Quiet local dive bar. Interesting place, with random mismatched chairs, pillows, couch, and wall hangings. Cute spot to hang out. If you have dust allergies, you'll need to sit outside. read more

Like finding an old friend!! DO HAPPY to see it's still here. Come out for the community Xmas sing along 12/21 8ish. The original dive bar that others aspire to be!!! read more

The Cave - The ha Hallowed Bar - Bars Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

I went in with a group and asked for lemon drop shots for my group. The bartender who originally greeted us said no immediately. We thought he was joking lol. His coworker then made our shots, but when asked about why he said no, she left us with a rude explanation ("I'm making them aren't I?". We tipped a low amount due to the service and left. The bartender who made our shots followed us out of the bar, booing us about our tip and said don't bother coming back. We said we wouldn't!! Would not recommend- incredibly poor customer service I wouldn't even call it customer service. If you're out of something just say that, no need to act like the people you're serving are crazy for asking for a standard shot. The girl who made our drinks wasn't terrible but pretty unprofessional read more

This bar was very rude to me and my friends a couple of weeks ago. We are all over 21 yet we're screamed at by the manager for having "fake ID's" yet served us alcohol the weekend prior, I even showed him pictures of us inside the bar with drinks and told him to scan our ID's so he could see they weren't fake. He yelled and threatened to call the police even when we were just trying to talk to understand why he was treated us like this all of the sudden, he even said he recognized two of my friends. Given the reaction from him and the reviews we saw from other people once we left the bar, i have come to the conclusion that he was discriminating against my friends. This is really disgusting behavior considering the environment and what the bar claims to be in support of. Please be careful going here. read more

A very cozy venue for experimental electronic music from laud punk to ambient. There's a bar but I don't do alcohol so I have no business talking about it. There's a room in the back with a pool table and other amusements. It's quieter back there. I suggest ear plugs unless you don't care enough to protect your hearing. read more

How is it that in all the years that I've been visiting this area, that this is the 1st time my childhood bestie has taken me to this bar? It's aesthetic is so spot on for many of our teen shenanigans. It's down a narrow stairwell in a basement. OK so being from South Louisiana, I find basements fascinating anyway. So that's a plus in my book. My friends had a beer and a cider and I got my standard bourbon and coke. The well bourbon was ok and not the total rotgut you might think from the surroundings. We hung out in a booth and chatted until the band started. They were really good! Unfortunately we were scheduled to meet another friend elsewhere so we made our way back to the street. Definitely a fun spot to have a drink and listen to music. read more

I'm from out of state and here in NC for only a couple of days. Drove all the way to Chapel Hill to visit this bar at a friend's insistence. The bartender was rude and treated me like I was not welcome there. She asked to see my ID and then told me that if I can't prove that I'm vaccinated I'm not welcome there. Mask or not. What?'? Went to Iza instead and drank for 3 hours. Your loss, I guess. read more

Drove in from out of town to see a show. Sound was good and bathrooms were clean. But the friendly bartenders were my favorite. If I lived closer it would be a regular spot. read more

Cool atmosphere, the bar staff was incredibly rude in asking for more tips, multiple times, to myself and others in my party. Will not return for that reason. read more

My friend Mark was playing a show here on a Saturday night. After struggling to find a parking spot that was remotely close, I helped him carry his gear down to The Cave. Having never been here before, I have to say that it was almost exactly as I had pictured. It's very dark, and small--which makes sense since it has a Being John Malkovich-esque address. My head almost could hit the cavern ceiling! Technically, The Cave requires a membership since they are a "private club", but they weren't enforcing that at all. Since I'm a law-abiding citizen, I signed in as a guest. The bar had PBR, Downtown Trolley Brown (Carolina Brewery), and Flagship IPA all on tap. I chose the latter, and enjoyed people watching AND dog watching on a Saturday evening. Apparently, dogs roam freely in The Cave. The front room has the bar and some booths. I can't imagine more than 15-20 people sitting comfortably. Be prepared to know your neighbors if you're seeing a well-known band or musician. The back room has a pool table, but I didn't go back there. Overall, it's a pretty chill place. The sound is good and the bartenders are friendly. If you like local music and hang around CH, this should be on your shortlist. read more

