One of the best speak easies around... Amazing cocktails and great ambience. It's cozy and upscale. Great place for small groups.

Ok - you guys officially rock my i.d.-forgetting world. When I accidentally (and idiotically) left my i.d. at home, and our i.d.'s were instantly asked for upon sitting down, my heart dropped into my stomach. I'd be sitting this one out, reduced to watching, tastebuds shriveling in envy as my sister and boyfriend downed Foundation's exquisite elixirs of which I dream nightly (I'm serious - we hit this spot every time I'm in town. Which is a lot). Never fear - this gentlemen looked me in my smile-lined eyes and knew I was of age (and then some), asked my discreetly how old I was and believed me when I gave him my age. The night was mine!! All that said - my new fav here is the Coffee and Pie cocktail (also tried something tart and lemony whose name is escaping me...). If you haven't done Foundation yet, do yourself a favor. read more

What the. Seriously me? You didn't come here until more than a year after moving to Raleigh. I'm ashamed of you. If there has ever been a place that just oozes style and strongly encourages one to have a stiff drink at a leisurely pace, this is it. Granted, I was there on a Saturday evening and not on a busy Friday/Saturday late night judging from other reviews, so I got in with ease without having to wait, but yep, love this place. Bars don't get much more ideal than this. This is the type of place that makes me wish I lived around the corner and that I could routinely stop by, order a cocktail, and read a book. Super, super cozy, great bartenders, good selection of draft brews, all that good stuff. Also a nice little seating area outside for those nice breezy Raleigh afternoons. One of my favorite spots in the area, and I've only been once for about 30 minutes. I'll be back. Soon.... read more

Never miss a chance to come to the Foundation. The drinks, ambience, staff and service are fantastic.

Foundation just celebrated their third anniversary on Tuesday, March 6th and I went to help celebrate. They claim to be a members only bar, but the only perk I've ever gotten for signing up is to be on their email list. That email list is how I knew that they were celebrating. I respect what they do there. I first wandered in there in June 2009 on my first bar crawl. Their hours are 4pm to 2am daily and on that particular Saturday I felt like I was wandering into a secret cave. In some ways, Foundation is a secret cave because it's underground and can fill up quickly with those who know about it. If it's busy, you'll have wait upstairs on the sidewalk and chill on the patio tables until room opens up. On a busy weekend night there will be a cocktail waitress who will come up to take orders though. They serve up handcrafted beverages from this region and beyond, but have a focus to stay domestic which is incredibly admirable to me. The folks at Foundation make everything from their juices to their sodas and mixers. All their beer, liquor, and wine is local or regional, but at least American and nothing foreign offered there. I'll usually have a beer or a glass of wine because their mixed drink offerings are quite expensive. On Tuesday, I had a Rose Water cocktail though. Vodka, grapefruit juice, grenadine, rose water, a few other tidbits and frothy egg white on top made for one delicious drink. Unfortunately that delicious drink was $10, but it was really good so considering the making and the mixing it definitely worth what its price. That bar is certainly the Foundation for local handcrafted cocktails done right. read more

This "review" references years of visiting and many, many amazing experiences. I love brown liquor. If I could figure out how to wake up next to a fine bottle in the morning and not feel sick or confused, I would buy it a corsage and take it on a date. And the folks that own and tend the bar here do too. Period. There simply isn't another bar of this caliber in Raleigh or the triangle at large. Sure, some pours are expensive...but when you have options like George T. Stagg and Elijah Craig Barrel Proof bourbon to choose from, it all adds up to a priceless experience. read more

Foundation is a great place to visit if you're looking for cocktails. They have some of the best cocktails I've had in the downtown area, and a cozy atmosphere to boot. Outside of cocktails, I think they have a limited selection of beer and homemade sodas available. I know they use homemade ginger ale as an ingredient in some of their cocktails, and I believe you can order the ginger ale straight as well. I would recommend Foundation for small groups of people, as talking over the music can be difficult if you're not near the other person. The air vents underneath the tables can also be pretty chilly if you're wearing shorts, but generally it has been fine for me. The prices are reasonable considering the location and the quality of the ingredients being used, and the employees have always been friendly when I've been there. Service can be slow at times due to the number of patrons, but you can usually get faster service by going up to the bar. Foundation is a great place to start your night while you can appreciate the cocktails, before migrating elsewhere with more space and cheaper drinks. I think Foundation will be one of my regular stops for quite some time. read more

