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    La Mala

    4.5 (25 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 1:00 AM (Next day)

    La Mala Photos

    LA MALA ATMOSPHERE

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    Birria Tacos
    Shakira W.

    It was a great evening to randomly pick a restaurant to try out of pure hunger while on the move for late night eats. This place did not disappoint in the later hours. I am a HUGE fan of Birria tacos and they delivered with bursts of flavor, tender meat, and freshness. No crumb was left behind. I washed it all down with my old faithful Old Fashioned drink. My server was equally present and impressed lol I was finally able to soak in the ambiance after devouring my meal and notice how beautiful the restaurant was. It was dimly lit and perfect to help wind down the rest of the night. I plan to return and t try other dishes on the menu.

    Anna W.

    Super pretty vibes, amazing drinks and food. Wonderful attentive friendly service. We got four different dishes to share. Everything was delicious but the loaded fries were absolutely outstanding.

    Steak quesadilla
    Markie'Sha J.

    Everything was AMAZING!! The customer service was great. Our waitress was hands-on and consistent with making us feel welcome. I will be back to try brunch.

    Watermelon Margarita
    Sahib G.

    Great place to get some good craft cocktail. I got the watermelon margarita and it was refreshing and delicious. I also got the tilapia civche which was pretty decent. I would definitely go back for the cocktails. They have a drink which is served in a barrel glass and it looks really good.

    Churros
    Samantha R.

    I walked into La Santa at almost 10pm on a Thursday night and their kitchen was closed. But, the staff quickly suggested a quick 4 minute walk to their sister restaurant, La Mala, which was still open. 4 minutes later, I was hands deep into some authentic Mexican tacos. We shared the carnitas and asada tacos, both outstanding. Since we were celebrating a birthday, they treated us to churros but we also had the option of birthday shots. The churros came with caramel, chocolate, and dulce de leche, and were perfectly crispy and sugary. The ambiance, a little sexy and a little dim, a great spot for a late night adventure or a romantic date night!

    Nicole L.

    The food and drinks were soo good and worth going but it is definitely on the more expensive side. They also have very cool displays for drinks and food so it made for a fun environment. The server was very attentive, a Thursday night and there were about 3 other tables eating dinner. Worth trying for the amazing food!

    All the vibes
    Marissa M.

    La Mala is a beautiful Tulum inspired trendy cocktail bar and Mexican restaurant with a new sister location Downtown Raleigh. It offers a chic ambiance with mood lighting, ideal for an intimate dinner or date night. While in the area attending an event, I stumbled upon its new location on N West St. I found convenient street parking nearby. I dined with an acquaintance after having drinks at Killjoy next door arriving prior to closing, at 10. Famished, we decided to try tacos for our meal. Service was excellent. Staff were very welcoming and helpful with recommendations. We ordered the steak and carnitas tacos. Both were very flavorful. We did not try any of the craft cocktails. Expect price points of $16-20 per cocktail. I plan to return for brunch this fall to sample the Margaritas. The ambiance here is desirable and they have a lovely patio. They also have a beautiful private dining room with a sliding door for special occasions. The pink mood lighting is so beautiful!

    La Mala
    Kellie D.

    Started with the La Mala margarita. On point -- worth the steep $20 price point. Then we shared the Vallatarso ceviche with shrimp and octopus. Very flavorful with homemade tortillas and mixed with salsa. Lastly I tried the La Enomorafa margarita wihiich was beautiful but sadly not as delicious as the La Mala. Too sweet. Overall a great spot with excellent service, lovely tables nicely placed apart (too close together is my pet peeve.). Look forward to going back.

    Eviee R.

    Jeff was amazing, he is a great security guard. They also played all my fav sonf on Saturday night. Leo is an amazing owner, he always take care of all his customers & is always attentive. This was a great place to have a girls night

    Ron W.

    La Mala Raleigh is now open in Glenwood South! This sister bar/restaurant/lounge from the folks at La Santa offers a large and sultry space with a nice list of cocktails, beer and small plates. The space used to be Clouds Brewing but you wouldn't recognize it at all. La Mala offers a lot of seating options along with a large U-shaped bar and side patio. Overall it's quite nice and will be back to try some food but a good option off the beaten path for a drink and a snack.

    Max G.

