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The Haymaker

4.3 (109 reviews)
Tue • 4:00 pm - 1:00 am (Next day)
Wed • 4:00 pm - 1:00 am (Next day)
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The Haymaker Reservations

The Haymaker Photos

THE HAYMAKER ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Trendy
Classy
Upscale

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Recommended Reviews - The Haymaker

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Reviews With Photos

Whoo-hoo-- 1st Miracle Pop-up of the szn!
Juliet H.

Whoo-hoo-- 1st Miracle Pop-up of the 2024-2025 szn! The Haymaker was spectacular! The bartenders are friendly and the service is excellent. The space is beautifully decorated, and immediately puts you in the holiday spirit! The miracle pop-up cocktails are great, per usual, with the Chrismapolitan being my favorite of all. 'Tis the season-- Cheers!

Joel J.

It's a quaint little spot which definitely feels warm! We came during the Christmas time, so it was decorated festively. The bartenders were nice and friendly, which was much appreciated. Plenty of holiday drinks to choose from. I definitely recommend you stop by!

Santa Pants
Kenyatta J.

Loved everything about this cute festive bar! Staff 10/10! Drinks 10/10. DJ 10/10. Had a great time. Be prepared to wait if it's crowded. Dress warm. We had a small wait but it was worth it. They have a cut holiday drink list or you can order a beer or your favorite cocktail. It's cute for a girls night out or a drop in before dinner which is what we did. There is a $5 cover which I was not anticipating but it was no problem. Just bring cash.

Falan E.

I arrived around 7:45, and there was a short line. There was staff outside managing the crowd and letting people in as others exited. Once in, we went straight to the bar and didn't have an issue quickly getting service and our drinks. I loved the view of the festive holiday decor. The holiday-themed drinks were also tasty. I tried the Elfing around, which is similar to the French75. Great drinks and service. I look forward to going back.

Rudolph's replacement drink
Amanda C.

Loved the Christmas at the Haymaker experience. It can take a long time to get in so I suggest going on a week night. I went on a Wednesday at 6 and waited about 30 mins to get in but when we left at 7:30 there was no line so it's hit and miss. The drinks were great (I got the Rudolph's replacement drink and it came in a dinosaur glass). The place was crowded but had enough tables where you could find somewhere to sit and have a good time with friends. I would go again!

The dreamville
Carlton M.

Def good drinks. I have the dreamville. If tastes amazing. Good ambiance. The bartender made a great drink. I'd come here again for sure.

Miracle pop up holiday bar at haymaker
Bobbie C.

Haymaker is always a good place to go for a night out. They have great cocktails and great djs on the weekends. it's pretty small in the venue and can get pretty congested which makes it hard at times to order from the bar. It can also be loud so not ideal if you're trying to talk to someone. The holidays are my favorite time to go though because they do the pop up holiday bar.

the yippie ki yay
Lucy D.

Disclaimer - I've been multiple times but only for their Christmas bar pop-up, so I'm only reviewing the bar as it appears in December. The entire bar is decked out with over the top decorations, including wrapping the bar in wrapping paper and a blow up santa arch inside. The Christmas drink menu is ~ 12 different drinks and 2 types of shots. My husband and I tried a few different ones when we went this week, our favorite was yippie ki yay. It tastes like a tiki drink, and came with a mint leaf sprinkled with powdered sugar. All the drinks are served in specific glasses for that drink, and you can tell the bartenders take pride in the presentation. The only negative, if you go on a weekend you'll probably have to wait awhile to get in. It's not a huge bar, and it's really popular this time of year.

I love when it's slow.
Tyrone L.

Staff are funny and engaging , all my dates compliment the decor , and the music is great.

The haymaker
Kathy G.

Welcome to in Downtown Raleigh! If you still need to get into the holiday spirit, stop by and have yourself a cup or glass of holiday cheer! As soon as you open the door, Santa greets you! The room is completely transformed, fun ambiance! There isn't a lot of room inside and you may have some wait time but worth the wait. Drink names are great, they sell their glassware and I purchased the Santa naughty & nice shot glasses. I ordered the Elfing around drink and Yippie Ki Yay.

Seating
James H.

Great spot in downtown Raleigh. Lots of drinks and great bartenders. Sometimes there's also a dj which makes it a lot of fun

Punch bowl
Janet R.

The Haymaker is one of my favorite bars in downtown Raleigh. I really enjoy the layout of the bar, the cocktails, and the overall chill vibes. I've met some cool bartenders here, too, although they're not always the most friendly. I don't know if it's because they turn their nose up at someone who is young (which I've experienced from other places often!) or if they're just too busy. Either way, I'm not coming to hang out with them so it doesn't bother me too much. My favorite thing to do here is to get one of their punch bowls and share it on a sofa with some friends. It can serve 4-6 people, I'd say, unless you're really trying to drink then I'd say get 2! The Haymaker is great but it's even better when the Miracle pop up happens in the winter! The place is decked out in holiday decor and they have a special menu with themed drinks. If you've never been to Haymaker, come during this time! It's usually pretty busy and there's a cover if you're not a member (I think) but it's so worth it! Definitely some great Instagram content, if you're into that thing.

