The owner of this restaurant made our visit amazing. He got the TVs turned onto the Carolina Hurricanes game and turned the sound on for us. Stayed open so we could watch the whole game. Really enjoyed the wings. Glad to see this place in this location. read more

Anchor Bar captures the charm of a small-town tavern while nestled in the heart of Raleigh, a city poised on the edge of Southern sophistication and urban growth. As you settle into its cozy atmosphere, the conversations transport you elsewhere--perhaps you'll overhear a cowboy from Missouri recounting his mission trip to Haiti, or cross paths with someone whose stories make you feel as though you're part of something grand. The drinks are poured with precision, and the owner's knack for assembling a top-tier team is evident. Each bartender masters their craft with grace, delivering both skillful cocktails and impeccable service. Whether you're a lone wanderer seeking respite or part of a close-knit group, Anchor Bar promises a night of camaraderie and unexpected adventure. It's more than a bar; it's a destination for those who crave authenticity and connection in a city that's always evolving. read more

See all

I enjoyed visiting The Anchor Bar for the first time. Very chill vibe, with good music and cocktails. I came here with one other person. We could hear music from the outside and went to check it out. It was only us and one other party during our entire time here. Our order included the Hennessy on Ice and the Hendricks mule. The Hendricks mule I had was refreshing and good tasting. The bartender was attentive, polite, and professional. She constantly checked in on us to make sure we were okay. Great bar! read more

Spooky menu is out! Super excited to try these out I'm so glad they ended up doing it. read more

See all

Cruised in during Carolina Hurricane Fan Fest to get out of the run and was wholly satisfied with the decision. Darius kindly opened shop early and served up a quality Old Fashioned and Whiskey Sour. Always appreciate a local "hole-in-the-wall" spot with good service and drinks. Stop by if you find yourself perusing downtown. read more

The Anchor - Anchor Old Fashioned - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

They have the best drinks! The painkiller is the best in the city. They have games to play while you hangout in the bar, too!

If you are visiting the Natural History Museum or The Museum of Natural Sciences you will probably work up quite a thirst. The good news is the Anchor Bar is right dow the street within walking distance. Do yourself a favor and Trot on down and order an Old Fashioned. You will be glad you did. read more

The Anchor - Old Fashioned - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

We accidentally stopped here for drinks during bar hopping. A nice and cute place with excellent customer service. It was a busy Friday night but the bartenders were able to get fulfill our drink orders. The music was current and people seem to enjoy themselves. I look forward to visiting again for another drink. read more

Cute, nautical themed cocktail bar on Fayetteville St! I do like how they decorated the place for Christmas time. Ended up stopping in for a drink before heading to dinner, I went with a Dark & Stormy for $9. Not a huge fan of the rum that was used but the drink tasted okay. The lime that was served was a tad dehydrated.. If you are looking for a pint of beer, they have two on tap, bottles and cans available. Service was okay, I did not feel as welcomed. I think that she was focused on other things. I would be interested in trying Anchor Bar during a time with another bartender. read more

See all

I had almost forgotten about Anchor Bar when we stumbled upon it while roaming downtown one Sunday afternoon. It's conveniently located close to lots of restaurants, and I really like the cozy size. Ryan, the bartender, was super friendly and did a great job taking care of a packed bar all on his own. He whipped up his version of a classic piña colada which was just as pretty as it was delicious. This is a great after dinner (or brunch) spot for custom cocktails - highly recommend! read more

The Anchor - Pretty piña colada - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Casual nautical themed bar with a nice selection of beers and interesting craft cocktails. My friend and I came for pre-dinner drinks and the place was understandably quiet, definitely much different to the usual weekend night crowd that I'm used to seeing here. I ordered the Matcha Fizz, which didn't have much of a "fizz" in it, but was light and refreshing for the hot day. I also tried some of my friend's Vanilla Old-Fashioned and enjoyed the subtley sweet vanilla essence to the classic drink. Overall a nice, clean bar to stop by on Fayetteville - there are a few more cocktails on the menu that I'd love to try next time! read more