Waaaaay overrated. We waited in line to pay our $1 membership that we'll never use again. The place is too bright, plays bad music and is way too cramped. They sent us, a group of 5, downstairs to just stand in the middle of room because there was no seats available. Maybe my claustophobia kicked in, I don't know but I felt like everyone was on top of me. The no signal on my phone turned me off as well. The only plus was that the shots were pretty cheap. This place seems to have a reputation that exceeds it's actual experience. I didn't find anything special about this place and we left immediately after downing our shot. read more

Very relaxing environment. Mellow. My appletini was amazing. Very strong which I like. The bartenders were very nice. read more

FOUNDATION - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

I'm writing this review because I just created a list, "Booze Caves!" and it just wouldn't be complete without Raleigh's original booze cave in the mix. I love Foundation. Great, knowledgeable staff, cozy interior, with the rare booze cave bonus of abundant outdoor seating for the warmer months. Drinks are reasonably priced for the most part, with an eclectic and ever-changing list of specialty cocktails. Foundation's drawbacks are 1) its size. This joint is pretty tiny, and gets hella crowded on weekend nights. To the extent that you are going to be there for a solid 20 minutes before even thinking about putting your lips to a glass; and 2) Only American liquors are served here. While I appreciate this nod to traditional US of A cocktails, Foundation could benefit from bending that rule a bit and keeping it more "inspired by" than exclusively American-made products. But those are small complaints. As I am a relatively new convert to most brown liquors, Foundation has become a default pitstop for me. I've had some good times there, and some bad times, but never, ever, a bad drink. read more

Really cool place. You can accidentally walk past it if you aren't looking closely as the main bar is underground (they do have some street level seating as well). The inside is kinda dark and cave like, but its decorated with modern looking dark wood and lots of local art. The reason to come here is the innovative mixed drinks. Lots of fresh ingredients and local booze (moonshine anyone?). The seasonal local beer selection is also stellar. My only complaint is that its a little on the pricey side, but this is one case where you get what you pay for. read more

FOUNDATION - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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Incredible every single time. Great vibe, drinks are always perfect. Plenty of different offerings to choose from if an old fashioned isn't your thing. read more

Met a few friends on a Saturday night. I did have to give $1 at the door for a "membership". So, I'm assuming on high-traffic nights, you must be a member to enter (still, a very cheap cover charge compared to other places around). Atmosphere and Service: You walk down the steps into a basement, and you're there. Very cozy atmosphere Music is just right, playing a great assortment of indie rock tunes (music not too low or too high - enough to enjoy it and have a conversation as well). I noticed that the bar itself could be a little longer, as getting another drink could prove cumbersome, but once I met my friends at the table (and everyone brought an extra person or two - lets say 12 of us total), I noticed a server going around getting next drink orders for everyone individually. What service! The next two drinks I had didn't require me going to the crowded bar at all; I just ordered it when she came around. She also took care of closing the tabs. For such a busy night she was very attentive and polite. Superior service indeed. Drinks: They have a great selection of drinks. I only went once so I pretty much stuck to whiskey drinks. The whiskey/scotch collection is worthwhile...many I've never heard of before. While the drinks are expensive for a Saturday night (my whiskey sour was $9), they were very well made with nice glassware as well. Bottom line: You definitely get what you pay for. I'll make it out there again. read more

This is the bar where I take my out of town friends from big cities to show them that Raleigh is cool. It is a one of a kind place that reminds me of places I have been in Paris and London. The cocktails are totally unique, based on local ingredients, with lots of old fashioned ingredients like egg whites and muddled herbs. This is a drinker's bar. These cocktails are delicious but also pack some serious boozy punch. 4 sips of their apple jack cocktail and I was pretty much as tipsy as I normally would be after a couple of lame cosmos elsewhere. The location is great and the underground entrance makes it feel like a well kept secret. The interior is a modern and beautiful mix of materials blended with the original elements of the foundation... stone walls and heavy beams. Last time I was there, we wanted to get the phone number for our planned dinner restaurant, and the bartender was nice enough to look it up and make a call for us. read more

Now this is a great new bar in Raleigh that was not here years ago. First put off by the "membership" sign up, my buddy and I trudged on in spite of having to give our names to them. And it was worth it. Serving plenty of local brews, Foundation is one of my new favorites to visit for a drink after work. And on a warm fall night, how could you not want to sit outside on Fayetteville Street and enjoy a drink? And on my first night out, I even saw the Mayor of Raleigh (Meeker)! What will each trip hold? Well I guess I'll just have to find out. read more

