ago
While this still remains the only dessert bar in the downtown area, the menu and desserts are disappointing. I would only advise visiting for cocktails if you must. The staff is wonderful here, but the low quality manufactured desserts are not worth standing in line at all for. The idea of this place makes you want to fall in love but the dessert missed the mark for me each visit. The menu is very limiting with few options. It's time they work on this. Desserts are below the quality of Food Lion. Ordered now twice and received rock hard desserts that tasted terrible. Cake should be moist. They plate the desserts nicely but that's it. Seems like a tourist trap or Tik Tok Trap. read more
9 months ago
2 years ago
5 years ago
This is a great spot to go to for a nightcap, pregame, or a meet up with friends I happened upon it all by accident, and it was a great experience They offer outdoor seating The desserts are just as delicious as the drinks This place is a must try and needs to be on everyone's radar read more
1 year ago
Worth the wait! Best desserts and drinks we had in raleigh. We got the gin and jam drinks-such a creative idea! Also fun to sit at the bar and see all the fun drinks being made read more
Great desserts, good coffee, a nice laid back atmosphere and prompt/friendly service. My wife and I stopped in after some happy hour oysters and St Roch because we wanted something sweet. I had the buckeye pie (the pie special of the day) and my wife had the smores dessert along with a chilled coffee drink. Both desserts were fantastic, especially the brownie plus the ice cream on the s'mores dessert. We will definitely return. read more
I really LOVED it here -- and I don't even like dessert. Very busy though. To start, I wouldn't go here on a weekend night if you are easily overstimulated. The door was open when I was there, and so it was kind of cold and gusty by the entrance. It was really crowded and loud, and it was also kind of dark. I thought that was fun, but it might not be for everyone. As for the drinks, I love that this is a gin focused bar! I love gin. They also have other things, though, if you don't like gin. There is a huge variety of gins and different cocktails on the menu. I got a gin and jam, which is when they mix together your choice of gin and your choice of jam and then serve it with a spoon full of jam. I got raspberry jam, and it was really good! It wasn't overpowering in the drink though, because there was some lemon flavor as well. I'd get it again!!! The waitress did a great job of talking my through my choices, especially choosing the gin. The dessert I got was a pomegranate chocolate cake, and it was vegan!!!!! It tasted great and had a great texture. I loved that they added fresh pomegranate seeds on top. I'll probably be going back!!! read more
2 years ago
4 years ago
I really liked the atmosphere in this cocktail bar. My husband and I were able to get seats at the bar pretty quickly. We both got the iced toasted almond which was very good. We shared the s'mores sundae. The chocolate on top was kind of hard to eat, but it was a tasty dessert. I really liked the homemade marshmallow. It was a little pricey, so not somewhere I would go to often. read more
2 years ago
I have returned! This time I got the derby pie and the beautiful mess cake. Honestly, I don't think you could go wrong with any of bittersweet's desserts. Both were fantastic of course! My one critique (though won't knock a star of for): the cappuccino was very disappointing. It's that brand of bitter coffee that's meant to be sweetened but doesn't hold up on its own. (I feel like there's a pun somewhere in there.) Oh well, live and learn! read more
2 years ago
The ambience was nice, good service, my dessert was delish! I got a s'mores dish. It is a place definitely worth going for a special occasion or once in a while, but very crowded and a line out the door. It wouldn't be worth coming often. read more
3 years ago
Great date place to swing by for dessert and cocktails. The staff was friendly and checked on us to make sure our drinks and dessert were good. Other things to add: It can be a bit noisy depending on the crowd. There was a line as we left so be prepared to wait a little bit if you don't show up before 8pm on a rainy Friday read more
Second Times the Charm? Yes, this place never misses. The beauty in this place with the dimmable lighting, beautiful bar and cozy environment really sells this place. My partner & I had a great time! We ordered our classic favorites BUT added the smores dessert this time around and I was impressed. Had a great time with out bartender named Breddy, "like Brittany but two D's" and we had a blast. Loved how authentic she was and also explored some interesting ingredients with the expresso martini. Definitely worth trying this place! You'll spread the word and keep coming back for more! read more
I've been to Bittersweet a few times now, had a few desserts, and drinks. They do not disappoint for either. They make all their desserts in house, and last weekend I sat at the bar and saw them making one of their sundaes. They put the marshmallow on the plate, and then use a little torch to toast it. This is indicative of how they approach all their menu items - with real care and pride. They are now participating in the Sip and Stroll drinks, so you can walk up to their window to get those. They also make several coffee inspired drinks which I can't wait to try! Would also add, they serve regular coffee as well so Bittersweet could be a great post dinner dessert and coffee date even if you're not looking for drinks. read more
3 years ago
Had to wait in line but worth it. Sat at the bar and it was entertaining to watch the bartenders make drinks and prepare the desserts. I couldn't stop talking about the s'mores pie for weeks and I'm not even a big marshmallow fan. Will definitely be back! read more
3 years ago
I wish I had a spot like this at home! My husband wanted an espresso martini and I wanted something sweet. It was the perfect spot to kick off our NYE festivities. read more
