This is absolutely a hidden gem amongst bars. It's in an inconspicuous abandoned looking shopping…read morecenter off the beaten path, but they make some of the best cocktails in the city. They have a very extensive inventory of bourbons including all the high-end ones you would want. The bartenders making amazing recipes including my partners favorite, Tom Yum, taste just like the soup. I can often enjoy a whiskey sour with no issue and use the menu to try something different. They don't serve food, so it's a good place to come after dinner. The ambiance is simple, a wooden bar and now that they have expanded, they have some tables as well. This past trip was the most crowded I've ever seen it in there, but the service was still quick and attentive. This bar is a staple for me.

A nice selection of Bourbon and other spirits, I enjoy a Whisky Sour. On Monday Blind Barbour has a…read morebottle special and it can be lively. Parking is easy. Lighting for Blind Barbour, speak easy bark. There's no patio.

This is a whiskey lover's dream and one of Raleigh's most unique drinking destinations. It's quite…read moreliterally underground as it's in a basement. With little signage the space feels like a natural speakeasy. It's unpolished enough to feel a little sleazy, yet polished enough to never feel dirty. In other words, it has character, and plenty of it. The bartenders were fantastic: knowledgeable, talented, and happy to chat about the spirits behind the bar. Whether you're a serious whiskey enthusiast or just looking for a well-made cocktail, you're in good hands. Being open later than most Raleigh bars makes Foundation one of the city's go-to late-night options, but that shouldn't overshadow what it really is........a great bar at any hour. The atmosphere, the drinks, and the people behind the bar make this a place worth seeking out whether it's your first stop of the evening or your last.

Foundation Bar offers a uniquely cool vibe, tucked away in a basement location that makes it easy…read moreto miss if you aren't looking for it. The interior features rotating art hung on the walls--which adds a great aesthetic and is even available for purchase if you fall in love with a piece. The drink menu is impressively extensive, and the bartenders certainly don't skimp on the pours; if you aren't a frequent drinker, one strong cocktail will definitely be plenty. The staff is consistently polite and welcoming, and the overall atmosphere makes for a solid night out. The only notable drawbacks are the lack of a food menu, not even offering small bites, and a noticeable smoke odor inside that might bother non-smokers. Still, it's a great spot for drinks and atmosphere.

I was excited to finally be able to visit The Crunkleton after hearing good reviews about the…read morerestaurant. We came when the restaurant opened during the week so we were seated right away and it wasn't crowded. There are several tables and spaces to sit inside of the restaurant. Our server, Ariel, was friendly & very attentive during our visit. The manager, Ravi, was also great. We both got a steak and I got the Mac & cheese for my side. The Mac & cheese was very cheesy as it contained multiple cheeses. We enjoyed it. My steak was also prepared well and was tender. The fries were served hot. It did take a little while for our food to be brought out to us but it was worth the wait.

We came to The Crunkleton for dinner and made reservations online ahead of time, which I definitely…read morerecommend since this place seems to stay busy. We started with the mussels cooked with chorizo sausage. They had good flavor, although I personally would have preferred the mussels without the sausage flavor. For our entrée, we had the Steak & Fries. The fries were cooked perfectly and had great flavor, especially with the cheese. We also ordered a side of Mac & Cheese, which is made with baked shell pasta, rich, cheesy, and really good. The restaurant itself is fairly small and intimate, with the full bar and open kitchen all in the same room as the dining tables. I really liked the warm, lively atmosphere, although it can feel a little crowded when they're busy. Overall, good food, a cozy atmosphere, and a fun dinner spot in Raleigh. I'd definitely recommend making a reservation before coming, especially for dinner.

Was visiting for a concert and am so happy I checked out William & Company. I was with 6 other…read morepeople and we were able to snag the soft seating at the front (space to the left when you walk in). I enjoyed my slushie but then moved on to tequila soda - my classic. All staff was super nice and drinks, bar service was quick and empty glasses were picked up quickly while we were just yapping. Added touch is the Krispy Kreme that's across the street (make sure you share with the staff!)

