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    Watts & Ward

    4.2 (287 reviews)
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    Watts & Ward Photos

    WATTS & WARD ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Trendy
    Intimate
    Classy
    Upscale

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    Recommended Reviews - Watts & Ward

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    Outside patio
    Danielle H.

    The atmosphere of this place is so cool! Me and some friends stopped in for some drinks and had a great time. The setup is so cozy and inviting, while transporting you back into the 1920's. It's pretty large with lots of seating but it can be hard to find a seat when it's busy. The lines for drinks can also get long as well. I honestly loved going just for the atmosphere and recommend it if you want a cozy spot to grab a drink with friends.

    Date night!
    Diana G.

    I absolutely love the vibes at Watts & Ward! The cost for a membership/to get in is only $2 and they link it with your drivers license. The decor is beautiful and makes me think of the prohibition era. Service is great, the staff walks around to take your order, so you don't have to wait at the bar. Drinks: We had an Old Fashioned and an Espresso Martini. Drinks were pretty pricy. They were fine and taste like a standard Old Fashioned and Espresso Martini. The price feels with the ambiance of the venue.

    Paige D.

    This speakeasy is hands down the coolest little spot I've been to. Located in the heart of downtown Raleigh you'll find it nestled across from a park and next to a personal favorite restaurant of mine, Brewery Bhavana. This place is massive. It's great for a girl's night out, solo sips, and a small group of friends. They have several rooms and three bars total where a wide variety of drinks can be ordered that are delicious! The staff was nice and attentive. Prices for cocktails are a little high but you're paying for the experience on top of the drinks so keep that in mind. I love how dark and cozy it feels and my book loving heart adored the library decor. Pictures do not do this place justice and why I didn't take very many. This is a must visit if you're in the city. Parking is available at a nearby lot and parking garage.

    Rear bar area
    Shelby F.

    I had a wonderful time visiting this hidden gem this past weekend! my brother took me as a surprise, and I had no idea what to expect when we began to descend the stairs into what seemed like a basement. The interior was extremely cozy, adorned with Christmas decorations and moody lighting. Every place we sat had comfortable seating. I ordered a Strawberry Lemon Drop and really enjoyed it. I absolutely will be returning.

    New Fall Drink Menu
    Leslie H.

    Head to Watts and Ward in Downtown Raleigh for speakeasy vibes , amazing cocktails and stellar service I had the ESPRESSO MARTINI and AUTUMN MULE. Both were prepared using fresh ingredients and flair by the most skilled bartenders. The MOONRIDER is a well balanced cocktail that sparks delight as well as rosemary as a garnish. My friend and I agreed that all their latest cocktails were crafted to perfection! We went on a Tuesday night and discovered Tiana of Moonrise Mystics was there for Tarot Tuesdays, which added to a fun evening of cocktails & conversation in a chill setting.

    Ted G.

    The term "speakeasy" is thought to come from the way customers would have to speak quietly ("easily") to avoid drawing attention when ordering a drink. Many speakeasies had secret codes or passwords to get in, and their locations were kept hush-hush to evade the police and government agents known as "Prohibition agents." This underground speakeasy feels like stepping into a hidden world, away from the noisy hustle and bustle of the outside, the air inside dim, with soft lighting casting shadows on the vintage decor. The hardness of the exposed brick walls immediately softened by the leather and velvet couches and chairs spread throughout. Sit at one of the MANY intimate sitting rooms or belly up to one of the elegant bars, either way there is plenty of room with an endless supply of rebellious drinks. luckily absent of any bootlegged alcohol. Watts and Ward clearly hit the nail on the head with the crafted blend of luxury and intrigue--sleek, glamorous, and secretive mood. Cheers!

    Signage.
    Juliet H.

    $2 entry fee for the year because, NC??? -- take my money! I live for a speakeasy moment and Watts & Ward more than delivered. The cocktails are crafty and the vibe is right. It's giving a vintage underground lounge aesthetic that I loved. The service was fast and friendly, and it was perfectly un-busy for Sunday Funday. They made a mean "Brown Derby" and old fashioned for the hubs and I. We stuck with those two choices for our entire visit. This is the place for groups and a great time. Cheers!

