Want to go to a nice place to unwind after a long day? Don't go here! If you don't trust me, check the other 20 one-star reviews describing the poor and discriminatory service provided by Chris Pope. Chris is a racist and demeaning bartender. I have been going to this establishment for several years, but I am now forced to avoid it on Thursdays (when Chris Pope works) because he is unreasonably rude and insulting. Even his own co-bartender begged him to, "not be an a--hole tonight," before the two of them fought in the back. It is incredibly disappointing and hurtful, and, frankly, it raises serious concerns about the bar's negligent--or, based on the copious negative reviews, reckless--retention of this employee. Zog's, an otherwise fine establishment, opens itself up to needless liability due to Chris' inability to perform his role without aggressive and embarrassing theatrics. Several other bartenders have called him out on his unacceptable service, including Daniel, but they all refuse to report it because they are afraid of the consequences. (If Daniel were the sole bartender, Zog's would likely have nothing except five-star reviews.) No one wants to work with him, and no one wants to attend this bar. Numbers are dwindling, and other patrons universally acknowledge that they, too, avoid Zog's solely because of Chris. I am keen on taking this further and will not relinquish my efforts until Chris Pope is let go. Zog's is a great establishment that is being ruined by his presence. For those disappointed by this result, Four Corners is a great bar just up the street! I would suggest going there, where the bartenders are courteous. I genuinely hope management takes these concerns seriously, because Zog's could be a great spot-just not on Thursdays. read more

Zan is the best bartender I've ever had, everyone needs to come here to chill and get your drink on. Made my friends birthday the best experience ever, would hang out with him socially given the chance read more

I absolutely love this bar ! Everything about it , what really makes it special from other bars is the bartender , Daniel is exceptional. He's always there making it amazing . His knowledge on drinks, his humor , choice of music is outstanding. He can also play a pretty good game of pool if you're up for a challenge. Cheers to you Daniel for making my experience here all the better read more

Always great service, nice pool tables. Feels like a slice of New Orleans in Chapel Hill.

Went on a Wednesday night to shoot pool. Great ambiance and service, a very lowkey vibe but a great place to get a drink and talk. Best bar in Chapel Hill next to He's read more

So I wanted to update my review, not write an entirely new one. But I guess it has been too long since my last one. Update: Listen to my podcast interview with owner Mandey Brown. She's amazing. https://anchor.fm/drbrianking/episodes/Chapel-Hill-with-RESTAURATEUR-Mandey-Brown-e37lhb read more

A pool bar with two tables that are some of the best in town. Paid for by the hour. There are also some arcade games that sort of work sometimes. Staff has always been friendly minus the angry guy iykyk. Fresh crowd expected of a college town with rotating people of constant and new. The food comes from imbibe downstairs when it's open. Easily one of my favorite bars in downtown because it manages to maintain a positive atmosphere and always has a fun selection of drinks around the holidays. The decor is also probably the best with the hand drawn art decorating the ceiling tiles and the cool art pieces all over the walls. Overall a good place to vibe with friends if you wanna shoot some pool but aren't feeling the high end pricing of Crunkleton or the negative vibes of Carrboro night life. read more

I have enjoyed this quirky place for years and always had a good experience. But not tonight! I drive from out of town to attend theater productions at UNC, and always have a drink and bite to eat before the show. Tonight, there were TWO of us at the bar. The bartender took a full 5 minutes to come ask for my order, as he was chatting it up and looking at something on the phone of the other patron. When he finally did come, I asked for a glass of Sauvignon Blanc. He rudely said, "I have white and red. It depends on what's in there." I asked if he could look and see. Then I asked to see a menu so I could order food from Imbibe downstairs, which I always do. He said "downstairs is closed. It says it on the sign on the door." Obviously I had not seen the sign as I entered. I believe the posted sign was actually on the door of Imbibe, NOT the door to Zogs upstairs, so I'm not sure how I would have seen it. I found him rude and completely unwelcoming. Would have been very simple for him to say "I'm sorry, the kitchen is closed. I'm sorry you did not see the sign." Very disappointing. I will try Zogs again because the normal Saturday staff I see is great. Lesson learned: look to see who is tending bar before you sit. Very unpleasant evening. read more

