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    The Ark Royal

    4.6 (30 reviews)

    The Ark Royal Photos

    THE ARK ROYAL ATMOSPHERE

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    Front Entrance
    Moya F.

    Tucked away just off of Glenwood Avenue you will find one of your favorite staycation getaways around Raleigh. The Ark Royal is a unique, cool Tiki Bar that hosts events and provides the perfect backdrop for your girl's night out, birthday party, date night, and more. Unique drinks and located close to other bars and restaurants in the area. Check it out!

    Front
    Mic S.

    Amazing addition to downtown! Very welcoming vibes and awesome hospitality. The drinks are delicious and creative; the bartenders obviously put care in their drinks! The ambiance is fanatic - truly a great bar with tiki vibes. It's a little hidden off the side street, but spotting the purple and green colors is a clear indicator you're heading in the right direction. There's an awesome patio with fire pits. The gentleman at the door helped light the fire pit for us just as we sat down. Truly an awesome place for good drinks and vibes.

    Stephanie T.

    One of my favorite stops during my Raleigh visit! The Ark Royal is a new tiki bar tucked away from the party strip that is Glenwood. As an out of towner who only had a few days to take in the city, Ark Royal delivered the perfect Friday night vibe. Despite being new, it wasn't overly crowded and we were able to spend our time surveying the drink menu and even scored a seat. Sometimes, I think tiki themes can be a bit too forced, but they executed it perfectly here - from the decor, to the furniture, to the drinks. I had a few of their signature frozen cocktails (Belafonte No. 1) and it was a beautiful sky blue coconut-based drink, garnished with a fresh flower or pineapple leaf. In fact, I could have one right now. Everything went so smoothly, I would have never known they just opened. If you're wondering about the crowd, it seemed a bit more mature to me than the other bars we passed by.

    the entrance to the restaurant
    Stephanie J.

    This new tiki bar was fun. My friend and I stopped in to grab a cocktail, it was the Saturn for me and the Gin Riki Tiki for her. The drinks were good and I liked the vibe and decor. It just started to get a little too busy and loud closer to 5PM so we left after our first round.

    Janet R.

    I LOVE this new, modern tiki lounge in downtown Raleigh! I am a huge fan of Watts and Ward, so it was exciting to see the owner's new exotic cocktail lounge come to life. The location is great because it's slightly tucked away from the craziness of Glenwood itself. I stopped by on a busy Friday night but to my delight, there weren't too many people in this bar when I arrived around 11:00 PM. It was still lively but not too crowded like some other bars can be. My friend and I tried out their frozen cocktail, the Belafonte No. 1, which was super tasty, made with Tito's Vodka, Rumhaven coconut rum, blue curacao, coconut cream, and pineapple. I also asked the bartender for his favorite drink, so I tried the Jamaican Planters Punch. This drink is made with their Ark rum blend, demerara, and allspice. The drink menu leans heavily toward rum-forward drinks (obviously, it's a tiki bar), but there are a lot of options to choose from including beers, ciders, sake, wine, and bubbles. Overall, I'm a fan. Bartenders and security were friendly and cool. Bathrooms were clean. Music was good and loud, but not too loud. This place passes the vibe check for sure. They are open Wednesdays through Sundays from 4 PM - 2 AM. I'm excited to bring more of my friends here and to try more drinks off their menu soon!

    Lauren M.

    I was pleased to see a tiki bar so close to where I live! My family doesn't love a bunch of frills with their drinks but I was able to persuade them to stop in with me before dinner one night. We were the only ones there at the time which was a plus since we are a larger group. The decor was very cute and boho and the drinks were great! To my surprise, my family really enjoyed it too! I can't wait to come back for another drink when I'm in the area.

    The "King"
    S. M.

    With bars and pubs opening up, Glenwood South might seem a little overwhelming. You haven't been able to travel and you're dying to see and feel the South Pacific. Well have I got the place for you. If you want a relaxed vibe and a damn good drink then I recommend "Arc Royal" on Glenwood South. If you dare to step off the main strip behind the Creamery you'll find this little nook of paradise. Darius makes damn good drinks, and Will runs a tight ship. I recommend the "Jaguar shark NO 2". If you search hard enough you just might find the "King" hanging out in a little corner. Even the champagne pops when no one's looking. Put on your Hawaiian shirt and get ready to explain what a reel to reel tape player is. Paradise is waiting.

    Megan P.

    The Ark Royal Tiki Bar has authentic tiki drinks that are delicious, unique decor & lighting, and an outdoor patio with fire pits. I loved the atmosphere here and everyone was extremely nice. The drinks were amazing and I will definitely be coming back!

    Saturn
    Clarissa C.

    This is one if the most chic bars I've ever been to! The decor is just lovely and there was live music when I went! The bartenders are seriously mixologists and each cocktail is made with such craft and talent! A great overall vibe!

    Bar
    DrDamini S.

    This is a newly opened and really great place to enjoy drinks with friends! This is the best tiki bar so far that I have been to. The bar ambience and vibe is absolutely amazing. The place might get crowded very quickly on weekends so don't wait if you find a seat anywhere to enjoy your drinks in their boho set-up

    The zombie drink. I'd recommend ordering
    Ashley O.

    Overall pretty good first time experience! I ordered the zombie and I'd recommend it. I loved the outside patio area with the fire. Place was really cute with a chill vibe. Perfect spot to grab a drink and hang out with friends. I only rated it 4 stars because the drinks my friends ordered were decent but could've been better!

    Heart eyes with drink

    What can I say about The Ark Royal that hasn't already been said... Do they have drinks? YES! Do they have Tiki? HECK YES! How's the Ambiance? Let's just say they practically invented the word. A gr8 night has never not started with a Riki Tiki and a sick beat. I give this place 5 stars and a pair of heart eyes.

    Bartender mixing up some magic

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    2 years ago

    Great service! Ask for Ben behind the bar. Chill vibe, cool drinks, good parking. Will be coming back for the Jungle bird

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    5 years ago

    Omg this place is so cool... we just stumbled upon it tonight and it has the best vibes and music! Literally so cool

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    5 years ago

    This place is a hidden gem. Great drinks reasonable prices. They have indoor and outdoor area. Very Instagramable and a perfect for groups.

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    Ask the Community - The Ark Royal

    Is there food available for purchase? If so, is it just apps or are entrees available?

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    The Ark Royal - bars - Updated May 2026

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