    Unika B.

    After dinner, decided to walk around to explore a bit on this crisp August evening to help my food digest. Stumbled upon a line that drew my curiosity. Watts & Wards is easy to miss or pass by if not paying attention. Though if you are alert /aware, this is a cool hidden gem. There's a small membership fee to gain entrance. The vibes are cool. You'll go under ground to lead into an oasis of good music, cool & chill people and bar stations placed strategically throughout. This was absolutely a happy accidental find. Met 2 other new visitors and chatted a bit before heading out. I'd definitely return. Unika B. & Co.

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    9 days ago

    Poor old fashion, tender said "I don't like dark liquor", and sure enough shouldn't have ordered the old fashion.

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    6 months ago

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    2 months ago

    Great atmosphere. Drinks are good. If you haven't been, you should go, but don't buy into the "it's the best bar in Raleigh."

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    4 months ago

    Cool theme bar. Interesting cocktails and friendly staff. Great ambiance. Would definitely recommend this bar to visitors

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    10 months ago

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    11 months ago

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    1 year ago

    Such a neat place with many nooks and crannies to get together with friends. Upscale cocktail bar with wonderfully crafted drinks! Yum

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    Page 1 of 8

    Ask the Community - Watts & Ward

    What's the dress code/vibe?

    Smoking allowed outside?

    Yes. I was there Wednesday and the doorman said yes, there's smoking outside because they are a cigar bar as well as a craft cocktail bar.

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    Aunty Bettys Gin and Absinthe Bar

    Aunty Bettys Gin and Absinthe Bar

    4.8(62 reviews)
    0.5 mi

    Tucked behind the bustle of of the Morgan Street Food Hall lies a not-so-secret secret: a whimsical…read moreden of gin, absinthe, and mischief. Step through the unassuming door near the buildings corner and find yourself in a moody little lair where botanicals bloom in every glass and green fairies are always welcome. Part apothecary, part speakeasy, all vibes -- this tucked-away tipple temple is your reward for being curious. Blink and you'll miss it -- sneeze and you'll lose your seat. This cozy little cocktail cave fills up faster than you can say "Negroni, please." With just enough room for a handful of lucky souls, it's part bar, part social experiment. Come early, come curious, and be prepared to elbow your way into the best seat you'll never want to give up. If you're in a rush, maybe try...literally anywhere else. Their cocktails take time -- because They're busy muddling together timeless classics, like a good Old Fashioned. But hey, perfection can't be microwaved. Sip slowly, wait longer, and remember: you can't rush greatness...or them. Cheers!

    Aunty Bettys is in the same building as the Morgan Street Food Hall, and has its own entrance and…read moreseating area. They have an interesting cocktail and mocktail menu with a variety of things, they also have a dealer's choice where you tell the bartender what flavors you like and they'll try to accommodate. They had a lot of gin cocktails on their menu, gin doesn't agree with me, so I asked for a New York Sour, which is a variation of a whiskey sour with red wine instead of sweet and sour mix. They made the NY Sour with a nice egg white foam on top. They charged me $14 for that cocktail. It was a good time, and my friends and I went next door to the Food Hall for dinner.

    Photos
    Aunty Bettys Gin and Absinthe Bar - Bar.

    Bar.