Bad Santa
Sophia N.

Came here during their holiday themed night and my friends and I had a blast! I got a warm drink that came in a really cute Santa mug. We also got Nice shots which my friends were not too fond of, saying it had a rubbing alcohol aftertaste, but I thought it was fine. The interior was well decorated, but be prepared to wait in line outside for over an hour.

Espresso martini

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9 years ago

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Business owner information

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Guest S.

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10 years ago

Great place for drinks. Chill atmosphere, bartenders very friendly, and not too loud or too quiet.

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8 years ago

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5 years ago

they made us freeze to death in line while everyone was getting in.. fuck this place.

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10 years ago

Great drinks! Super stellar atmosphere, but i'm giving it four stars for the lack of seating. Large groups are not recommended.

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10 years ago

Really fantastic! Fresh takes on classic cocktails and the punch bowls were fantastic for our group

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10 years ago

Atmosphere; cool and swanky. Drinks; tons of creative cocktails. Only there long enough to enjoy one, would definitely go back to try more.

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10 years ago

One of my favs, just love the vibe and the crowd seems pretty cool every time we go. Champs on tap is rad!

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8 years ago

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8 years ago

One of the best bars ever to have in Raleigh, and the owner is so welcoming. Loved the ambiance as well!

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Page 3 of 3

Ask the Community - The Haymaker

Review Highlights - The Haymaker

“Conveniently located across the street from the Marriot in downtown Raleigh.”

Mentioned in 7 reviews

Read more highlights

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4.4(332 reviews)
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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.

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Bittersweet - Bubbles and cupcake special

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4.4(486 reviews)
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What a fabulous dessert shop! Perfect place to grab an after dinner cocktail and dessert and…read moreconveniently located near St Roch Oyster Bar which is where we had dinner. Service was top notch with friendly folks greeting you the moment you enter the doors. Our bartender was so sweet and so welcoming. Had me a $10 Paloma cocktail that was just right and went to town on dessert. Everything was just delicious. Fresh made whip cream, perfectly balanced sweetness with the desserts and cute atmosphere. Loved my first time here and it won't be my last!

Stopped by Bittersweet for a nightcap & dessert while in the city. When you arrive parking can be a…read morelittle tricky in this area as you'll either need to find parallel parking or parking in a nearby garage/paid lot. Walking into the cocktail bar/dessert lounge it feels trendy, dim-lit, like something that belongs in a very large city (but glad to have it in Raleigh), and 21+ as I was asked for my ID at the door. Once you walk in, definitely have your ID ready and then you will be seated. A server will then come by your table to take your order. For drinks, I ordered the Fireside Old Fashioned (Maker's 46, cayenne, chili-pepper sugar, Crude smoke-salt bitters) and my partner ordered the Chai Espresso Martini (house-made chai tea, vodka, sweetened espresso). Both drinks were excellent and well made. The old fashioned had a nice full bourbon taste and a really nice spicy flavor at the end each sip. For deserts, we ordered the s'mores sundae (torched house-made marshmallow cream, Valrhona dark chocolate brownie, vanilla ice cream, toasted graham) and the Caramel Apple Cupcake. The Caramel Apple cupcake was good but was more like a muffin vs. a cupcake and was on the dry side. The s'mores sundae was excellent and had so much chocolate flavor. Overall, would highly recommend checking out Bittersweet if you are around the Downtown Raleigh area looking for a nightcap or dessert bar.

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Cuya - Très lèche

Cuya

4.6(41 reviews)
1.0 mi•North Boylan

I absolutely loved this place! Wow nothing but good things to say where I begin? We had had the…read moregrilled shrimp brocheta, & the crispy potato flautas. My wife & I had passion fruit mimosas that were delicious. The decor is modern, yet eclectic and cozy, beautiful accents and dim lighting in the restaurant, there are nice plants everywhere too, which is a nice touch. The shrimp had a tasty grilled flavored that paired well with the aji panco rub and the piquillo pepper sauce the flautas were as flavorful as you can get with potatos, the salsa molcajete really brought it together though. The food was delicious and a nice surprise, we were thoroughly impressed with the whole experience, from the food, to the service, to the ambiance. I will definitely be back for dinner.

