Cancel

Open app

Search

SideBar

4.6 (107 reviews)
ModerateCocktail Bars
Open • 4:00 pm - 1:00 am (Next day)

SideBar Photos

You might also consider

Recommended Reviews - SideBar

Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
Yelp app icon
Browse more easily on the app
Review Feed Illustration

Reviews With Photos

The bar
Yolanda Y.

Perfect place for people who are into moody and cozy bar vibe! It is dark with candlelights, plushy leather chairs and light music. The space isn't very large and most seatings are arranged in parallel due to the long, narrow layout, so it may not be ideal for groups larger than 5-6 people, but it's perfect for a date night/small group friends' intimate gathering. The drink menu is impressive, featuring a mix of unique, creative options and classic cocktails. We tried a drink with MSG and a classic Pimm's Cup--both were expertly crafted :) The bartender was friendly and helpful as he shared the inspiration and flavor profiles of the original MSG drink. Can't wait to try more seasonal/original drinks from Sidebar! Ambiance: 4/5 Drink: 4/5 Service: 5/5

Old Fashioned
Chandra J.

Allison and Jane and all of the servers here are nothing short of amazing! Every time I walk in, I feel like I am at a game, and it makes me not want to leave! Such a wonderful and chill spot to go to after hours. The staff know what they are doing and they are so kind and considerate. Literally, I haven't had a bad experience here since checking them out of our over a year ago. Cary needs a chill full service bar, and this across the street from RBF makes sense. I really enjoy coming here, speaking with the bartenders, and just having a chill and relaxing time. They are so receptive when you want to make a change, and they have such great suggestions! I will continue to come here and recommend that others come here too. It is such a positive and welcoming vibe! Literally cannot wait to come here again as I am sitting here!

Drew S.

Bartender really knows what she's doing. I told her I needed something for a hangover, and she fixed me a drink called a Primms, who has Prem liquor and Moonbird gin. It is awesome!

Falan E.

Recent visit: 8/4/23 My all-time favorite go-to bar since 2020. I love Sidebar for the Classy Cocktails and Professional Adults vibe. I enjoy the dark intimate space for a nightcap. The staff is always welcoming and accommodating with my special drink orders. I enjoy ordering Gin Tom Collins with no sugar. One of my best guilt-free cocktails with simple ingredients.

This is their sad excuse for an old fashion. Terrible! Avoid this place at all cost, find another bar.
Tim E.

Terrible cocktail making and they argue with you about how a cocktail is normally. I ordered an old fashioned and it wasn't muddled or even a full cocktail for the price.

Mariner
Lexie P.

I went here on a Saturday night. It was so good. I had to return the following week. Friendly bartenders great vibes. Cocktails and drinks only no food is served but it's a great time.

Whiskey sour
Sweta S.

A cute, fancy cocktail bar in downtown Cary! I came here last year, maybe on the weekend, there was no seating available. They suggested sitting outside in the middle of December with no outdoor heaters. So, we went elsewhere. They should invest in some outdoor heaters for more busy days during the Fall and Winter. I finally was able to get a drink here this past week! The drinks are well-thought out and refreshing. My favorite was the Whisky sour. Interestingly, there was some egg whites in this drink(which you cannot taste). Their drinks were strong but not overtly alcoholic tasting! The service was good, but there was only one server. She seemed a bit stretched. I would definitely recommend this place for some post-work drinks!

Carolina's gold
Cindy G.

My friend brought me here for a birthday drink on a Friday night. Staff was very friendly and attentive and it was a very comfortable and cozy setting. Bar was very clean and there was a variety of comfortable seating, Nice variety, cocktails, beer and wine and reasonably priced.

Brittany B.

Super cute divey bar with reasonably priced cocktails, Simple but full menu, and cute vibe! We had reservations for dinner next door and grabbed a quick drink here prior. We were able to grab a few stools at the bar and each ordered a dirty Tito's martini extra dirty. I was impressed that while making the beverage the bartender had ice in our cups to chill it. The drinks were strong and good. If we had more time I'd be interested in exploring some of their other cocktails and I'd absolutely be interested in returning! My only critique is parking is a DISASTER in downtown Cary. If you're planning on going to any bar or restaurant in this area, come with a ton of patience to try to find parking!

People drinking
Jordan V.

We love SIDEBAR. Servers were great. Drinks were great. Vibes were fantastic. Highly recommend coming here. No wait at all

Menu
Eric B.

