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    The Baxter

    4.1 (92 reviews)
    InexpensiveBars, Arcades
    Open 3:00 pm - 2:00 am (Next day)

    The Baxter Photos

    THE BAXTER ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Loud
    Hipster
    Classy
    Casual

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    Recommended Reviews - The Baxter

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    Alexis C.

    Nice place for a birthday party! they allow kids to be there till a certain time. Lots of fun games to play, though quite a few out of service (totally understandable as these are older games). Nice choices to drink, and friendly staff.

    Q-bert!
    Luis D.

    Beer. Check. Video games. Check. Sports. Check. They have a decent selection of beer for different tastes. They have a little something for everyone. Mortal Kombat, Blitz, Rampage World Tour, Galaga, and some other note worthy games. This was a good place to watch March Madness.

    Lounge Area of Baxter's
    Langston H.

    A Nice Vintage/Retro Local Arcade Place, With Scenic Background. Has a Nostalgic Setting to it. The Staff is Friendly and the Bar Has a Wide Variety of Beers and Liquor to Choose From. They Do Have Classic Games Such as Mortal Kombat III & IV, Soul Caliber II, Super Mario Bros & Pinball Machines. However Half the Arades Work As of "2/21/23." Once a Week, a Local DJ Plays Music for Customers/Guest, and Every So Often They Host Events. In all, Will Have to Follow Up Next Week For Potential Updates on the Arcade Games. This Content Was Provided By Created Memories LLC Media Company ©.

    Ron W.

    Back in the old days for arcades, you'd drop $10 as a teen and felt like you were broke. And an addict that would have to save up for his next fix. Flash forward to 2014 and a new wave of barcades for adults is hitting the Triangle, the Baxter for example. Think arcade plus beer and you've got a pretty good idea of what's going on here. Located on a small side street off of Franklin/Main Street, the Baxter is lit up with a carnival like sign spelling "arcade" so there's no mistaking what it is. Hipsters in the front, bar in the back and two rows of arcade games and video games lining each side. Maybe 60 to 70 total, nice! We grab a NC craft beer in back and start playing. Donkey Kong, Double Dragon, Space Invaders and more, all the games have been nicely re-conditioned and play well. Get a pocketful of quarters and you're ready to roll. The crowd here is young but even they can appreciate the allure of old-school arcade games. So nice job Baxter! You're doing great, can't wait for the Raleigh barcade to open up soon...

    Arcade games.
    Mindy L.

    If you like arcade games like Galaga, Space Invaders, among other arcade games and craft beer, then come to this place. They check your ID when you enter so have that ready. Once you are in side you will see all the arcade games on all walls. Games are 25 cents so make sure to bring your quarters, but they also have quarter changing machines in case you don't have any quarters. Straight ahead is the bar where you can order your beers with the menu on your left. They usually show a movie on the screen but it depends on the day. Great atmosphere and a great way to play old games! Love this place.

    Justin T.

    The Baxter has a real cool vibe. The hand maid comic strip bar top is an extra nice touch to go along with a great selection or arcade games and pinball machines. I tried 3 different drinks on the day I was there and all of them were mixed well and the bartender was cool as could be. I've heard they have a game of thrones night also. Even though I don't watch the show I give it a try.

    Ryu D.

    I'm so glad Chapel Hill has a barcade because this is the BEST ONE that I've visited in the triangle. I love how they show 90s and 80s movies on their projector so you could actually bring food from an outside area and just enjoy it here on one of their tables or couches! Big fan of their tetris machine :)

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    10 years ago

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    8 years ago

    Fun bar. Friendly people. Great games:) lives playing pinball and Frogger. Also love that there are cup holders on the machines.

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    11 years ago

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    8 years ago

    Super fun bar/arcade. My boyfriend and I go there all the time for fun dates. It's also super close to Al's and IP3 if you get hungry.

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    Page 3 of 3

    Ask the Community - The Baxter

    Review Highlights - The Baxter

    They also have a couple nice pinball machines like terminator, walking dead, and demolition man.

    Mentioned in 14 reviews

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    He's Not Here

    He's Not Here

    3.9(86 reviews)
    0.5 mi
    $

    Chapel Hill's iconic college bar, He's Not Here is worth a visit just for the experience of…read moredrinking 32 ounces of beer from their famous Blue Cup -- one of the essential Carolina experiences. No, it's not the cleanest bar in town, but the friendly service, spacious beer garden and energetic vibe are just a few of the reasons this is consistently voted one of the best college bars in America. If you don't like beer or cider, you're not going to find much else on the menu, but for hopheads, it doesn't get much better than this. Upstairs, you'll find more than a dozen beers on tap, including a number of local and NC craft brews (and no, you don't HAVE to order one in a Blue Cup, although it's a great value). There's also a smaller bar on the Beer Garden level, which also has about a dozen picnic tables and a small stage for music (there are shows most weekends). He's Not Here is pretty strict on checking IDs, so don't show up without one, no matter how old you think you look. My only complaint was the $5 weekend cover charge, which seemed a little egregious for a place that just serves beer. But that aside, this is a great spot to meet friends, enjoy some live music and drink a few beers. Just down the alley past YoPo at W Franklin & Columbia, and definitely worth a stop if you're in Chapel Hill.

