Chapel Hill's iconic college bar, He's Not Here is worth a visit just for the experience of drinking 32 ounces of beer from their famous Blue Cup -- one of the essential Carolina experiences. No, it's not the cleanest bar in town, but the friendly service, spacious beer garden and energetic vibe are just a few of the reasons this is consistently voted one of the best college bars in America. If you don't like beer or cider, you're not going to find much else on the menu, but for hopheads, it doesn't get much better than this. Upstairs, you'll find more than a dozen beers on tap, including a number of local and NC craft brews (and no, you don't HAVE to order one in a Blue Cup, although it's a great value). There's also a smaller bar on the Beer Garden level, which also has about a dozen picnic tables and a small stage for music (there are shows most weekends). He's Not Here is pretty strict on checking IDs, so don't show up without one, no matter how old you think you look. My only complaint was the $5 weekend cover charge, which seemed a little egregious for a place that just serves beer. But that aside, this is a great spot to meet friends, enjoy some live music and drink a few beers. Just down the alley past YoPo at W Franklin & Columbia, and definitely worth a stop if you're in Chapel Hill. read more

You don't get more Chapel Hill than this place. Nine dollar buckets of beer they call a blue cup. Fantastic music! Sports are always on. Sit at a picnic table and have a blast catching up with friends. You never know who's gonna show up. The service is quite perfect... I mean, they know their beer. The best part about it is you can stock up your bar card at home with your very own blue cups. read more

He's Not Here - Our absolute most favorite place to come when we are in Chapel Hill! What's in this picture? The blue cup of course. - Dive Bars Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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This place was crowded and required a $10 cover per person. It was fun to get a big bucket/cup of beer for cheap but you've got to drink quick so it doesn't get warm. There was live music. It definitely was nice but depends on the vibe you're looking for read more

Legendary college bar that has been here forever. Best outdoor beer garden, lots of picnic tables, and very fun vibe. Upstairs is the bar where you buy the world famous 32 oz Blue Cups of beer. Choose any style! No food so eat beforehand. This place gets very crowded on weekends with college kids, but if you're looking for a fun night out, look no further. Right next door to Yogurt Pump. Follow the alley and look for the signs that point the way! read more

He's Not Here - Pink Cup night - Dive Bars Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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This a really cool chill bar on Thursdays! The blue cups are pretty cool lol forgot mine wish I had brought it lol the staff was really cool as well! read more

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Great college bar on Rosemary! $9 for a big blue cup (big yogurt size) was a great deal! Enjoyed sitting outside on this unseasonal warm weekend before going back home to Chicago! Love the vibe! Bartenders were very friendly! read more

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Came here as a visitor in enemy territory after a football game (the fans here are very kind and hard to talk trash too). Got a couple of there "legendary blue cups" which is essentially a glorified yogurt container worth of beer. The price for one cup was $8 which is an absolute steal if you ask me. While the bar (and especially the bathrooms) are disgusting, this is exactly the type of college bar i was looking to go too. I understand the hype. And I would 100 percent anyone visiting check this place out. read more

Solid 3 stars. It's pretty dirty. The walls are covered in the ages of accumulated dirt of generations of UNC students... maybe that's why it got such high marks from others. Personally it's just an indoor /outdoor UNC student hang out with alcohol on tap. The choices on taps for ciders aren't too wide. Usually you get one maybe two options. Service is nice enough. Their bathrooms are pretty gross too. We went on a Tuesday night. Only plus is the giant $6 cups which is why I'm sure the students flood in. If I go back I'll get photos. read more

We came to CH for a weekend with friends who live in the area. We spent a full day doing all the UNC things, and that included a trip to He's Not Here, a classic college bar established in 1972. It was early June, so university students had gone home, so there were just a few scattered patrons. The bar is awesome with ample seating outside and several tables inside. Upstairs and downstairs bars are great for busy weekends with college students. He's Not Here is known for its blue cups filled with draft beer of your choice. The cups hold the equivalent to probably three beers. It was definitely an experience. Bartender was helpful and answered questions. We probably spent over and hour just hanging out. We had a great time. If you are looking for a quintessential college bar with an established feel, this is your place! read more

