Diners' Choice: Lively restaurants in Raleigh

OpenTable

Updated December 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants that have the most vibrant bar scenes in Raleigh? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Gonza Tacos y Tequila - North Raleigh

4.9

4.9 (1431)

$30 and under

Mexican

Raleigh

About the restaurant

Come experience Raleigh's Colombo-Mexican Tacos y Tequila Joint!

Hand Crafted Latin Cocktails
Extensive List of Tequilas & Regional Spirits
Carefully Selected List of Latin Wines & Latin Beers

Voted Best Latin Restaurant in the Triangle by Wake County Living Magazine!

Won the Indy Award for Best Mexican / Latin American in the Triangle!

Top review

Latham

Dined 7 days ago

Excellent food and large selection of premium Tequilas. Excellent staff making this a family friendly destination.

O-Ku - Raleigh

4.9

4.9 (1858)

$30 and under

Japanese

Raleigh

About the restaurant

O-Ku's menu provides a fresh and innovative take on traditional Japanese sushi and cuisine. Located in the Warehouse District of downtown Raleigh, the restaurant offers rare and unique dining options with traditional sashimi and specialty rolls, highlighting seafood from the finest fish markets in Tokyo and Hawaii alongside local and seasonal ingredients. Reminiscent of traditional Japanese culture, O-Ku's menu is comprised of signature starters, contemporary Japanese entrees and seasonal traditional sushi that reflect the uniquely designed space. The beverage program is built around quality ingredients that celebrate Japanese culture.

Top review

mitchVIP

Dined on Dec 25, 2024

Great location, awesome service, waitstaff was incredible, I’m a vegetarian and was able to around my food needs with our wonderful servicer. Felt like 5 star restaurant.

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Northside Bistro & Cocktails

4.9

4.9 (1182)

$31 to $50

Bistro

Raleigh

About the restaurant

Welcome to Northside
An upscale neighborhood bistro, with a refined New American style. Whether you're a first-timer or one of our regulars, you'll love the unmatched ambiance and our innovative cocktails that fuels a bustling dining and bar scene.

Top review

Lidah

Dined 5 days ago

First time visit and can’t say enough good things about this “hidden gem” in North Raleigh! Menu has something for everyone and we started off with fried artichoke hearts! Just wow! Our entrees were braised short ribs and the beef wellington! Over the top amazing! And the sides were not just an afterthought either. Nice wine offerings, great service, relaxed atmosphere….. look forward to many more visits!

Mezcalito Clayton

4.8

4.8 (21)

$30 and under

Mexican

Clayton

About the restaurant

WELCOME TO MEZCALITO

At Mezcalito We're a family, united by our love for great food, vibrant music, and exceptional service.

Thriving to ensure we are the family oriented joint you are happy to dine at.

MEZCALITO was born in early 2015, when founders saw the need for a restaurant for all. Something that would meet in the middle where we could serve food and drinks for all pallets and socio-economic groups, because all deserve to have a unique experience they cannot have elsewhere- nice music, beautiful scenery, good food, and great drinks. This was then when owners overcame their own personal fears of pursuing their real dream of having something of their own after working for decades elsewhere. Always with the purpose to proudly serve flavorful and colorful meals that better describe the origins of Mexican cuisine; bringing new flare and fresh ideas by incorporating trendy and traditional authentic elements.

Top review

Seidy

Dined on Nov 8, 2024

This place is amazing; you should definitely give it a try!

Las Ramblas - North Hills Raleigh

4.7

4.7 (268)

$30 and under

Tapas / Small Plates

Raleigh

About the restaurant

Las Ramblas, nestled on a lively corner in North Hills in Raleigh, North Carolina, offers an experience of old world meets new world Spain- featuring locally and Spanish sourced tapas-style dishes, an extensive Spanish Wine and Sherry program, as well as craft beer, and creative craft cocktails.

Las Ramblas' menu offers pintxos, tapas and a few larger format Spanish style dishes complemented by Spanish wines, Sherry’s, beers and craft cocktails. Look for Spanish snacks – like cured hams, cheeses and olives – as well as traditional tapas, like Pan Con Tomate and Croquettes, and more innovative small dishes. Entrée size are also available.

Top review

Vernon

Dined 5 days ago

Great food experience with a wonderful variety of dishes to ge shared.

PLUS Dueling Piano Bar

4.5

4.5 (455)

$30 and under

American

Raleigh

About the restaurant

Get ready for a fun-filled night at America’s largest dueling piano bar! Come prepared to eat, drink, sing, and dance the night away with our professional entertainers and friendly staff!

