This is a cool novelty spot to check out for something a little out of the norm on your night out. I went here during the day with my boyfriend and thoroughly enjoyed the quieter, more intimate vibes. It's a very small space, as you can imagine, but there are plenty of places to sit. I enjoyed the view and the natural light that lit the room. It's not a place I personally would want to camp out at for an extended period of time but it's definitely a cool spot to check out and bring a very small group. read more

The Green Light - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

I had to sneak up on my friend Luva who also happens to bartend at The Green Light last Friday on my visit back to NC. Little did I know exactly how hidden it was when I began this one block caper. Up the unmarked stairs and through the bookcase we went. I know craft cocktails are so passé now that they are the norm at nearly every bar you go to but The Green Light has really taken the ball and run with their selection. Foundation, who lead the crusade even falls behind. Alas. Point being: get the Eastern Medicine. I sent you. read more

The Green Light - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Hidden behind the bookshelf, this tiny hidden gem is found. It is very cozy and when it's at capacity (30 people maybe), it gets a bit tight and intimate. The walls are covered with velvet wallpaper, which is so chic! In true speakeasy fashion, the hand crafted cocktails are on point. I opted for the 5th Avenue, vodka, blueberry, cinnamon, divine. I had 2... and could've had about 10 more. If you come in on a Friday or Saturday, reservations are a must! read more

This was such a great place to have our pre-dinner date drinks at. We were walking down the street when my partner exclaimed that inside the Architect was a hidden room. So we went and inquired and well, don't you know it, not just any room, but a speak easy with handsomely dressed men and one of a kind drinks with unique names. I loved mine; "Porn on Mute" that had a metal straw. Our barkeep (pictured) was very informative and didn't mind answering all the questions I had about what was what. I can't wait to go again and try yet another new drinks! Highly recommend. read more

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It's a cool place. The drinks are a little pricey and there isn't a lot of space but it's a really fun speakeasy. The level of detail in the place is awesome. read more

This is truly the definition of a hidden gem! My friend gave me the scope about this place and said it was a must visit when I was in Raleigh, so of course I jumped on the bandwagon to make reservations! It's a very small and intimate space -- maybe 6-8 bar seats and 6-8 small tables. Low lighting to set the mood. Music to enjoy but not too loud where you can't enjoy a conversation or hear someone. Two bartenders to serve the place (if you're lucky their the cute ones)! The service when you first arrive is great, as they want to get a drink in your hand, however it did decline a little and I may have stayed for another drink if someone asked early enough (not after sitting there for 10mins being ignored). I get it's a hopping place and they're the only two, but you gotta keep those glasses filled! Cocktails were in the $12-15 price range, just as you would expect at a speakeasy/nicer bar, which isn't bad as I've seen some places like this hike the drink prices up to the $20 range. I got the Conniption Fit and it was a delicious blend of Gin, Rosemary & Cucumber... super refreshing in the summertime! Super cool concept and worth the little bit of an extra $$ spend for a drink to experience the atmosphere of a true speakeasy! If you want to find a true "hole in the wall" hidden gem that tucked away inside a busy, hoppin' bar... I'm not sure why you're still reading and not texting to make reservations... GO! read more

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Hidden in plain sight at the Architect Bar and Lounge you'll find Green Light! Done up speak-easy style, pull back that heavy curtain and you'll enter a quiet area for sophisticated cocktails and liquors. Old-school decor of stuffed chairs, gilted mirrors and formal bartenders, the Green Light has a short but interesting list of house drinks and an easy-going feel. My first two visits were highlighted by great drinks, interesting conversation all improved by the warm summer breeze coming through the windows. Yes, this speak-easy is not in a cavernous basement but instead features windows opening out onto Hargett Street, nice! And while I still love C Grace and Foundation, Green Light provides a different way to do cocktails and yes, it's a welcome one. Just be warned that it's a small space so plan accordingly and text ahead for space if possible. read more

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I have to say, I went but I thought they served food. So I didn't stay long. The waiter was nice and the bartender was very friendly and sociable. The decor inside was fitting. The only thing I would say, is, I wish they would play more into the hidden aspect of the place when you get there there's no pomp to that aspect of it which is promoted as the main gimmick of the place. read more

Shhhhh! Don't speak too loudly on this one. Nice hidden secret for Raleigh. Secluded and afterwards if you wanted to dance you would just walk into The Architect. Definitely recommend read more