Nice laid back spot to end a night of drinking in downtown Raleigh. I had my first taste of moonshine and I'm a fan! Unfortunately, when this place gets crowded it's crowded with limited space to sit. I also was thrown off by the membership requirement and I immediately flashback to the fiasco this summer on Glenwood Ave. But, I was told that it didn't matter if you didn't have a membership, you only had to pay $1 or, in my case, have a friend who's a member to get in for free!! I look forward to coming back and drinking a lot more moonshine...with a DD of course! read more

I'm happy that places like these have cropped up in Raleigh now, and a little disappointed that I don't live closer. They have a fantastic beer selection and their specialty is bourbon. Try one of their special cocktails, and I really don't think you can go wrong. I also really like the atmosphere - they're in a basement, and room is kind of cramped, but I like the dark, yet somewhat sophisticated set-up they have. read more

Very cute bar, loved the atmosphere. The set up was the most attractive thing about this place. The bar staff was friendly, though nothing to stand up and rave about. I have had more personable bartenders at On the Border. The reason for the 3 stars was the fact that this is not a bar located in the heart of Waikiki and $11 for 1 drink is absurd. I paid that much for a much better drink at one of the most famous bars in the world in Europe. The drink I ordered was one I had frequently while traveling Europe and this version definitely missed the mark. I had to go back to the bar and get the bartender to add sugar just to be able to get it down. We had one drink each, paid $20 and decided to leave. A cool place for a once in awhile trip, but definitely not going to be our favorite hang out spot. read more

The drinks were great, the service was terrible. The bartender couldn't have been more rude to our entire party. Slammed our drinks down, rolled his eyes at our orders...I've been to far more "pretentious" bars than this and never been treated this horribly. For a Saturday night the place was pretty empty, so it was surprising that they don't want to keep their customers happy and coming back. Don't bother. read more

Raleigh's hidden GEM. I can't believe that it took me 10 yrs to find this place. It is a little hard to find, next to a small ensemble theater, you have to head downstairs and there's not much room. But the atmosphere is welcoming and the bartenders are friendly. I don't do beer so I don't have an opinion in that area. But the cocktails are delicious and the prices are reasonable. If I remember correctly they also only use NC products. One caution: Might not be the place for you if you're claustrophobic. read more

This is a great bar to go out to! We went on our monthly date night and my boyfriend is already begging to go back. I was very impressed by the bartender's knowledge and recommendations. I don't typically enjoy Gin and the drink he suggested with this was better than my pick with Rum! read more

What more can be said about Foundation. Its awesome. Bourbons drinkers unite. You get a mixed crowd of young and old here, hipsters, and fancy bods. The cocktails are fabulous and stirred, not shaken. The way any great cocktail should be made. Its small but if you get there at the right time, score a table and hang out. Its daunting how easy your money goes since most drinks are around $10. But nonetheless, its worth every penny. One of my new favorite spots. read more

Absolutely loved this place. VERY SMALL bar - very very cool though. It is literally a hole in the ground and you will miss it if you're not careful. They will make you wait until there is literally a seat for you downstairs because it is so cramped. An awesome brick bar awaits you down the stairs with delicious (but pricey!) cocktails. It is a bourbon bar so bring your man so he can try the selection. Micro brews on tap and they'll let you sample. Bar service isn't quick by any means but they are hand making most drinks so be patient :) Definitely will be back next time I'm in Raleigh! read more

FOUNDATION - Housemade sangria - wasn't what I was expecting but delish! Not sweet at all - grapefruit juice gives an interesting kick. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Stopped by to start off our anniversary. Amazing service and top quality drinks for a great price!

If I lived in the area I'd give this place another go, because it has a lot of potential. I'm not a big bourbon drinker and I really wanted to talk to the bartender and get a recommendation for one to try, but I just couldn't deal with the bartender woman that was working that night. She was a little cold and not very attentive. First, we got there before the crowd on a Saturday night so it wasn't super packet yet, but it took forever for me to even get the bartender's attention. Then when they didn't have any cider options, that I asked for and I ordered a beer and a vodka soda I got a half eye roll. When I went to the other guy bartending he was really nice and helpful for the second round. But by the time I went to close out I had to go back to the first woman and it took FOREVER. She was putting away dishes and arranging bottles, etc before she finally just printed out my receipt. I understand there's a lot to do all at once, but don't let me watch you do your side work for 10-15min. Minus: - Bad service - Fart smells (srsly, someone had too many beans for dinner...it was almost enough to make us leave, not that it's the bar's fault) - Super loud music Plus: - Cool vibe - Loved the artwork (caricatures of movie leads holding their bev of choice with hints of other elements from the movie silhouetted in the background...really loved these!) - Tons of gluten-free drink options **NOTE! If you're not from NC then they will ask you to pay $1 to become a member to their club. I guess this is a state thing, where if you aren't a restaurant and serve liquor you have to be a private club. Not a big deal at all, but FYI if you're not local. read more

