The Bison Bar

My company ordered Tobacco Road's boxed meals for lunch and dinner last week while we were working…read morefor the day from Raleigh. For my boxes, I selected the Tobacco Road Club and the turkey sandwich. Neither sandwich arrived dressed (pesto mayo, honey mustard), nor did they put dressings on the side. To be clear, absolutely no one in my group received dressed sandwiches. Fortunately, we found some ranch in the office fridge to share, but even still, the club had no cheese so it was essentially just floppy, sad meats with white bread, and the turkey could not have been more bland if they tried. The side salads that came with them were mediocre at best, and the dressing was not great, either. Literally the only good thing I can say is that the chocolate chip cookies were tasty. I have to wonder if they even make those in house. I was not the one to place the order and I'm glad there was no money out of my pocket, but geesh, if they're going to offer boxed lunches, they could try to be a touch more inventive. Perhaps their other food or their ambiance is good, but I'll never know because you couldn't pay me to try them again after that sad food day.

Came for Sunday Football and was met with lovely service and an amazing game day atmosphere…read more As a browns fan, finding bars in the area that play the game audio can be difficult. At Tobacco Road, browns fans meet in the dedicated Game room, a wonderful atmosphere and set up for football. Menu is expansive, although the wide variety of dishes may cause some selections to not be prepared with as much thought to the dish. I personally had the Durham Bulls burger, which was amazing and met my standards (you can't go wrong with freshly ground meat in house)! The highlight of my experience was our tender by a long mile. He alone tended to the entire room and was a very personable and detail oriented server. I would I would definitely recommend requesting to be in Evan's section if possible -- or come by for a browns game so you can watch with fellow fans!

Gameroom.

Hoops!

See all

Skeeball in the gameroom.

The Players Retreat

3.6(286 reviews)

2.5 mi

•$$$$

It took two years of living in Raleigh, but I finally experienced the PR. Well, once I finally…read morefound a parking spot up the street. I'm just thankful I did not have to parallel park! So I took one of the few seats left at the bar on a Tuesday night, and this really feels like the local neighborhood hang where people know each other. People of all kinds can feel welcome in there. They have drink specials every night, and I took advantage of several High Lifes. It was almost like I was living in the midwest again. I started with garlic parmesan wings. The menu said 6, but I got 8, all drums, which I had no problem with at all! Bleu cheese or ranch are added for free. One of the bigger wings had a little bit of pink though, that's not great. Then I had a Usinger's brat with peppers, onions on a toasted roll with a side of spicy mustard. Just 9 bucks. For my side, I got super thick onion rings with some horseradish sauce. Well worth the extra $2.75! The bartenders kept my water glass full. Even though the bar was quite packed, they seemed to do a very good job of keeping everything organized. It's a fun vibe for sure!

Great place to catch a game & have a solid meal! All of their apps are delicious, esp the fried…read morepickles & wings. I got their new smashburger and it's now one of my favorites in the area. Very cool dive bar feel in there, but great service and quality food.

Cheeseburger with Onion Rings

See all

Patio

My Way Tavern

3.9(188 reviews)

2.0 mi

A friend invited me to meet the for lunch at My Way Tavern and when I looked up the address on…read moreApple Maps I was fairly certain that my BFF had worked at a sandwich shop at that location 100 years ago when we were in high school. I was right! When I pulled up it was the old Mountain Sandwiches location! The inside is so inviting and beautiful now. The bar has great local beers on draft and any mixed drink you can imagine. The servers were super nice. You do not have one server, anyone who walks by helps you. I ordered a Hawaiian grilled chicken sandwich and it was AMAZING! I had their house fries as my side and they were delicious too. I plan to order a loaded baked potato or loaded mac and cheese next time. I will definitely be visiting again in the near future with my friend who used to work in the sandwich shop at that location.

