So I've only been for the Christmas pop up so far, but I'm in love! If they do everything as grand as they do Christmas then I'm there for all the regular cocktails as well. The decor is outstanding and a little tacky, but in the best way possible. The drinks are fun and inventive and even better, they have different Christmas glasses for just about any drink you order. I got the eggnog - so yum, but a heavier drink. Good after dinner one and done kinda drink. It came in the cutest mug. There was a dinosaur glass and I just need that in my life. Must go see! read more

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If you want to go to a weird bar that doesn't fit its location, go here. The decor is pretty eclectic and they have Biggie wallpaper in the bathroom. Drinks are solid and the crowd is always very mixed, which I appreciate. It thins out quite a lot as it gets late, so we tend to pop over here after we've wrecked all the other bars because it's much easier to get a drink close up last call. Christmas here is THE BEST. It's like the set of Elf. I really do like this joint. read more

They're still slinging good drinks behind the bar at this fun, retro bar on Fayetteville street. It's tucked away but worth the visit. It had been awhile since we'd been over here and though the menu has changed a bit the drinks are still as good as ever and the environment is funky and laid back. The 90's and early 2000's rap playing is audible but not distracting. I loved seeing a really diverse crowd when we visited Saturday night - everyone from college aged to 60+ from all walks of life. They've got a great assortment of classic cocktails with some creative concoctions mixed in and the prices are more than fair. read more

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

I've tried coming here a few times and it always takes forever to get a drink. I get they take awhile to make, but I've waited up to a half hour for drinks before. The atmosphere is cool. Some bartenders are super nice, while others are rude and clearly annoyed. I went with my friend during the miracle pop up. We had our offline media numbers for a free drink. The bartender refused to give us our drinks until we handed her a tip. We were planning on tipping to start with, but to demand a tip....smh. There's much better/nicer ways to suggest to tip too. One less star because the bartender held our drinks hostage. read more

Love the concept, the decor & the hip-hop music constantly playing overhead. Bartenders are nice & fun to talk to. Oh & the goldfish snacks! Love! While it's tucked away from the street, I think that adds to the "mystique." Good selection of cocktails & beer. Check out the bathrooms, too! Love the door & the wallpaper. read more

This place is cool. The decor and music is very black, which is a part of what makes this place cool, but it felt a little culture appropriation-ish, to me especially since the crowd is largely non-black. However, the drinks were good and creative. Service was quick and accurate. read more

The Haymaker - J.cole is here to welcome me in. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

First off, The Haymaker is gorgeous. Especially their huge floral wall. I was instantly in love, even before having a drink. The space is cozy and eclectic, without looking like it's trying too hard. Definitely a spot to bring guests you want to impress. The menu was very interesting and I decided on the Wet Hot Mexican Summer, a drink with El Jimador blanco, dry vermouth, watermelon,lime, egg white, mint. I was initially hesitant about egg and alcohol (if it's not obvious i'm more of a beer girl) but I decided to try my luck-- and i'm very happy I did! My drink was delicious! Very easy to drink, balanced and just boozy enough not to need to order another drink. The rest of the menu looked equally impressive, and watching the bartenders make drinks as I enjoyed mine was quite enjoyable! You can really tell they put a lot of effort into their craft. Prices are $10 a drink, almost across the board. There are a few beer options and champagne (from the tap!)....There are also punch bowls. I'm nowhere near tough enough to drink one of those with just one friend, so I'll have to wait until I come with a bigger group. All in all the menu looks great! Definately check out The Haymaker, it's hidden before B.Good on Fayetteville Street! read more

Tried this spot with my mom last week. Loved it. It has a speakeasy vibe with the comfort of really just being one big cozy room. There's a bar, some table seating and a cool cove decked out with antique furniture for a small group of friends. Speaking of decor, it reminded me of one those "Can you find the random item?" puzzles. You know...the one where you're looking for a wheelbarrow in the middle of a dining room. Very eclectic arrangement. The music was a hip-hop blend which paired well with the play on drink menu options that included a lot of Biggie and Nas references. We didn't try one but they also offer punchbowl drinks you can share with your friends. The best part - they're actually old school punchbowls. Nice touch! The only thing that would give this place the final star is a couple of food items on the menu. Nothing too heavy but maybe something with just enough "Salt n Pepa" to keep you drinking. I'll be back! read more