Atmosphere was great, the service was awful, and the drinks were just okay. We arrived a bit late for our reservation, which is fully our fault (parking was a nightmare), but I apologized profusely. However, we did try calling several times to let them know, and to see if we could move/change our reservation or if there was a cut off x amount of time past when you reserved a table, and no one answered... I'd heard how cool this place was and how you have to search for the entrance to this hidden speakeasy, and we were excited for the experience. There's literally a host stand right outside the "hidden" bookshelf with someone who asks if you're there for the Green Light, and then pulls the door open for you. Not mystique there. We waited over 20 minutes for our drinks. There were not THAT many other customers in there to justify such a long wait time. And then literally no one gave us the time of day after that. At least five employees were in and out of the room several times and everyone seemed more concerned about chatting than doing their jobs. I wasn't impressed with my drink (5th Avenue), but my guy liked his (Honey Rose) well enough. I tried both and his was better than mine, but neither of them were anything special. We never got offered the chance to try another round of drinks, as no one came to our table again, but the host did come to let us know our table had another reservation in 10 minutes, and to let him know how we'd like to pay. That was so incredibly rude and inappropriate. Why would you schedule another reservation at a table without informing people there is a time limit to how long you're allowed to be there? What if we had wanted to stay and get another round and give this establishment more money? There were other groups that had been there longer than us and as far as I could tell, weren't rushed to leave. In fact, they were ordering another round as we were hurried out. So incredibly RUDE. I feel like this place thinks it's way ~cooler~ than it actually is. From all the reviews, I expected much more, but I definitely wouldn't recommend this place. It's overhyped and everyone is clearly full of themselves. read more

Biggest waste of time ever. We were told you need to make a reservation to get in so we did. At our reservation time we were told that we could not get in because people were still in there. After 30 mins of waiting we were told that our reservation basically met nothing and they could possibly get us in an hour after. I would not waste my time on this place, there are way better places in Raleigh that are friendlier and better atmosphere without all the hassle. read more

They weee great!! We had the best bartender!!! Asked for a tequila soda with some sprite and he made a homemade lemon like syrup for me. Great company, good vibes, good conversation, great drinks. Did I say good drinks?? Yea I did. They are awesome!! Swing by here on a night out for sure read more

I've gone to this bar twice and both times I got terrible service. First time a gentleman sat us down and told us someone would be with us shortly, however after waiting for a while we decided to walk up to the dar ourselves. Second time the bartender didn't even try to make eye contact with us, worse part was there were only like 10 ppl inside so it not like they were super busy and didn't see us. Definitely don't recommend this place read more

Great atmosphere, bartender Sam on Wednesday night was great(only night I went while I was in town). The staff is very accommodating

Definitely caught The Green Light on what I hope was an off night. A flustered bartender since employees did not show up made for a rather unpleasant experience on an early Saturday evening. Cocktails were okay, we have definitely had better, but I loved the space. The bartender did use a stencil and a bottle of food coloring to spray a panda onto the top of my drink. He was able to do this because the egg white created a frothy top so that helped to make the cocktail awesome. I am curious to try The Green Light again when they are fully staffed to see how it compares. Just make sure you look for the green light. And, if you plan to visit on a Friday or Saturday make sure you text the number for a reservation. read more

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The Green Light is definitely an experience, and I commend them for their idea and their effort, but I feel like it's not quite there yet. Having gone to a few "speakeasy" type places in "hidden" rooms (See 'the Laundry Room' in Las Vegas) I have some things to compare this too. From what i've seen and read though it's sometimes very easy for a place to try to hang their hat simply on the idea and not do much else beyond, and I think the Green Light may be suffering a bit from this problem. First of all, having someone always at the desk at the front kinda takes away from the secrecy of the idea in general. Perhaps have that person also be a bar back or bar tender near a certain point you talk to? Having someone always standing there seems a bit pointless when they take reservations with a phone number.... Another thing - having to leave the secret "speakeasy" area to go to the rest room is also another way that you're quickly taken out of the ambience. I feel also like they got part of the way there with the decor and the name, but could do more. The windows for one would help for being darkened a bit from the street, and the back of the bar is full of dusty mugs and random things that don't really need to be there and don't add anything to the 1920's speakeasy vibe they are going for. I also felt that half of the music playlist made no sense for the atmosphere either. R&B and some Club music was part of the playlist and it really was a bit odd. I think they could turn the volume down and try to get music a bit more on theme. A simple change of playlist and volume would go a long way. They are almost there, but I think a few adjustments to the decor and additions could really up the vibe for very minimal effort. (Honestly the same goes for the bar up front, the Architect, a few changes in furnishing, lights, light placement, and floor refinishing could go a LONG way, so the owners seem to need to follow through and make their vision a bit more cohesive over-all) It's not all lost though and I can understand why people are giving this place 5 stars - As far as the good - the drinks were delicious, and very well made. The bar tenders were busy but still attentive as they could be given the space was pretty full when we were there. The prices are on par with other fancy cocktail joints. We didn't feel rushed or unhappy and generally had a good time. I hope to come back again after a while and see if they made any improvements. It's a fun idea, it just need a bit of work to really be on par with other establishments. read more

