Fullsteam brewery serves classic and innovative beers crafted with locally farmed ingredients, including sweet potatoes, basil and grapes used in experimental recipes. The industrial, spacious brewery has plenty of room for groups, the occasional live band, arcade games, darts, and ping pong tables. Although Fullsteam does not serve food of its own, visitors are welcome to bring their own, or take advantage of the rotating cast of food trucks that park just outside the bar on most days.
C. Grace is refined, a little mysterious, and darkly fun. The bar and Jazz venue is driven by live music and commitment to elegant, creative cocktails. These are mixed with just a few, strong ingredients, and have names that recall Jazz lounge Americana, like Kelly’s Grace, Hemingway, and New York Sour. Damask curtains and dim lighting add to the sultry mood here. C. Grace is a one Raleigh’s most rarefied bars, though membership is only a dollar. Performing musicians are mostly local but rotate regularly.
Vinos Finos is a departure from run-of-the-mill drinking and dining experiences. Located inside European-themed Lafayette Village, the wine bar is designed to sample tapas-style dishes and world-class wines. The staff here is more than happy to help with wine selection and pairings. Dark woods, leather furniture, and warm colors make the interiors feel like an old-world wine shop. Vinos Finos encourages patrons to converse, and the intimate, colorful setting is doubly suited for first dates or casual business meetings.
The Flying Saucer Draught Emporium is a popular house of beer and UFOs in downtown Raleigh, where flying saucers adorn the walls and ceiling. The bar offers hundreds of beers to choose from and a generous menu of classic pub fare. Visitors can aspire to join the ranks of the “Ring of Honor,” a glory given to card-carrying U.F.O Club members once they consume 200 hundred different beers. Watch out for weekend fire sales, the Draught Emporium’s day-long version of happy hour.
Located beneath King’s Royal Barcade, Neptune's Parlour is a hip underground bar that offers DJs, pinball, ping pong and arcade games. It also boasts a menu of local craft beers from mostly small North Carolina Brewers, seasonal cocktails and the very popular shot of the week. On weekends the bar is packed with dancers, and on some nights live acts play in front of the brick-walled stage. Neptune’s adds subterranean character to downtown Raleigh’s bar scene, off–or under–the beaten path.
Solas is a luxurious dance club and lounge bar on three levels. Visitors can enjoy classic cocktails and small plates on a first-floor open-air patio or the rooftop deck, which has a motorized awning and offers fine views of Glenwood South downtown district. The lounges and bar rooms are secondary to the second floor’s glass-bottom dance floor, however, which is usually crowded with revelers on weekends. Solas has private rooms and first-rate VIP service, and caters to corporate events, weddings and private parties.
For a quick, light meal, drop in to Reflect Restaurant and Bar. The restaurant is located inside the gorgeous Cambria Suites. The food served here is light fare and is mostly burgers and sandwiches. The staff is professional and are knowledgeable about the menu. Ask for suggestions on pairings for your burger.
Carmen's Cuban Bar & Cafe have imbibed the Cuban spirit and transformed it into this charming bar. With authentic Cuban delicacies and Latin Music dance nights every weekend, Carmen's is a great place to let your hair down and swing to the music.
Tired from playing mini golf and other games at Frankie's Fun Park? Then head over to The Chill Lounge to grab a drink and relax. Located inside the park, the fully-stocked bar also offers American and Mexican cuisine. It's a great place to hang out with your friends and watch the game. The Chill Lounge also has pool tables and an excellent multimedia system, ensuring an enjoyable experience. The ambiance is also quite tasteful with multicolored wall decor, a cherry bar countertop and dark wooden furnishing. The lounge is an important, integral part of the park.
Thad Eure, Jr. and Charles Winston metamorphosed the big barn to create Angus Barn, a landmark dining destination in the city. In 1984, the waiting room of the restaurant was opened to guests and is today come to being as the Wild Turkey Lounge. It is christened so after the 600-odd wild turkey decanters that form part of the quaint-yet-inviting decor from Thad's personal collection back home. That's not the only unique accumulation on floor; in addition, marvel at an array of single action revolvers that don the wall. The menu features Alaskan king crab claws, oysters Rockefeller, barbequed beef ribs and rack of lamb, as well as complementing globe-spanning wines. Smoke a cigar from the cellar-turned-humidor and end your meal with classic crème brülée or sawdust pie.
Capital Club 16 pays homage to the old and new. The restaurant serves American food with European influences and is housed inside a registered historic building in downtown Raleigh. Interiors here are a salvage house of reclaimed wood and tile taken from New York restaurants, Neuse River docks, and North Carolina mills. Classic dishes with the foresight of seasonal and locally-grown ingredients fill the menu. Capital Club 16 is a fine choice for a relaxed but refined dinner, and also has a full-service bar and serves lunch and brunch.