Ok i loved this place! Honestly it was exactly what i needed! Great vibes. Fantastic drinks! And…read morejust a vibe you don't want to miss. Easy seating. You don't want to miss out on this spot for sure!

First time here. Been wanting to come for a while and so glad I did. I arrived and it was already…read morepacked at 530 on Saturday. Outdoor seating looked really nice. Wish it wasn't 100 out. Good reason to come back. Started with prickly pear margarita with mescal. Yum! Had a white wine after. It was ok. My friend and I shared 4 bruschetta's- smoked salmon and pesto, artichoke, caprese, and apple, Brie and fig. Favs were smoked salmon and apple and Brie. The fries were amazing. Salmon board was good too. The bread on the board was much better than the bruschetta. Ambiance is great. Service as well. Will be back!

Absolutely love Postino! This is my go to lunch spot with coworkers. We've been numerous times…read moreand are never disappointed. My go to meal is the half panini and tomato soup. Their roast beef panini is on par with Portillo's a long standing Chicago beef restaurant (IYKYK). I've NEVER had a beef sandwich that was better than Portillo's but Postino you managed to take a hometown classic and elevate it to a point beyond my expectations - if you get this sandwich I recommend getting it on the ciabatta bread versus focaccia. Let's not overlook the tomato soup - it's so rich and flavorful. For a lighter lunch my go to is the tuna panini with broccoli salad. They are known for their boards, I've not had the bruschetta yet but it looks delicious. My favorite board is the hummus. One thing I hate is when a restaurant gives you a big bowl of hummus and not enough pita. That is not the case here, you'll get pita, toasted bread, and a variety of vegetables to scoop up the velvety humus covered in cherry tomatoes, red onion and feta. For date night enjoy a Violet Femme a gin cocktail that tastes as lovely as it looks. The service here is top notch! Everyone is fantastic. I'll have to come back to this review to note the serves names we've had because they have all been exceptional. Now let's talk about the vibe! Postino's nailed the indoor/outdoor feel. Plenty of windows that are open on nice days, plants galore and the decor gives you a cool like rockstar but classy feel. 5 stars doesn't feel like enough.

Left this place in high spirits!! :) Mysterious and amusing impression as the "entrance" was…read moreunsealed. I won't spoil it for you, but as you walk up the stairs just ask for Green Light instead of Merchant (which is also a great bar!) This bar is more intimate; a bit of a propriety aura with a street view. Different cocktail options than The Merchant, and so our waitress who normally works over there wasn't familiar with any of them but she asked for us. Loved the Porn on Mute (similar to Sex on Beach).

If you're looking for a truly unforgettable cocktail experience in Raleigh, The Green Light is…read morewhere you need to be. Tucked away behind a secret door inside The Architect, this speakeasy hits all the right notes--classy, intimate, and effortlessly cool. From the moment you step inside, the ambiance wraps around you like velvet--dim lighting, rich textures, and just the right touch of mystery. The vibe is perfect for a date night, catching up with friends, or treating yourself to something special.

I always enjoy coming here. It's easy to just order at the bar and sit wherever you want. You can…read morefind college students with laptops or people enjoying cocktails. It's not very large, but also not small and they have outdoor seating. The prices are fair. I ordered a cocktail, appetizer, smash burger and dessert well for under $50. The food drink and food came out fast and was delicious! It was hot and fresh. The drink was perfect. Well balanced and well portioned. The Brussels sprouts were so good! Flavorful and nice texture and the burger was delicious. Great size and served with a side of pork cracklings. You would need to upgrade for a bit extra to get a more traditional side. I will definitely be back here over and over.

Disclaimer: I came here only for the smashburger, so this review is limited to that…read more If you look at reviews for this place, a lot of people compare their burger to In-N-Out. Well, the burger is not as good, and the fries are better than In-N-Out. I went for lunch, and sat at the bar. You order ahead of time, and they bring you your food. Service is pretty quick. They also have a number of house made soft drinks, which is a bonus. They have some good beers on tap, but I didn't try any. The burger was a good burger, but it didn't particularly stand out. They use potato buns, which are really nice. The patties are not especially thin, and the pickles are not the tangy type. An In-N-Out Burger is mustard fried, and they put a special sauce on, but this place doesn't do that. They do have caramelized onions like the animal style burgers. Anyhow, come here for the cocktails, sit on some nice mid-century furniture, enjoy some solid food along with your drinks, but don't come here hoping that you're going to get a burger like In-N-Out.

