I came here to experience a night out on the town all the way from Brooklyn, NY. I didn't realize until after when I looked on the business page that it had Brooklyn decor. Since I visited the day after Christmas there was still holiday decor up. The did play a small selection of NY based music which I did appreciate which music from other regions which I also enjoyed. What I didn't enjoy too much was my drink. I was trying to order a drink fro the festive list but one of the ingredients weren't available so I decided to just get a vodka and cranberry which tasted a little watered down. I'll probably try a second visit when come back in town. read more

The Haymaker - Vodka & Cranberry - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Came here for the Christmas decorations and loved it! The service was great, the spiked hot chocolates were delightful , the decorations are so creative (night before Christmas themed!) and we enjoyed the karaoke. read more

The Haymaker - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Reopened under new ownership and it is a must try! Creative and unique cocktails that are excellent with or without alcohol! The vibe inside is perfect for a drink with friends or a date before or after dinner or just to catch up and hang out. Can't wait to go back and try a few more drinks! read more

Whoo-hoo-- 1st Miracle Pop-up of the 2024-2025 szn! The Haymaker was spectacular! The bartenders are friendly and the service is excellent. The space is beautifully decorated, and immediately puts you in the holiday spirit! The miracle pop-up cocktails are great, per usual, with the Chrismapolitan being my favorite of all. 'Tis the season-- Cheers! read more

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Just reopened and outstanding. Creative drinks very well made in a beautiful bar. Excellent ownership which means great service and a great experience. Right around the corner from hotels and the convention center. Great place to start or end the night! read more

Conveniently located across the street from the Marriot in downtown Raleigh. I had two cocktails (Mama Said Knock You Out and Dreams of Oaxaca), both of which were recommended both the owner and both were DELICIOUS. Cool atmosphere. highly recommend for a delicious cocktail - their menu has a lot of really great options. read more

It's a quaint little spot which definitely feels warm! We came during the Christmas time, so it was decorated festively. The bartenders were nice and friendly, which was much appreciated. Plenty of holiday drinks to choose from. I definitely recommend you stop by! read more

The Haymaker - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Loved everything about this cute festive bar! Staff 10/10! Drinks 10/10. DJ 10/10. Had a great time. Be prepared to wait if it's crowded. Dress warm. We had a small wait but it was worth it. They have a cut holiday drink list or you can order a beer or your favorite cocktail. It's cute for a girls night out or a drop in before dinner which is what we did. There is a $5 cover which I was not anticipating but it was no problem. Just bring cash. read more

The Haymaker - Santa Pants - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

I arrived around 7:45, and there was a short line. There was staff outside managing the crowd and letting people in as others exited. Once in, we went straight to the bar and didn't have an issue quickly getting service and our drinks. I loved the view of the festive holiday decor. The holiday-themed drinks were also tasty. I tried the Elfing around, which is similar to the French75. Great drinks and service. I look forward to going back. read more

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Cute little bar with really good drinks! We went before the crowd got there and it was such a comfortable, inviting place to have a drink before the concert. read more

Loved the Christmas at the Haymaker experience. It can take a long time to get in so I suggest going on a week night. I went on a Wednesday at 6 and waited about 30 mins to get in but when we left at 7:30 there was no line so it's hit and miss. The drinks were great (I got the Rudolph's replacement drink and it came in a dinosaur glass). The place was crowded but had enough tables where you could find somewhere to sit and have a good time with friends. I would go again! read more

The Haymaker - Rudolph's replacement drink - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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Def good drinks. I have the dreamville. If tastes amazing. Good ambiance. The bartender made a great drink. I'd come here again for sure. read more

The Haymaker - The dreamville - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Haymaker is always a good place to go for a night out. They have great cocktails and great djs on the weekends. it's pretty small in the venue and can get pretty congested which makes it hard at times to order from the bar. It can also be loud so not ideal if you're trying to talk to someone. The holidays are my favorite time to go though because they do the pop up holiday bar. read more