    Aunty Bettys Gin and Absinthe Bar
    Aunty Bettys Gin and Absinthe Bar

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    Cuya - Très lèche

    Cuya

    4.5(26 reviews)
    0.8 mi

    This place was absolutely amazing. All I can say is, we made a lot of happy noises while eating,…read moreand there were plenty of "oh my God" moments at the table. From the staff to the manager to the food, everything was on point. The food truly speaks for itself. They serve small plates, which we love because it gives you the chance to try different things and experience a variety of flavors. We started with the fried pork belly on tostones. It was perfectly seasoned, topped with avocado, and every bite just melted in your mouth. Next, we had the tamarind sticky ribs with a tamarind mango barbecue sauce. This was a perfect example of how simplicity can create complex flavors. The ribs were cooked just right -- not completely falling off the bone, but tender enough that when you bit into them, the meat pulled apart so easily. They were juicy, full of flavor, and had just the right touch of spice from the chili flakes. Then we moved on to the mini arepas, and oh my God. They had slow-cooked pork, guava barbecue sauce, and fried papas on top. The arepa itself was crispy on the outside, warm and fluffy on the inside. The savory pork paired with the sweetness of the guava barbecue sauce was incredible, and the crunch from the fried papas took it to another level. Now, I have a bit of a sweet tooth, but my wife does not. I wanted dessert, and we were leaning toward the tres leches, but our waitress highly recommended the bread pudding. I am not usually a fan of bread pudding at all, but her recommendations had been on point all night, so I decided to trust her. I am so glad we did. They take a Mexican bolillo, soak it overnight in tres leches, then pan-sear it to create this crispy caramelized outside while keeping the inside warm, soft, and sweet. It is topped with crema and toasted coconut, then they pour warm guava syrup over it and serve it with a scoop of coconut sorbet. The layers of flavor in that dessert were unreal. Honestly, it may have been the best dessert we have ever had. And remember, my wife is not big on sweets -- she usually only takes one bite of dessert, but this time she tried to eat over half of it. Lol. I highly recommend this place. The food, the service, the drinks, and the atmosphere were all amazing. And after dinner, you can even head upstairs to work off the food with salsa lessons and a dance club. This is definitely a spot worth checking out! Este lugar fue absolutamente increíble. Lo único que puedo decir es que hicimos muchos sonidos de felicidad mientras comíamos, y hubo muchos momentos de "¡Dios mío!" en la mesa. Desde el personal, hasta el gerente, hasta la comida, todo estuvo excelente. La comida realmente habla por sí sola. Sirven platos pequeños, algo que nos encanta porque te da la oportunidad de probar diferentes cosas y experimentar una variedad de sabores. Comenzamos con el pork belly frito sobre tostones. Estaba perfectamente sazonado, cubierto con aguacate, y cada bocado simplemente se derretía en la boca. Después probamos las costillitas pegajosas de tamarindo con una salsa barbecue de tamarindo y mango. Este plato fue un ejemplo perfecto de cómo la simplicidad puede crear sabores complejos. Las costillas estaban cocinadas en su punto: no se caían completamente del hueso, pero estaban tan tiernas que al morderlas, la carne se desprendía fácilmente. Estaban jugosas, llenas de sabor y con el toque perfecto de picante gracias a las hojuelas de chile. Luego pasamos a las mini arepas, y ¡Dios mío! Tenían cerdo cocinado lentamente, salsa barbecue de guayaba y papitas fritas encima. La arepa estaba crujiente por fuera, calientita y esponjosa por dentro. El sabor salado del cerdo combinado con la dulzura de la salsa barbecue de guayaba fue increíble, y el crujiente de las papitas fritas lo llevó a otro nivel. Ahora, a mí me gustan mucho los dulces, pero a mi esposa no tanto. Yo quería pedir postre, y estábamos pensando en el tres leches, pero nuestra mesera nos recomendó mucho el budín de pan. Normalmente no soy fanático del budín de pan, pero sus recomendaciones habían sido excelentes toda la noche, así que decidí confiar en ella. Me alegra muchísimo haberlo hecho. Toman un bolillo mexicano, lo remojan durante la noche en tres leches y luego lo sellan en sartén para crear una capa exterior crujiente y caramelizada, mientras que el interior se mantiene calientito, suave y dulce. Lo sirven con crema y coco tostado, luego le vierten encima un jarabe tibio de guayaba y lo acompañan con una bola de sorbete de coco. Las capas de sabor en ese postre fueron irreales. Honestamente, puede que haya sido el mejor postre que hemos probado en nuestra vida. Y recuerden, mi esposa no es muy amante de los dulces; normalmente solo prueba un bocado del postre, pero esta vez intentó comerse más de la mitad. Jajaja.

    This was my first time coming here since they rebranded and reopened. I already enjoyed the…read moreprevious concept and was anxious to see what was different. The essence of it still feels similar with a few differences in ambiance and menu. They still over an oyster option, but we didn't try it. The octopus was good - cooked nicely. I enjoyed the ceviche. It's not the best I ever had, but a solid choice and the portion was excellent. The cocktail was well balanced and tasted good. The skirt steak was nice, but I was full so didn't eat all of it. There are black beans under the skirt steak that were AMAZING. It was just a small option of the dish - not the size of a side portion but almost like a "sauce" under the steak. It was perfect. This place remains a solid choice. I would come here again on a date or with a girl friend.