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I went out to North Carolina on a small quick trip with my Fiancée. While there everyone said He's Not Here is the place to visit. They weren't wrong, my Fiancee and I hadnt been to a "college bar" before so we swung by and really enjoyed the atmosphere. It was super fun and the service was amazing. Cant forget about the famous blue cup! read more

He's Not Here - Dive Bars Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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This place makes you feel like you are back in collage! Giant plastic UNC Blue Beers for $9... So darn fun!! read more

He's Not Here - Dive Bars Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Home of the blue cup and a chapel hill staple. Amazing prices/value and pretty much the ultimate college bar. Staff is typically very friendly and the outdoor section is ideal for groups big or small to even just hang out, especially when the weather is nice out. Highly recommend read more

This is your typical bar that gets very popular with students. They have ample space for nights that get busy and many places to sit. Place is dog friendly which is always nice! The bar is ok the second floor which I thought was a little different. They have a good amount of options for beer drinkers offered in two sizes: 32oz in the famous blue cups and 16oz. They also had 2 options of ciders when I went. They don't offer anything else if you are not into beer or cider, which is not bad but it is nice to know before hand. The bartender was very polite and was fast with the orders. Would come again next time I am in the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill area read more

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Another one of UNC's awesome haunts as this is an great place to just chill and enjoy a beer...and some good tunes when they have them. Great place to gather before or after games or just with friends. Love the trees and the picnic benches. Low key but super cool. read more

My boyfriend is a big Carolina fan so we had to stop here! Place isn't going to wow you with their ambiance as it looks like your typical hole in the wall college bar. They serve beer in giant blue cups for a pretty cheap price. They also have some cool wall art outside of the building that is Tar Heel themed. They have a big outdoor space as I'm sure it's crowded on game days. read more

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Tall 32 oz beers. Great dive spot / hole in the wall. I bet when school is in session this place is rockin read more

He's Not Here - Dive Bars Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

You have to be here. Total bomb place. Good outside space. Plenty of taps on. We love this place. Back hidden in a alley way. So you'll have to find them. Great Thursday night hang out. Beers big enough for Texas! You won't be disappointed! read more

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Really liked this bar! Thought the beer was a great deal for the size that you get. The blue cup looks smaller online. Great ambiance.

Cool spot. Dropped by here to get the UNC college bar experience while watching the basketball game. Flat fee for drafts, plenty of craft. Enter around the back and upstairs. Really great hospitality. read more

Great beers and quick service! Definitely a must stop at while in the Raleigh-Durham area!

I have heard a lot about this classic Franklin Street bar. In Charlotte there is a UNC alumni bar that serves their own version of the signature blue cups, so I've long been wanting to see the real thing. After attending the noon basketball game we decided to head on over here to do some post game day drinking. Most of the action seemed to be going on outside as it was a nice day out. There was plenty of room to drink and socialize and admire all the dogs people were bringing in. Walking inside to use the bathroom I was hit with the familiar smell of stale spilled beer and knew this was a dive. It reminds me a lot of some of the bars I used to frequent at Ole Miss so I can imagine how much fun college kids and locals have here. If I'm in town again I will have to check this place out at night. read more

What a place He's Not is! One of my fav hang out spots in Chapel Hill! Always a great time, always great friends. An amazing selection of beer. read more

He's Not Here - Dive Bars Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Welcome to one of UNC's most classic dive bars. Locals told me that this is a must go bar while in town so grab a big blue cup and enjoy this classic UNC drinking hole. The crowd on a Thursday evening was very diverse, it had everyone from college students to a guy who looked like Colonel Sanders. Staff was friendly and quick to serve a cold beer. They don't serve hard liquor either, so you've been warned. read more