A fun speakeasy. The bartenders were super nice and knowledgeable. Received great drink recommendations. Loved the intimate atmosphere. A great spot when you want to try something different. The host was also super friendly and welcoming. read more

Came here on a Wednesday night because I was talking to someone about secret bars in NYC and he told me there was one in Raleigh. Determined to check this off of my to-do list, I set off to the Architect. I actually forgot how to get in and had to ask the bartender behind the bar at the Architect. When I eventually opened the secret door, it felt like I walked into Narnia. It was a magical moment when I stepped through and ended up in a very cozy, relaxed little bar with great ambiance. Since I got there so early, I was the only one there and didn't have trouble getting a seat at the bar. I was told that on weekend nights, you actually have to text them your reservation. The bartender was awesome! He seemed so passionate about what he does and he definitely knows his stuff as well. He started me off with a Bourbon drink. It was very well mixed so I couldn't even taste the Bourbon. The second drink was a "Rum Old Fashioned" and he called it very "spirit driven". One sip and you'll know why. Later on, more people showed up including this couple. Actually, it was one of their birthdays and the bartender wrote "Happy Birthday" on the little blackboard. It's small gestures like that that gets you loyal patrons. This place gets a solid 5 stars in my book. I'll definitely be back! read more

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We had a good time. Made reservations via text about a week before. Love the speak easy feeling. Bartender was all about it! I tried two different drinks and they were delicious. read more

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Cocktails here are really good. It's kind of a pain to actually go, but if you get in it's great. The atmosphere is everything you'd expect from a speakeasy. We really like bringing visitors here. Very unique experience. read more

I love the drinks and I love the atmosphere but the staff is not nice. Def not a welcoming vibe. Used to be a warm and friendly spot.

I have been a huge fan of the Green light located above the Architect. I've been a pretty regular customer for the last couple of years. The "speakeasy" atmosphere has such an amazing allure and even when it began to get a little too busy and requiring reservations, I still remain a fan. I took a very dear friend there last night on Valentine's Day and I have to say it was the second disappointing visit in a row in only a couple of months time. There has been a change of staff with the bartenders and I found them to be the exact opposite of the earlier bartenders in that neither one, either the man or the woman behind the bar, were engaging at all. They were more focused on bar prep than they were on their customers. When I finally ordered a drink the female bartender actually pulled out a recipe sheet and mixed my drink from the recipe sheet and it was only 60% full when she filled my glass. She had to make a second round to top off my drink, she put a sippy straw in my drink and tested it for taste and then dumped the remaining mix in the sink. I was more than a little shocked. The change of atmosphere coupled with an inattentive and inexperienced staff made my Valentine Day visit more like a "Valentine's Day Massacre" and I'm confident they've lost my business probably indefinitely! read more

Wow, wow, WOW! This was a perfect date night spot! We've never been to a speak-easy style bar and this may have ruined them all for us because it was so good! Right off the bat the host greeted us as we came up the stairs and gave us acting roles to open the secret door which was super fun. Once inside, the full service bar staff took our orders and we were free to relax and enjoy both the incredible cocktails and each others company. There is limited seating so it doesn't get too crowded and the music was a fun mix. We made the comment it was loud enough to have to sit close together for conversation which was the ambiance we were looking for in a date night. We tried several of their featured menu items and our top two would have to be the Rum Flipped and the Opium War. The staff was happy to make suggestions and it was fun to watch them craft each cocktail. We are SO happy we stumbled onto this speak easy and will be - quietly - recommending it to everyone we know who will be visiting Raleigh. read more

