The Raleigh Times Bar

The Raleigh Times BarThe Raleigh Times Bar
The Raleigh Times BarThe Raleigh Times Bar
Bar, Eatery

14 E Hargett St
Raleigh, North Carolina, 27601-1426
United States

(919) 833-0999 | map
raleightimesbar.com
PLACE STATS
Average:
4.05
Reviews:
29
Ratings:
53
pDev:
9.88%
View: Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Photo of milkshakebeersucks
Reviewed by milkshakebeersucks from Maryland

4.16/5  rDev +2.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4 | food: 4.25
Our first stop on a recent visit to Raleigh. Cool, historic building in the hub of the downtown area that has been creatively restored by the current owners. Got here midweek, between the lunch hour and happy hour crowds, so seating and service were not an issue. In fact, the service was top notch and informative. The 18 taps ranged from local to global along with an extensive bottle list. Food menu had more than just pub grub and what we ordered was very satisfying. Both the beers and food are fairly priced.
Jun 06, 2021
 
Rated: 4.31 by slasich from Pennsylvania

May 17, 2020
Photo of lastmango
Reviewed by lastmango from Pennsylvania

3.89/5  rDev -4%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.25 | food: 4
As others said . . . hipsters everywhere. As an older guy, felt a little out of place, although for my first time, the waiter was nice. Service was slow for a mid afternoon lunch. Place was crowded. Music was loud enough you could barely hear others at your table.

Draft menu was not inspiring but had about a dozen. Many more bottled crafts and imports that was impressive like Prairie and Trappist.
Food was good.
Aug 17, 2019
 
Rated: 4 by RTaylor5 from North Carolina

Jul 15, 2017
 
Rated: 4.15 by Macsimus from North Carolina

May 12, 2016
 
Rated: 4.13 by bostonbeans from Massachusetts

Aug 15, 2015
Photo of RBowers
Reviewed by RBowers from Virginia

3.46/5  rDev -14.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.75 | service: 3 | selection: 3.25 | food: 3.75
Hipsters everywhere. They never seem to have anything great and even some beers that are highly distributed and on the menu, they're out of. They don't like non-hipsters at this place, and will ignore you if there's another hipster that needs service.
Mar 26, 2015
 
 
Rated: 4 by jaymo18 from Virginia

Dec 14, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by CavemanRamblin from North Carolina

Nov 16, 2014
 
Rated: 4.76 by cjlopex

Sep 29, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by Soto from North Carolina

Sep 27, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Mantooth from North Carolina

Aug 31, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by SFNC from North Carolina

Aug 18, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by dunix from Vermont

Jul 22, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by jak from North Carolina

Jul 07, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by woodchip from North Carolina

Jun 25, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by RyanAU from North Carolina

Jun 05, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by HuntDaddy540 from District of Columbia

Apr 29, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by alexm1309 from Illinois

Apr 19, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by tdm168 from Pennsylvania

Apr 02, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by OldhouseRecs from North Carolina

Mar 01, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by kjkinsey from Texas

Jan 24, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by leftstagebrew from North Carolina

Jan 17, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by flipdog0 from North Carolina

Dec 18, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by jessehd09 from North Carolina

Oct 15, 2013
Photo of SteveMi
Reviewed by SteveMi from North Carolina

2.98/5  rDev -26.4%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3 | service: 2 | selection: 3.5 | food: 3.5
A - It's a cool place -- an old newspaper office turned into a bar. They print their menus on paper as if it was a newspaper.

Serv - I've had good and not so good service here. Bartenders have been pretty good. Knowledgeable and friendly. Waiters have been hit or miss. Some are attentive and nice while others have been more interested in their own drinking. Not fun. As long as you get a good waiter things are smooth.

Sel - Not bad, but not as much as I'd like. While most beers do fall on the craft side (+1) there are just a few available on tap.