    Max with Offline - All I can say is... WOW. As one of the first 1,000 members of Offline Raleigh, I had the chance to attend a private try-before-they-open event at Lamala (from the amazing folks behind La Santa), and let me tell you--it did not disappoint! The service? Impeccable. The food? I gotta say it... so effin' good! The drinks? Whew! Get the signature "La Mala" -- trust me, it'll get the job done with just one. Here's what we tried: * Quesobirria Tacos - You get three with consomé, and the FLAVOR was hitting. * Mexican Fries - Absolutely incredible. Honestly, they could be a full meal by themselves. * Mexican Pizza - My friend raved about it, especially the sauce that took it to another level. * Carne Tacos - Packed with flavor, tender, and juicy. The ambiance is perfect -- super cute with both indoor and outdoor seating. The food came out fast, and our server Cindy was fantastic -- quick, personable, and on top of everything. Long story short: Lamala is going to be a HIT in Raleigh. I'm already planning my next visit. If you're looking for great vibes, killer drinks, and tapas that deliver serious flavor -- run, don't walk.

    Filipp N.

    Checked out La Mala in Raleigh over the weekend and had a really great experience. We're actually big fans of the La Mala in Durham and have been there a bunch of times--even hit up La Santa, their sister restaurant. So we were excited to finally try the Raleigh location. The place is beautiful--way more spacious than the one in Durham. The outdoor area is especially nice, with some cool, Tulum-style tables that give it a really chill vibe. Menu-wise, it's the same as the Durham spot, so nothing new there. For drinks, we ordered the Gold Digger and the Old Fashioned Mexican. In Durham, the Old Fashioned usually comes with one big ice cube, but here it was more like crushed ice. Honestly, it made the drink feel a little watered down--just didn't hit as hard as it normally does. But overall, it was a great visit, and I'd definitely recommend checking it out!

    La Mala Margarita

    Atmosphere is really nice. Decorated nicely and welcoming. The food was pretty good. I had the octopus tacos with chorizo. Wish it had more octopus in it but they were tasty. I asked for the hot sauce which was slapping. The guacamole and tostada were average and could have used more flavor. The bartender was very friendly and very helpful. Definitely worth checking out and looks like a good date spot.

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    1 year ago

    Nice restaurant with one of the best quesadillas I've had. Server could have been better but I would go back just for that quesadilla.

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    FOUNDATION - Seasonal menu and famous Appletini which is not to be missed!!

    FOUNDATION

    4.4(331 reviews)
    0.5 mi
    $$

    This is a whiskey lover's dream and one of Raleigh's most unique drinking destinations. It's quite…read moreliterally underground as it's in a basement. With little signage the space feels like a natural speakeasy. It's unpolished enough to feel a little sleazy, yet polished enough to never feel dirty. In other words, it has character, and plenty of it. The bartenders were fantastic: knowledgeable, talented, and happy to chat about the spirits behind the bar. Whether you're a serious whiskey enthusiast or just looking for a well-made cocktail, you're in good hands. Being open later than most Raleigh bars makes Foundation one of the city's go-to late-night options, but that shouldn't overshadow what it really is........a great bar at any hour. The atmosphere, the drinks, and the people behind the bar make this a place worth seeking out whether it's your first stop of the evening or your last.

    Came here before dinner and had a great time. Even though it's a speakeasy, it was pretty easy to…read morefind. The menu leans heavily toward whiskey and bourbon, with lots of solid options. I had their basil smash, which was refreshing, and the Manhattan--bold with a warm, spicy profile. Pleasant surprise to see Michter's as the special of the night, and it was excellent with smooth caramel and vanilla notes. Service started off a little hands-off since we ordered at the bar, but picked up toward the end when staff came by to check in. Drinks were high quality without being overpriced, and the vibe is relaxed--not at all pretentious. You can definitely come casual. If we had more time, we would've stayed longer or come back for another round.

    Photos
    FOUNDATION - South side

    South side

    FOUNDATION - Foundation old fashioned

    Foundation old fashioned

    FOUNDATION - Bar

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    Bar

    Bittersweet - Bubbles and cupcake special

    Bittersweet

    4.4(484 reviews)
    0.5 mi
    $$

    What a fabulous dessert shop! Perfect place to grab an after dinner cocktail and dessert and…read moreconveniently located near St Roch Oyster Bar which is where we had dinner. Service was top notch with friendly folks greeting you the moment you enter the doors. Our bartender was so sweet and so welcoming. Had me a $10 Paloma cocktail that was just right and went to town on dessert. Everything was just delicious. Fresh made whip cream, perfectly balanced sweetness with the desserts and cute atmosphere. Loved my first time here and it won't be my last!