PLUS offers a delicious food menu from open to close - including an array of delicious appetizers, wings, pizzas, burgers, sides, and more! You’ll also find TWO FULL BARS for extra fast service!

We look forward to having you!

*PLUS is a 21+ establishment
*Friday & Saturday Showtime: 7:30pm

Top review

Octavia

Dined 6 days ago

We had a blast on our Date night. It was so much fun we scheaduled our next outing while in the building.

STIR - Raleigh

4.5

4.5 (2282)

$30 and under

American

Raleigh

About the restaurant

STIR is the perfect restaurant to enjoy a night out, host clients, or sip a craft cocktail over a dozen oysters. Located in North Hills, the restaurant is an open-air concept with a large, heated outdoor patio. We are open for lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch.

Our cold bar and kitchen offers fresh oysters from North Carolina and beyond, traditional Mexican and Peruvian ceviche, and classic entrees and specials, all prepared from scratch.

STIR is famous for craft cocktails. We freeze and carve 300-pound blocks of artisanal ice in-house, age certain cocktails in oak barrels for richer flavors, and place others on draft for crispness and carbonation.
The result is a categorically elevated cocktail. Our passion for fine spirits also compels us to find and share rare bottles, many of which are extremely difficult to procure.

We welcome Raleigh to enjoy our unmatched cocktails, fresh seafood from the cold bar, and classic dishes in an atmosphere of genuine hospitality.

Top review

ReginaVIP

Dined 5 days ago

The service, our SERVER, and the ambiance was AMAZING!

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Popular dish

Vegan Poke Bowl Entrée

True Food Kitchen - Raleigh

4.5

4.5 (99)

$30 and under

American

Raleigh

About the restaurant

RALEIGH OPENING 11/11/2024! True Food Kitchen is a chef-driven restaurant and scratch bar that was founded by Dr. Andrew Weil, the pioneer of integrative medicine, to provide food that tastes great and is good for you. At our table, delicious dining and conscious nutrition go hand in hand, without sacrificing flavor, creativity or indulgence. Our expertly trained chefs craft flavor-forward dishes, handcrafted cocktails and freshly pressed refreshers so you can enjoy epic food experiences that aren’t just good for you, but good to you. Join us in Raleigh for lunch, dinner, or weekend brunch. New flavors, new combinations, new obsessions. Come see us for something completely new and delicious!

Top review

Shawn

Dined 2 days ago

Clean, relaxed and comfortable place. Food Wes very good and the service was attentive and pleasant. Very healthy menu and pricing is fair.

Bahama Breeze - Raleigh

4.4

4.4 (740)

$30 and under

Caribbean

Raleigh

About the restaurant

When you're at Bahama Breeze Island Grille, life's one big party. It's an escape from the ordinary and a much-needed excuse for you to let loose. Famous since 1996 for tropical cocktails, live music, and more, the vibe here is always as amazing as that Caribbean-inspired food we're known for. Bahama Breeze offers your favorites: seafood, salads, chicken-all with island flair. From Jerk Chicken Pasta to Seafood Paella, you can enjoy the islands one taste at a time, discovering new flavors along the way. Naturally, we're the perfect spot for all the sunniest moments in life: happy hours with friends, anniversaries, birthdays, date nights and unique culinary experiences. So, when you're ready to raise your glass and move your feet, the party's in full swing and the islands are waiting for you or if you'd rather bring the Island party home, online ordering is a Breeze too!

Top review

Cedric

Dined on Dec 7, 2024

Great time dining here on a first date. O was surprised it wasn't as crowed as usual. No complaints!

Jimmy V's Osteria + Bar - Downtown Raleigh

3.4

3.4 (781)

$30 and under

Italian

Raleigh

About the restaurant

Jimmy V’s Osteria & Bar is a unique and modern restaurant was created with Jimmy Valvano’s passion and commitment to excellence, and a percentage of the restaurant’s revenue is donated to the V Foundation. Jimmy Valvano’s love for food is the influence behind our menu creation featuring local and seasonal dishes with an emphasis on delicious Italian/American down to earth and traditional comfort foods using local farm grown ingredients and straightforward preparations. Also, our culinary team focuses on shareable small-plates, to encourage groups to socialize in a convivial atmosphere, which is warm and inviting for family gatherings, a night on the town or toasting drinks with friends.

Top review

Kim

Dined 5 days ago

Excellent food, large portions, pizza great as always.

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