I came here for my birthday on a Sunday evening. We easily found street parking a block or two…read moreaway. We had a reservation and it wasn't busy, with two other groups and one couple dining there as well. We left around 6:30 and it was still very slow with no new customers coming in since we arrived. I think this place is probably more lively on Friday and Saturday nights. The food was delicious and the employees were friendly. When we walked in, the executive chef (Kevin?) asked if we had dined there before and welcomed us with a handshake and introduced himself. When you first enter Cuya there is a casual dining area with a lot of natural light coming in through the windows. That is the cafe portion of their restaurant and where they serve pastries, lattes, sandwiches, salads, and other more casual dining options. It's a cute and spacious spot that would be great for a casual breakfast or lunch. When you walk through the cafe there is a second door that opens into a second dining area that is a lot darker and has a completely different vibe and look. The music is fairly loud so it isn't a good place to go for a quiet meal or date unless you're into nightlife. The music is fun though with reggaeton, some r&b, and other Latin music like Juanes or bad bunny. The decor is super cool and sexy and colorful with fun decorations like a bust/mannequin head wearing a tropical fruit hat, lots of plants and neon lights, as well as framed art featuring different Latin countries. We started off with some drinks: a mezcalita picante and a pineapple jarritos. They even poured the jarritos into a glass and garnished it like a cocktail which was a nice touch and fun for our 5 year old. Our appetizers came after our drinks. We ordered the fritto mixto, pork belly tostones, pulpo, and empanadas. For our main meal we ordered the banana leaf steamed snapper. We ended our meal with mango sorbet. The only desserts available were a banana bread style bread pudding and mango sorbet. I was really hoping for some flan or tres leches and very disappointed by the offerings available. However, the mango sorbet was actually so incredible and delicious with a generous amount of scoops (I believe there were four). You could really taste the mango. The fritto mixto was good and came with a nice marinara style sauce which tasted more like a blended pico de gallo. The calamari was tasty and there were some nice juicy shrimp in the mix as well. The pork belly empanada was nice but not our favorite. We liked the sauce it came with but we weren't expecting deep fried empanadas. It comes with 2 however and makes for a great sharing appetizer for a small group. My favorite appetizer was definitely the pulpo which was so crispy on the outside and oh so tender on the inside and cooked to perfection. It didn't seem grilled as the menu states but was still incredibly delicious. It is plated atop a yummy salsa and served with some fingerling potatoes (some purple on the inside!). The potatoes were no frills and not that flavorful but still nice. Highly recommend. The banana leaf snapper was a very interesting dish with a fun presentation. The snapper sits beneath a layer green olive and capers with arugula and baby tomatoes. The snapper was cooked well and extremely tender. I recommend you mix it all together otherwise the caper and olive mix is pretty overpowering. We had an overall lovely experience and would return again and recommend this place to anyone looking for a delicious place to try! I want to come back to try the noodle dishes, Jamaican curry wings, and the ceviche/crudo items! The tacos sounded delicious as well.

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Whiskey Kitchen

4.0(805 reviews)
0.3 mi•Warehouse District
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Whiskey kitchen !!!!! Wowzers !!…read more Let me tell you this place is 10/10! The food , the drinks and the service.. I wish I could come daily as it definitely is a great spot. One part whiskey bar and one part southern kitchen this is a win in downtown Raleigh! Known for their small plates and shareable, they do have entree and main dishes along with a great selection of whiskey. The shrimp and grits were alittle to saucy for me but my nephew had no problem finishing it for me lol. We will definitely be back!

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!

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4.3(90 reviews)
1.0 mi•Glenwood South
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I was excited to finally be able to visit The Crunkleton after hearing good reviews about the…read morerestaurant. We came when the restaurant opened during the week so we were seated right away and it wasn't crowded. There are several tables and spaces to sit inside of the restaurant. Our server, Ariel, was friendly & very attentive during our visit. The manager, Ravi, was also great. We both got a steak and I got the Mac & cheese for my side. The Mac & cheese was very cheesy as it contained multiple cheeses. We enjoyed it. My steak was also prepared well and was tender. The fries were served hot. It did take a little while for our food to be brought out to us but it was worth the wait.

We came to The Crunkleton for dinner and made reservations online ahead of time, which I definitely…read morerecommend since this place seems to stay busy. We started with the mussels cooked with chorizo sausage. They had good flavor, although I personally would have preferred the mussels without the sausage flavor. For our entrée, we had the Steak & Fries. The fries were cooked perfectly and had great flavor, especially with the cheese. We also ordered a side of Mac & Cheese, which is made with baked shell pasta, rich, cheesy, and really good. The restaurant itself is fairly small and intimate, with the full bar and open kitchen all in the same room as the dining tables. I really liked the warm, lively atmosphere, although it can feel a little crowded when they're busy. Overall, good food, a cozy atmosphere, and a fun dinner spot in Raleigh. I'd definitely recommend making a reservation before coming, especially for dinner.

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The Haymaker - cocktailbars - Updated October 2026

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