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    The Ark Royal

    4.6 (30 reviews)

    The Ark Royal Photos

    THE ARK ROYAL ATMOSPHERE

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    Recommended Reviews - The Ark Royal

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    Front Entrance
    Moya F.

    Tucked away just off of Glenwood Avenue you will find one of your favorite staycation getaways around Raleigh. The Ark Royal is a unique, cool Tiki Bar that hosts events and provides the perfect backdrop for your girl's night out, birthday party, date night, and more. Unique drinks and located close to other bars and restaurants in the area. Check it out!

    Front
    Mic S.

    Amazing addition to downtown! Very welcoming vibes and awesome hospitality. The drinks are delicious and creative; the bartenders obviously put care in their drinks! The ambiance is fanatic - truly a great bar with tiki vibes. It's a little hidden off the side street, but spotting the purple and green colors is a clear indicator you're heading in the right direction. There's an awesome patio with fire pits. The gentleman at the door helped light the fire pit for us just as we sat down. Truly an awesome place for good drinks and vibes.

    Stephanie T.

    One of my favorite stops during my Raleigh visit! The Ark Royal is a new tiki bar tucked away from the party strip that is Glenwood. As an out of towner who only had a few days to take in the city, Ark Royal delivered the perfect Friday night vibe. Despite being new, it wasn't overly crowded and we were able to spend our time surveying the drink menu and even scored a seat. Sometimes, I think tiki themes can be a bit too forced, but they executed it perfectly here - from the decor, to the furniture, to the drinks. I had a few of their signature frozen cocktails (Belafonte No. 1) and it was a beautiful sky blue coconut-based drink, garnished with a fresh flower or pineapple leaf. In fact, I could have one right now. Everything went so smoothly, I would have never known they just opened. If you're wondering about the crowd, it seemed a bit more mature to me than the other bars we passed by.

    the entrance to the restaurant
    Stephanie J.

    This new tiki bar was fun. My friend and I stopped in to grab a cocktail, it was the Saturn for me and the Gin Riki Tiki for her. The drinks were good and I liked the vibe and decor. It just started to get a little too busy and loud closer to 5PM so we left after our first round.

    Janet R.

    I LOVE this new, modern tiki lounge in downtown Raleigh! I am a huge fan of Watts and Ward, so it was exciting to see the owner's new exotic cocktail lounge come to life. The location is great because it's slightly tucked away from the craziness of Glenwood itself. I stopped by on a busy Friday night but to my delight, there weren't too many people in this bar when I arrived around 11:00 PM. It was still lively but not too crowded like some other bars can be. My friend and I tried out their frozen cocktail, the Belafonte No. 1, which was super tasty, made with Tito's Vodka, Rumhaven coconut rum, blue curacao, coconut cream, and pineapple. I also asked the bartender for his favorite drink, so I tried the Jamaican Planters Punch. This drink is made with their Ark rum blend, demerara, and allspice. The drink menu leans heavily toward rum-forward drinks (obviously, it's a tiki bar), but there are a lot of options to choose from including beers, ciders, sake, wine, and bubbles. Overall, I'm a fan. Bartenders and security were friendly and cool. Bathrooms were clean. Music was good and loud, but not too loud. This place passes the vibe check for sure. They are open Wednesdays through Sundays from 4 PM - 2 AM. I'm excited to bring more of my friends here and to try more drinks off their menu soon!

    Lauren M.

    I was pleased to see a tiki bar so close to where I live! My family doesn't love a bunch of frills with their drinks but I was able to persuade them to stop in with me before dinner one night. We were the only ones there at the time which was a plus since we are a larger group. The decor was very cute and boho and the drinks were great! To my surprise, my family really enjoyed it too! I can't wait to come back for another drink when I'm in the area.

    The "King"
    S. M.

    With bars and pubs opening up, Glenwood South might seem a little overwhelming. You haven't been able to travel and you're dying to see and feel the South Pacific. Well have I got the place for you. If you want a relaxed vibe and a damn good drink then I recommend "Arc Royal" on Glenwood South. If you dare to step off the main strip behind the Creamery you'll find this little nook of paradise. Darius makes damn good drinks, and Will runs a tight ship. I recommend the "Jaguar shark NO 2". If you search hard enough you just might find the "King" hanging out in a little corner. Even the champagne pops when no one's looking. Put on your Hawaiian shirt and get ready to explain what a reel to reel tape player is. Paradise is waiting.

    Megan P.

    The Ark Royal Tiki Bar has authentic tiki drinks that are delicious, unique decor & lighting, and an outdoor patio with fire pits. I loved the atmosphere here and everyone was extremely nice. The drinks were amazing and I will definitely be coming back!

    Saturn
    Clarissa C.

    This is one if the most chic bars I've ever been to! The decor is just lovely and there was live music when I went! The bartenders are seriously mixologists and each cocktail is made with such craft and talent! A great overall vibe!

    Bar
    DrDamini S.

    This is a newly opened and really great place to enjoy drinks with friends! This is the best tiki bar so far that I have been to. The bar ambience and vibe is absolutely amazing. The place might get crowded very quickly on weekends so don't wait if you find a seat anywhere to enjoy your drinks in their boho set-up

    The zombie drink. I'd recommend ordering
    Ashley O.

    Overall pretty good first time experience! I ordered the zombie and I'd recommend it. I loved the outside patio area with the fire. Place was really cute with a chill vibe. Perfect spot to grab a drink and hang out with friends. I only rated it 4 stars because the drinks my friends ordered were decent but could've been better!