OK. For the locals--I'm from Austin, TX visiting so hit up Nickel City in Austin on Google Maps to see how this all relates. SideBar is a rare gem in that it focuses on well-made cocktails in a serene setting while also offering a nice selection of cheap, yet high-end microbrews. It's all about options, and here it's about the vibe and atmosphere. All 3 bartenders were sociable, attentive, and adept at mixing a drink. Liam started me off and I ran his ear a bit as I immediately thought of Nickel City in Austin, and being away from my wife watchin' my sister's pets and attending to my parents, it was great to get out and chat. SideBar is that place you go to before dinner elsewhere to kill time when your date is important, or it's that place after dinner to kerp things going. It's the place you go to with friends when you want to chat it up and not be distracted by sports TV's. You can mix crowds as there are stellar microbrews or just plain PBR or Miller available. It's just that oddity that straddles different worlds. You can bring in food from outside, use nearby places, or just skip the munchies, but what's missing is a food truck attached that is separate yet exists for the bar to submit orders and payments to on a seamless tab--that's where Austin's Nickel City takes this place to another level--but hey, this is Cary,NC, and there's nothing that competes. 5 stars.

Why is Sally so Dangerous Cocktail
Kaitlin P.

With a great ambiance and variety of cocktails, this place is perfect for date night! I ordered the "Why is Sally so Dangerous" cocktail and it was so good. I had to tell them no spice though and the bartender did a great job. Note that this place can get crowded pretty easily inside so you may end up sitting outside. Nothing wrong with outside, but the inside is very beautiful and has a nice atmosphere.

See all

10 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

8 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Drew S.
430
18
10

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Tim E.
0
4
15

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 1

4 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Rod J.
0
42
6

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Jj S.
0
18
4

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Great drinks with amazing bartenders... This is a drink only place, but if you're gonna go get your fortified on by having a painkiller.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Ron W.
854
1194
6466

8 years ago

Helpful 7
Thanks 0
Love this 3
Oh no 0

6 years ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 0
Love this 6
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

5 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

7 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Joe T.
131
24
2

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

4 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

8 years ago

Helpful 10
Thanks 0
Love this 9
Oh no 0

6 years ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 0
Love this 3
Oh no 0
Photo of Tim J.
21
91
0

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Great vibe and excellent drinks. It's hard to beat the atmosphere for a great night out.

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

8 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Joe D.
0
57
0

4 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

6 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

Page 1 of 3

Ask the Community - SideBar

You might also consider

Verify this business for free

People searched for Cocktail Bars 906 times last month within 10 miles of this business.

Verify this business

RBF, Your Authentic Champagne Bar - Interior during the Holiday season

RBF, Your Authentic Champagne Bar

(94 reviews)

Stopped by RBF recently for an afternoon drink and really enjoyed my experience!…read more First, we ended up finding street parking right next to RBF, but I think there may also be a dedicated parking lot outside the back patio? Not entirely sure since we still have no idea how to access it, but maybe look for that lot if street parking is challenging :) Anyway, RBF is located in the basement of a building, so we had to take an elevator down from the entrance we took. Inside, it's got chill vibes - it definitely feels like a wine bar :) We ended up sitting inside on a high top, but there were various couches and a good amount of outdoor seating available as well. It took a while for our server to come check in with us, but she was super friendly and helpful with the wine selections once she came over. I got a random glass of red wine (they do not serve beer, in case you were wondering!) while my wife tried out a couple of tasters and then picked out a white wine for herself. The wine was pretty tasty and it was definitely a generous portion. After sitting there for a while, we also decided to grab some bread with pesto on the side. It took a sec for it to come out, but it wasn't bad! Nothing extraordinary but I wasn't expecting anything super gourmet, so it was totally fine. Overall, we had a great experience here and I would definitely stop by again on a date night.

What a find! RBF is a cool champagne bar with a well thought out selection of wines and bites. The…read morespace is nicely decorated as well. Although every inch appears to be covered, it's not stuffy and quite cozy. The vibe is chill and the music is great. The hubs and I enjoyed our first visit of many to come. The staff was attentive and helpful in walking us through the menu and offering advice on our selections. We settled on the Fierce & Fiesty wine flight, the lumberjack charcuterie board, and the croissants w/ garlic butter. All were delicious, prices are fair, and the portions and pours were great. We left feeling satisfied and happy to have found a new chill spot to add to our local repertoire. Cheers to your success!

Pharmacy Bottle + Beverage - Pinot Noir

Pharmacy Bottle + Beverage

(89 reviews)

$

This place is a really nice brewery! They have a bunch of different beers (everything we sampled…read morewas great) and a bunch of space inside. There isn't a crazy amount of outdoor seating out front but there's windows slide open so you kind of feel like you're outside even if you're inside. There's also outdoor seating out back. They also have a couple of TVs and couches if you want to watch anything live. The bartender was really nice too!