See all

The Anchor Bar is my newest favorite place in downtown Raleigh for a tasty libation or three :) Located on Fayetteville near the Hargett intersection, Anchor Bar has a lovely little outdoor seating area as well as tons of cozy stools to belly up to the bar inside. They even allow your dogs inside! :) Oh & they often have a live DJ on Friday/Saturday nights to turn things up. The bartenders are great and the drinks are even better! Kellie, Layton, & Billy really know how to make some damn good drinks. Truthfully, I'm a huge craft beer fanatic and like their beer selection (&they just got a beer on tap!!)..$4 Raleigh Brewing cans is a sweet deal (though its $3cans on Wednesday)! Moscow Mule Monday is also a favorite- $6 for any mule of your liking. I also love the Cucumber Ricky- a gin drink with meddled cucumbers, it's so refreshing for a hot day. Last but not least, the popcorn.... oh, that popcorn. Who knew a little bar could make such a tasty treat? Best of all, it's free for your enjoyment in little wooden bowls! They sprinkle old bay seasoning on it, and it's truly something to be reckoned with. Between the good drinks, decent beer selection, and oh-so-tasty popcorn, why wouldn't you find yourself here one night?! read more

See all

Due to a local downpour, I strategically ran into the Anchor Bar to avoid getting soaked but what a nice spot! Long and lean, the place forgoes the dark and sultry look for a lighter ambiance. Green-hued, aquamarine paint, glow lighting, it's a small spot dominated by a long bar. The bartender greets me and I grab a seat at the end. Anchor Bar has a smallish list of beers and cocktails which is fine by me, reasonably priced. After I finish my beer, I am outta here but I enjoyed my short visit to the Anchor Bar. While it was different than what I expected, a cool space with a cool bartender is most of the battle when it comes to bars. And the Anchor Bar, certainly has that going for it... read more

The Anchor - a woman working on her laptop - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

The place itself inside isn't anything to write home about from a visual standpoint. Just a typical bar with typical bar things. It was pretty slow when we were there so we didn't have to wait for a place to sit. Bartender was great though and always available. I ended up drinking a frozen bourbon chai drink which was pretty delicious I will say. (Though the frozen machine kept making weird noises all night). The do have some fun games to play while catching a drink, including some ring toss game along the front entry way and jenga which shockingly was fun. It's a great casual bar if you just want to get out, have a good drink and relax. read more

If you like a more spacious atmosphere, come here before 11:30pm. I like the fact that this bar is small and cozy. I also really always like the DJ they have. Cocktails are always pretty good. Wish they had a longer beer list, but it's an enjoy selection. They have hell yes ma'am right now so I'm good. Waiters are pretty attentive and quick. The dim indoor lighting gives this a nice chill evening vibe. read more

The Anchor - Hibiscus sour - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

So this bar is not the fanciest but the bartender's and crowd are like a fun dysfunctional family! The bartender's are knowledgeable and when you come in it is like being at your best friend's house. Go and enjoy, you're welcome read more

An alright bar right off Fayetteville street. We went on a sunny Saturday afternoon and when we walked in, I was a little taken aback by how dark it was...not like the nice type of darkness with mood lighting..it was just dark and hard to see...weird. Also, they had a musician playing guitar and it was WAY too loud. the beers we got were fine, nothing special, not the most amicable bartenders. we sat outside at one of the tables on the sidewalk which was nice (and I can actually SEE out here!) read more

Had a few beers during the st. Patrick's day parade. Good atmosphere and friendly/Quick service.

Bottom line: I like Fayetteville Street's new cocktail destination. The Anchor Bar offers a brighter, lighter environment with some inventive cocktails to enjoy. Positive attentive staff adds to the experience. I will be stopping by The Anchor Bar more in the future! The Deets: The DTR Fayetteville St. area has a new custom cocktail bar in The Anchor Bar. I had the opportunity to attend their first night/soft opening and liked what I saw. The staff had the place ready to go and they were eager to serve up some new inventive libations for us that night. First off, I like that it's a bit brighter than a lot of the cocktail bars opening up recently. It's not overly dim like a cave (many of the new bars are) but not blindingly bright, I like the environment. It's not as long/deep as many of the bars along that strip but its feel is upbeat and cozy, check out the pics I nabbed. Lots of stools available along the bar and small wall tables are along the left side as you come in. I started out the night along the bar and started sampling some of their crafts. I did snap a pic of their menu they are opening up with that includes their custom cocktails, craft beers, and other beers available. I tended to like the Whiskey Smash (Bulleit bourbon, mint leaves, simple syrup, and lemon) out of all of them as it was light with just the slight hint of mint so it is not overwhelming. I did also try the Ramos Gin Fizz that had a citrus soda type of feel (Bombay Sapphire gin, lemon, lime, simple syrup, cream, egg white, Orange Blossom water, vanilla extract) and the Smog Cutter (Vida Mezcal, ginger simple syrup, lemon, topped with Negra Modelo)...I like both of these creations as well. From my inspection there were happy customers with smiles on their faces, I had a smile on mine. They were near capacity and going strong on opening night! read more