He's Not Here - Dive Bars Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

This bar is quite interesting. You must keep it in mind that most of the nightlife options in Chapel Hill are tailored to UNC undergrad students, therefore folks that just turned 21 and are ready to drink as much as they can. Good thing about this is: BEER CUPS ARE GIANOURMOUS and cheap. Yes! Thank you God of Cheap Beer for this holly grace. Vibe is chilled out, you will find a few Frat boys/sorority girls, but the place has karaoke (on Sunday nights), you can play darts or just hangout in the backyard. Staff is not the nicest, they will probably be rude to you whether when you are at the door and they ask to see your ID or when you order something by the bar. Just do not take it too personally and move on with you blue cup. read more

He's not is a Franklin Street classic and home of the iconic Blue Cup. It's a super relaxed atmosphere and the open courtyard is a great place to sit and catch up with friends. As a dog owner, it's great to have a big dog-friendly area. The inside is meh -- kind of dark, kind of dirty -- but no one comes here for that. read more

I am amazed by this place. I think you will be, too. Let's address some rumors as they fester into fact. Yes, you do get enormous He's Not Here cups (32 oz?) of beer for practically a song (to be fair, I'll pay almost anything for a 32 oz Yeungling). Yes, the cover is normally cheap or nonexistent. Yes, the bar is outdoors for the most part. Yes, it is incredibly hard to find (walk off the street between TJ's and Yogurt Pump and just keep on going). I love the atmosphere (literally?). During the early fall and late spring Chapel Hill's weather is a lovely 72 and clear, and He's Not capitalizes on it with an enormous outdoor seating area. It's a great, open environment to hang out in, even if the tree roots will absolutely destroy you when you're drunk. It's a very different feel than your normally get, and I fully support it. Oh, and bring cash, you'll need it. read more

He's Not Here - Dive Bars Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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Six dollar bucket beer, that itself sounds pretty good to me. I didn't really like the smell in there, but maybe it's because we got there when they were closing and that might or might not be a good thing to have the place load with bleach smell. They have several dart board for entertainment. Closes late... read more

He's Not Here - Dive Bars Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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If you're really looking for a review of He's Not on Yelp, it's probably not your scene. However if you're looking for a college-bar staple in an ultimate college town, welcome. Home of the (oversized and reusable) Blue cup for drafts, you won't go thirsty. Also, a Chapel Hill postcard mural outside for all of your Instagram aesthetic needs. read more

While taking a walk up and down Franklin Street we were drawn in here by the live band. It appeared to be the only place hopping on a Saturday evening which was rather surprising to be honest, because it turned out to be fairly empty. But free live music is what we were looking for and they had it on a huge open patio. there was a grill to cook on, lots of picnic tables and benches under the trees and some cornhole boards to kick back on while jamming to the live tunes. There was no cover to get inside, just a flash of the ID, but I'm not sure if that's the case for every night here. A quaint little bar outside served drafts and the full bar upstairs on the inside provided the more wholesome selection of all the beers they had to offer. Not sure exactly what kind of place this is aiming to be. It was really kinda run down and dive-y while the group was easily 30s and up jock types intermingled with old bikers looking for a party with some drunken 30 year old. However, if you get enough cheap beer in your system it is my belief that you can throw-down a jive anywhere you find yourself. For this joint I say rock on for as long as you can - life is what you make it! read more

Let's be clear: the only thing you should be doing here is sitting at a picnic table outside, listening to live music and drinking cheap beer out of a blue cup. Eating, using the bathroom or sitting at a booth inside are all not advisable. He's Not is a Chapel Hill tradition, though. When I was in college, they sold blue cups of Bud Light for $5 on Sunday nights. That's 33oz of beer for $5! That also happened to be karaoke night. Maybe there's a correlation. read more

He's Not Here - Blue cups! - Dive Bars Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

The ultimate college dive bar, IMO. There are plenty along Franklin, but this one is the most quintessential "Chapel Hill." Get a free pint glass with your Blue Cup on Wednesday. read more