    Heart eyes with drink

    What can I say about The Ark Royal that hasn't already been said... Do they have drinks? YES! Do they have Tiki? HECK YES! How's the Ambiance? Let's just say they practically invented the word. A gr8 night has never not started with a Riki Tiki and a sick beat. I give this place 5 stars and a pair of heart eyes.

    Bartender mixing up some magic

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    2 years ago

    Great service! Ask for Ben behind the bar. Chill vibe, cool drinks, good parking. Will be coming back for the Jungle bird

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    5 years ago

    Omg this place is so cool... we just stumbled upon it tonight and it has the best vibes and music! Literally so cool

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    5 years ago

    This place is a hidden gem. Great drinks reasonable prices. They have indoor and outdoor area. Very Instagramable and a perfect for groups.

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    Ask the Community - The Ark Royal

    Is there food available for purchase? If so, is it just apps or are entrees available?

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    FOUNDATION

    FOUNDATION

    4.5
    (332 reviews)
    0.7 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
    South side
    South side
    Foundation old fashioned
    Foundation old fashioned
    Bar

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    Bar
    Whiskey Kitchen

    Whiskey Kitchen

    4.0
    (789 reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $$

    Wow! I said I'd come back but I didn't realize it had been 8 years!…read more My husband Dan H and I had a great lunch with some friends today. We all shared an order of fries for the table, which were amazing. Then I got the grain bowl with shrimp, and everything was perfectly prepared and delicious. My husband enjoyed his biscuits and gravy with fried chicken- so tender and decedent. Our friends enjoyed their meal, too, and enjoyed the apple custard for dessert. The mocktails were also delicious- I loved one with hibiscus and ginger. So nice to have a bunch of mocktail options! The ambiance was just as great as it was 8 years ago- spacious and light. The server was great, and let us linger for a few hours without hovering. Hope to be back sooner than another 8 years from now!

    If bourbon and whiskey choices were a personality trait, The Whiskey Kitchen would definitely have…read morecommitment issues...because the selection is massive. Seriously, if you can't find a pour you like here, you may just need water instead. Started with the biscuits topped with crackling and house-made preserves, and honestly, that combo alone made me question why I don't eat more biscuits in life. Sweet, salty, buttery chaos in the best way. For the main, I went with the pork chop and greens. The chop leaned a little overcooked for me personally, but the sauce helped bring things back together and added good flavor. The greens had a nice little kick of heat, but I kept waiting for that deep smoky ham hock flavor to show up like an old Southern grandma entering the kitchen... and it never quite arrived. Overall though? Still a solid meal, strong whiskey program, cool atmosphere, and definitely worth checking out if you're in Raleigh looking for a bourbon-forward dinner spot. Travelin_Broke approved with a slight side-eye from the greens.

    Photos
    Whiskey Flights
    Whiskey Flights
    Smoked mozzarella salad with fried chicken
    Smoked mozzarella salad with fried chicken
    The Botanist and Paper Plane

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    The Botanist and Paper Plane
    Brewery Bhavana

    Brewery Bhavana

    4.4
    (1.6k reviews)
    0.8 mi
    $$

    This restaurant pleasantly surprised me. I'm honestly not a huge Chinese food person, and when…read morepicking restaurants, it's usually not something I naturally gravitate toward. I was actually a little nervous going in because certain Chinese dishes tend to upset my stomach, so I tried to avoid some of the heavier noodle and chicken dishes that normally do that to me. Honestly, I think that was the best decision because I thoroughly enjoyed my meal and felt completely fine afterwards. I started with the crab rangoons, which were perfectly creamy on the inside and crispy on the outside -- absolutely delicious. Then I tried the pork-filled bao buns, which was my first time ever having them, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed them too. Everyone else at our table seemed to really enjoy their food as well. I genuinely didn't hear a single complaint. We also ordered some drinks that were delicious, and both our server and the rest of the staff were absolutely fantastic and very welcoming throughout the night. The atmosphere and vibes inside are honestly one of the coolest parts of the experience. It somehow feels like a mix between a brewery, a florist, a bookstore, and a Chinese restaurant all at once. It's such an interesting and unique space that doesn't really feel like anywhere else. Overall, this was a great experience, and I would absolutely come back to try more items on the menu.

    This is a one stop shop, brewery, flower shop, library/book store and dim sum restaurant!…read more The food. Really really good dim sum. I stopped in just a they were opening on a Friday and thank goodness I showed up when I did, this place gets packed quick and you should book a reservation to be on the safe side. I was most excited about the duck egg rolls but ended up being my least favorite not because they were slightly on the dry side. Flavor was good, and the hoisin honey sauce really helped! The seafood dumplings were second best, stuffed full. The soup based was amazing and it also came with some bread for dipping in the leftover sauce. The pork and chive shumai were my favorite! A little bit bigger than bit sized but worth the mouth full! Absolutely would recommend. I'll 100% be back for more food. The bar side looked to be more casual, the dinning room was full of high tea attire so I did feel a little under dressed, thought it would be slightly more casual. They have the cutest library with free books to read but only while you dine in. The flower and book shop are in the middle of the space. Super cute, limited options but great for a last minute bouquet!

    Photos
    Read a book and feast
    Read a book and feast
    Pork & Chive Shumai
    Pork & Chive Shumai
    Rosette Reserve Beer

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    Rosette Reserve Beer

    The Ark Royal - bars - Updated June 2026

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