Great energy, this would be the perfect date place. Not a lot of pressure, cozy atmosphere, delicious shareable desserts and bespoke cocktails. I was in town for work, and was able to stop by and try this place for myself. If you aren't wanting to go the alcoholic beverage route, they also have great coffee's! read more
This place is great! I got the toasted almond coffee cocktail and derby pie. The derby pie is really great. It's a chocolate and pecan pie and has really nice flavors and tastes like it was made fresh. I recommend this as a nice place to get drinks before dinner or after work. read more
I absolutely LOVE coming here for dessert. My husband and I came one Saturday night to enjoy a great mix of cocktails and fun desserts. I ordered the espresso martini (SO GOOD) and wish I had ordered a second. My husband ordered Saturn Returns with iced Jasmine green tea, honey, lemon, black rose tea, grapefruit, rye whiskey, St Germain's Elderflower liqueur, Empress 1908 gin, crushed ice, mint, and an edible flower. He thought the flavors were a bit bland herby and had way too much ice. For dessert, I ordered the Dirt & Worms (adults only), which had a delicious dark chocolate-espresso cremeux base topped with with Makers Mark bourbon whipped cream, crunchy chocolate "dirt", edible flowers, whiskey meringue mushrooms, and house-made gummy worms (made with Luxardo cherry liqueur and Malfy gin). My husband ordered the S'mores Sundae, which ended up being the best of the desserts we both ordered. The torched house-made marshmallow cream was gooey, the Valrhona dark chocolate brownie was dense, the vanilla ice cream was heavenly, and the toasted graham crackers were perfect. For our third drink, we got an iced Pirate Coffee with Kraken black spiced rum, cream of coconut, coffee, whipped cream, and cinnamon. It was pretty tasty. We also got desserts to go (yes, they were that good). We brought home a carrot cake cupcake and Antoinette's Big Southern Wedding (lemon pound cake finger sandwiches filled with coffee & mascarpone buttercream, organic strawberries and cocoa nib crumble, edible flowers). Both were amazing! read more
Amazing cocktails, coffee, & desserts. The only thing I was unhappy about was how loud they have the music. It's a dessert bar, not a night club.. very difficult to have a conversation in here. Anyway, we ordered some delicious things! I am of course obsessed with pumpkin & their fall menu is out so I tried their pumpkin pie martini & pumpkin pie brûlée. The cocktail was phenomenal! Tasted like pumpkin pie in a glass! My pumpkin brûlée was a surprising mixture of flavors! The plate came with fresh whipped cream & spiced pecans. The filling was like pumpkin pie with crunchy sugar. It was amazing! The pecans actually had some spicy flavor like chili peppers. Very interesting and delicious combination. My friend got the apple pie donut cobble & surprise had bacon in it! Didn't like that flavor in it, so they should ditch the bacon. But the rest was good. If you want unique desserts & drinks, check this place out! read more
1 year ago
3 years ago
Such a cute place with a beautifully crafted dessert menu! I got the beautiful mess cake and it was stunning! I will say it looks better than it tasted, but it was still an enjoyable experience to visit :) read more
This is a beautiful bar that has high end cocktails and excellent desserts. That's why we came. It did not disappoint. The drinks were very good. While I've been disappointed with s'more desserts in the past this one was the best I'll ever eat. Thankfully no trace of Nutella. The chocolate brownie base taste more like a flourless chocolate torte. Topped with 3 delicate scoops of ice cream, crowned with dark chocolate tuile nests, and ringed with a torched marshmallow foam. Yummy. The espresso martini pairs better with the dessert. The key lime martini is better as a stand-alone drink (cloyingly sweet with a dessert). Drinks were very well made, just small portions. read more
BLUF: Raleigh needs more dessert bars! Everytime I drive/walk by Bittersweet I think it's some swinging club because there's always a long out the door with someone checking ID. To my surprise, it's a dessert bar! Cool! We're a party of five, waited in line for about 20 minutes on a Friday night. Not bad. Unfortunately, the group didn't coordinate and three of the four desserts we got were the S'mores Sundae. I got the sole different dessert, the raspberry mousse. With my personal preference to a tart-sweet dessert, the s'mores dessert with their made-in-house marshmallows was way too sweet. The marshmallows made up at least 40% of the dish. Still an interesting establishment. Will definitely go back, grab some gin cocktails, and try other desserts. We did kind of walk away thinking, that downtown Raleigh needs another dessert bar like this. read more
Had to satisfy a sweet craving late at night, and found this dessert lounge. They offered desserts, sweet mixed drinks, coffee drinks and small bites. They seem to be a big hot, because the placed filled up super fast. I ordered a coffee martini and the smores sunday. The drink was perfect and not to sweet and delicious. The sunday was devoured eagerly by my 5yr old. Can't wait to go back. read more
Absolutely our go to place on Friday night after dinner for dessert and amazing drinks. They serve Counter Culture local coffee which is phenomenal. This place is immaculate and BarTender is on point. We absolutely love Preddy. The desserts are on point and always over the top. Amazing. Best place for coffee drinks ambience. Our go to place. read more
More info about Bittersweet
16 E Martin St
Raleigh, NC 27601
Fayetteville Street
Directions
(919) 977-3829
Call Now
Visit Website
http://bittersweetraleigh.com/
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Is Bittersweet 21 and over only?
I'm not sure. They did not check ID, so my guess is "no age require "
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