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Shh don't tell anyone about The Green Light Bar. Seriously though I'm digging this place and do want to keep it the mysterious secret that it is. I'm not a fan of the Architect so I was a little skeptical walking up those steps in the first place, but I had to check out a cocktail lounge that you have to text to get a seat at, that left me anxious to see what was behind the door. After given The Green Light number to text from another elite it was time to see what this place was all about. I stopped in during the week I believe on a Wed. night nobody answered the text so we walked right in. To my surprise there was no secret code or pretentiousness about the place. We grabbed a seat in this speakeasy type joint that only seats I would assume 20 to 25 people it's really tiny but that's what makes it so awesome. The bartender was super friendly and gave us some recommendations from the drink menu. The cocktail menu reminded me a bit of C-Grace but much smaller. They had some amazing drinks and they each take at least 10min or more to make so be patient. There is a lot of love and care that goes into these drinks. By far my favorite drink of the night was made with some sort of fresh beet juice. I actually haven't stopped thinking about this drink it was that good. What's the deal with the texting? I asked the bartender and on Friday & Saturday night you know when you see that ridiculous line outside of Architect well feel free to text them with your name and the number in your party they will let you know if they have room for you and you can skip that line and get right in. One of my favorite new finds in DTR! read more

The Green Light - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

You have to text a number to make a reservation to get in. I recommend texting the number early for a better chance. Once you get there, tell the hostess you have a reservation and they'll walk you in. Love that they don't let a lot of people in at a time, that way you don't have to wait long for a drink. read more

The Green Light - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

So remember on the old Scooby Doo cartoons, when Shaggy would lean against a bookshelf, and it would move, revealing a completely secret hidden room? Well that's what this is like. You push the shelf, say the words "Open, SESAMEEE!" (Ok, well I only really said that in my head.) But we did push open a bookshelf to reveal this clandestine spot. My Favorite brought me here on a Monday night. It was mostly empty, but very warm and inviting. Good find! He and I both agreed that we felt like outcasts for not having known about this "super secret ultra-cool swanky prohibition-style hidden space". Why didn't anyone ever tell us? (He knew about it before I did, and surprised me with it the other night.) I had a Brooklyn. It was very well- prepared. We sat against the wall in a cozy corner. I love the lighting and I love the old-fashioned fire extinguisher. Afterwards, we walked through the Raleigh City Cemetery.....another spot that is somewhat hidden from the general public, yet so close, it almost touches downtown. Quiet, peaceful, and full of mystery....That seemed to be the theme du noir. read more

The bookcase entry way, love at first recognition of what was happening lol. The relaxing atmosphere here is great. Just enough music, just enough lounge, just enough socializing. The drinks were very very good! The bartender was very friendly the night that my friends & I went and we were all pleased with our orders! Will definitely be visiting here again in the near future. Do yourself the favor and go if you're looking for a relaxing ambience 1920s-ish filled night. read more

The Green Light - Our drinks... Can't remember the names but very good! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Cute speakeasy. Strong drinks. Nice staff. Went at about 5pm on a Sat evening and was able to walk right in.

Service was really really lacking. There only 10-15 guests total while we were there yet our server rarely came by. We ordered a second round of drinks that never came and watched the bar tenders on their phone or just standing- clearly the server hadn't passed along our drink orders. When we tried to flag her down to our table for the ticket she ignored us. When we finally went to the bar to pay for our 1 round of drinks she stood with her back to us talking to the bartender ignoring us while the 2nd bartender was on her phone ignoring us. mind you this is a very small room. You have to work to not notice what's going on around you. Then she finally gave us the ticket with 2 round of drinks on it. When we said that we never got our second round she tried to argue with us. The atmosphere was great and music was good. The drinks we got were very tasty. We we're planning to bring our friends but changed our minds. Do not want to deal with this kind of service again for the price. read more

I have been here twice and have had 2 of the top 5 drinks of my life. Intimate setting. Friendly and knowledgeable bartender. Had a gin drink with pomegranate, cardamom and habanero 3 years ago. Best drink i ever had. Went there recently and had the beet based drink. Was well balanced and earthy. Not sweet like most cocktails. They have something for every tastebud. It is behind the bookshelf on the right in the architect bar. read more

The Green Light - Beet based drink. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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The staff here was extremely rude. Server was fine but bartender and doorman were actually insulting.