F - A bit better than normal bar food but not by a whole lot. If you are wanting a dinner there are better places around the area.
May 07, 2012
Photo of dbrauneis
Reviewed by dbrauneis from North Carolina

4.2/5  rDev +3.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
Depending on when you go, this restaurant/bar can have quite a different vibe. During the weekdays and weekend evenings it is mostly a hipster and beer nerd type or crowd while during the day on the weekends you get a lot more of the family crowd. The music playing is usually indie and the waitstaff tend to be 20-something hipsters. The music is generally not that loud and you can carry on a conversation at a comfortable volume. If that is not your scene, you might not enjoy the place.

There is not a ton a seating in the place and it can feel very crowded, I enjoy it best during the spring/summer/fall when you can sit outside and it feels less confining.

The food menu changes up seasonally but most items I have sampled are quite good - I have been to this place numerous times and cannot remember an occasion where the food has disappointed me. One menu item I would recommend, especially if you have never tried them, is the fried pickles - this is the South, everything is available fried.

There is not a huge draft list at the Raleigh Times but the drafts they have are usually solid - the drafts change pretty regularly. They have a decent bottle list that often features a number of saison, sour, and lambic styles of beer. Again, if your expectation is that this is going to be as good as some of the top places in NYC you might be disappointed (remember that NC has only relaxed the ABV regulations in the last couple of years and this is an emerging scene).
Jan 20, 2012
Photo of clayrock81
Reviewed by clayrock81 from Florida

3.78/5  rDev -6.7%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | food: 3.5
I thought this was something going to be close to, if not the same as, a beer bar like The Blind Tiger in NYC or The Brewer's Art in Balty but no, not at all. To clarify, I mean I thought it would be this place that oozed off, not just "hipster" but a localized setting in a place that permeated a natural, beer drinking vibe. Instead it Saturday and more ma-n-pa families and drinkers (dare I say hipsters) than beer drinkers. And the food was OK, but $9 for a small plate of cheese fries? Beer prices and menu are the same - you're paying A-list prices for a beer menu that is aggravatingly disappointing. At first glance this place has a rather large selection of sour ales/lambics and a diverse listing of beers. Then you realize that it's all B-grade beers (seriously, most of those beers have a solid B (not a B+) grade on BA) but you're paying top notch prices. As for the draft list and rotating list it is a letdown. Don't get me wrong, enjoyed my time here and the server was nice and very attentive, but this is more of a pop in for one beer and a quick bite place than a beer bar you lounge out for a few hours.
Dec 20, 2011
Photo of jophish17
Reviewed by jophish17 from Georgia

4.03/5  rDev -0.5%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | food: 3.5
Stopped by on a recent trip to Raleigh - liked it so much, I came back for lunch the next day!

Raleigh times is a bar in downtown that covers three rooms and had some sidewalk seating as well. Two bars, thankfully all non-smoking now. Lots of brick, very typical old south. I think my perception may be enhanced by a Friday night visit, but the place was hoppin yet I didn't have to wait for a table, the best of both worlds. A couple of tvs at the bar to watch sports, but mostly just a simple, dim-lit bar/dining area mix.

The choices of beer was a bit of a let-down - yes, the choices are largely quality, and there are some pretty ridiculous bottles on the menu. However, for a state filled with dozens of craft breweries, I was let down by the local selection. Only one of the taps was a NC product, though I guess that's still almost 17% ;-) Heavy on the Belgians and Germans, which I can always appreciate. So, heavy on quality, even if no thte widest of selections

Our service on both trips was good, even on the busy Friday night - which was perfect, as I had just been explaining to someone what I think differentiates the good beer bars: service. Any bar who serves as a team and doesn't *just* serve their tables gets high regards from me.