    Bittersweet has amazing desserts and drinks. I've been several times and each time I enjoy what…read moreI've had. A solid go-to is their s'mores sundae which is sooo good! The chocolate brownie is thick and rich, but not too sweet, and the marshmallow cream is divine, especially with the ice cream. A lot of their drinks and gin based, which I'm not the biggest fan of, but I always find something I can enjoy. The service is great and relatively quick, and everyone I've met there is kind and willing to help. The inside is a bit small, so smaller crowds are better and it does tend to get crowded later in the evening and on weekends. The outside street sitting area is nice too and hopefully will be fully fixed soon. Overall a great places to stop for drinks and desserts after a nice meal! And the menu rotates seasonally so you'll always have the chance to try something new!

    Photos
    Bittersweet - Chai espresso martini

    Chai espresso martini

    Bittersweet - Derby Pie and Gin n Tonic

    Derby Pie and Gin n Tonic

    Bittersweet - Pecan pie

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    Pecan pie

    Cuya

    Cuya

    4.5(32 reviews)
    0.2 mi

    I can't say enough about Cuya! From the amazing food and secret hits (they have pastelón! Iykyk),…read moreto the excellent drinks, and gorgeous vibe - I can't say enough! But the hospitality took it over the top- our wonderful server was so friendly and kind and on her game. And the owner as well. He is so gracious and warm and just out there with his guests! It was a very relaxed chic vibe with music and low light and then he went around to every table to ask if they had interest in watching the World Cup game (England v Norway). Luckily everyone said yes and then the vibe was all heart and all love. We stayed for HOURS & didn't want to go. lol. This was our first time in RTP, and as New York foodie snobs, we were blown away by the food scene and overall vibe. LOVE Cuya & really dig RTP!

    I really enjoyed my visit here for brunch. I didn't realize from the outside how much seating is…read moreinside this restaurant; they have a front area that has bright lighting, but they also have a back area that's a little bit more moody and sexy. Our server Maria was amazing, she gave us great recommendations and was very nice and accommodating. Actually, everyone was accommodating. I had a strawberry coconut Mojito to start, which was good, but maybe just a tad more bitter than I like. But I did love how creamy it was. For my meal I ordered the breakfast sandwich and added bacon. It was really really good. I also tasted the grits and wow, they may have been the best grits I've ever had. I believe the chef added garlic and it really kicked the flavor up a notch. All in all had an amazing experience here and I couldn't recommend it more.

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    Cuya
    Cuya - Très lèche

    Très lèche

    Cuya - Seasonal cocktail

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    Seasonal cocktail

    Whiskey Kitchen - Cracklin' Biscuits

    Whiskey Kitchen

    4.0(798 reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $$

    Stopped by Whiskey Kitchen for drinks after eating nearby. When you arrive parking can be a little…read moredifficult in this area as you'll either need to parallel park or find parking in a nearby lot. Walking in to Whiskey Kitchen it feels easy going, stylish, and lively. The bartender was super knowledgeable about the different drinks and made the experience even more memorable, For drinks I ordered the Old Fashioned (Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon, Sugar, Bitters, Orange), Twist of Fate (Old Forester Bourbon, Campari, Averna Amaro, Jamaican Rum, Bitters), and the Blush & Brimstone (Cook's Mill Bourbon, Pink Peppercorn Grapefruit Syrup, Lemon-Ginger Juice, Rosemary Peppercorn Bitters). By far the Blush & Brimstone was my favorite as it had the right level of spice and it was just a good drink. Definitely check out Whiskey Kitchen if you are in the Downtown Raleigh area. Btw, if you go here for dinner I hear that the Lamb Burger is excellent.

    We have been to Whiskey Kitchen before and normally have a good experience, but today was…read moredisappointing. We ordered the Lamb Burger and the WK Burger with bacon. The Lamb Burger was incredible the last time we had it, but today it came out closer to medium-well and was overcooked and very dry. The WK Burger was much better. It was juicy, flavorful, and the bacon was a good addition. The collard greens were also delightful, with just the right amount of spicy kick. Unfortunately, the entire experience was overshadowed by the flies. There had to be at least 20 houseflies constantly buzzing around and pestering us throughout the meal. It was difficult to relax and enjoy the food. Whiskey Kitchen is normally a solid experience, but the excessive number of flies completely killed the mood today. Three stars because parts of the meal were good, but the dining environment needs to be addressed.

    Photos
    Whiskey Kitchen - Whiskey Flights

    Whiskey Flights

    Whiskey Kitchen - Smoked mozzarella salad with fried chicken

    Smoked mozzarella salad with fried chicken

    Whiskey Kitchen - The Botanist and Paper Plane

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    The Botanist and Paper Plane

    La Mala - pizza - Updated August 2026

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