The Haymaker - Miracle pop up holiday bar at haymaker - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Disclaimer - I've been multiple times but only for their Christmas bar pop-up, so I'm only reviewing the bar as it appears in December. The entire bar is decked out with over the top decorations, including wrapping the bar in wrapping paper and a blow up santa arch inside. The Christmas drink menu is ~ 12 different drinks and 2 types of shots. My husband and I tried a few different ones when we went this week, our favorite was yippie ki yay. It tastes like a tiki drink, and came with a mint leaf sprinkled with powdered sugar. All the drinks are served in specific glasses for that drink, and you can tell the bartenders take pride in the presentation. The only negative, if you go on a weekend you'll probably have to wait awhile to get in. It's not a huge bar, and it's really popular this time of year. read more

The Haymaker - the yippie ki yay - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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Staff are funny and engaging , all my dates compliment the decor , and the music is great. read more

The Haymaker - I love when it's slow. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Great spot in downtown Raleigh. Lots of drinks and great bartenders. Sometimes there's also a dj which makes it a lot of fun read more

The Haymaker - Seating - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Welcome to in Downtown Raleigh! If you still need to get into the holiday spirit, stop by and have yourself a cup or glass of holiday cheer! As soon as you open the door, Santa greets you! The room is completely transformed, fun ambiance! There isn't a lot of room inside and you may have some wait time but worth the wait. Drink names are great, they sell their glassware and I purchased the Santa naughty & nice shot glasses. I ordered the Elfing around drink and Yippie Ki Yay. read more

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The Haymaker is one of my favorite bars in downtown Raleigh. I really enjoy the layout of the bar, the cocktails, and the overall chill vibes. I've met some cool bartenders here, too, although they're not always the most friendly. I don't know if it's because they turn their nose up at someone who is young (which I've experienced from other places often!) or if they're just too busy. Either way, I'm not coming to hang out with them so it doesn't bother me too much. My favorite thing to do here is to get one of their punch bowls and share it on a sofa with some friends. It can serve 4-6 people, I'd say, unless you're really trying to drink then I'd say get 2! The Haymaker is great but it's even better when the Miracle pop up happens in the winter! The place is decked out in holiday decor and they have a special menu with themed drinks. If you've never been to Haymaker, come during this time! It's usually pretty busy and there's a cover if you're not a member (I think) but it's so worth it! Definitely some great Instagram content, if you're into that thing. read more

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Came here during their holiday themed night and my friends and I had a blast! I got a warm drink that came in a really cute Santa mug. We also got Nice shots which my friends were not too fond of, saying it had a rubbing alcohol aftertaste, but I thought it was fine. The interior was well decorated, but be prepared to wait in line outside for over an hour. read more

The Haymaker - Bad Santa - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

I went on a Saturday night when DJ Deluxe was spinning. The drinks and vibes were Unmatched and I will definitely be back. It's not a big venue but the intimacy makes it great for hanging w/ friends and having a good time. 10/10 read more

Ordered a nonalcoholic drink that they couldn't figure out what to charge it as, eventually they said "just give it to her" insinuating it was on the house. I look at my card this morning and I was charged $25 for a glass of sparkling grape juice. Would've been nice to have some communication as to whether I actually had a tab open or not. My friend was also charged 3 times for her drink?? The bartenders were not very kind to begin with. read more

The drinks are strong and the vibes are stunning! A perfect pre-opera stop for drinks and good conversation! Love the ambiance read more

The Haymaker - Espresso martini - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

This place has such a cool vibe! If I could buy some of the art pieces that were hanging, I totally would. I was actually surprised that it wasn't very crowded when we were there and it was Saturday but I'm sure it gets crowded later. The drinks were great! My friend suggested we come here and it didn't disappoint. They have bar seating and some regular tables. One of the drinks was very citrusy and delicious! Can't remember what it was exactly but I know it's al all year round drink. read more

The Haymaker - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Loved coming here for the Miracle pop up! The atmosphere is perfect for Christmas! I've ordered the yippee ki yaay here, the christmaspolitan, and the santarex here. The drinks are definitely strong. Forwarning. But that's the way I like it. Perfect place to go to! read more

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The music is always popping when they have a dj. Drinks forever on point love the mixologists.