Super underwhelming. Couldn't get into this place more than once. Then once I did it was just a dark dungeon. Bad lighting not rally anything keeping you there. It's very hard to spark up random conversations with strangers. I know this place is the talk of the town. But the only saving grace are the drinks if you can actually get someone's attention to make you one. I think this place has more of a cult following more than anything. Don't really get the hype. read more

I dropped in for the first time this weekend to find myself pleasantly surprised by a venue that lives up to every ounce of hype. The selection is fantastic, the mixers and ingredients top-notch, and the bartender was friendly, very skilled, and quite knowledgeable about the ingredients and processes. If you appreciate a truly "good" drink or cocktail with incredible attention to detail, this is your joint. read more

I got the mandatory $1 membership, and I kinda wished that they gave a nice, metal one like they do at Fox, but I'm not picky. It's the bourbon that I came for! MAN, the service was great. Even though they were busy the night I went, the bartender that I had the pleasure of standing near was very helpful, and knowledgeable about her bourbons. I wanted good recommendations and good recommendations were exactly what I got from her. She steered me to the Johnny Drum, which for her is tasty but cheap--my kind of liquor. It's no-frills goodness. You really have to come here if you even remotely consider yourself a fan of bourbon. read more

Raleigh has a gem in Foundation. They make damned good drinks, with love, without fail. The bar itself is very nicely appointed, with a beautiful interior, and spacious outdoor seating. The drinks are made from house-infused liquors, often made with seasonal nuts such as pecans. They put real effort into each one, so your money is returned to you in your glass. It's the perfect spot. Cheers! read more

I absolutely love the atmosphere here! The bartenders are sweet and make sure to fully accommodate u w full knowledge of their bar! Definitely one of my favorite drinking spots downtown read more

Such a unique atmosphere -- I went with 2 friends and we had so much fun. If I had not been told that this was a bar, I would have never found it. Just as the name implies, it is located in the "foundation" of the building on Fayetteville Street. The drinks were pricey(~$10 for mixed drinks, beers vary) as to be expected in such a fun location. You are downtown - live it up! They also use local brewers and ingredients which is cool. I ordered the Sangria, and I would order it again. It was just sweet enough, and not overpowered by fruit juice as some places make their sangria. I would not make The Foundation my weekly hang out - but it's a fun to take out of towners. read more

This is by far my favorite cocktail bar in downtown Raleigh. Why? (1) The cocktails are great and they have a good selection of non-cocktails for a cocktail bar. (2) The atmosphere is awesome--definitely could be in a larger city. (3) The staff are actually nice, unlike at some other downtown bars. (4) It is just about the safest place in downtown Raleigh to seek shelter in case of a tornado. When the weather is bad, Foundation is somewhat hidden. It has an underground location right off of Fayetteville Street in downtown Raleigh. On a slow night, you could totally miss the steps leading to its entrance. However, when the weather is nice, they have several tables right on Fayetteville Street, perfect for people watching and drinking outside. Like other bars that derive most of their income from alcohol sales, it is a members-only establishment, meaning that you pay $1 once for a membership card and have to pull out the card for future visits to avoid paying again. Foundation has a large cocktail list--the fancy, expensive type that are usually very good. They also have about 15 craft beers and a decent wine selection. And the bartenders are nice! They'll take orders at tables and deliver your drinks. One time, I mentioned that I was the designated driver so I was just going to have a cold-pressed coffee, and when the bill came, the bartender said it was on the house. It was so nice and something they really didn't have to do (and the coffee was delicious--I would have gladly paid the $3 for it). One of the upsides--how small and intimate the bar feels--is also its greatest weakness. Foundation is SMALL. Which means that you aren't allowed in when they're at capacity. And, even after you are allowed in, it will be crowded. It's somewhat annoying to drink a $12 cocktail standing awkwardly against a wall without somewhere to sit down. read more

