My friend and I stopped by SideBar for a quick drink the night before her birthday and it did not disappoint. The drinks were great! We tried the sherry colada and the bruleed greyhound. Staff was also friendly and knowledgeable. Inside - the vibe is very moody and dark. It would be a great spot for a first date or a cocktail before dinner. There's no food on the menu FYI. read more

SideBar - A sherry colada - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

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Awesome little spot in Cary! Came for a couple drinks with clients and enjoyed the golden lotus and a glass of prosecco. Other drinks we ordered included the Painkiller and classic beer and goldschlager shototer. Great ambience, good for networking, date night, just hanging out. Our waitress was friendly and attentive as well. Street parking was available but we were there on a Tuesday night, could see it being tougher over the weekend. But definitely worth checking this spot out! @azfitfoodfun read more

Enjoyed the vibe of this bar. Even in a complex of many other stores/restaurants, it still felt like a modern speakeasy. Definitely recommend for a pre or post dinner drink. They also have Malort! Which I always love to discover:) Bartenders were quick as well. Clover Club - sweet and tart Long Story Short - bitter but easy to drink read more

SideBar - Clover Club (left) & Long Story Short (right) - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

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 read more

SideBar - The bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

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Very friendly service with a creative drink menu in a beautiful environment with tons of outdoor seating. My friends got a drink that was recently taken off the menu though SideBar still had all the ingredients and could still make the drink, which they did. Great service! It was very tasty but I couldn't remotely tell you what was in it. I got a Late Night Horticulture which had scotch, bourbon, peach, and fennel seeds. I was worried about the fennel seeds, but there was just a hint of fennel and it worked really well. The bourbon and scotch blended smoothly s you'd expect and the peach was that hint of sweetness to round out the cocktail, but it was fairly muted. The drink really evolved as you drank a sip - like every flavor came in layers. It was really impressive. Will definitely return. read more

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! read more

SideBar - Old Fashioned - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

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! read more

SideBar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

Ambient speakeasy atmosphere, great drinks, and overall a really welcoming vibe. The bartenders are all really chill and friendly. Love the decor and lighting too. They made an off-menu drink for me, and were really awesome about it. Also, coming here solo and female, it's really nice to see that it's an environment that feels safe to enjoy a drink. read more

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. read more

SideBar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

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. read more

SideBar - This is their sad excuse for an old fashion. Terrible! Avoid this place at all cost, find another bar. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

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. read more

SideBar - Mariner - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

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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! read more

SideBar - Whiskey sour - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

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. read more

SideBar - Carolina's gold - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

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! read more

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Awesome staff. Friendly, knowledgeable and skilled. Drinks are truly craft cocktails with unique flavors that will surprise your taste buds. Setting is very intimate and comfortable with warm inviting vibes. read more

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

SideBar - People drinking - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

Great craft cocktail bar. Bartenders are friendly, attentive, and truly appreciate their craft. I watched as they put the same great amount of effort into every drink they made throughout the time I was there. Highly recommend. read more

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. read more

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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.

Cute cocktail bar with dark atmosphere. They have a ton of drink options and you can also order off the menu. They don't offer food but there are several places around to pick up food from! read more

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. read more

SideBar - Why is Sally so Dangerous Cocktail - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

Very nice bar with delicious drinks and a modern feel that's not too overwhelming. The servers were extremely responsive. The drink menu was good not great. read more

Wow, Cary just keeps getting better and better! And with the new SideBar it's now doing great craft cocktails. Owned by Matt B of C. Grace fame, SideBar is a chic corner lounge located near Bond Bros Beer and Pizzeria Faulisi. The space is a classic L-shape with couches and stuffed leather booth up front along with a long bar. Good looking spot with interesting art-deco lamps overhead and great ambiance. I stopped in on maybe it's first or second day and had a great gin fizz amped up with lemongrass. Given Matt's history and mixology skills, I'd expect SideBar to be THE place for a cocktail in Cary. He's got an impeccable record when it comes to cocktails so it's great to see him start up his own bar. Looking forward to trying more off the menu ($9 to $12) for both classic and house cocktails.... read more

SideBar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

Without intention, we ended up at this place on a whim! We were on our way to Bond Brothers, which is a brewery about 500 feet away, but decided to stop at SideBar. It was around 2 pm on a Sunday-- not too busy but not completely dead either. The mixologist seemed very skilled in her technique and was warm and friendly. We ordered some of the "favorites" on the cocktail menu, including those in the picture. The Carolina's Gold #2 was so delicious-- it tastes like a refined rice pudding in a cup! It is a very laid back, calm atmosphere, so don't expect to be spending Sunday Gameday at this joint. It is cocktails only, so plan accordingly. Will definitely go back soon! read more