A very cool experience I recommend for anyone in or coming to Raleigh. It's a tight space with about 6 seats at the bar and 5 small tables. The bartenders were very personable and friendly. The hostess was able to squeeze us in despite not having a reservation and it being pretty busy (fortunately we came pretty close to opening). The drink was quite tasty, and it just felt neat to be getting drink in a place that is literally behind a bookshelf. :) read more

I came in for saint Patrick's day and I remembered Justin from the last time I came in. We had an awesome conversation and I his drinks and getting to chat with him at the bar. He made me and my friends night! Thanks Justin! read more

I adore this little Speakeasy! It's tucked away in another bar called Architect. I'm sure someone has given the entrance away in a previous review, but I think it's fun to leave it a bit mysterious. The bartenders are wonderful. I chatted with one for awhile about Campari and learned a lot about drink mixing that evening. Drinks are about $12 each and really tasty. There's a good variety on the menu, but they're happy to go off and make something else if you wish. The inside is cozy and small, so you have to make reservations by texting a number. Highly recommend stopping in! read more

I love this place so much! What a hidden gem inside the Architect. But it is a little weird you have to pay $1 to get upstairs when you don't want to be in the club area, you just want to be in the speakeasy. Also, highly recommend making a reservation in advance since the speakeasy is very small. But they were accommodating to us and we didn't mind waiting a bit for a spot to open. The drinks are totally prohibition era (think French 75 and Old Fashioneds), and very well crafted. Superb bartenders and awesome ambiance. They will make you whatever you want, even if it's not on the menu. And some drinks even include a little flame action, pretty cool to watch them mix! Spoiler alert - the Green Light is tucked away behind bookcase doors. Hello, English majors and aspiring authors, this could be your new hangout for inspiration! read more

Maybe I'm a sucker for the secret bookshelf entrance and the fact it's tucked away in the middle of a bustling street and busy bar, but Green Light is a gem! Super intimate and a small location so going early is to your advantage because once it's busy, getting in let alone getting a table is very hard. The cocktails are wonderful and tastefully made - simple fantastic! I wouldn't recommend going with more the 4 people because it could get hard for everyone to sit together. read more

Neat little space, very intimate. Phenomenal playlist. Rude bartender. Drinks were good.

The cool concept of a hidden, intimate bar behind a bookcase in another bar was sadly hampered by a viciously arrogant and unbearable bartender. Our group of 9 (mild-mannered bachelor party) had a reservation and was seated, however a member of our group had purchased a drink at that "parent"/ partner bar and attempted to bring it in; unfortunately, Jeffrey the bartender (I think that was his name...he looked like Peter Dinklage or possibly Father John Misty) stopped him and informed him that he couldn't bring his drink in- not because of understandable legal constraints, but because he makes "special drinks" in his special secret bar. The rest of the group had all already ordered drinks, but bartender insisted on disallowing one friend from joining his other friends. From there, we kept trying to have fun but Jeffrey was uncooperative, condescending and dismissive when we and other patrons would ask about various drinks, liquor etc. This place would be 4-5 stars with a bartender who has an authentic desire to interact with people and teach them about drinks. tl,dr: a cool concept with good drinks severely dampened by an insufferably arrogant and rude bartender. Do not recommend. read more

Loved this hidden gem... Definitely will go back when I'm in Raleigh again. Classy, beautiful, and great bartender. read more

As a lover of craft cocktails, I was so excited to try my first "speakeasy" type cocktail bar. This place is located inside of Architect bar. As you're walking towards the bathroom, there's a bookshelf that pushes open, leading you into the quaint Green Light. With only four 3-4 person tables, some seats at the bar, and one bartender, this place is the definition of intimate. I loved the classic old fashioned music they played along with their cocktails. The service was excellent and friendly, though the drinks did take a while to make only because of their complexity. I had the conniptions and fits, a deliciously sweet mixture of gin, honey, lemon, and rosemary. While the drinks are pricey (11-15$ per cocktail), they are expertly made with the best liquors and additions. This would be a great place for an intimate date night or night with 2-3 friends. read more