I was so excited to visit Foundation for the first time. My roommate had told me all about her visit, she even brought a drink menu home which had me even more excited. I visited a similar place in Nashville, TN on a visit and LOVED IT. I'm very torn about my first experience. I didn't realize how small the place was and tried to go in on a Saturday night with about seven other people. So we had to be let down in groups of four. Even before our whole party got inside, there was no seating and it was difficult to even find a place to squeeze in and order a drink at the bar. Because I was invading the space of so many other patrons, I felt rushed to order a drink and didn't peruse the menu extensively. I didn't love the drink I ordered and wished I had been able to ask more questions. I'm not a liquor connoisseur by any means, so I wasn't even sure what half the ingredients were in my drink. They have a huge selection of Bourbon, which I don't drink, but if you know someone who does take them to Foundation! I do love that they make local and fresh ingredients a priority in their drinks. I will definitely visit Foundation again, but I would say it's better for 2-3 people, drink with a friend or a date, than a large group. read more

Really enjoyed this speak-easy spot downtown. It's easy to miss but was really neat to be there. Cool vibe

Hands down the best cocktail bar in downtown Raleigh. Rotating seasonal cocktails as well as solid regulars. Sunday specials available as well. Favorites include the Basil Smash, Whiskey Sour, and French 75. They also have a solid selection of draft beers available of the local variety - a little something for everyone! read more

FOUNDATION - Basil Smash - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

This place has pretty pricy mixed drinks, that said - if you like fancy drinks this is the place to go. Not too crowded, laid back atmosphere, really good customer service. It's definitely an upscale lounge. We ordered the lime daiquiri and "strange but not a stranger". Highly recommend strange but not a stranger. The lime daiquiri was a bit too sugary for me. Not like tropical beach sugary but juice sugary. That said - if that's you're thing, would be a good order. read more

FOUNDATION - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

I love Foundation. I have tried to go here a few times in the past and have not been able to get in because it's so crowded. I recommend going earlier in the evening -- around 8-9:30pm (especially on the weekends). When you enter, you go down a narrow flight of stairs into literally the foundation of a building. It's a small, intimate, speakeasy-like bar. There is limited seating because of the size of the space. What makes Foundation so cool is their drink offerings. They have really unique craft cocktails that are delicious. Great selection of bourbon and whiskey. They also have wine on tap, which was pretty cool! They make a yummy Lincoln's Kick, which is bourbon and some other stuff with a freshly roasted marshmallow. I don't really like bourbon but I loved this beverage. The bartenders are pretty hipster but good at what they do. The only thing I don't like about Foundation is that they require a membership, but it only costs $1. read more

It keeps getting better and better! LOVE LOVE LOVE THE FOUNDATION! A great addition to downtown Raleigh. Original, well prepared cocktails with FRESH ingredients. Can't wait to go get the Basil Smash again. My husband loooves their Old-Fashioned. It's worth the $$$, be prepared to wait for your drinks, as they are carefully mixed. Also, tiny spot, which makes it crowded or cozy (depends which way you look at it). read more

The whisky menu, wow. Got here early enough for 4 bar seats, so we started out already winning. The bartenders know their stuff, and they are approachable and friendly. No judging here. Although if they were judging, I'm pretty sure I would have won anyway. Found a new bourbon to stock for the house, a Single Barrel 4 Roses. I would have never tried this if the bartender hadn't recommended it. And for bourbons, it's relatively cheap. Our ladies liked their cocktails too. We would have stayed much longer if we didn't have our dinner reservation to get to. We're already talking about our next visit. read more

Foundation has always had a special place in my heart (my favorite first date was here), so I am always bringing my Raleigh visitors to experience the delicious cocktails, bourbon, and the excellent atmosphere. I think I frequent this place once a month, and I'm always excited to go back. I love that the menu changes seasonally, so I can always try new and unique concoctions, and I'm always impressed. Their bourbon selection is huge, and there is always a special going on to try something different. My favorite cocktail by far has been the Corrected Cocktail, made with bourbon, honey, port, lemon, and cold brew coffee. While it's no longer on the menu, the bartenders have still accommodated me when I've requested the drink. I recently tried their housemade ginger ale, and I think it's going to be one of my new regulars--I am a sucker for anything super spicy and gingery, and this hit the spot! It's been a week and I'm still craving it. Thank you, Foundation, for providing me with delicious alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages! read more