A great neighborhood bar! The nachos are outstanding - 10/10 recommended and the best I've had. The…read morewings were also nice and crispy with a wide variety of sauce options. They also had some good drink specials that rotate daily. We went on a weekday night and had great service. It's a good ambiance inside to catch a sporting game with lots of tv or just catch up with friends. I can wait to come back!

Classic sports bar atmosphere

Side of Brussels

See all

Overtime Sports Pub

3.8(81 reviews)

4.5 mi

The food here never disappoints and the portions are huge, great atmosphere great friendsread more

Stopped here because I called ahead and asked if they had Red Oak on tap…read more Lucky me. It turned out to be a Steelers bar. The owner was very friendly. The ribeye burger was excellent. Fried mushrooms and loaded potato skins were done to perfection. The place was clean and lots of TV screens all around. I will definitely come back!!

Taco Salad edible bowl that I love!

See all

Tap Yard

4.1(29 reviews)

0.5 mi•Mordecai

Last night was my first time visiting the Tap Yard but definitely won't be the last. The event was…read moreindoors which surprised me but not in a bad way. I'd prefer to be indoors especially as it gets closer to summer but if you want to take a break and go outside you can which is nice. The bartenders were fast and friendly. Beggars Banquet, a Rolling Stones tribute band, played for three hours and what a show! The music was great, the audience was dancing and singing along, the musicians were so skilled and so lively -- they came down off the stage while performing to interact with the crowd. I had a blast! I just feel awful that I didn't plan ahead and bring more cash. I would have liked to leave a better tip for the band. They were extraordinarily good and so generous with their energy and talent. I will definitely be watching for more Beggars Banquet shows and other concerts and events at the Tap Yard!

Advertised a watch party on their website. Planned our night around that. Got there and the game is…read morenot on a single one of there tvs. Has to ask just to get the game on a single tv that was advertised as going to be all 15+ tvs. And couldn't even hear the game because the tv volume was not on.

See all

Yard House

3.7(904 reviews)

2.2 mi

Unfortunately they were out of lobster, but my entree was fixed to accommodate my request "Salmon"…read moreinstead. Only a 5 minute wait, excellent service. Not busy for a Saturday night which was perfect for us.

I just wanted to update my review of the Yard House. We went back last night after I received the…read moreemail for their Oktoberfest. You could purchase a Stein and get five dollar refills with a food purchase. Through October 25, however North Carolina according to the bartender and his manager does not participate in this for some liquor lol. Which I find strange because you could purchase what the Yard House cause crawlers which is a 32 ounce can of beer so I don't really understand why they don't do the refills on the stein. So we opted not to get the Stein because that was the whole purpose of having the Steins is to get the refills on the beer. So if you're seeing this review before you go and you're in North Carolina or at least in the Raleigh Durham area yeah that's what we were told. So last night we again got the Miguel's queso dip. It tasted a little different last night. It didn't taste as good as it normally taste so I'm not sure if they had a different Chef in last night or if they changed the recipe or something, but it didn't taste nearly as good as it normally taste. Also, we got the chicken pizza it came out. Let's say a little on the overdone side so we sent it back and asked for it not to be cooked as long and it came back the total opposite. We got the Oktoberfest sampler so that we could try all their Oktoberfest beers to see which one we were gonna go with. I ended up with Paulner Oktoberfest Bier, it was really nice. Had a nice refreshing taste to it and my friend actually just got The Samuel Adams Oktoberfest. As always they were packed because it's football season and they have inside and outside seating it can also get loud because everybody's having a good time and enjoying each other. If you're sitting at the bar, you are gonna meet people , talk to each other and have a good time. We did meet a gentleman and he bought us a couple of drinks and we just had a good time so if you're in the area, give them a try.

2.3 mi•Fayetteville Street

Lobster Garlic Noodles - Maine lobster, shrimp, shiitake mushrooms, spinach and parmesan.

Enjoy a variety of appetizers, like our Chicken Nachos, while watching your favorite sports games.