Food was a bit above average - had 2 different sandwiches, both were good enough for me. Value wise, I found the place to be pretty reasonable. Dinner plates in the $8-10 range and acceptable quality at that price point. Sure, the Shaerbeekse Kriek may be $40, but its gonna run at least $30 in stores.. overall, a solid beer bar, and I imagine it's one of the best in Raleigh
Oct 04, 2011
Photo of jsprain1
Reviewed by jsprain1 from Minnesota

3.33/5  rDev -17.8%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4 | service: 2.5 | selection: 3.5
A- The bar eminates what they call hipsterdom, both in the other clinetele and workers. Indie music on the radio. Not my cup of tea but maybe it's yours.
Q- Beers were served properly and my IPA seemed somewhat fresh.
Ser- Both of the times I've been here, it's been hard to get service at the outdoor seating. Maybe indoors is better, but I have not a particularly good service experience here.
Sel- Lots of bottles, but their tap selection was a bit underwhelming.
A bit more pricy than some other places in the area where one can get a better selection of taps and service.
May 27, 2011
Photo of Onibubba
Reviewed by Onibubba from Kentucky

3.88/5  rDev -4.2%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4
Arrived on a weekend, just after 8pm. Crowded and just got more so. Crowd seems to consist of some beer geeks, but I saw an awful lot of non-beer drinkers here (lots of mixed drinks). Thankfully, that did not slow service down too much.

Barstaff was very attentive and knew their stuff. Tap selection was small, but good. Bottle list was very nice. Being primarily a fan of sours and Belgians, I was quite happy. The bad news is, most of the bottles are way too over-priced. About one and a half to twice what you would pay at the package store. While it is nice to see Cantillon on the menu, I won't be paying 32.00 for it. There were better values to be found. I paid 14.00 for a Drie Fontainen Kriek. That's acceptable.

After a couple of hours, the crowd was unbearable. Might be a good place to visit on a weeknight for a bottle or two, but definately not a weekend hangout
Feb 22, 2011
Photo of beer2day
Reviewed by beer2day from North Carolina

3.63/5  rDev -10.4%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4
I admit I'm a draft beer guy, so my scores here are going to be on the low side.

Very quirky atmosphere. Folks here from all walks of life. Given the location, I was a bit surprised at the diversity. Several different "rooms" with vastly different feels. Bar area is nice, other parts not so much. A few sidewalk tables for outside seating.

Service was pretty good, considering the crowd and the number of servers working.

Draft selection was underwhelming. Bottle selection is exceptional, especially Belgians and other EU beers. Food was also top notch, not your average bar food.
Oct 13, 2010
Photo of silver0rlead
Reviewed by silver0rlead from North Carolina

4.13/5  rDev +2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
This place is somewhat polarizing amongst Raleighites, but I'm definitely in the love it camp. There is usually indie rock playing, and the staff is largely comprised of hipsters so if either of those is a deal breaker then this place probably won't be your cup of tea. The service is typically pretty good, but can be spotty when it's slammed (and it is slammed quite often). The tap selection is small (there are only 6 taps) but well chosen and there is always something worth trying, the bottle selection is extensive but I almost never order bottled beer at a bar. They also have some really tasty (and expensive) original cocktails, such as one with hop infused vodka and spicy ginger ale that can be a nice change of pace from beer. The food is a highlight, and is better quality and more inventive than typical pub grub.
Aug 06, 2010
Photo of Ahoney67
Reviewed by Ahoney67 from North Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +11.1%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
Great place to hangout or have dinner. They have great food. Nachos being one of the best. They have pork or chicken. I would go for the pork. The beer selection is fantastic. Though they can be a bit pricey. They do have beers you can't find anywhere else. They converted the old Raleigh times newspaper office into a wonderful place for folks to eat and talk. They offer outdoor seating right on the street. Get there early because they fill up fast. I would recommend you go during a weeknight and I would recommend you go often!
May 27, 2010
Photo of Singularbinary
Reviewed by Singularbinary from North Carolina

4.74/5  rDev +17%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5
One of my favorite bars downtown, though it is always packed full of people whenever I go there. The variety of beer that they have in bottles is amazing and though the prices for bottled beer are a bit high, the draft beer is a pretty good deal, more than the average bar charges but its in a 20oz. rather than a 16oz. glass. They usually have seasonals from some of my favorite local breweries on tap and even if theres not something on draft I like then there is a large selection of bottled beer, which they will serve in style specific glassware.
Apr 08, 2010
Photo of SaCkErZ9
Reviewed by SaCkErZ9 from South Carolina

