My first stop anytime I visit Chapel Hill is The Crunkleton. The bartenders always go above and beyond with both conversation and service. I was here recently for a concert, and Abigail noticed my band t-shirt, complemented it and then slyly played them on the speakers. Talk about going the extra mile! I always feel at home here even when I'm traveling. They have both creative cocktails and classics. This is a must-go for anyone staying nearby. read more

The Crunkleton - The Bitter Southerner #8 - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

This terrific upscale bar serves up delicious cocktails in a warm, cozy setting that will make it your go-to spot for drinks in Chapel Hill. Offering a refined escape from the college bar scene that dominates Franklin Street, The Crunkleton blends a superb selection of top-shelf liquors with expert mixologists, friendly service and a dapper decor you won't want to leave. Wait times at the bar can be long at peak hours, and there's a sizeable crowd almost every night of the week. But find a spot at the bar or in one of the comfortable leather booths along the wall, order a classic Old Fashioned or Bourbon Bramble, and settle in to enjoy one of the best cocktails around. A Chapel Hill institution, the Crunkleton is worth a drive from anywhere in the Triangle, and a must for anyone visiting this fantastic college town. read more

Went here on a recent trip to Chapel Hill NC, prior to going to a Basketball Game on a Friday night. We liked it so much that we went back before the football game on Saturday! Great drinks, friendly staff and cool atmosphere! read more

Expertly crafted classics and creative mixology by a bartender who clearly took pride in their work. Perfectly made manhattan, no fuss, just exactly as it should be crafted. The gin fizz was a marvel to watch being made, if you've never seen one made. The bartender shook the cocktail for 10 minutes, all while taking other orders and making different drinks. The mixology trick for getting the soda to the bottom so the fizz rises above the top of the glass is clever and takes a steady hand. The entire experience was exactly what I often look for in a cocktail bar. It was a quieter Sunday night, so I imagine the ambiance changes on busier nights or when Carolina is playing a game, but I imagine the drinks would still not disappoint. read more

The Crunkleton - Manhattan and gin fizz - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Good cocktails and good vibes here! Service was a little slow since only one bartender and huge crowd, but loved the place! read more

The Crunkleton - Manhattan, old fashioned, - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

I adore this bar! The bartenders are wonderful and they helped my friend and key have the perfect martini espresso over the holidays. I enjoyed the atmosphere and the decor inside which includes bar seating, and couches and sofa area for conversing with friends. There's also a pool table toward the back which is also a great touch for folks to enjoy each others company. We will definitely be back to visit again. read more

The Crunkleton - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Such a cool romantic oldie vibe for a bar hidden on Franklin Street! I went a bit early so it was still empty, which was nice since some jazzy music was playing in the background and people were socializing amongst themselves. There is a pool table in the back too. I tried the espresso martini (which is a homemade cold brew) and a lemon curd whiskey drink. Delicious and fresh to both. Plenty of space in the bar. And the bartender kept checking in on me every so often which was nice. Great place for the older crowd! read more

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Went in early December and they have all their holiday decor out! I honestly think that added so much magic to the ambience of the bar. It was giving me Hogsmead/ Hogshead at Christmas vibes and I loved it. I had one drink and it was OK. Tasted like alcoholic sweet tarts which wasn't my thing. I think next time I'll stick to something less fancy with rum in it. A major mention: This place is not for people that can't afford a $15 drink (idk how I found myself here then on that logic). This is definitely going to be more the scene of older grad students or above and with that, a higher income. Unfortunately, on a normal day, I definitely wouldn't come because of the prices, but the staff were nice and the place was pretty clean. I'm taking away a star mostly because the prices are just so high (one drink was literally $26 and I believe on the lower end it was like $12) but otherwise it's a nice little celebratory / special event place. read more

The Crunkleton - My reaction to the drink - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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Great spot for an elevated bourbon or cocktail experience. Solid selection and very knowledgeable staff add to this gem, which gives speakeasy vibes. Low light and leather keep the vibe going, and the pool table at the end of the joint adds just a touch of socializing space. Added bonus: if you see a whiskey you want to try but aren't quite sure you want a full pour, they offer smaller pours, too. Highly recommend. read more