See all

Mac + Cheese]² - With white truffle, bacon, chicken, crimini, shiitake & oyster mushrooms, parmesan and panko cheddar crust.

Ole - Sports Bar & Lounge

4.0(2 reviews)

2.6 mi•Boylan Heights

The newest sports bar for the Oak City, Ole Sports Bar and Lounge has some ambitious plans for the…read morefuture. In this rapidly growing neighborhood in S. Raleigh, they've transformed a cavernous garage into a casual bar offering 85" widescreens showing the latest games whether it's football or futbol! Beers on tap, cocktails, food truck outside, the whole scene is pretty casual. But in back there's another larger space where they plan on bringing live music and other activities. Curious to see where this place goes, they just opened this weekend so be patient.

I have been feeling very homesick. I could not seem to find ANY ONE to watch the world cup with…read moreus....i wish i was back in Miami. So my husband found this place. The minute i entered i felt like i found my tribe!! No joke, this is where the latinos are gathered! Great music, great venue. They have a DELICIOUS taco truck outside. It felt like home :)

Woody's @ City Market

3.2(224 reviews)

Beer specials. Trivia. Fat juicy wings. Trivia that starts at a reasonable hour and not 8 pm. What…read moremore can you want? The vibes are chill, the staff is kind, the prices are on point (ESPECIALLY on Wednesdays). Don't come here if you don't like bars? Come here if you like the divey, young adult atmosphere.

Tucked into Raleigh's cobblestoned memory lane, this bar feels like the kind of place you stumble…read moreupon after wandering past brick streets, vintage shop windows, and the faint echo of history. Inside, it's a whole different story. It's the Platonic ideal of a sports bar: walls plastered with TVs all screaming different games, tables that seem to have been ordered straight from the 'Standard Pub Starter Kit,' and a menu where the wings and fries are always reliable but the cocktail list is more suggestion than promise. Still, what they lack in vermouth or fresh herbs, they are fortunate the bartenders make up for in charm, speed, and the kind of easy banter that keeps you ordering another round. Come for the wall-to-wall TVs and wings that don't miss, stay because the bartenders somehow make you forget they're out of half the cocktail ingredients. It's the kind of sports bar where the atmosphere scores even when your team doesn't. Cheers!

Cheers to an Eagles win!

See all

Lynnwood Brewing Concern

4.2(131 reviews)

0.2 mi

I've visited Lynnwood twice and it's a great option for great beer and good food in the heart of…read moreRaleigh. The atmosphere is chill, there's plenty of seating, and the service has always been super friendly! I also enjoy their pub-style menu, with faves like burgers and a divine chicken sandwich I enjoyed on my most recent trip. Bonus points that they're open late a night (which isn't always common with breweries)!

Decent food, nice atmosphere, good service. Free 3 hour parking when you scan the QR code inside…read more I've only been here twice but I had a good impression. This is a nice spot to get together with friends or any group. In fact, both times that I've been here was with a group. The dry rub wings were pretty good, huge portion. Pretty light on the ranch so I'd ask for double the ranch if I ordered it again. Coleslaw was good! Trivia night on Wednesdays is fun if you're into that kinda thing! If you're not, avoid Wednesday nights haha or sit at the bar.

2.3 mi•Warehouse District

This is a great space plenty of room for a large group.

See all

Dog Friendly

Whiskey Kitchen

4.0(801 reviews)

Whiskey Kitchen is a solid spot for great food and cocktails…read more If you are a whiskey drinker then you definitely want to check this place out. They have a huge selection of whiskey! Not a whiskey drinker, they have other cocktails and beer as well. For food, my to-go is the Lamb Burger or the Fried Chicken Sandwich. Both are a hit! Not a lot of places serve Lamb Burger in the area and this is one of my favorites! Whiskey Kitchen doesn't disappoint! Highly recommend!