    Photos
    Cuya
    Cuya
    Cuya - Seasonal cocktail

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    Seasonal cocktail

    Whiskey Kitchen - Cracklin' Biscuits

    Whiskey Kitchen

    4.0(787 reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$

    Wow! I said I'd come back but I didn't realize it had been 8 years!…read more My husband Dan H and I had a great lunch with some friends today. We all shared an order of fries for the table, which were amazing. Then I got the grain bowl with shrimp, and everything was perfectly prepared and delicious. My husband enjoyed his biscuits and gravy with fried chicken- so tender and decedent. Our friends enjoyed their meal, too, and enjoyed the apple custard for dessert. The mocktails were also delicious- I loved one with hibiscus and ginger. So nice to have a bunch of mocktail options! The ambiance was just as great as it was 8 years ago- spacious and light. The server was great, and let us linger for a few hours without hovering. Hope to be back sooner than another 8 years from now!

    If bourbon and whiskey choices were a personality trait, The Whiskey Kitchen would definitely have…read morecommitment issues...because the selection is massive. Seriously, if you can't find a pour you like here, you may just need water instead. Started with the biscuits topped with crackling and house-made preserves, and honestly, that combo alone made me question why I don't eat more biscuits in life. Sweet, salty, buttery chaos in the best way. For the main, I went with the pork chop and greens. The chop leaned a little overcooked for me personally, but the sauce helped bring things back together and added good flavor. The greens had a nice little kick of heat, but I kept waiting for that deep smoky ham hock flavor to show up like an old Southern grandma entering the kitchen... and it never quite arrived. Overall though? Still a solid meal, strong whiskey program, cool atmosphere, and definitely worth checking out if you're in Raleigh looking for a bourbon-forward dinner spot. Travelin_Broke approved with a slight side-eye from the greens.

    Photos
    Whiskey Kitchen - Whiskey Flights

    Whiskey Flights

    Whiskey Kitchen - Smoked mozzarella salad with fried chicken

    Smoked mozzarella salad with fried chicken

    Whiskey Kitchen - The Botanist and Paper Plane

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    The Botanist and Paper Plane

    The Crunkleton - Parmesan fries, dry rubbed wings, pimento and country ham biscuits

    The Crunkleton

    4.2(66 reviews)
    0.8 mi
    $$$

    Beignets, beignets, beignets!…read more This place is perfect for a girls night, date night, friends night, solo night... honestly any night! I came here for drinks and dessert with friends, and the star of the show was definitely the beignets. As someone who has visited New Orleans and tried the real deal, I thought I knew what good beignets tasted like. Turns out, I did not have to travel that far after all! The beignets here are like a cross between a classic beignet and a croissant. Light, fluffy, and just the right amount of indulgent. I will definitely be back to check out more of the menu, but no matter what, I am saving room for the... say it with me... beignets!!

    Wanted to try something new, and, since I liked the reviews for this place, I figured I'll give it…read morea shot. The ambiance is classy but laid back. The Service was outstanding thanks to Hayley. Her recommendations for pairing the drinks with the food were flawless, and each drink was prepared like a work of art. I started with the raw oysters, paired with a glass of Rose, which I loved. They switched from the Halibut with Fennel to Mahi with Forbidden Rice. The rice is black and inky and potent and extraordinary, but it overwhelmed the fish completely. Still greatful I got to experience it, but I would pair it with something more gamy like lamb or goat. The Pecan pie with warm salted caramel ice cream was nothing short of a spiritual experience, and Hayley's recommendation to pair it with Rum Flip was perfect. Yes, I Ubered. Overall, this one is going to be a frequent hangout.

    Photos
    The Crunkleton
    The Crunkleton - Dry Rub Chicken Wings

    Dry Rub Chicken Wings

    The Crunkleton - Espresso martini

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    Espresso martini

    Watts & Ward - speakeasies - Updated May 2026

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