I like zogs a lot, it is a great place to go if you're in chapel hill and want to miss the undergrad crowd. Quirky, dive bar, alternative vibes. Me and my partner like to get a mystery beer and play the twilight (yes the vampire movie) board game. read more

Still easily one of my favorite bars in the greater Chapel Hill area. (See my previous review). Mandey and her team are on top of things and the New Orleans theme makes me homesick for the Big Easy. They are very generous with special events and fun themes, and a trip up those stairs always results in a fun time. Laissez les bon temps rouler. read more

Zogs Pool - Pool Halls Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

the bouncer tried to whip out his baton and beat up my friend because he had a bloody nose. do not recommend. 0/10. much better bars in chapel hill. unless you like getting assaulted read more

Pros: Small, unique top shelf drinks selection, adorably (unpretentious) hipster environment, hilarious art, pool tables, awesome bar tendress / owner, reasonably priced for the quality, old projector movie screenings. Cons: Can feel cramped at times, is typically packed with hipsters (if that's not your scene), on the "divey" side (only a con if you're in the mood for that clean modern bar vibe) I don't know why, but when I think of this bar, I imagine a power ranger riding on top of an ewok, made of a thousand tiny ewoks. Of all the bars in the greater Chapel Hill/Carrboro metropolitan area Zoggs is easily the most unique. This is one of the few, if only, bars for which it would be difficult to find a convincing doppelganger in other major cities. First drinks, the drinks are not only tasty and unique, but the price point is considerably lower than what you'd pay at the spate of fancy cocktail bars popping up all over the triangle (Alley 26, Fox Liquor Bar, Foundation, etc...). Think $7-8 compared to $9-13. Then there's the artwork. The walls are festooned with pieces by local artists, are generally priced reasonably and veer toward the graphical and hipster subject and style-wise (currently the center piece is a mullet Jesus blow-drying his divine locks). Most of the tiles of the drop ceiling are also individually painted (by who I don't know) with wildly incongruous scenes and images and its not uncommon to see an artwork table in the middle of the space set with crafting options for patrons and reminiscent of middle school summer camp. All this coalesces to give Zogg's a cozily schizophrenic character that I've never seen replicated in any other establishment. The real heart of this place, though, is the owner/bar tender and New Orleans native Mandey. She always has something interesting to say, poors a stiff drink, and isn't afraid to give you the insider intel on the shady practices of your average watering hole. Occasionally her Dad, an old-timey film buff, and projector aficionado will pop in and show 35mm films that range from old adaptations of short stories to outdated sexual education videos from the 50s. Bottom line: If you're looking for a deviation from the basic bar scene and are a fan of unique drinks and unique conversation this place is a must try. read more

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Zog's Pool Hall, just off Franklin street is a welcoming, CRAZY atmosphere. With local art, lights everywhere, murals, pool tables, and the best collection of nice weirdos, cool geeks, & dope doormen. I go there for a brilliantly casual night out involving CARDS AGAINST HUMANITY, pool, darts and killer drinks that the owner mandey creates - She's a trip & a whip! You have to see this place to believe it. Zogs on henderson is my hands-down favorite bar in the triangle. read more

Zogs Pool - everyday is mardis gras at zogs. [not really] - Pool Halls Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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Owner & bartenders are great. Awesome New Orleans food and beer on the cheap. If you're a tool, do not go here. Luv U Zogs! read more