My boyfriend and I dined here for a date night and I had really hoped for better. The first thing I…read morenoticed upon arriving was how dead it was, especially considering we went on a Friday night at 6:30PM. My boyfriend is a huge whiskey drinker and had been wanting to visit here for a while. He had heard that the best Old Fashioned were here (he said that it was not that great), and while they did have bougie cocktails, I settled for a margarita. Our server was very attentive and friendly. The atmosphere and decor were great! I am a plant person, so I loved seeing all of the plants. I love the open concept and exposed ceiling. But the food......was displeasing and unappetizing. I ordered the lamp burger, and while I ordered it as well done, I did not know that it would be presented overcooked with a charred outside. If you know lamb, this caused the meat to be extremely dry. The burger itself was very bland and lacked much flavor. My boyfriend ordered the Fireman's Chicken and by the looks of it when it came out, someone should have called the fire department while it was cooking! It was so burnt it was black. The only flavor present was charred meat and it was the most dried out chicken we have ever had (unfortunately I tried it). The collard greens were bitter with little flavor and the black-eyed peas still had crunch to where they weren't cooked all the way. To say all this, to have a $100 bill was HIGHLY unappreciated as it was one of the worst meals we have had in a LONG time. I definitely could see why they were not busy. The food was cooked terrible. And I will note that it isn't that I am picky, the couple next to us barely ate their meal and looked just as dissatisfied as we were. We would NOT recommend!

Whiskey Flights

Smoked mozzarella salad with fried chicken

See all

The Botanist and Paper Plane

Why does Yelp recommend reviews?

Hundreds of millions of reviews are posted on Yelp, and our automated recommendation software works in the background to showcase the reviews that it …

5 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Danielle M.

0

1

0

7 years ago

This bar is super sketch, theives, drugs, and creepers everywhere you turn! Trashy low-key customer service and not a place to go waste your time. I've been cornered in the parking lot several times, followed back home. The staff will not ever help or pretend to be a help! When your belongings get stolen everyone does there best to make sure you don't involve the police even if it comes to your safety and we'll being! STAY AWAY read more

Heidi H.

0

2

1

3 years ago

Don't visit this bar. A bar patron hit my car and the bar manager told him to park his car, take the keys out of the ignition, and come back inside the bar. Hence, he avoided a DWI. Now, his insurance won't pay for my property damage for my car because they are bias!! read more

Destiny C.

0

2

0

6 months ago

racist owners, the black bartenders hate themselves and other blacks! they are serving aristocrat and other cheap liquors and serving them as premium liquor! they also overcharge peoples cards to give themself a better tip! clayton does coke in the bathroom read more

Kelli M.

0

5

0

4 years ago

Shitty place....................................................................................................................................................................../...//..//no stars. read more

Rodger S.

0

1

0

10 years ago

I really love this place, the staff is awesome and you whether you are new or a regular they really make you feel at home.

The Bison Bar - sportsbars - Updated September 2026

Browse Nearby

BEST of Raleigh, North Carolina Restaurants near The Bison Bar

BEST of Raleigh, North Carolina Coffee near The Bison Bar

BEST of Raleigh, North Carolina Things to Do near The Bison Bar

BEST of Raleigh, North Carolina Desserts near The Bison Bar

BEST of Raleigh, North Carolina Wings near The Bison Bar

BEST of Raleigh, North Carolina Parking near The Bison Bar

BEST of Raleigh, North Carolina Pizza near The Bison Bar

BEST of Raleigh, North Carolina Happy Hour near The Bison Bar

BEST of Raleigh, North Carolina Football near The Bison Bar

BEST of Raleigh, North Carolina Pool Table near The Bison Bar

Best of Raleigh

Things to do in Raleigh

Browse Brands

Brands by name

Browse Articles

Articles by date

People who viewed The Bison Bar also viewed

Lucky B's

3.4

(72 reviews)

Had an awesome time at Lucky B's, playing giant Jenga with friends in such a vibrant, social…read moreatmosphere kept the night full of laughs. The Happy Dad buckets were the perfect touch to keep the good vibes going!