So if you're in Raleigh and don't come here - did you even really go to Raleigh?! Honestly this place is a gem, it's super cute, the design is cute, homey, eclectic, and plush. The bartenders are fast and attentive, and the drinks are creative, yummy, and well priced. Walking in the space isn't super big, but it's all you need for you and your friend to be comfortable and have a good time. The walls are filled with beautiful paintings, antique items, and the bar is stocked - like stock-ety stocked. I went before and got a super cute drink with really yummy things in it i can't remember lol but last night- oh Thursday nights it's fun! $1 cover and a super cute DJ -but I got two fireball shots (the shots are $5 each and the "fireball" is homemade), as well as the Yes, Lawd! Which was strong and delicious and fills about two glasses with ice at just $9. This is becoming one of my favs so easily- definitely check it out and tell me what you got! read more

The Haymaker - Yes, lawd! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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The ambiance is very nice. The Dj on a Friday had me dancing all night. The service was very slow. And the drinks were a tab bit pricey and not worth it for the pour. read more

Hip-hop meets pre-prohibition at Haymaker. It was an enjoyable post-dinner experience on a midweek night here. The chairs are so comfortable and the drink choices were plentiful. Nice mix of wine and local brews as well. Our colleague recommended this and it was a rememberable late-night low-key conversation-catalyst type joint. The walk back to most downtown hotels makes it a nice spot, and I'll return when I can. read more

The Haymaker - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Intrigued by the punch bowls, swept away by the atmosphere. My boyfriend and I found the decor chic and wonder-inspiring. We wandered in at about 10 pm on a Friday night and the place wasn't crowded. I expected a nicer greeting at the door, but they requested our ID and a membership card upon entering. Membership is $1 per person. Upon seating, a server greeted us and gave us very cute cocktail menus. My boyfriend had the Daiquiri while I went for the Malbec. We enjoyed both our drinks! The menu was enticing, especially the punch bowls, which I mentioned above. I deducted a star because the cocktails seemed overly pricey and the greeter/bouncer at the door wasn't very friendly. I would definitely come here again though. It seems like a great place for a first date or to start off a girls' night. Upscale, yet relaxed because it's not overly crowded. We adored the music; seemed like the Snoop Dogg pandora channel was playing! Another plus is the games...Guess Who, Connect Four or Battleship will keep you entertained all night. read more

The Haymaker - The Daiquiri and their cute, bound paper cocktail menu. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Just wanted to update my review after visiting Haymaker's Miracle pop up. Great drinks as usual (I had the dirty santa, which was oat milk, chai, rum, and more). My two friends and I came around 8 on a Sunday and it was already packed, but line wasn't out the door. Definitely recommend coming early for Miracle because I can only imagine how packed it would be on a Saturday night. Love this place, but really wish they could expand the space somehow and maybe add another room. Great place to hang out but it just gets so packed for events like this. read more

The Haymaker - Bad Santa at Miracle - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Some friends and I were enjoying a fun summer night downtown Raleigh when we discovered Haymaker!! Because of construction in the area, it's kinda hidden, but a really cool spot. You pay $1 cover charge for the entrance. It's a really nice bar with comfy couches and lots of seating. They have board games and other fun games to play. They have specialty drinks as well as some classics. They have fun non-alcoholic drinks as well. We decided to sit on the comfy cool couch and one of the mixologists, Christian came to take our order. The drinks are super tasty and made with great attention to detail. Drinks are anywhere from $3 (non-alcoholic) to $12, and there's this cool punch bowl for 4 to 5 people to share for $49, as well as beer and wine. It's a great low key spot with great music!! I'll definitely be going back soon. read more

