By early evening, Hillsborough Street fills with students walking between campus and the bars, while across downtown the tables along Glenwood Avenue and Fayetteville Street start to fill for dinner. Later, the crowds shift toward whichever district matches their mood — a college bar, a cocktail lounge, or a brewery taproom.
Raleigh's nightlife is spread across several distinct pockets rather than concentrated in one strip. It suits visitors who are happy to move between areas over the course of an evening, and who prefer a mix of casual college bars, brewpubs and more upscale cocktail spots over a single large club district.
Where to go out in Raleigh
1. Hillsborough Street
This area of Southwest Raleigh, near the North Carolina State University campus, has the feel of a college town, with plenty of places to find a drink. It is the best fit for a casual, inexpensive night out. If you want cheaper options, this is where to look.
2. Glenwood South
The downtown area between Glenwood Avenue and Harrington Street, and between Peace Street and Hillsborough Street, just northwest of downtown, holds a cluster of more upscale bars. It suits a dressed-up evening of cocktails and beer rather than a student night.
3. City Market and Moore Square
The City Market area around Moore Square offers a good mix of drinking options. It works well as a starting point for an evening that continues into the rest of downtown.
4. Fayetteville Street
The area around Fayetteville Street also offers a good mix of places to drink. It is a convenient choice if you want to stay within the downtown core.
5. Breweries and taprooms
Raleigh has a number of microbreweries, and visiting one can form the backbone of an evening. Carolina Brewing Company in Holly Springs runs weekly tours on Saturday afternoons, and arriving 15 to 30 minutes early is advised to get a sample before the tour; the taps typically stay open for an hour afterwards. Big Boss Brewing Company runs monthly tours on Saturday afternoons, with timing best confirmed on its website, and has an on-site pub called Horniblows Tavern. Lonerider Brewing Company, near the airport and Brier Creek, holds tours roughly once a month.
6. Cocktail bars
For a more polished drink, Fox Liquor Bar near Moore Square, with its entrance on Martin Street, is a trendy, upscale bar serving traditional and creative cocktails alongside a small craft beer selection. It suits a quieter, seated start or end to a night.
7. Beer-focused bars
Raleigh Beer Garden on Glenwood Avenue is a popular spot with a very large selection on tap, with North Carolina beers on the first floor and beers from around the world on the second. The Raleigh Times Bar on East Hargett Street, set in the former offices of the Raleigh Times newspaper, is a gastropub good for people-watching over a craft beer. Crank Arm Brewing on West Davie Street is a brewpub in the warehouse district.
How a night out unfolds
On the first Friday evening of every month, downtown art galleries, museums and shops stay open late from 6PM to 9PM for First Fridays, with live music and specials at restaurants and bars. Otherwise, the sources describe drinking and dining venues without fixed hours beyond Fox Liquor Bar's 5PM to 2AM. During fall and winter, an evening can also be built around a Carolina Hurricanes hockey game at Lenovo Center; the regular season runs from early October to mid-April, with playoffs as late as mid-June.
Festivals and events worth timing a trip around
- First Fridays — first Friday evening of every month, downtown, 6PM to 9PM.
- North Carolina State Fair — mid to late October at the State Fairgrounds.
- Carolina Hurricanes home games — regular season early October to mid-April, playoffs as late as mid-June.
Frequently asked questions
Where should I go for a cheaper night out?
Head to Hillsborough Street near the North Carolina State University campus, where the college-town character means plenty of places to find a drink at lower prices.
Where are the more upscale bars?
Glenwood South, the downtown area between Glenwood Avenue and Harrington Street, has a few more upscale bars, and Fox Liquor Bar near Moore Square is a trendy, upscale cocktail spot.
When can I visit a local brewery?
Carolina Brewing Company holds tours on Saturday afternoons, Big Boss Brewing Company holds them monthly on Saturday afternoons, and Lonerider Brewing Company holds tours roughly once a month.
What happens downtown on the first Friday of the month?
Galleries, museums and shops stay open late from 6PM to 9PM, with live music and specials at restaurants and bars.
Decide which district fits the evening you want, check the timing of any brewery tour or game in advance, and plan your route between them before you head out.