Friday night on a winter night in January: display seems to be full of locals to know that this is…read morethe place to be if you don't have your expectations too damn high. I feel as if a lot of people come to cities expecting a lot, but they seem to just be a very local bar.. service is quick because there was not too many people ( about 50 people here. This place is not too expensive and understands the clientele here. I am from out of town, and I've been playing for dart, live DJ (local) nothing like edm. Felt safe here. I would absolutely recommend stopping by waiting until about 10 o'clock to come through here on the weekend . Hope you have fun.

The Ugly Monkey Party Bar

3.2

(50 reviews)

I was there for less then 2 minutes. Went in, saw a lady playing pool and said, "hey just want to…read moresay, I like your look and I hope you're winning." And she looked at me like I was a cockroach. Totally rude response. I gave her a thumbs up and got the fuck out of there. I'm 34 and not interested in being around assholes. My recommendation: skip it. This is not a friendly place or even remotely a party bar, it's a place for people to pretend they're having fun for appearances.

Bartender was good and beer was cold and priced well. Don't know what these other bad reviews were…read moretalking about, probably a bunch of people that have never been to a dive bar or small city bar.

Back Nine Pub

3.4

(17 reviews)

Good drink prices, but very small. They have outdoor seating for us smokers. Great group for…read moresports and just to meet up with a friend. Limited menu if you want to grab a quick bite. A small Cheer's type place.

This dive has been here for many years. Which is one of the world's biggest mysteries. Scientists…read morehave studied this for many years and can not come up with a reason. The space is small, tight, dark, and depressing. Staff wishes they were somewhere else, like in a burning building. The space itself feels dirty, and the sanitation grade supports this with an impressive 90.5. Did I eat? No. I did have a bottle of Miller Lite; ok, two bottles. The only serious risk I took was a Fireball shot, but it was down before I realized the risk of the glass being clean.

Backstage Pub

4.1

(17 reviews)

Neat place. Old school bar and sports bar with shuffleboard and dartboards. Awesome staff, lots of…read moreregulars where everyone knows your name. Not heavy pourers on drinks, but it's definitely a stopping point.

Great place. Draft beer is a bit expensive but they have daily specials which are always good. If…read moreyou like a place to go drink cheap, this is the place. Real nice bartenders.

Natural Science Bar

4.4

(8 reviews)

Great bar for a dork (like myself)! Plenty of things to look at, nice bartenders, and open floor…read moreplan! They also have pool tables!!

Stumbled upon this bar after Miso Ramen around the corner. We enjoyed the drinks and the…read moreatmosphere. It was a quiet evening in the bar since it was a weekday, we plan to come back on the weekend to see how things a looking with a crowd! There are games and the natural science theme is so unique and fun!

Dram and Draught

4.2

(111 reviews)

Hey Guys we went to Dram and Draught for a drink making Class. We were the pilot class. To say it…read morewas a success would be an understatement. We had so much fun. We were early so we stopped by the bar for a quick shot, Tequila of Course. Rhett got us straight. This Respasado was nice and smooth. Next off to class. We picked our seats and played out for us was a jigger, Shaker, t- mixing spoon, strainer and a mixing glass, a nice one. We also had a recipe card. We got to make 3 drinks( and drink them). We also learned about the brand that was sponsoring the event. This was amazing for the first time being held, the ladies for nice and friendly, the bar has inside and outside seating. The bathrooms are nice and clean. I think we all hung around a bit to finish our drinks. They were very strong! Not light on alcohols at All! I came home and made my own Oleo! Thanks Dram and Draught!