3.64/5  rDev -10.1%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4
I stopped in here after briefly skimming some of the other reviews of the place. Unfortunately, I missed the part about the lack of draft beers. The only reason to have a beer at a bar is to get a draft beer. I can get bottled beer at home or anywhere in the world; draft beer is served only where drafts are located: bars. So, I was very sad when I walked in and only saw 6 drafts on hand. My hopes shot up temporarily when I saw the other room on the left hand side of the establishment. However, the same six drafts were there as well. I hate bars that dont have decent drafts :(

The bottle selection was enormous with the focus being on Belgians. But, again, I can get a bottle for half the price and enjoy in the comfort of my house. Why would I spend $6 for a bottle of Two Hearted when I can get three for that price at the local packy?

I guess this place is pretty cool but I wont be back.
Feb 23, 2010
Photo of PhillyStyle
Reviewed by PhillyStyle from Georgia

4.13/5  rDev +2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 3.5
Visited on 8.26.2009:

Upon walking up to the establishment, I immediately noticed all of the people sitting outside in the sidewalk seating area and got a good feeling about what I was walking into. Upon sitting down at the bar, I was immediately greeted and given a beer menu, which is always a good thing. While pondering the menu, I noted that the place had an excellent vibe to it, a very nice crowd, it appeared to be mostly 20s and 30s, which I am sure is due in part to NC State being not too far away. There was some good music playing, more alt and reggae then anything, I could not really identify any of the bands, but it helped with the vibe and the tunes were coming right off of one of the bartender's iPods and at his discretion. The beer menu was pretty extensive, but tended to focus more on bottles than on draft. Maybe 10 taps, but numerous bottles, mainly focusing on Belgian beers. I tried a few that night, all seemed to be fresh and served in appropriate glassware. I only tried the BBQ Pork Nachos, but they were good. The service was good, quick and had some knowledge of the qualities of the beer styles on tap.

Overall, this is the must stop if you are in Raleigh. Not a destination by any means, but it is certainly one of the best if not the best in town.
Aug 27, 2009
Photo of rtratzlaff
Reviewed by rtratzlaff from North Carolina

4.47/5  rDev +10.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
I have been to Raleigh times upon multiple ocassions. They typically have a rare beers on tap (typically seasonal and Belgian along with a local tap which is typically Big Boss). The bottle selection is plenty of Belgians which are a bit pricey, but understandable for what you get. Everything is served in proper glassware. You can order drafts in 10 or 20 oz or pitchers. The prices are typically 3.50-4.5 for a 10 oz. and 6.50-7 for the 20. PBR is always on for $2 a 20 oz. The food is great and the barbecue is from a local restaurant that is unbeatable as far as NC barbecue. Vinegar based with plenty of pepper spice. The fried pickles are unique in that they are one pickle cut lengthwise breaded and fried: not much to share, but good for an appetizer for two. Gaffel Kolsch is also a regular on tap. Rare cask nights are done pretty regularly. For Raleigh, NC this is a must stop for good beer. Plus, Obama made a stop and has his beer glass under glass behind the bar. There is a side bar for smoking....until January '10. The taps there are always the same as the regular bar.
Aug 18, 2009
Photo of FloppyDog
Reviewed by FloppyDog from North Carolina

4.2/5  rDev +3.7%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5
Stopped in for a cask night where four local North Carolina breweries brought specialty casks for consumption. This place has some really unique atmosphere. It is an old newspaper headquarters (as is evident by the name of the bar/restaurant), and it has that old school vibe to it with the original ceilings and walls left to age in the original fashion that they were when the newspaper was still running.

They have a nice selection of belgian beers that you can't really find around Raleigh, but you do have to pay a pretty penny for some of them.

Overall, a cool place with a lot of history, and a nice selection of quality beer.
Aug 13, 2009
The Raleigh Times Bar in Raleigh, NC
Place rating: 4.05 out of 5 with 53 ratings