I came here to experience a night out on the town all the way from Brooklyn, NY. I didn't realize…read moreuntil after when I looked on the business page that it had Brooklyn decor. Since I visited the day after Christmas there was still holiday decor up. The did play a small selection of NY based music which I did appreciate which music from other regions which I also enjoyed. What I didn't enjoy too much was my drink. I was trying to order a drink fro the festive list but one of the ingredients weren't available so I decided to just get a vodka and cranberry which tasted a little watered down. I'll probably try a second visit when come back in town.

Came here for the Christmas decorations and loved it! The service was great, the spiked hot…read morechocolates were delightful , the decorations are so creative (night before Christmas themed!) and we enjoyed the karaoke.

Whiskey kitchen !!!!! Wowzers !!…read more Let me tell you this place is 10/10! The food , the drinks and the service.. I wish I could come daily as it definitely is a great spot. One part whiskey bar and one part southern kitchen this is a win in downtown Raleigh! Known for their small plates and shareable, they do have entree and main dishes along with a great selection of whiskey. The shrimp and grits were alittle to saucy for me but my nephew had no problem finishing it for me lol. We will definitely be back!

My boyfriend and I dined here for a date night and I had really hoped for better. The first thing I…read morenoticed upon arriving was how dead it was, especially considering we went on a Friday night at 6:30PM. My boyfriend is a huge whiskey drinker and had been wanting to visit here for a while. He had heard that the best Old Fashioned were here (he said that it was not that great), and while they did have bougie cocktails, I settled for a margarita. Our server was very attentive and friendly. The atmosphere and decor were great! I am a plant person, so I loved seeing all of the plants. I love the open concept and exposed ceiling. But the food......was displeasing and unappetizing. I ordered the lamp burger, and while I ordered it as well done, I did not know that it would be presented overcooked with a charred outside. If you know lamb, this caused the meat to be extremely dry. The burger itself was very bland and lacked much flavor. My boyfriend ordered the Fireman's Chicken and by the looks of it when it came out, someone should have called the fire department while it was cooking! It was so burnt it was black. The only flavor present was charred meat and it was the most dried out chicken we have ever had (unfortunately I tried it). The collard greens were bitter with little flavor and the black-eyed peas still had crunch to where they weren't cooked all the way. To say all this, to have a $100 bill was HIGHLY unappreciated as it was one of the worst meals we have had in a LONG time. I definitely could see why they were not busy. The food was cooked terrible. And I will note that it isn't that I am picky, the couple next to us barely ate their meal and looked just as dissatisfied as we were. We would NOT recommend!

Changed. I always…read morerave about this place. Especially with Smoke and dagger. Unfortunately there was a significant change when I came back to a new location. Not a good change. Venue: larger venue compared to their original former venue. Similar speakeasy vibe. Love the ambience, NY speakeasy feel. Drinks : ordered the famous smoke and dagger. Also espresso martini. Smoke and dagger does not taste the same. Looks similar but some elements missing. Drinks feel like it was not shaken enough. Drink was very sour without balance. Just was not the same. Came in a smoke box like before. Brought family members after bragging about this place and had not much to say. Espresso martini was very bitter. Service: the lady that served us not personable. Maybe she was not having a good. The place I was looking so much forward to end up in disappointment.

This is your typical cocktail bar located in an old building. There are multiple places like this…read morein downtown Raleigh, nothing really stands out about this one. They no longer serve food like they did in their old location. Essentially this is like the Architect 2.0. I don't think they changed anything from the previous ownership. Even the Green Light bar is still there. If you want some expensive cocktails in a nice atmosphere, this is as good as any other cocktail bar in downtown Raleigh.