Stopped by Dram & Draught for a cocktail while visiting Raleigh on a quiet Saturday afternoon, and…read moreI'm glad we did. Right when I walked in, the vibe hit. Classy but chill, the kind of place that feels welcoming whether you're on a solo drink mission or meeting up with friends. The space isn't loud or chaotic, which made it perfect for a relaxed drink and conversation. It felt like a local hidden gem rather than a tourist trap, and that's always a plus when you're exploring a new city. The service was great from start to finish. The bartenders were friendly, attentive, and genuinely seemed to enjoy what they do! They gave recommendations, and took the time to chat and help them pick something perfect. Of course, I had to go with the espresso martini, because if a spot has it on the menu, I'm trying it. And wow, this one was good. Smooth, balanced, and truly the kind of cocktail that makes you forget you're basically drinking dessert. Not too sweet, with that rich coffee flavor front and center. Easily one of the better espresso martinis I've had in a while. Even though it was a quiet afternoon, the energy didn't feel slow or empty, just comfortable. It was obvious this place would be equally great on a livelier night, too. This is definitely a great cocktail bar that's worth a stop if you're in Raleigh. Friendly bartenders, excellent drinks, and a vibe that makes you want to stay a little longer. I'll definitely be back next time I'm in town!

The Cary Pub

4.0

(53 reviews)

We've driven by this place countless times without realizing there was such a great spot just…read morequietly tucked away. The space itself is cozy and comfortable, with a relaxed, welcoming feel. The bartenders were friendly and attentive, and the food we ordered was great. They have some of the best buffalo shrimp I've ever had. They were perfectly cooked, with the lightest fried batter, and a perfectly subtle buffalo sauce. They were so good. Everything coming out of the kitchen looked just as good, which makes us eager to try more on a return visit. It is a small space, and on a busy Saturday around 5pm it was quite lively and loud--which isn't negative, but more of an observation. There was no music playing and the TVs didn't have volume, so the room noise carried quite a bit. At times it was difficult to hear conversation even sitting right next to each other. That said, unfortunately, during our visit, some of the dialogue from nearby regulars was disappointing, very rude, and imo racist. It definitely made us uncomfortable, which impacted our experience and led us to leave earlier than planned. I'm hoping this was an outlier for what is otherwise a great neighborhood spot. I'd absolutely consider returning for the food alone, as it was that good--and ideally I'm hoping for a different overall experience next time.

Such a great surprise to find Cary Pub! Brooke was awesome…read more Food was just like I would make at home -yum!

FOUNDATION

4.4

(332 reviews)

This is a whiskey lover's dream and one of Raleigh's most unique drinking destinations. It's quite…read moreliterally underground as it's in a basement. With little signage the space feels like a natural speakeasy. It's unpolished enough to feel a little sleazy, yet polished enough to never feel dirty. In other words, it has character, and plenty of it. The bartenders were fantastic: knowledgeable, talented, and happy to chat about the spirits behind the bar. Whether you're a serious whiskey enthusiast or just looking for a well-made cocktail, you're in good hands. Being open later than most Raleigh bars makes Foundation one of the city's go-to late-night options, but that shouldn't overshadow what it really is........a great bar at any hour. The atmosphere, the drinks, and the people behind the bar make this a place worth seeking out whether it's your first stop of the evening or your last.

Foundation Bar offers a uniquely cool vibe, tucked away in a basement location that makes it easy…read moreto miss if you aren't looking for it. The interior features rotating art hung on the walls--which adds a great aesthetic and is even available for purchase if you fall in love with a piece. The drink menu is impressively extensive, and the bartenders certainly don't skimp on the pours; if you aren't a frequent drinker, one strong cocktail will definitely be plenty. The staff is consistently polite and welcoming, and the overall atmosphere makes for a solid night out. The only notable drawbacks are the lack of a food menu, not even offering small bites, and a noticeable smoke odor inside that might bother non-smokers. Still, it's a great spot for drinks and atmosphere.

Hero's Pub & Sandwich Shop

3.5

(38 reviews)