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The newest bar and cocktail lounge in Raleigh seems to be a winner! Located in the new Charter Square building, you'll have to work a bit to find Haymaker. It's in the back and out of street view. Inside you'll find a classy, Euro-centric type decor with a lot of space inside. Two-tops scattered about and a nice bar to the side. Haymaker seems to be focusing on cocktails and punches along with a small list of beers if you're not in the mood. Overall I was impressed with the spot and having a semi-hidden entrance may be a good thing in terms of attracting a more mature crowd. But we shall see, Haymaker has only been open for a couple of days so there will be lots of updates and changes moving forward. But for now, enjoy it for what it is. Another higher end cocktail bar with stylish decor and plenty of space for conversation... read more

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This place is just so pretty! Sitting down having a drink you can't help but stare at all the details of the place. From the huge flower wall mural, the mismatched chandeliers, the mid-century chairs, to the decorative punch bowls lining the top of the bar. I loved it! The Haymaker is a bit tucked away, their hand street sign instructed us to turn left and there it was. Basically once you see the B Good, turn the corner and they are in the same building just towards the back. The cocktail list is quite impressive. I love that they do punch bowls for a group and serve it with teacups. If you are there with a few people I would recommend one of the punch bowls, just for the experience of the thing. Since the cocktails have quite a few ingredients in them it does take a good bit of time to craft each one. I went in early on a Friday night so it wasn't too busy. I'm not sure how long the wait would be when the place is slammed. I'm more of a wine/champagne girl and the bartender suggested a great sparkling rose which I enjoyed. The staff was friendly. You order at the bar and then grab a seat. Once we were settled there was also a bartender working the floor taking empty drink cups and putting in additional orders. Looking forward to heading in again! read more

The Haymaker is my favorite cocktail bar! The drinks are fantastic, the staff is always great and the music is always on point. If you are looking for a place to grab drinks, this is your spot. read more

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Awesome speak easy vibe. Went on a Sunday afternoon and were the only ones in the bar, but we enjoyed some nice local IPAs. The cocktails looked very good. read more

The Haymaker - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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Tl;dr: don't get the gingerbread Christmas drink Ambience: 5/5 Drinks: 2/5 They do a good job decorating and I enjoy the music, hence the A+ for the ambience. But they have missed their focus of what a bar should focus on: drinks. The drinks are less 'mixed' and more so 'compiled' , usually resulting in a cacophony of flavors in sharp contrast to the musical background. I went there last year for the holiday thing they have and idk what was in the Gingerbread Mule that I had but it should've been called Gingerbread Man because I couldn't catch the gingerbread flavor. It was one of the worst drinks I've ever had--i.e. I only took three sips of it and put it back on the counter. Perhaps it's changed...but a friend reminded me today that it is still just as bad as before [with respect to the drinks]. read more

I'm a sucker for this place. It's my favorite bar in Raleigh and it might be because I can get a cocktail served in a tea cup. I always get Sing like a Bee. I mean Earl Grey infused Gin? Count me in. Plus you will be the cutest person at the bar sipping from your tea cup! read more

The Haymaker - I LOVE sing like a bee!!! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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Great for a weeknight cocktail or a group outing with friends. Punch bowls allow everyone to share on the experience. Decor a beautiful blend of classy Brooklyn NY. Staff is friendly while maintaining an air of confidence and professionalism. Ingredients are fresh and the cocktails are inventive twist on requested classics. read more

The Haymaker - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Great spot for cocktails! We went on a Thursday night after an event downtown. It wasn't busy, although we went around 8 and left by 9... I'd imagine the hip downtown Raleigh young-ins pack into this place after old farts like us go to bed. The decor is eclectic and unique, too, which creates a fun ambiance. They don't have an outdoor area, but I'd love to come back to this place during the winter when it's freezing cold out because the vibe inside is so warm and cozy. If you head there, be aware that the entrance is behind B. Good. We weren't totally sure where in the building it was because Google Maps is a little vague but head to B. Good and you'll... be good. :) read more

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I decided to stop by during the holiday season for Miracle pop up and I'm glad that I did. Parking can be a hassle depending on when you go. But service was awesome and the drinks were great!! The atmosphere was laid back, which I loved. The holiday decorations were cool. I'll be back again! read more

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