Zogs is hands down the best place in chapel hill every one else can go fuck themselves ESPECIALLY TIME OUT. THAT PLACE IS A GODDAMN WAR CRIME. Bon Chon around the corner is cool I like them. But everyone else in this washed up dead town can go fuck themselves, most food in chapel hill is an embarrassment. when Zogs is closed and im hungry I just wait. There is no soul or balls in this town . Nobody takes a risk anymore. Go ahead look inside Might as Well on a Saturday night its a collapsing, decaying, disease pool of all our sins collecting itself and showing off. There is nothing left in downtown chapel hill anymore and we deserve it. we watch this happen and looked the other way. this is not cause of Covid. The infrastructure of the downtown dining scene has been rusting away for YEARS. How many times can some asshole made a "cheer wine bbq sauce" and people this town are cheering like its the best thing to happen in their worthless lives. We should be rioting and angry. I swear to god when ever i see "Cheer Wine BBQ" on a menu I want to storm in the kitchen and cut off the chefs hands and yell "YOU ARE THE LOWEST SCUM OF SOCIETY " They are the same dipshits that go to Hooters "for the wings" shut the fuck up you wanna see tits be a goddamn adult and hire a SEXWORKER. These people dont deserve Zogs and Imbibe. They sit in their cubical at some pyramid scheme job waiting for grandma to fall down the stairs so they can inherit a house, while starting fights on facebook groups. There will be no better feeling in my life then hanging at the top of Zogs eating my 9th gumbo for the day (or dirty fries damn i would roll around in a football field of rusty nails for those fires) while dancing on the corpse of some asshole that put his beer on the pool table. I went to John Beshs resturant in NOLA and slapped him across the face with an oyster and told him he will never as good as Zogs so stop trying John Besh stop doing everything you old dumb fuck. read more

The service here is incredibly selective. If you fit "the scene" you will be served properly. If you vary from the desired clientele (as determined by the staff/bartenders), regardless of if you are respectful, paying customers, you will be chastised for any reason they can illogically muster. If you like this place, good for you. If not, join the club. Edit: I closed out my tab within minutes of realizing how rude you were (you didn't reunite me with my card, thanks though). I have never left a yelp review before, but felt the need to in this scenario. Like I said, if you meet the graces of the tyrant/owner/bartender... You will enjoy your time here. read more

This place is the epitome of cool. As the cut-out letters strung across the bar so aptly exclaim, "F*** Yeah". Indeed. Zog's is what all "dive bars" should strive to be. Free of sticky floors and sketchy folks, the place offers creative cocktails that are actually really cheap (a rarity for downtown Chapel Hill), two pool tables, and free popcorn. I'm not usually a huge popcorn person, but man! It's good! Totally worth the annoying little kernels that get stuck in-between your teeth. To top it all off, the bartenders and owner are super-friendly. Zog's is free of pretensions and affectation-- it's just plain, good-ole, low-key fun. It's worth it just to sit and read all of the clever, witty signs, quite frankly. Oh, and they have a craft basket. How cool is that?! read more

Zogs loves dogs! How cool is that! A bar friendly spot to bring "Spot". I started going a while ago to play some pool and someone brought in their pooch, now I never go without my baby. Anyway...the bartenders are great, good selection of beer and three great pool tables. It's been around for a while but it's in an out of the way location...UPSTAIRS. You have to look for it but it's well worth the search. The best places are the out of the way places, off the beaten path, in my opinion. They've got some neat things going on there. Bring your old LP's and they'll playem'. Gotta love that! Definitely worth checking out! read more

I am a non-so-secret hater of the Chapel Hill bar scene, as I'm not 22, in undergrad, or looking to rub shoulders with bros. So for a while, I just stayed well-clear of Franklin Street and took myself to haunts in Durham and elsewhere. HOWEVER. Zogs has been a revelation. The barkeep is super. The pool tables are readily available (especially earlier in the evening). And if you really get bored, just ask for the craft box, which will entertain even the most jaded of hearts. Seriously, the community of folks who frequents Zogs has the kind of family feel you don't find often in Chapel Hill, where bars come and go and exist almost entirely to serve terrible beer to terrible people. Zogs is not that kind of place. Ditto to the unbelievable "UnFuckWithable" cider, one of a number of special seasonal drinks that was still on tap well into January. Also, during their "Claws at Zogs" Christmas fundraiser for an animal sanctuary, we had our photograph taken with Santa and a bird of prey, which quickly became our Christmas card. Yes, you heard that correctly. Santa and a bird of prey. At a bar. That serves spiked cider. And has a craft box. Zogs, please never change. read more