    You don't get more Chapel Hill than this place. Nine dollar buckets of beer they call a blue cup…read more Fantastic music! Sports are always on. Sit at a picnic table and have a blast catching up with friends. You never know who's gonna show up. The service is quite perfect... I mean, they know their beer. The best part about it is you can stock up your bar card at home with your very own blue cups.

    Photos
    He's Not Here
    He's Not Here
    He's Not Here - Our absolute most favorite place to come when we are in Chapel Hill! What's in this picture? The blue cup of course.

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    Our absolute most favorite place to come when we are in Chapel Hill! What's in this picture? The blue cup of course.

    The Gathering Place - Exterior entrance

    The Gathering Place

    4.4(8 reviews)
    0.7 mi

    TLDR: cute place, a bit pricey, interesting ambiance but I like the idea of it…read more Came in on a Wednesday for the more open random game night with friends. The place is pretty tucked away and didn't know it existed until I was invited. First thoughts were uh this is a bit shady walking up stairs and the building itself was not super well kept (not their fault). The bathroom looks so outdated and wasn't super comfortable that the bathroom is a shared one (two stalls, a urinal and it's just open to all) so wouldn't feel comfortable drinking alcohol and then possibly being alone in a bathroom where men are peeing right next to me. That's just my opinion and comfort. Regardless the place was cute- the bar had a lot of options for tap, they had MEAD! Extremely exciting as I LOVE Starrlight mead. The music was kinda all over the place from like 70s music and then the next was like a Fern Gully song -would just stick to one genre. The employees were also pretty nice (they ?Meredith? helped me over the phone as well). Notes: DO NOT PARK IN THE GRAVEL PARKING LOT- it's not theirs They seem to automatically tip, not sure how much, I wasn't given a receipt and didn't have the price of my drink so I can't deduct from my charge. They seem to have a pretty big card charge as well so maybe cash is better? They have a ton of events so check when you want to go during the week! I've added a photo.

    So there's this human-hybrid bathroom where men and women can use the restroom at the same time??…read moreI'm all for equity at a logical level but this is a disaster waiting to happen. Also the bathroom was disgusting and I threw all my clothes in the wash. It's near the college which I guess explains the sounds coming out of the speakers. Actually they were more like a series of constant screams accompanied by the unplugging and re-plugging in of instruments. Major cons: *limited parking *pee * about 10 tables * no one asked me about board games or cared. Pro: that brief period when the music stopped. Thankfully there were plenty of edgy hairstyles Do places like this care about money or is it just a front for the magic the gathering store?

    Photos
    The Gathering Place
    The Gathering Place - Shared bathroom

    Shared bathroom

    The Gathering Place - I want my own glass next time

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    I want my own glass next time

    Zogs Pool - Yeah, we love it here.

    Zogs Pool

    4.4(89 reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $

    Zan is the best bartender I've ever had, everyone needs to come here to chill and get your drink…read moreon. Made my friends birthday the best experience ever, would hang out with him socially given the chance

    Want to go to a nice place to unwind after a long day? Don't go here! If you don't trust me, check…read morethe other 20 one-star reviews describing the poor and discriminatory service provided by Chris Pope. Chris is a racist and demeaning bartender. I have been going to this establishment for several years, but I am now forced to avoid it on Thursdays (when Chris Pope works) because he is unreasonably rude and insulting. Even his own co-bartender begged him to, "not be an a--hole tonight," before the two of them fought in the back. It is incredibly disappointing and hurtful, and, frankly, it raises serious concerns about the bar's negligent--or, based on the copious negative reviews, reckless--retention of this employee. Zog's, an otherwise fine establishment, opens itself up to needless liability due to Chris' inability to perform his role without aggressive and embarrassing theatrics. Several other bartenders have called him out on his unacceptable service, including Daniel, but they all refuse to report it because they are afraid of the consequences. (If Daniel were the sole bartender, Zog's would likely have nothing except five-star reviews.) No one wants to work with him, and no one wants to attend this bar. Numbers are dwindling, and other patrons universally acknowledge that they, too, avoid Zog's solely because of Chris. I am keen on taking this further and will not relinquish my efforts until Chris Pope is let go. Zog's is a great establishment that is being ruined by his presence. For those disappointed by this result, Four Corners is a great bar just up the street! I would suggest going there, where the bartenders are courteous. I genuinely hope management takes these concerns seriously, because Zog's could be a great spot-just not on Thursdays.

    Photos
    Zogs Pool - A collage of Zog's environment; colorful, inviting, & cray

    A collage of Zog's environment; colorful, inviting, & cray

    Zogs Pool - Get funky with Christmas lights.

    Get funky with Christmas lights.

    Zogs Pool - Live music monthly! Here's our Hip Hop Rap Round Robin.

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    Live music monthly! Here's our Hip Hop Rap Round Robin.

    The Baxter - bars - Updated May 2026

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