Finest drinking establishment in Chapel Hill. Oldest and best bar in town by far. Sunny Saturday's at He's Not simply cannot be matched.

one of the best places in north Carolina. Nice cold draft beer, great staff and an unlimited supply of cute dogs. A great time , vibes and friends all around. Bathrooms suck but in a good way. 10/10. read more

Such a fun place! You can't leave without one of their infamous blue cups. They're only around $7-$8 and hold a lot of beer so it is worth it! This place has a huge outdoor area and a big crowd. I'll be visiting again! read more

He's Not.....is hands-down my favorite summertime CH bar. DID YOU KNOW that this is the oldest bar in Chapel Hill? And it's one of the few (can only think of PB's) that offers a huge outdoor area for mingling with friends and drinking, two of my favorite things. For people who have never been, it might look raunchy and sketch...and well, it does--but that's okay, really. Spilling your beer or someone else's doesn't really matter. It can be a little hard to locate, but once you find it, it's all good. Fair prices, great ambiance, and always a good time. Pretentious douches who cringe at dirt under their fingernails, get over it and realize looks are OFTEN DECEPTIVE, and this place is awesomely deceptive. Appreciate the antiquity, quit hating, and join the Blue Cup crowd! read more

Remembered from the old days, original owners - does anyone know what happened to the portrait of a nude woman that was placed behind the bar in the original HNH? It was painted by a Chapel Hill legend, Bill Wyatt and I would love to locate it, in Bill's memory. read more

All things considered, this is probably my favorite Chapel Hill bar, for a number of reasons. 1. Blue Cups - 33 oz plastic cups of beer. Cuts down on trips to the bar, plus afterwards you have a new piece (or a few new pieces, if your night's going well) of home decor (they make excellent vases and pen cups). 2. The crowd - this is one bar where you'll really find a mix of ages, from eager 19-year-olds with fake ID's to bona-fide grown-up locals. The atmosphere is casual; you won't feel like the only one not wearing stilettos and designer jeans. 3. Sunny days - when the weather's nice, it's hard to beat He's Not's open-air courtyard for an old-fashioned, college-style, beer drinking afternoon. 4. Close proximity to I Love NY Pizza and Yogurt Pump, for the inevitable munchies that come from drinking multiple giant Bud Lights. Seriously, posting this is making me wish I were there right now. read more

woah this was my first dive bar college bar dirty place ive been since graduating and I can def see how people love it. BUT for me it was a bit too dirty, small, sketchy to find. If i were back at school and needed somewhere to blast music and go grab a few beers this would def be a chill place to go. The bucket of beers is the popular item along with the plastic cups and bottom collecting. Two small bathrooms, random tables and patio furniture inside for seating. Outside there is another outside bar and during the summer I can see people playing music with their bands here while she sings. read more

He's Not Here is a classic Chapel Hill watering hole. It's super-fratty, and the beer selection leaves a lot to be desired, but the price is right, and it's uber-casual. And then there's the legendary Blue Cup. 33 oz of beery goodness. The best thing about He's Not is Sunday night karaoke, where you can hear the occasional excellent singer mixed in with your drunken frat boy belting out Baby Got Back. It's a blast. He's Not's also pretty great early, because you'll have the place to yourself. It doesn't get bouncing until 1030pm at the earliest. read more

This place rates up there with some of my least favorite places in Chapel Hill. Sure the beers are SUPER cheap (if you're into warm 32oz plastic cups of beer) and the outside area is large, but the sandy-ness of the standing area and the small gross-ness of the inside and bathrooms really makes He's Not a less than ideal place for me. Not to mention that I LOVE craft and specialty beers, and the best thing you'll find on their beer list is Sam Adams (not bad, but not ideal). He's Not is a place for intense beer drinking and hanging out with (or hitting on) friends and friends of friends. Great for big groups, not so much for intimate bar hang-outs. read more