I don't have the vocabulary to explain this place. I live in DC and come to zogs when in town visiting. Time and time again I tell Mandey and James that I wish I had a "Zog's" back home. The place is covered in art that you can purchase and is a great way to display your work. Not only that but there are FREQUENT opportunities to make your own art! Mandey works really hard to make it a community environment. However the TRUE art is BEHIND the bar. I find that when I go to Zog's I ONLY order cocktails. Mandey and James really put a lot of craftsmanship into their seasonal cocktails. Though it would drive the typical bartender CRAZY to make so many different types of drinks for one person, Mandey and James make them with a smile on their face (when it's not slammed) knowing that I'm only there for a limited time and want to try ALL the things! As for beer: they're really great and giving you the opportunity to expand your beer palette. You can go in clueless and learn something new without feeling like you were judged by a bunch of beer knerds. If you are a bit of a fanatic and have a unique beer that they don't happen to have, just wait a few weeks and you may find that they have gone out of their way to bring that beer in. I cannot say enough about the open hearted people who run and come to this bar. They really take care of you here. Just don't be a tool and please keep your drinks off the pool table. read more

I wrote my first review for Zogs almost 5 years ago, and the amount of stars hasn't changed. Zogs makes incredible drinks, has a fun atmosphere and is full of great people. The drinks at Zogs are top notch. They have a regular drink menu and a seasonal drink menu. Both are awesome. I love the winter menu with hot drinks. I'm also a fan of the fact that I can just ask for a "froufrou" drink and Mandey and James will make me something awesome. You won't go wrong with those 2 as your bartenders. The atmosphere is awesome. It's a "dive" bar with a concentration on art. There is incredible art on the walls, in the bathroom, on the ceiling. You can find awesome art for your own home there, and Mandey, as an artist herself, values artist and is a big supporter of the art community. They also have skeeball, pool, darts, and board/card games to play. If you can't find something to entertain yourself, you're not doing it right. The regulars are awesome, the bartenders and door guys are awesome, and even though I don't go out as often as I used to, Zogs is still one of my favorite go-to bars when I do. read more

I'm a big fan of this place. They combine pool, beer, and games really really well. So, I was looking for a fun birthday place on the Friday night before Spring Break. We ended up trying Zog's, because they had pool and other fun things that we could do. They have everything: cheap pool by the hour, apparently dog-friendly, board games, and a good atmosphere to play pool and hang out for a bit. All in all quite nice. read more

Staff super rude. Not once did they smile or try to continue a conversation. Every staff member was unpleasant expect for the guy who ran our food up to us. Don't go here unless you want to leave in a bad mood read more

I like Zogs. I like their weirdly creative drink names I like their drink specials I like their support of local artists. I like pool. I like the staff. I like the bathroom-shower and all. I do not like the loud speakers right above me when I am trying to make a shot. I do not like to have to shout my obscenities. read more

This bar is the best bar in Chapel Hill. The pool is fun and cheap, and nobody judges you if you are very bad at playing it. They also have darts, ditto on the judgement. The specialty drinks are strong, reasonably priced (4-7 bucks), and have unique names. The bartenders are very good-natured when you ask them to make something off the wall. Drafts are usually 3 or 4 bucks, and they have one dollar PBR nights. All the bartenders are sexy, all the patrons are fun but well-behaved, and all the decor is funky without being off-putting. They also have karaoke, potlucks, build your own bloody mary bars, trivia (with swag), beer tastings, and the occasional special movie night or other event. They open at 5, and they are very lovely. Go see them, ASAP. read more

One of a few places jus off Franklin that wasn't closing a little early short of the 2am curfew here. It's a little beat up. Kind of dirty and grungy, but in a friendly way.  Typical friendly service,  a handful of pool tables in decent shape and a bevy of cheap beers and drinks consistently priced low. read more

Nice dive bar with options for food downstairs. Good for darts and pool. Jukebox available.