SideBar - Maple Szechuan Old Fashioned, Clover Club, and Carolina's Gold#2 - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

I'm pretty unimpressed when a bar that is supposed to be a cocktail bar can't do an espresso martini or chocolate martini. Don't be so stuck up and give the people what they want. read more

This was a really good experience for us! The cocktails were reasonably priced. I could feel the attention made personally for my drinks. I asked for a few recommendations and they were very willing to help! This is a really good option if you're not in a beer mood. We will be back! read more

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What a great cocktail bar!! Drinks were amazing and a perfect way to end the night. It has indoor and outdoor seating. Service was awesome and selection of drinks top notch! Will definitely be back when in Cary, NC! read more

Great little fully stocked bar in the heart of downtown Cary. Love the atmosphere and the menu has a balance of classic and modern, highly quaffable cocktails. read more

This place is a fantastic bar. The ambiance is wonderful. Great service and great drinks at a reasonable price. The Brûlée Greyhound is out of this world. read more

First visit to SideBar and it was such a wonderful choice. Each staff person I encountered was more than helpful, attentive and accommodating. The brûléed Greyhound was delicious and the pop-up food from Hanks - which btw, I didn't have to move to go fetch, they delivered it to my table - was delicious. I'll be back. read more

SideBar - Cocktail - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

What a great little cocktail bar! This is our go to for a drink if we're going out for dinner in Cary. They have a wide selection of signature drinks but the bartenders are great and can make drinks off the menu as well. The decor and ambiance is really nice. A good place for date night or to hang out with friends. read more

SideBar - Hot or not - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

Great selection of beer , Dog friendly which is a amazing plus , and the beers are all well priced , it has an incredible outdoor area , a few fire pits and delicious food trucks , If you want to unwind and have a fun time this is the spot read more

I really wanted to like this place but they have some serious service issues to work through...which is unfortunate because the drinks were good but they took 30 mins to make which is ridiculous. We were there for an hour, ordered right away and didn't get our first drink until 30-35 mins in...and it was not busy. read more

Such a fantastic addition to downtown Cary! We enjoyed all of the drinks that we tried, the Last Call and Quick Decisions, Carolina's Gold, Bruleed Greyhound and Bravado & Bitter. I can't wait to see what new cocktails this spot is mixing up next! read more

SideBar - Carolina's Gold and Bruleed Greyhound - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

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Love this chic downtown Cary bar! We booked a late Valentine's dinner so we were looking for a nicer cocktail bar to head to for drinks first. Lo and behold, Sidebar showed up on my yelp search and I was surprised it was so close! A cool bar, in Cary?! I was pleasantly surprised to find a dedicated parking lot behind the establishment (Sidebar 1, Glenwood south 0) so that's a major plus. Bar itself was crowded but the employees were awesome and came and welcomed us warmly immediately when we walked into the door. The gentleman helping us also told us to keep our eyes peeled at a back table, since he was pretty sure that party was about to leave soon so we could take their spot. They also gave us drink menus and took our orders, so we didn't even have to jostle for anyone's attention behind the bar. I've never had anyone working at a popular crowded bar on a weekend give that much attention to each customer. Icing on the cake, was that there was literally a chocolate cake they were serving to all the patrons. Apparently it was their anniversary so free cake for all! The drinks we got were awesome (I had the gin and grapefruit one..forgot the name) and eating it with cake made it that much better. I can't wait to go back! Thanks Sidecar! read more

Nice little bar. We wanted to check it out after a meal. Walked in and found seats at the bar instantly. Those working were attentive and we never felt like we were ignored. Water at the beginning and drinks came quickly after ordering. Would go back to try more of their specialty drinks. read more

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

Tyler made us some fantastic drinks! Love the atmosphere, very retro. The Brûlée Greyhound, Manhattan,Old Fashion, Last Call and Quick Decision were all excellent. read more

We came with friends for drinks before dinner next door. Both the service and martinis were excellent. You can order from the restaurant next door and have it delivered to your table here. read more

I love this place. Such a great addition to DT Cary. It's a really cozy feel inside, I love the dim lighting and seating. But be careful, this place is packed on a Saturday night especially when it's cold and no one is using the outdoor seating. Got the cucumber gimlet and it was super yummy. Everyone was really pleased with their drink selection. Service was quick and we didn't have to wait too long for drinks even though it was slammed. Can't wait to come back in warmer weather with the kids. Let them play outside while we enjoy a nice drink. Isn't that the American Dream? read more