The Cave - Tad Dreis - Bars Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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Beware claustrophobes and really tall people. This place should be experienced at least once for novelty's sake. Down a really steep, narrow staircase and beyond a creaky door lies the crypt of a bar, The Cave. I am of the belief that any departure from the norm can create a unique experience which is probably what made the night so fun. The smoke gets almost unbearable, likely due to the impossibly low "being john malkovich" ceilings but if you go with the right crowd and in the right frame of mind, you'll have an odd, entertaining night on your hands. read more

The Cave - a bar with colorful streamers hanging from the ceiling - Bars Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

I came here with a friend of mine for a drink before we went to another spot to hang out. Apparently, he really liked the place-- I think this was my first time actually in there. Honestly, it really does look like a cave-- perhaps worse. I felt kind of weird in there-- I think maybe the cave effects were overdone and it had ventured into a scary movie set of some kind. I don't mind scary movies, but it just felt kind of grimy in there to me-- not my cup of tea. The bartender was really nice and attentive-- also the crowd was interesting yet not too weird or distracting like the space of the cave. So I suppose I'd say this isn't my most favorite place in Chapel Hill. I'm the kind of person that I'll try a place another time-- maybe that particular time was just off or something, nevertheless at this point until then I'll leave the rating where it is. read more

The Cave - Bars Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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I've never been a huge fan of The Cave, though that's not really its fault. I'm a pretty tall guy, to the ceilings make it really uncomfortable for me to stand around. With my sensitivity to cigarette smoke I have real problems (there's supposedly a smoke-free area, but there are also supposedly unicorns in the world). The covers are usually a bit much for me, too. On the other hand, the clientele is excellent. Everyone here seems to be a great balance of cool and real, hipster and chill, serious and fun, intellectual and spirited. Not once have I gone to the Cave without meeting someone who I really like. The beer selection isn't great, so be ready to crank back some PBR (not necessarily a bad thing, if you're ready for it). It can get pretty crowded, depending on the entertainment, so you might want to show up early. read more

The Cave - Bars Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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This place was odd. They wanted our vaccine cards to enter but didn't card us. If you are looking for a dive bar this is it. They also don't want you to take your masks off to drink. read more

If you ever went to college and listened to local music, you'll know what to expect from this fine venue. It's dark, cramped, doesn't have great ventalation, the acoustics are dreadful, and you damn well shouldn't care about any of those things. They have a solid beer selection, a killer lounge in the back, and functional pool table. The best thing about college bars is that the men's bathrooms are not covered in incomprehensible wildstyle tags that plague the bathrooms of their urban counterparts. Instead they feature good old fashioned band stickers and proper homophobic (read: homoerotic) graffiti. read more

SUPER DIVE! I love the cave. You can go in your sweats. You can go in your 6 inch hooker heels. You can go nude. No one cares! I have literally done a crossword while taking shots and listening to a live band at 1 am on a Saturday at the Cave. No one looked twice. (OK, very telling about me, but still AWESOME) Make sure to have your hangover cure handy for the next morning. After taking shots and drinking $2 PBRs you are going to need it! read more

Can smoke and drink at the same time out back door. Pool tables, live shows, friendly staff. Definitely the cooler side of chapel hill. Bathrooms, however, are unshittable. read more

Say what?? I felt like I walked down some stairs and into a time machine. Why because this place made me feel young again (though I be old) - like a college student in a cool ass dive bar. Sooo laid back! Abby B. has it right - just come as you are - freaks, geeks and normal nellies. Ben served me up a Fullsteam Porter and a wicked punk playlist. Seems like an awesome place to see a show - low stuccoed ceiling just like a cave - the acoustics are intense - you can reach out and touch the band 'cause they're right there. I'm sure it gets loud down there. For the short time I was in "The Cave", I had fun and Ben told me I had to go to Baxter's next. He was sooo right! read more