The Crunkleton - Drink at the Crunkleton. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

It's not a secret, this place has a well known quality cocktail list with impressive mixologists. As a person that enjoys both, a cocktail and a mocktail, I was pleased that they have both options (though only two mocktails) on the menu. Also, there are many more cocktail options on their in person menu compared to the online menu. Service is quick and it's a first come first serve for seating. I'm looking forward to going back to see if a week night is a little calmer since Saturday night was loud and FULL! read more

The Crunkleton - Mocktail and coconut water. Very refreshing! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Cool cocktail spot off Franklin. In a sea of dive bars, The Crunkleton offers a more upscale drinking lounge with unique cocktails and cozy vibes. It gets absolutely slammed here, but you can usually snag a spot at one of their friendship bars and they do a great job with managing the crowd. The pool table in the back is a nice touch and adds to the appeal of this spot. I had the Bourbon Bramble which was very boozy and bourbon forward, but a little sweet for my taste. Still tasty though! My mom had the Dusty Cactus which was also sweet but also spicy. I'd definitely come back here to check out some of the other cocktails on the menu! read more

The Crunkleton - Bourbon Bramble (left) Dusty Cactus (right) - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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Great vibe, awesome service, incredible selection of booze, and our cocktail waitress was incredible. Great place to sit back and enjoy! read more

The Crunkleton - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

I like the decor and the cozy feel of this bar. Also, I noticed fewer college students here-which is a nice change of scenery after our bar crawl. The bartender we had was standoffish so that was unfortunate. I had the elderflower sour, which almost tasted like a Moscow Mule. For my second drink, I asked for a bourbon smash and our bartender was not pleased that I went off the menu. But he made a decent one despite being his first time making it. The cocktails weren't bad and the prices were comparable to other nice cocktail bars I've been to but the staff made it less of a welcoming atmosphere. read more

The Crunkleton is a good bar. I'm not sure whether to rate my experience three stars (OK) or four (good). The reason why I would rate my experience three stars is because the bar was too loud and crowded. I know bars are loud, but the music here was exceptionally loud. It was one of those situations where you had to talk really really loud just to talk to the people next to you. It's like we're screaming into each other's faces. Not ideal for me. As far as crowding, the bar was a few people deep almost all the way around. They stopped letting people in shortly after we arrived on a Saturday night around 10pm. I saw the hostess stop a group of what looked like undergrads from entering. I heard her say to them, "One out, one in." One of the guys replied to her, "One out, four in." Kudos to her for standing her ground. I imagine that's when the job's not fun. We sat in the chairs and sofa by the entrance, with a line of people out the door, waiting to get in. Not gonna lie - it felt a little uncomfortable and awkward for me with so many folks waiting and (sometimes) watching us, but I'm sure others didn't care. We left after 11pm. On the way out, we passed a line of people waiting to get in. The Crunkleton was at and stayed at max capacity. My wife and the friends we came with have been here multiple times. This was my first time and I have no desire to come back if it's always as packed and loud as I described above. However, I do think this is a very cool bar in terms of the aesthetic, overall vision/design, and service, hence why I think this is a four-star bar. This would be a place I'd love to come to if it wasn't so crowded and loud. I like the low-key storefront and its large foldable windows with bench seating that open up onto Franklin Street. The interior looks classy and sophisticated with old portraits, hunting trophies, and a dark wood/leather sort of feel. The staff are uniformed in dress shirts, aprons, and bowties. I heard and read that this was, is, or has a members-only component to it. It definitely wasn't members-only the night of our visit nor the nights of my wife's and friends' visits. I did see on The Crunkleton's website that the Charlotte location is a "private club, open to members and their guests. Memberships are $10 annually and can be purchased at the door or online." The Charlotte location opened in December 2018: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-crunkleton-charlotte. It has a restaurant. This original location in Chapel Hill opened in 2008. It's a bar only. No restaurant. A third location is opening soon in Raleigh's Smoky Hollow mixed-use development. It will be a restaurant and bar like the Charlotte location. The crowd here was interesting. It was a mix of young and old. College students and folks in their 50s and 60s. And then there was us, right in the middle (30s and 40s). One of the first guys I spoke to here was wearing an old-school WWF Intercontinental Championship belt over his shoulder. Certainly a conversation-starter. The cocktail menu I was given by the host had 16 cocktails priced at $14-17 each plus six barrel-aged cocktails priced at $18 each. For each drink, the menu identified the bartender/mixologist who created it. I thought that was a nice touch. I counted six drinks by The Crunkleton's founder-owner, Gary Crunkleton. Here's what we had: * The French 75 popularized by Chris Hannah ($16) - cognac, London Dry Gin, curacao, lemon, champagne * Elderflower Sour by Gary Crunkleton ($14) - London Dry Gin, St-Germain, ginger, lime, cucumber * Gin Gin Mule by Audrey Saunders ($15) - gin, ginger, lime, mint, sugar We got a couple of the Gin Gin Mules. Everything tasted great. The drinks were strong and delicious. I'm not a cocktail connoisseur, so I can't appreciate the finer details. What I do know is these drinks tasted well-made and high-quality. I've had bad and/or weak cocktails and these were not that. These were very good. The two Crunkleton employees I interacted at were pleasant/nice. Good service. If you like bars and have never been to The Crunkleton in Chapel Hill, it's worth checking out. It's established itself as quintessential to Chapel Hill's nightlife. We parked for free across the street, next to 411 West Italian Cafe, in the 415 West Franklin Street Lot. There are several places to park for The Crunkleton including on the street, in the aforementioned lot, and in other nearby lots. Street parking and the lot we parked in cost money Monday-Saturday, 8am-6pm, except town holidays. Enforced by the Town of Chapel Hill. read more

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Best Bourbon bar with amazing selection, friendly vibe, and safe environment. Knowledgeable staff

If you're after rare bourbons and true craft drinks, this place is it. It's classy, comfortable and has some of the best mixologists in the area. Friendly and capable. Good spot for people watching. One of my favorite places around. read more

The Crunkleton - Rum based (?!) Espresso Martini... DELICIOUS!!! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

I love this place!! Last night they were understaffed but did their best to accommodate everyone. Mary was working her tail off and made the specialty cocktails as good as they have ever been. Incredible spot you don't want to miss on Franklin. read more

I've been by when this bar was roaring--and I'd give it a pass. This is not what I want for a raver where you and your friends have to shout at each other and your elbow is being banged and you have to fight for attention--there are plenty of places for that on Franklin. I don't need 43 choices of fine bourbon if I am slamming it down and have to yell to be heard. BUT, BUT, BUT...on a quietish night where you have space at the bar, and the bartender mixes you an old fashioned that goes down as smooth as silk and you can take the time to sip it and quietly chat to the people you came in with, with people murmuring to each other in the twilight...this bar is magic and worth seeking out. read more

It is such a shame that I am having to write this review, but it needs to be known that this establishment is very unwelcoming to people of color. I am not one to write negative reviews, or to claim that prejudices have been dealt against me, but the experience I had today at the Crunkleton simply cannot be left untold, and was unequivocally shameful. My group of 6 friends, all graduating UNC dental students and all Black, Brown, and Asian, visited tonight, and the host turned us away at the door, stating that the building was at capacity and we could not enter until others left. That made sense, so we exited without questioning and waited outside. However, immediately as we were exiting, a similarly-sized group of all white folks approached the entrance, and were allowed to enter. No other people had left from the building between our two groups. Now, I will leave that up to you to decide what the difference was between our two groups, but to me it is clear what that difference is, and it is so shameful that an establishment in Chapel Hill or anywhere would act in this way. This is not the only instance of such unwelcoming behavior either. I have other Asian friends who, on another occasion, have been repeatedly ignored and refused service at the bar (they luckily were at least let in) while other white counterparts were served around them. Suffice to say, I hope anyone reading this review thinks twice about the bar they choose to be a patron of, and stay away from the Crunkleton-- an establishment that is unwelcoming at the least, and racist at the most. read more

Stopped in for a quick drink and to catch up with some friends in the area. It was cozy and sexy with a casual flare. Clean bathroom, clean place, interesting music. A back in the day speak easy kinda place. A definite recommend. read more

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The classiest bar on Franklin St, granted the bar is not that high. I went on a Saturday night and it wasn't too crowded but definitely many college boys in khaki shorts and boat shoes. The drink was good but nothing special. I recommend it for a date night or a GNO! read more

The Crunkleton - Painkiller - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

They're really great people here and they're very knowledgeable mixologist but still sit and chat for a while. If things settle down with the crowd I come here every time I'm in Chapel Hill I would never miss a trip to the Crunkleton. read more

The Crunkleton - This is Willet bourbon, which, of course is hard to find but not at the Crunk. If you haven't tried Willet, you should definitely - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

My first impression when walking into The Crunkleton was an upscale version of cheers! The large and cozy leather furniture, surrounded by the wood decor, lit up by the warm ambient lighting really creates a comfortable environment. I was absolutely amazed with the size of the bar within this comfortable venue and have no doubt they could make any drink the imagination could cook up. Much to my delight the large front windows open up to the street, giving you the option to sit outside without having to sit out on the sidewalk. The drinks are excellent, and the company is definitely casual and more upscale. Cheers! read more

Great spot to grab a drink and meet some new people! Collin the bartender there is amazing. Definitely a spot to stop by if you are in town, their selections are boundless! read more

The Crunkleton - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Fun bar! Came here because a friend said they have Painkillers on the menu. I like my Painkillers frozen, so ordered the Elderflower Sour instead which was delicious with the right amount of gin, St Germain, cucumber, lime and ginger. We also ordered the French 75 which was well balanced, and the Oaxacan Sour. Met Gary himself, who credits the inspirations or creators of featured cocktails. Cool lounge in the front, pool table in the back. read more

This place has some wonderful drinks and mixologist and wonderful and relaxing looking sitting area, then you find that instead of relaxing this place is confused does it want to appeal to the kids or the grownups that spend money. The place gives you the look of come on in and relax but then the music is too loud and which causes people to have to scream at each other which adds on to the noise, it really is unbearable past one drink, so go have a drink and get out. IF your coming in to play pool and get sloshed this is the place for you, if you are looking to come in and relax and have a few drinks, not so much. Decide what you want to be, turn the music off build a clientele that wants to appreciate your drinks and have conversation or get rid of the fancy chairs and put in bar stools. Find an Identity! read more

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Went there to knock off a couple of stiff drinks on a Tuesday afternoon w a work colleague. Superb choice. Cocktails were perfectly mixed, good booze, excellent service. As I said to my buddy: "good thing there is not a bar like this near my university (workplace)." read more

I love whiskey bars in general and I very much wanted to love The Crunkleton. Up front though, I am giving this place 1 star because they made a mistake on the tip I gave. However, I never think it's a mistake and some bartender is just trying to hustle out more money from their no-future job. I know, this seems like an unfair judgement, but even if it's just a little mistake, who knows how many "little mistakes" slip on by? Also, if no one says anything, people will continue to be robbed, mistake or not. If you didn't know already, drinking establishments in North Carolina must be classified as a club. That said, The Crunkleton has a club membership fee of $5 which lasts 1 year. One membership will get you and 3 friends in. That said, if you're only going to be in Chapel Hill once and you're in a group of 4, then it'll cost $5 for 1 person, and you can take in your 3 friends. Is it worth it? I think so. It's annoying, but it's not that much money that'll allow you access to a great environment to consume amazing concoctions. The drinks are great and the atmosphere is whiskey-classic (I just made that up). I very much like how they had a bunch of vintage whiskey bottles (see pictures I uploaded). I wish I could try them all neat or as an old fashioned. I believe there is an emerging (and very limited) market for vintage cocktails. You can't really go wrong with any of their cocktails as I am certain they're all very delicious! I would consider not paying with a credit card here because they might up their tip and hope you don't notice. Beware. read more

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Lovely little spot in North Carolina. Visited with my brother and we had a nice time.

Tl;dr: Well crafted coctails, professional staff, unique and engaging atmostphere. Went here after a UNC soccer game (~9pm) and found a full house. The business school hosted an event earlier and had left some catered food for grabs at the table so that was nice. Seemed like they catered from the Mediterranean kitchen next door which has great food so I definitely indulged. I got The Old Fashioned with came with three clocks of ice instead of just the one but it worked well because the ice melted a little quicker which helped me sip on it throughout the night. It was well crafted, strong and heady at the front, smooth with some citrus that lingered after the sip. The restrooms were small, the men's room had one urinal and one stall that does not lock and the washing station did not have clean towels so there was a heap of moderately damp towels in the hamper that many people were using which I did not care for, so that is my only qualm about this place! read more

Let's start with the bartenders. Alex and Zach behind the bar are attentive and great mixologists. I had the pleasure of trying one or their old fashioned drinks. My drink was correctly garnished and smooth, leaving you wanting me more. The venue's decor speaks for itself giving the feeling of high society, without its price. Definitely one of the places to visit while in chapel hill, if you're looking to be social and mingle, or stop by and get a drink. read more

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The Crunkleton is the opposite of most bars on Franklin Street - it's meant for adults. It's not somewhere you have to worry undergrads will visit, which is probably one of the largest selling points of it at all. It's also one of the craft cocktail bars that you can expect to serve you something decent, which is a nice thing in an area where there just aren't those kind of options (save the Franklin Hotel). I appreciate the Crunkleton for what it is. Yes, there's a membership fee, which is annoying if small. It's made only more annoying by the fact that having cash to pay the fee is probably the biggest hurdle, not the price. But the drinks are quite good, and the ingredients tasty. The menu gives you some entertainment to read through. As for the environment, I have mixed feelings. It's definitely not a place where people are going to be throwing up in the bathroom, and it seems to try to invoke an upper-class older lviing room with all the wood. It's not what I'd call inviting however, but still nice. Well done, treat yourself, and come here. read more

Service. Bartender was extremely upset that my group would not pay on one tab and Venmo each other instead of paying separately. Proceeding to loudly complain about us to other customers after the fact so that we could hear it. Definitely will not be coming back read more

The perfect watering hole. The atmosphere here is great and features a pool table, but the drinks are even better. The service is great and they're willing to help you navigate various alcohol choices and figure out what you're interested in. To my knowledge they only serve alcohol. read more

The bartender was extremely aggressive and hostile to me and my friends for paying separately...when we didn't tip (because he was rude), he then proceeded to yell to various other patrons about how these "children" and "women" need to learn how to tip and be adults. Definitely doesn't fit the "classy" and "respectable" vibe this place presents itself as. Will not be coming back here. read more

this bar is just fabulous! the drinks are delicious, the bartenders are wonderful , the drink menu is varied, the decor is beautiful. if you don't know what you want, the bartenders are happy to listen to your likes and dislikes and suggest. they are also happy to adjust anything on the menu to your liking. we were fortunate enough to be in the bar when the owner, gary, was, and he spent quite some time chatting with us about bourbons and his life as well as asking about ours. definitely a spot to hit when in chapel hill read more

The service was A+ , our bartender was personable, punctual and knowledgeable, drinks were all poured with a heavy hand and tasted great, chill trophy game room vibe, free pool , a win win read more

Because I am fancy, I have been to neuvo-cocktail bars in a lot of places. And the Crunkleton has very tasty drinks with suitably hipster (said with love) barkeeps. I had a couple of their old fashioneds and thoroughly enjoyed them. My friends had wine and beer. So I'm not really sure what's going on with the membership thing and it was only sporadically enforced while I was there. Since one of my friend's is an attorney, she didn't really see a legal reason for it. Maybe it's to make you feel all exclusive? I will say that the place was full of aging frat boys the evening I was there. And that's not my favorite crowd. My friend who has been most often usually goes as part of an after work crowd from his office. Since the place is lovely and my drinks were tasty and I wasn't hassled regarding a membership card, I'm going with the 4 stars. read more

Amazing relaxed experience couple with the best cocktail service anywhere in the USA. Lucky to have this sanctuary of relief to enjoy the best cocktails. Cheers! read more

We were in town for a few days and this quickly became a favorite. The decor and feel of the bar is awesome and the music was good (although a little loud, making conversation difficult, hence the four instead of five starts). The drink menu has great options and cocktails that taste as good as they look. The bartender was very friendly and responsive. Highly recommend checking this place out! read more