People often ask me why I dig Zog's so much. I honestly can't put my finger on it, but a good way to sum it up is that it's a bit of Carrboro way down on the east end of Franklin St. Not that there's anything wrong with the east end of Franklin (that may be a lie,) but Zog's feels like a bar that welcomes you in rather you wandering into a bar on x night. Mandy and her cohorts do an excellent job serving up drinks and under the new mgmt, (see: Mandy) they've even made a big list of cool original cocktails. If you came by this place in the past couple of years and didn't think it was your thing, come by again and check out the new decorations, vibe and scene. The new owners have really worked hard at making it different, but not in a way that killed what Zog's was: a great chill bar where you can play pool, darts, and endless boardgames if you want, or you can jam out to the usually rockin' ipod tunes or the kicking jukebox. The place also has THE best trivia in town hosted by Dave on Mondays at 11:00 pm ish. I've bounced around various bars in Carrboro and CH alike and I can attest that this is the best trivia for people who aren't crazy intense (Nightlight) or way too many people (goodfellows) or way too cliquish (Tylers) or in a gross old bar (Linda's). Zogs rocks and that's why I'm going there to win some free beers due to reigning in my trivia crown. PS: I'm sorry Linda's. You're just.....not anyone I've ever met in 7 years bar of choice. read more

Best dive in Chapel Hill, and a last stand of the bar goer. Pool, beer, booze, and bar. No bull. Great place. read more

Interesting bar, but not my scene. It's small, quiet and intimate. We went on the Friday before spring break, which may have resulted in sparse attendance. Based on one visit, I'd recommend elsewhere if you're looking for a lively, crowded, high-energy bar. The few patrons there seemed to be late-20's to early 30's, which is fine if you fall within that range. The seating is limited. There is one booth, which a party of 5-10 can occupy, an awkwardly uncomfortable arrangement of a couch and some footrests, and bar seating. There are two to three pool tables which cost $6/hour. 3 stars because it was boring (in our opinion) and not what we were looking for. read more

If you're looking for a bar with a lot great individuality and charm, you need to go experience Zog's for yourself. Where most bars in a college town say, "That's good enough, we just need to sell beer." Mandey Brown goes the extra miles beyond to create a "you belong here" type of atmosphere, and everybody who's gone in there with me has noticed this. Zogs is about culture, community, art, music and good drinks. I'm not in the bar business, I'm in the music business. Professionally, I really appreciate everything they've done for local music. Open mics, booking local and regional artists, and a diversity of music. While local and original music surely isn't the main focus of Zog's, they do a great job giving it a place to grow and be heard. It's my opinion that Zog's is one of the most important places for local music in Chapel Hill, simply because of it's location. West Franklin St. has a lot of venues for music, but because of it's location across the street from the University on East Franklin, Zogs is probably one of the first places that some UNC students find out about local music. That makes it pretty damn culturally important for this area! Obviously I'm biased about local music, and I have a tendency to go on about that, but Zog's doesn't only support one kind of art. Zog's is a huge supporter of visual art as well. Paintings and sketches are everywhere, and Mandey's support of the the arts is priceless, and deserving of five stars and attention far beyond a little Yelp review. I've seen other reviews here suggest that Zog's is a hipster bar, but I'd disagree. I'd say it's more of a friendly, somewhat geeky vibe. However, because of it's location in area with a diverse population, Zog's is welcoming and fun for anybody who walks in, and I've seen this firsthand. It's a place with a lot of personality, I cannot put a label on the customer base, and I believe that says a lot about a place having a lot of heart and kindness in it. I almost forgot to mention that Mandey has made me some of the best mixed drinks I've ever had! Check this place out, even if you don't play pool. You'll be reminded that small businesses like this one are the heart and culture of a community. I proudly and strongly support Mandy and James as a friend, business owning neighbor, and as customer. read more

Best bar in Chapel Hill/Carrboro. It's unpretentious. A-hole free. Full of love (except for A-holes; seriously, don't be mean). Some of my favorite things: - the month of October at Zogs - fun drink specials - mystery beers - cards against humanity - film/tv show screenings - the people - cool space If you're unable to find peace within the Chapel Hill bar scene, then visit Zogs, where you'll always find a friend. read more