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The Cave is BACK up and running!!! A loyal fan/customer bout it to keep The Cave alive - same people, same bar, same good vibes I repeat: THE CAVE IS OPEN!!! read more

I've been informed that the Cave is now ENTIRELY smoke free, front and back, up and down. I bet it will stink like an ashtray for another twenty years, though, even if they ever bother to mop the floors. Also- a pretty cool, quiet little place to watch the Carolina games in the afternoon or early evenings before the nightlife starts ramping up. read more

I really don't like the Cave. I've been here on a couple of occasions and never liked it. First off, they have live music here sometimes which would be great, but it's deafening. Like, ear-damaging loud. Like you cannot hear yourself speak let alone anyone else loud. Not to mention that there is literally no where to sit or even stand where you can both see the band and not be directly in the way of everyone else in the bar. On top of that, the bar is tiny, right by the "stage," and service is slow when they are busy. Another time I went in already tipsy and hung out in the back and it was just... gross. Dark, smoky, and unpleasant. read more

Great dive bar. As you can see from the photos it's dark and a little dingy, two great qualities in a dive because it scares off the sissies. The sink is outside of the bathrooms in the main bar area, kind of hilarious. We went on a Saturday afternoon, when the place was very quiet. I imagine it's a great venue for music given the acoustics. Factoid: This is the oldest bar in Chapel Hill still in operation, dating back to 1967. I wasn't too impressed with that date either. read more

You know that horror movie The Descent? Where they use the fact that the victims are in a cave to get you feeling all claustrophobic before you even see the pasty white flesh-eating things that live in there - making them all the more terrifying when you finally do see them? Yep. The Cave. Minus the flesh-eating. But the "pasty white creatures in a claustrophobic environment? That's dead on. Honestly, with so many other options available, I don't see how The Cave has managed to keep going. Real quick...open mic. Do you best to skip this one. Amateur stand up and bad poetry that don't quite cycle all the way around to being a least so bad they're funny are not fun. I don't care how many of the beers from a selection that basically exists so that you have no option but to just PBR it up you've had. No clue where the love for this place comes from. read more

The Cave is a spot that I definitely will be returning to. It's dark, divey, and has a good selection of drinks that won't break you. The staff is also super nice, and made me feel welcomed immediately. The crowd was interesting too, which is always good. They weren't obnoxious, just quirky and entertaining. If I saw The Cave in a David Lynch flick, it would probably fit right in. Go check it out! read more

By far the coolest bar in Chapel Hill. I have seen more music here than any other venue. Years back they had music 364 days a year. Now The Cave is better than ever they have a liquor, clean bathrooms, an upgraded sound system, and so much more. Chapel Hill's oldest tavern is a must see. They have more bands than any other venue in town. I have popped in randomly on a weeknight and seen an awesome band with no cover! The Cave Rocks! read more

Ewwww. I don't know how so many people can give 4 and 5 stars to this place. IT SMELLS!!!! Seriously, everything within a 15 foot radius of the bathrooms is stinky. And, given that the bar is tiny, it's hard to avoid the 15 foot radius around the bathroom. Ick. read more

Such fun. I love places like this--legends that don't have to try too hard to be good. And this dive is good. I'd give it 4 stars but the cigarette smoke wafting in from the small crowd outside in the cold gave me a headache even my drinks couldn't eradicate. P.S. Yelp has the worst customer service on the planet. read more

I can never find this place from Franklin street. Entrance is tucked away in a tiny alley between a couple businesses. The inside is tiny, with a cool wall/ceiling made to look like a Cave. Your tall friends might be a bit cramped. Any show there is intimate by default. I don't recall much offhand about their beer/liquor selection. They had some of your standard cheap stuff, maybe some craft offerings. Not a ton of taps. read more

Best dive bar and worst bathrooms in all of the triangle. It was the scene of many a turn of events for the evening. Great bands have passed through here. I am glad to have been a regular for a period of time. I am also glad to have not been a regular for a period of time. The Cave will be sorely missed. read more