See all

I came with my friend to the Anchor for a little pre gamming before we head to the nightclubs. We arrived around 10pm and the place was packed. The bouncer was not the nicest person on Earth (but which bouncer is, right?) and he basically said that my international driver's license was not a valid ID -- be aware international peeps, y'all should bring your passports. By the name you can imagine you will see a few anchors, ropes and other nautical related decor (I just wish the bartenders could wear a navy outfit, lol). Cocktails and beers are cheap, I had a gin tonic and it was pretty decent. On that night they were also serving complimentary pop corn. The crowd is a mix between frat boys and cool kids, but you will for sure have a good time. read more

In an empty house, I just whispered "pork roll, egg and cheese" like I was trying to seduce myself. Sometimes I'm on such autopilot at work, my head gets filled with such useless thoughts that *almost* sound insightful, such as, I wonder if Jesus ever had wet dreams? Anyway, love this place. read more

A fantastic and welcome cocktail addition to downtown. Its definitely nice to have another place to get a quality drink since everything can get pretty packed on weekends. We had two gin drinks that were fantastic and our waitress was super friendly. The bar is a really cool layout and you even get some awesome popcorn with your drinks. Will definitely be back. read more

This is a cool casual bar. It's on Fayetteville, so it's often right in the middle of things when Fayeteville st is shut down (as it often is in the summer). They have decent drink specials and sometimes live music. read more

The Anchor - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

I would love to leave a review about the food or drinks, but I wasn't given a chance this past Saturday night. TL;DR I asked to speak to manager and was immediately dragged out of the bar by the bouncer within minutes of entering. The women's restroom was busy for over ten minutes and women began to use the men's bathroom. After seeing other women go, my friend and I went in together. A bouncer began banging on the door so we got out promptly and I didn't even get to use the restroom. He screamed at us that we were getting kicked out, and I politely asked to speak to a manager so I could explain the situation and understand their policy. Instead, he immediately grabbed me aggressively and physically dragged me out of the bar. He then went back in and forcefully dragged my friend out. We were not even drinking as we didn't get to order a drink. We have large bruises all over our arms (please see attached) and now I have to cover them up as my own manager was concerned. This is unacceptable. We asked for the light haired bouncer's name, but he refused to give it to us. Perhaps he knew he's in the wrong? He would not let me speak to a manager so I guess now is my chance. If you are a woman, do NOT go here because apparently you have no rights or warning for getting assaulted. I will never come back to this bar and I should have pressed charges when I had the chance. read more

The Anchor - Another bruise - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Standard side bar- not a ton of room to stand or sit, decent drinks. Was hoping it would be somewhat low-key but people had to shout over the music. So, even though there weren't many people there, we all still had a very hard time talking to eachother. read more

How on earth have I passed this up without noticing it for the past 8 months since its opening??? I went in alone, sat at the bar, and ordered a $4 IPA. Not bad! The space was comfy and kept well to the nautical theme. The bartender was friendly. It wasn't crowded. I enjoyed my drink. The craft cocktail menu beckons me and I would be interested in returning to sample some of these concoctions. Unpretentious, nearby, and has a cozy feel. read more

If you haven't been here, you need to come by anytime. Ryan, Kyle, and Darius!! The best you could ask from a true blue bar. Mixologists to the Nth!!! read more

On Fayetteville street for the evening, and decided to check Anchor Bar out. I love Milk Bar, and thought experience may be similar. I have been in the hospitality industry for quite some time now, and understand customer service. This was by far the WORST I have ever been treated as a patron in any establishment. I felt unwelcome immediately after my first interaction with the bartenders. I got the "hot apple cider" special, which was delicious. I then asked the bartender(pictured below-did not give us her name) for a glass of water. I assumed there would be ice in the glass of water. After she handed me the glass I asked if I could please have some ice. She immediately huffed, and moaned very loudly as if this was the hardest, and worst possible thing a patron could ask her to do. She then threw the glass of water in the sink and made me a glass with ice. I told her "thank you" as she slammed the glass in front of me, rolled her eyes, and walked to the other side of the bar without saying "you're welcome". A few minutes later she came back down to the side of the bar we were standing at to check her phone. She texted on her phone standing up behind the bar for about 4 minutes before sitting/crouching behind the bar to continue her phone usage so that no patrons would see her. This lasted about 8 minutes. I do not plan on returning, as I do not enjoy being disrespected, and made to feel a burden as a paying patron of the establishment. I have been so impressed by the service at the other "Bunch of Fives Hospitality Co."; Milk Bar, Dogwood, and Southern Charred. In the future I hope that management will be able to raise the level of customer service at Anchor Bar to that of their other properties. read more