Definitely one of my favorite bars in Chapel Hill. They have some of the most unique drinks and atmosphere in town. The bartenders are super friendly. Just be sure to not put drinks on the pool table, that's when they become not-so friendly as it is a big no-no at the bar. Zog's has a variety of drinks on their seasonal and regular menu. For instance, the seasonal summer menu has a 'zogchata' which is their own version of a spiked horchata drink. They also have their own 'butterbeer' which is also pretty great. The zogchata and butterbeer are not too strong but they definitely have a slight kick to them. The seasonal menu has some really great drinks and you should definitely give it a try. Zog's also have a number of board games such as Cards Against Humanity. The board games provides a great alternative to just drinking and pool. The atmosphere is great at Zog's. The bar and people aren't frat-y which is a welcome change considering the bar scene in Chapel Hill. The walls are lined with art, and various random things they sell. The last time I went I saw magnets, necklaces and other random things. One of my only complaints is the lack of table seating. There are two tables and a number of benches and bar seating but isn't much. Zog's is a definitely a great place to go to in town. The drinks aren't too expensive and the atmosphere is great. read more

Zogs is such an awesome place to spend your evening. Not only do they have awesome bartenders, but their food is delicious and the vibe is always friendly and relaxed. The bar is always open but never feels lonely. There are pool tables and so many options when it comes to games to play. I highly recommended read more

This bar is one of the best in CH, and they don't cater to drunk underage students. If you like a low key place to play pool, look at art, and drink beer downtown, this is your spot! I have been going to bars that the owner, Mandey, worked in or owns since the early 2000's, and she is the real deal. She cares about her staff, her regular patrons, and the community. Do yourself a favor and ignore the children who post poor reviews, they just wish they were grown so they could hang out there. read more

Fun and friendly. I love a bar that has a selection of board games/card games. And a multi-page book of original "dranx." And great, cheap pool. And interesting characters, always. And dogs. Update: came here alone recently, and really enjoyed the warm and welcome vibe. It's a bar for all occasions! read more

I love this place. Mandey really puts a lot of effort and soul into this place. I always feel welcome and have a great time. It's also the first place I did stand-up, and I'll always consider it my comedy home. Thanks for making a great place for all people and really for women too... lots of bars don't have that safe vibe, and this one does. read more

Zog's was one of the very first bars I visited when I moved here 5+ years ago because my roommate and I read some reviews and thought it sounded cool. That was 100% correct, and Zog's is still my favorite bar in Chapel Hill. The ambiance is awesome (supportive of local artists!), the drinks are delicious and very fairly-priced, and they always have some type of special theme or intriguing event going on... e.g. my old band basically got together through playing at the weekly open mic night, which is welcoming of all types of talents. If none of that interests you, they also (obviously) have judgment-free pool, a bunch of games on hand, and an extremely charming staff that's always happy either to chat with you or to leave you alone if that's what you prefer. The patrons are usually friendly and open to striking up conversations with the person next to them, too. Others have noted how the staff at Zog's does an excellent job of weeding out underage kids and other random jerks, but I also want to vouch for the fact that it's an LGBTQ/queer-friendly space (which isn't always the case in this area). The one time a friend and I got harassed by an errant Bible-thumper at the bar--this can happen literally anywhere, and it has nothing to do with the general vibe/clientele of Zog's--Mandey (owner) immediately intervened and made sure we felt safe. That meant a lot to us. Be respectful to the bar's staff and patrons, and the bar will always be respectful to you! read more

Zogs is the best business in Chapel Hill. We have lived here for years and haven't found any other establishment that comes close to the authenticity and charm of Zogs. The bartenders and owners are fantastic people, the drinks are outstanding, prices are reasonable, and the ambiance is perfect both for a fun night out with friends and a drink just to relax. They have board games and pool, so there's always something to do. I highly recommend checking it out. read more

Definitely a very cool place with pool tables, and great art work, and fun events...The evening I went by they were having a Ghost Story later that evening.....Definitely a very cool place and one that I definitely enjoyed on my initial visit...The owner was very cool, and definitely has some great ideas...Plus she spent a lot of time in New Orleans so you know the bar has some cool New Orleans items.......Definitely will be on my Chapel Hill stumping ground locations.... read more