We stopped by Pharmacy Bottle recently on a night out and enjoyed our experience there…read more First, parking was a little tricky since it was the weekend and the street spots in Downtown Cary were mostly occupied, but we managed to find a paid parking spot nearby :) Not ideal, but oh well! Inside, it was pretty spacious, with a couple of couches, a few tables, and of course the bar seating. I saw multiple customers walking around with their dogs, so I'd say Pharmacy is dog-friendly. The bartender was attentive throughout, and I thought the draft beers were very reasonably priced. The selection on draft was only OK, but that's more based on personal preference, I guess :) Pharmacy also had a bunch of cans available for sale, some refrigerated and some not (presumably based on the type of beer). There was an additional fee if you chose to buy a can and drink it in the bar. Maybe this is normal, but it struck me as a little strange. They also had some food items available but I skipped those this time. Overall, I had a pretty good time. I'd definitely consider stopping by again but I'm not sure it'll be a consistent hang-out.

Hank's Downtown Dive - Oysters

Hank's Downtown Dive

(109 reviews)

$$

Don't let the name fool you, this place is the furthest thing from a dive bar that I've ever seen…read more It's almost as if they were going for irony with the name...let's make a really upscale restaurant and call it a dive bar!! It would be like renaming the Angus Barn to something like the Beef Shed. I'll start with the two desserts...we couldn't decide between the three desserts they had so we settled on two. Both were freaking amazing. Almost ordered the third to go. The Chocolate tort with Nutella gluten free was creamy and deeply rich in flavor. The Espresso Panna cotta with strawberries was lighter and subtly sweet and perfect. I also couldn't decide between one entry so I got the Vietnamese pork chop and the smoked wings in plum bbq sauce...the pork chop was just okay but everything else that came with it was really good...those vegetables rocked! Now the plum wings...that's unusual and was definitely something that was downright flavorful...I would get them again for sure. My girlfriend is gluten-free and picked this place just for the GF chicken and she was blown away. I tried it and I was blown away. Usually GF food is not good, grainy, and lacking real depth...not this place. This was in all likelihood the best gluten free friend chicken I've ever had and it was half of a freaking chicken! Soooo many fries. We ended up taking half of it home and it made a complete second dinner the next day reheated in the air fryer. Definitely somewhere we will return very soon. The atmosphere is cozy and small and the perfect place for a date night. Also, their GF chicken is better than Beasley's GF chicken...just sayin!!

The hostess, bartender, and our server were all exceptional. The restaurant is beautifully…read moredecorated, the lighting is perfect, and the U-shaped booths are spacious and comfortable. We were a party of six in a hurry to get to an event, and our server was fantastic--every drink and dish came out quickly and efficiently. I ordered the quesadilla, and I have to say it was the most beautiful quesadilla I've ever seen--and the flavor was out of this world. Everyone at the table loved their meals. Our only disappointment was the small ramekin of olives for $5, which felt a bit steep. We will all be back.

Crosstown Pub & Grill - Buffalo Chicken Wings, I didn't try them but my husband gave a thumbs up.

Crosstown Pub & Grill

(297 reviews)

$$

Still the Best Fish & Chips in town! Rueben was also very good and the steak fries are excellent!read more

This was my first time eating here . I love grilled wings so I decided to try them. I called to…read moreplace the order and the server said they don't take orders over the phone, but I didn't want to place it online because it didn't have a comment section. So I then asked if I could place the order and get all flats , she didn't understand what a flat was so I had to explain that, and she eventually told me she'll let the grill know. I get there to get my order and check my food and low and behold , it's drums in it. So then another server comes and I told her the situation and she said I could get a refund or they could remake the 3 flats that were drums . Then got the manager and ended up telling him just to make it fresh which I waited about ten mins for . I get home and I realize , THERES STILL DRUMS . And they gave me the old wings anyways and just 3 fresh flats which I didn't want my old food back there anyways because I figured that would happen but let's just say this: NO OVER THE PHONE ORDERS AND THEY CANT DO ALL FLATS . They need to better train the server. Update dec. 2,2023 So I came here a second time and this time dine in. Did NOT like the experience. They literally ran out of silverware and my steak got cold waiting for one so I didn't even want it anymore and on top of that, the chimichurri was DISGUSTING. They said there was nothing they can do about there being no silverware and they can't just "pull it out their ass" . Didn't even offer plastic .. Took forever for food and drinks. Never got my water. Or napkins. Ended up having to order nachos only cause it was the quickest thing to order without needing the silverware . A different waiter actually helped get those nachos and faster service to me. Don't believe I'll be going back at this point. First review before the update was a year prior to 2023 review. Haven't been back since .

SideBar - cocktailbars - Updated May 2026

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...