The Anchor - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

By far my most favorite place in Raleigh! I will start with the staff. Kellie, Layton, Billy and Mel are always providing excellent services. The first time I stepped in this bar I knew I would love it. I have been different times through out the week and have gotten to know each of the bar tenders. I have always had a positive experience, been welcomed and most importantly feel safe. I'm a beer drinker and there is always a nice rotation of craft cans in house. Recently a tap has been installed and is a nice addition to this bar. Anchor is known for the craft cocktails. I would suggest the mules. To keep you thirsty they serve up the best popcorn in town. The rustic nautical decor puts your mind at the beach. There are some fun bar games. Plenty of bar seating, two tops and out door seating. The bathroom is clean and well stocked. This is sure to be a favorite. read more

The Anchor Bar is the cutest cocktail bar! I love the nautical decor - makes for a comfortable and homey vibe. The bar is always very clean as well. Super friendly and knowledgable bartenders. I had the best French 75 of my life at Anchor Bar! Great place to stop in for a drink before dinner on date night. It's also a good place to go at night when you want to relax but don't need the "rage" attitude of some of the other bars nearby. read more

This place has denied 3 of my friends who are all over 21 because their VALID drivers licenses got turned down by the bouncer. Quit turning down people who are of age because they have an older license that has NOT expired. I'd write a review about my experience inside, where I plan to spend money with my friends who also plan to spend money, but I haven't made it that far yet because the bouncer turns down valid drivers licenses every time I try to go. If I ever decide to give this place another try I'll make sure everyone I'm with brings their birth certificates and passports. read more

Came here over the weekend during the artsplosure with our adult daughter and really had a great time. Bartender seemed a bit annoyed not really much of a chatterbox like typical bartenders. We ordered a few beers and Frozen sangria which was awesome and played the rubber gasket game on the wall with a patron. It was a nice vibe bar very small but it was nice to get out of the heat during the art show. Prices were okay for downtown Raleigh. This place could really be happening if the bartender would smile once in awhile. I gave it five stars for the location and for being open, most places were closed during art plosure. read more

I have been here several times (and always had a good time!), but my most recent experience will cause me to never go again. I looked at my bank statement a week after I went, and saw that the bartender took it upon himself to add a tip to my check. Keep in mind, I had tipped him already with CASH (as I ALWAYS do) and crossed out on the receipt where it said 'tip' and put the correct amount it. Not only is this ballsy (since I had already left a tip) but it's illegal. read more

I was very happy to find a lowkey bar that was clean, not overpriced, and makes a REAL cocktail. I only had one beverage, so I will reserve additional stars for additional experiences. Liked it just fine, so I will be back. I had an Old Fashioned that was right on point...bonus points for using real cherries (not the little neon red "formaldehyde bombs" that should never be eaten) and an orange peel twisted properly. $10. FTW. read more

The Anchor - I will be back for those $6 bloodys on the board too. This was on a Sunday, as you might imagine. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Great daily deals, long social bar, I believe you can bring in outside food since they don't serve food yet. The Moscow mules are terrific - they have a variety of them like jalapeño and mango. Atmosphere is very casual, good for board games and worth stopping in on a night in downtown Raleigh. read more

Showed up on a Saturday at 6:00. One would think you would receive pretty good service since this is the "off hours". However, this was a weekend when supercon was going on. So the bar was slightly full for the time. One would think that management would have staffed the area with more than one person. That's a negative. There was one bar tender who was obviously overwhelmed. We waited 30+mins to order something. We would have left sooner but it was raining so we decided to wait out the rain. Starting to rethink coming here. It was my go to place for playing games and being low key. So my low rating is not for the bartender it's for the management. read more

I think we have another winner here. I predict a prosper future ahead for this joint. Cool environment and awesome bartenders. Get in now before the masses overcrowd the bar. read more

The Anchor - My Manhattan. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

I stopped in for a drink at The Anchor Bar with a friend last night. They serve craft cocktails, have a great whiskey collection and are destined to take on Foundation's overflow. I judge all bars on their ability to make a Manhattan and I was very pleased. It was on the dry side, which is fine by me! They had a lot of interesting cocktails on the menu. I was a little taken aback by the fact that some of their beverages featured George Dickel, but no matter - there are plenty of other quality whiskeys available. read more

Anchor Bar is a comfortable, chill yet stylish bar on Fayetteville Street. They make excellent cocktails. Highly recommend to start or finish a night on the town here. read more

Amazing bartenders and atmosphere. Great music selection. All around fantastic place! read more

The Anchor - Billy the bartender making a signature cocktail. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina