Believe it or not, the Crunkleton is NOT the place to "get crunk"! It just happens to be the last name of the owner and the name of Chapel Hill's latest lovely place for libations. Inside the Crunkleton's long space you'll find a well-polished bar with a traditional bow-tied bartender behind it. A bit clubby, a bit cozy, the Crunkleton could be the result of a romantic tryst between The Whiskey in Durham and Foundation in Raleigh! It's got the old school feel of the Whiskey, but also pours out mixed drinks made with love and care. This place wasn't open when I went to school at UNC but I can definitely see it being a hang-out for budding lawyers, doctors and investment bankers. The classic cocktails and higher prices ($8+ cocktails) should definitely keep the Carolina undergrads and kids out... I stopped in for a quick beer and wanted to check out the scene a bit during a short visit to Chapel Hill. Mostly dudes hanging out and having a cocktail, the Crunkleton is definitely all B-A-R! Service was fine but the beer taps were down so no drafts that night, boo... All in all a fine place for a drink or two on Franklin Street but I'll still have to give the edge to the Foundation and it's hip, hand-crafted cocktails. Keep it classy, Crunkleton! read more

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

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Great atmosphere, good service but cocktails were just ok. I love a well crafted cocktail and have had my fair share from all over the world. I tried the Elderflower Sour (very tart, heartburn city), egg white whisky sour (tart, oddly served iced ice. Typically it's served up), Old Fashion (way to much butters), French 75 (super tart/sour, where is the simple syrup?). Overall cook vibe but if I came back I would not order cocktails, I would stick with wine. Everything is way to sour or tart and the cocktails are not well balanced. read more

Love this bar! We always try to make it out when we are in town. Solid for those in their late 20s or 30s read more

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

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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

Super sad to write this as I loved this bar. I always brought my out of town guests here, it was a date night spot, last night I invited 8 of my coworkers out here...this place was my jam. Unfortunately last night the bartender totally ruined it for me. He publically harassed and belittled my friend for asking for a substitution in her drink. Not just a friendly banter, it went on and on and on. Also made insulting comments about gender pronouns and went out of the way to tell us that he will be offending someone in our group tonight. Cool goal for a person whose job it is to make the night fun. Attitude aside, he also simply seemed like a weaker bartender compared to the others I've had. Two of our group felt the proportions of ingredients were off on pretty simple drinks. Overall the experience was a total letdown. I was so embarrassed for suggesting the place, we left after one round and will not be coming back. read more

The Crunkleton is a gem!! It's one of the only places of its kind in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro area, and gives a speakeasy vibe! Usually you need a membership but with COVID they have temporarily removed that policy so I came by to give it a try and lemme tell you these bar tenders are no joke- better named mixologists. The staff is so friendly and accommodating and they pour a heavy one! They don't usually offer espresso martinis but our bartender made us a coffee martini and it was AMAZING. The Roycroft is good if you like green chartreuse but this is too heavy duty for me. 10/10 recommend the elderflower sour it's their best cocktail on the menu. Totally need to go to this place it's a treat! read more

The Crunkleton - Roy Croft and Coffee Martini - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

I visited The Crunkleton on 1/2/22 with my husband, sister and brother for a post-holiday outing. Conner was tending bar and provided great drink recommendations. While the bar decor is interesting and inviting, Conner was the star of the show. He had an in-depth knowledge of both scotch and bourbon. As the night wore on and more patrons entered, Conner never forgot about us. His customer service was best part of our visit and we will be back. read more

I will spend the rest of my days comparing every cocktail I have with the Elderflower Sour at The Crunkleton. It wasn't just that drink that was so good. I also had a dusty cactus, which was a spicy margarita of sorts. The presentation of both drinks were spectacular and the flavor even better. The location was also terrific and beautiful. It has dark wood paneling, lots of leather and wall-mounted animal heads, which gives it that men's hunting club/room feel. The room has dim lighting, but you can still see one another. The front windows open up to let fresh air in. In addition, the bar itself tastefully displays its wide variety of liquors. There is also a pool table in the back. When it comes to seating, there is space with couches and chairs near the front, which are great for a small gathering. I was there for an engagement party, and the front area with the couches and the area right behind was a good space for mingling and being able to talk while standing or sitting (and also storing jackets/purses). In addition, there is more seating throughout that is very clever for maximizing the small space of the bar. I would be remiss if I didn't mention the bartenders. I was with a party of about 25 people - plus the bar was still open, so there were plenty of other patrons. The service was excellent. The bartenders were friendly and informative when it came to the drinks. Some of the drinks were quite involved, and it felt almost like a show watching them mix and shake. I highly recommend this bar for a delicious drink and a beautiful atmosphere that doesn't feel too stuffy. read more

The Crunkleton - Elderflower sour is beautiful and tasty! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Liked this place a lot. Loved the menu, loved the furniture, loved that -- the night I went (between semesters), I basically had a whole corner of the place to myself. I tried one cocktail and did not like it - no fault of the drink; I was trying an ingredient that was new to me, and it did not sit well. The bartender did me a solid and simply replaced it with something else instead. My second drink was well assembled. read more

Great cocktails, ambiance and pool table! The Elderberry Sour and Expresso martini were delicious! read more

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

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Great craft cocktail place in the heart of the West Franklin food 'n' booze district. The staff of bartenders absolutely know their stuff. The menu is full of creative stuff that's usually great and you can name any of your favorite classic cocktails and they will whip them up without ever consulting a recipe book. They hammer their own ice in burlap with mallets and squeeze their own juices. You pay for all this handcrafting ($10-$15 per drink on average), but if it's your thing, it's definitely worth it. I'm not sure exactly what's going on with the membership-only policy. When I first joined, there was always someone at the door to check the membership list. The last couple of times I've been, no one has been checking at the door. The only real drawback is that when it's busy, it can be a real job to get someone's attention so you can pay the tab and leave. read more

The Crunkleton - Dark 'n' Stormy and a busy bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

WHAT A JOKE! AS AN OUT OF TOWN VISITOR I WALK IN AND GET TREATED LIKE AN OUTSIDER AND OUTCAST. As a lover of bourbon I was excited to check it out. I asked a question about the 1792 options they answered and walked away. I asked another question and they ignored me. What a joke! Get a grip on what hospitality is. Shame on you. read more

Only one question ... Is this Heaven? Stopped at this place before a dinner while at an out of state conference. Whiskey wall to die for with bookshelf ladders that adds to the ambiance. Pool table and experienced whiskey mixologists. Talk to the one with the bowtie!! Every type of whiskey and liquor to choose from. I will be back tomorrow. read more

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We love this place! We first found it last year when we were visiting family in Chapel Hill and just happened to stop in here one day. We loved the sofa lounge area and relaxed while sipping on some of their delicious cocktails. This year, we made it a point to stop by while we were visiting the family again. We came here on a Thursday evening and they were pretty busy. We were lucky on timing and able to grab a couple seats at the bar. They have a great menu with craft cocktails, some are classic and others are very unique. The bartenders really know their selection and can also create an amazing concoction for you if they have an idea of what you like. Some of the drinks we tried on the menu: Needs More Cowbell, Bitter Southerner, Kiss Me Deadly, The Gingembre, Miss Wallace, and the Sazerac--I know we were there for a few hours watching the football game. They have a VERY impressive collection of booze, especially whiskey and bourbon. They really have anything you could want, even some lesser known options that are delicious. We even had a chance to talk to the owner about the selection and the history there, which was awesome. We absolutely love this place and can't wait to go back next time we're in the area. Definitely stop by if you're in the area! read more

A very cool bar in the heart of a very cool university. A great way to enjoy some terrific bourbons. Got to check this joint out.

I've been into this place two separate times. One on an early Friday afternoon, and another an early Saturday evening. Both times I loved it! Such a cool place and what an amazing vibe. The drinks are really good, there's a great variety and the bartenders are awesome at doing what they do. Make sure that if you go in you have your ID, you're aware that the drinks are going to be $10 and above, and that you may just wanna sit and lounge for a few minutes. Can't wait to go back and try some more, maybe the next time play a round of pool since there's a pool table in the back. read more

The Crunkleton - Mescal Pisco and Jack Rose. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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Fantastic brunch spot. The food is incredible. I thought it was a bit overpriced but honestly it might not be too far out of line when you consider the ingredients and preparation. I got Bloody Mary's and was not disappointed. I had mine without the ham. Wish they offered some other option to replace the pork but the drink was fine without the salty companion. I got olives with my first one and a peppercini the second go around. My friend got some honey concoction with bourbon which was too sweet for my taste but delicious. We both did the chicken biscuit with cheese grits. Soooooo good. The cheese grits were fantastic and cakey consistency which I love. The biscuit was awesome and perfect with my drinks. This will be a new standby for me. As mentioned in other reviews there is an annual membership fees of 10$ which is required by state law due to the antique spirits served. You can also purchase ahead online. read more

The bartender was beyond rude. I usually have good experiences here so I was incredibly disappointed. I absolutely will not be coming back here again. read more

Came here my first night in North Carolina! This place is members only, good thing my friend has a membership. In loveee with the music and vibe - speakeasy and London atmosphere. Very hip and fancy place in the middle of Chapel Hill. Nice change from the college town feel in the bars on the street. There's a pool table as well. Awesome dim lighting and cool temperature. Check it out! read more

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

Always a wonderful pre-dinner stop. Staff is always helpful and the handcrafted drinks are great. Location is perfect if you're going to dinner somewhere in the area. read more

The Crunkleton - Manhattan and a drink they were trying out - delicious but don't know what it will be called - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

[Uh oh, looks like Chapel Hill's classing it up! ! !] Come on in, just sign the member pad. (It can be our secret if you don't actually have a membership!) Take a seat anywhere, you see the enormous bar and tables toward the front, middle and back leave plenty of options. We do have a wine list, but no cocktail menu per se. Draft beer? We've got Stone IPA and several others. [Catherine becomes agog] You like citrus? How about a Tom Collins with a fresh zest the length of my hand? [Catherine declines.] I can't remember how to spell "Vieux Carre," but if you like a sidecar you might like this one--the benedictine is a nice addition. [Catherine becomes slightly dizzy watching the ladder span the 30-foot, four-tier bar to reach another of the many, many whiskeys for her rye.] No, we don't have Cynar. We might have gotten a couple bottles, but that would have squeezed out the space required for the four Pucker flavors. We're still in a college town, after all. [Catherine misses this last point to stare at the egregiously handsome men who just walked in.] And no kitchen, but you're welcome to drop by Med Deli and bring takeout over here. [Catherine declines--her sister's just finished the bar exam and wants to focus on champagne. [Catherine and her sister go home, overdress, have dinner somewhere and return to Crunkleton for more of this spectacularity later in the evening. And upon every visit back to Chapel Hill.] read more

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

The Crunkleton has a twin son of a different Mother in Syracuse NY (Al's Whiskey Lounge). Both are fantastically unique, and they both have the well worn look and quite a library of your favorite hooch. read more

I finally visited The Crunkleton after hearing good things and was excited to check it out. I went for a UNC fundraiser and was glad The Crunkleton sponsored it for a great student group. Unfortunately, I did not enjoy the event or get to hear anyone talk, because there was live music blasting throughout the bar which you could hear loudly from the other side of Franklin Street. The three member band would have been loud had they just played acoustic, but they had the amps on and it was terrible. No one could hear each other unless you were screaming. So I would normally rate this place four or even five stars, but this one aspect very easily made the experience two stars. The noise level seemed to be at least at 90 decibels, Exposure to those levels can result in permanent hearing damage, and would not be in compliance with federal OSHA workplace safety standards if employees had no protective hearing equipment, to my knowledge. Some bars know that young people buy more drinks (and drink them faster) when music is dangerously loud, so many have no monetary incentive to turn it down (or abide by the law) unless workers or consumers complain. I certainly will avoid the Crunkleton at night until they keep the decibels down to a safer level. read more

Crunkleton is one of my all time favorite bars in Chapel Hill. I'm a broke college student, but every now and then I enjoy splurging on a great drink I know I'll love. Yes the drinks are between $12-$15, but the quality is worth it. Try going on Sunday when Gary is bartending and you'll have a entertaining night. read more

The Crunkleton - The elder flower sour (right) is my favorite! Definitely a good choice for the ladies. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

This place has a great atmosphere and delicious food! I You cannot go wrong for a night out! We travel all the way from Raleigh for this place! read more

These guys know their drinks. Upon walking in you are impressed at the selection of liquor behind the bar. So high they have a sliding ladder to get to the top shelf stuff. They have a drink menu of drinks you probably never heard of and are absolutely delicious. The setting give the feel of sitting in the library of someones hunting lodge. Not your every day type of bar, but definitely worth a stop in. They have something for everyone, from PBR to Macallan 25. read more

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

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I could drink 500 Elderflower Sours! This place is the tits. Period! My god, I could just move in here and let the magic bartenders just intraveneously feed me mixology conconctions all day long. I loved the decor, the cute nerdy bartender with the bow tie and the fabulous cocktails. Cannot wait to come back here on my next trip to Chapel Hill! read more

The Crunkleton - The Aviation and Elderflower Sour - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Overall good cocktails, upscale, overpriced. The service most times I have been is pretty slow and the staff are somewhat rude. Good atmosphere with lots of cozy and comfortable seating areas. Pool tables. Good place to go with a group but would not pick it out of other options in the area. read more

The drinks are fabulous and Gary is a wonderful bourbon host if you get the opportunity to do a tasting. Great and friendly staff, really unique experience! read more

fun atmosphere, FULL bar. It's a rarity to have a bar that ACTUALLY has a full bar, which includes all the trimmings of a good cocktail. I ordered a moscow mule and it ACTUALLY came in a copper mug! I was thoroughly impressed. it looked as though they also had mint julep cups as well. A+ for authenticity! read more

The Crunkleton - moscow mule in a copper mug - old school style. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Very cool spot. Great cocktails and great bartenders. Very friendly and try and make you the best drink possible. We went on a nice day and they opened the windows facing Franklin St and we were able to sit there and enjoy a drink. Very casual read more

Really delicious cocktails (albeit pricy, but worth it). It has a great feel to it and the bartenders and host were all super nice, quick with service. We were there around 9:45 on a Friday and it was pretty packed and noisy. The music didn't really match the feel of the place and kind of put the noise level over the top making it hard to have a conversation. We'd probably come back at more of an "off" hour because it seems like it would be a good place to hang out and talk if it was quieter. read more

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

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Recently got in here for celebratory drinks, and they absolutely have a great cocktail selection and an extensive assortment of liquor. The staff are stellar, and really make the experience. You certainly pay for it though, and four cocktails cost upwards of $60. You can happily spend considerably less for stellar cocktails in Durham, though the staff and atmosphere helped sell the experience. The real negative was the band, which for a small area played far too loud, preventing much in the way of any conversation without shouting at each other - for a craft cocktail bar, it would have been nice to be able to speak to the people next to me. read more

Drinks: 3 Decor: 4 Service: 4 Came here late on a Wed night around 10pm. I asked the bartender to whip up something like an old fashioned, and it was okay. Really liked the decor here. Service was pretty good. read more

Far and above THE best whiskey bar I've ever been to. The bar tenders were extremely friendly, and even when facing an overwhelming queue of customers was able to acknowledge every custom in a timely fashion, as well as serve them much more quickly than expected considering the barkeep to customer ratio. In addition, they were EXTREMELY knowledgeable, answering any and all questions, and offering tips and libation suggestions according to our tastes. Justin in particular was extremely helpful, and was also the spitting image of Tom Hardy! The ambiance of the bar is very dark and old-school, and the whisky / gin selection is second to none. I recommend the Pappy Van Winkle (duh), and anything from Bruichladdich / Port Charlotte. This bar is about an hour from my house, but I'll surely be returning on a regular basis! read more

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

Omg where do I begin! Found this place online. And made reservations for my husband's b'day. We were visiting from Columbia, SC He's a Bourbon/Whiskey enthusist, and this place did NOT DISAPPOINT! The Drinks were AMAZING. Hilary and Bailey were so courteous and knowledgeable of everything.. Hillary even made me this amazing drink off menu! And can we talk about the food?? Omg!! I wasn't expecting a lot from the food. Since it's primarily a bat..but when I tell you it was some of the BEST Food we've ever eaten!?!? Is an understatement! Hubby had the Waygu Burger, and it was So good, that he's decided (seriously) that we're moving to CLT! We also had the wings (dry rub) the mussles, and the corn! Myyy GOD!!! THE BEST! Like they can do no Wrong! You can also buy a "round" for the kitchen, which my husband jumped at the opportunity to do. To show his/our appreciation for how great everything was. We will. E making frequent visits her until we move. Untill then this will be our bar! So grateful for this Experience! Amazing courteous staff!! All the way around!!! read more

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

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I ordered a drink. I was paying in cash and asked the bartender how much it was so I knew how much to give him. He responded "$7". I responded with "each?" to clarify the total tab. He proceeded to mock me and say "no one is 10 and the other is 7". He took a 20 for a 14 dollar tab and kept 6 for himself without returning the remaining money. He stormed off and took almost a 50% tip. read more

This place is a new Gem in the heart of Chapel Hill. The drinks are really good and the staff is A1! I will be returning to this place often also... they have a pool table!! I had 3 drinks so did my brother and I tasted his and his was also great!! I don't give it a 5 star because the drinks are a bit expensive. A bit loud to have a conversation as well, its like you're yelling at the person in front of you read more

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Let's Get Real Let's get real - I am neither classy nor sophisticated but I absolutely can taste the difference between just an okay cocktail and a HOLY CRAP THIS IS AMAZING cocktail. Their drinks are exquisite - the only place I'm willing to spend this kind of money for a drink because I know it is hand-crafted and of the highest quality. Go. Just go. You will not be disappointed. read more

This is a fantastic cocktail/whiskey bar. The selection is unmatched, the staff is professional and knowledgeable, and the environment is tranquil. I had never been to or even seen a bar like this but I was very pleasantly surprised! 10/10, would recommend to anyone looking for quality service and an impeccable selection. Visit as soon as you can! read more

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