The Cave... The bathrooms are newly beautiful... The brightest lights are found underground... I love this this place and these people with the heat of a nova... The beer is ice cold, the music is red hot and the only thing smoking is the vibe... In the words of Charles Bukowski: "We are here to drink beer, we are here to kill war... We are here to laugh at the odds and live our lives so well, that death will tremble to take us." Come on down to one of the best places in town... read more

Another good one gone. Was a great run and a great place. Nothing quite like it and there's no replacement for that smoky, subterranean, dark lair of local dive. Ah well... read more

Wow. Thought we were having a good time then we were sadly disappointed. Service was great but the regulars were beyond rude. Would never go back. Don't recommend. Spend your money elsewhere. read more

I give this local music bar five stars. No place like this one exist in North Carolina or most place in the south and even in New York. It's Chapel Hill's oldest bar--and place where music is born, comedians can come and try out their skit, meatloaf baking/rock-paper-scissors contests happen frequently and the townies of Chapel Hill call home. And the musicians that come through are 10 to 1 going to rock your socks off. You never know who's hanging in here. Local celebrities and national celebrities (REM, Trey Anastacio, etc) when in Chapel Hill frequently make a stop at this classic music bar. In the afternoons, it's a family atmosphere with pool table in the back and some arcade games and even Wii. This is a Wifi spot (surprisingly!) and word is, that Mouse, the owner, webstreams the shows that occur and international callers often get their source of culture here, where the American transition between hippie and hipster occurs. As a warning, The Cave requires membership to get in. But drinks are very cheap. PBRs, last I checked, was $2.50. Make sure to tip! The bartenders remember faces. And make sure to park in designated parking areas because Chapel Hill is notorious for towing. read more

Simply put, The Cave is a venue for people who genuinely love music. It's divey with a cool vibe but the people here aren't coming for perks or frills. They want good music, cheap drinks, and a crowd of like-minded people. That is what I found at The Cave. I would return. read more

Just the right amount of eclectic'ness. Warm and welcoming even to those not so sure at first. Not stuffy. Actually tasty red wine for a small dive bar. Excellent, friendly staff. Great, cozy back room with affordable ($1.50/game) and functional pool table. They cater to those who patronize them and boot out those who sneak in the back! Wish I'd gotten the bartender's name - she means business when needed. Also grateful to get my credit card back after leaving it there overnight! Will definitely return when back in town. read more

The Cave is back and as wonderful as ever! Hopefully Yelp will soon realize that it has reopened under new ownership.

One of my favorite spots in chapel hill! Tucked in the basement, down an alley, and actually decorated like a cave, this spot a true gem. As a live music spot, it's dark and intimate, with everyone up front and close to the band. As a comfy dive bar, it's a great spot too--usually a deal like PBR cans, and for a basement dive, the bartenders make a good, strong cocktail too. read more

Probably my favorite hole-in-the-wall bar in Chapel Hill. Just as a bar should be: loud (on the weekends, at least), cramped, dark - and welcoming. For the most part, the people who work here are awesome, the customers are locals (not the general college-students-gone-wild that other CH bars boast) and the pool table has finally been replaced! read more

I went here the other night. It was alright. The setup was desirable in terms of having a back room to get away from the bar and the crowd, however you smelled the cig smoke from outside even while the door was closed. The restroom was a bit odd too as the sink is a shared sink, outside of the toilet room. There is only one toilet for women, which is not cool.... But the joint is small, so I get it. The place is pretty creative in terms of modeling it to look like a cave, which is kinda is. (Long and narrow). :) Will I be back? Probably, but only if the music is good. I wouldn't make it my local hang out. Sorry if this offends anyone! It's just my opinion! read more

Walk down the stairway and find this lil' trinket...a bar dressed up in a cave costume... I dig it. 100% dive with mostly local bands - i thoroughly enjoyed the hillbilly punk band playing on my visit! Ladies bathroom can make you a little paranoid considering the ceiling hole & duality as a storage closet... but this aint top-o... and i like this. reasonable drinks - I'll be back, read more