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Ambience, presentation, service were excelente. Brought a friend visiting from Orlando who was amazed with the crafty and sophisticated cocktail menu! Kudos to our server Audrey who was very friendly and attentive. Thanks Audrey! Can't wait to come back! read more

The Haymaker - Our drinks were to die for! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

First of all. The vibe in this place is super chill. Think old bar in Europe meats 1990s America rap/R&B... biggie wallpaper, Brooklyn vibes, funky decor. It's comfortable. Dark but not too dark. Now for the drinks. The best mule I've ever had! They make their own ginger syrup. Served in a julep cup. Delicious cocktails- reasonable prices for a hip downtown bar. There's construction going on and it's a little hard to find but if you do, you'll be happy you did! read more

Dainty Rapper chic, or that just my term for it (my friends hate that description), The Haymaker has become one of my favorite spots in Downtown Raleigh. Located off the beaten path from most other bars (go to b.good, and turn the corner), I haven't found The Haymaker to be too crowded...yet. The drinks are just as great as the atmosphere - I've had the Sting like a Bee several times (a delicious gin and citrus drink, served in a fancy teacup!), shared a punch bowl with friends (more teacups!), and sampled the champagne on tap (no teacups, but how often do you get champagne on tap?). Prices match those found elsewhere downtown, but I really enjoy that this is something different than the usual. read more

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

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Really neat place! Outdoor seating only due to COVID, but still had a really good time and felt warm enough! The Holiday drinks are soooo fun (could have drank a gallon of the egg nog!!). Would definitely come back whenever I'm back in the area! read more

I was here before dinner with a bunch of friends. This place is awesome! I split one of the punch bowls with several other people. At $49 split 4 ways, this was a great deal. We each had multiple "scoops" of the drink and it was incredibly tasty. Definitely worth what you pay for it. The atmosphere and decor is great. The bathrooms are wallpapered with a Victorian-looking print...but look closely and you'll see Biggie is a prominent feature. The furniture is unique and comfortable, and definitely gives you that distinct "I'm fancy" feeling. Highly recommend. read more

It was really cute and small. The music and DJ were great but there was limited settings and crowded.

Do not come here! The bouncer did not let people in and they overcharged me for drinks

If I could give zero stars, I would. I made reservations for my husband's birthday based off of a recommendation (a friend sent the website) and pictures for the Haymaker website. What a disappointment!!!! We went in December during COVID since it was "outside" but the seating was not 6 ft apart and the restaurant had only 2 heaters. We left as we didn't feel comfortable. I emailed the manager/owner several times and I never received my $80 refund for the tickets I purchased. We did not have any drinks as promised or anything. I am out of $80 and what I thought would be a cool outing. I won't be back!!! read more

Cute little spot for cocktails! They had a fun event before Christmas that featured adorable drinks like spiked cider served in little santa mugs. It's also a nice place to drop by on a hot summer day to grab a drink and cool down. Drinks range from $11-15ish, a pretty typical range. The atmosphere is cool, too, very open and furnished in a classic style. I recommend stopping in! read more

Great cocktail menu with a relaxed loungy vibe in the afternoon. Love the Biggie/Brooklyn wallpaper in the restroom. read more

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

Not the bar's fault, but a group of four went to Haymaker last week and three of us caught COVID. Lot of people packed into a small bar. We knew the risk we were taking, so not trying to blame Haymaker. Just kind of put a damper on our Christmas and haymaker was the point of origin after process of elimination read more

A girl at urban outfitters recommended this place. We had a great time! The bar had their Christmas holiday cocktail menu which was outstanding. I had the "yippee ka ye mother ******". Haha. I love it! Definately recommend this bar! read more

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

The Haymaker is a great place to meet with friends, have a quality drink, and enjoy the ambiance and music! If I have to describe the vibe are it would be euro bar with a hip-hop twist. It's definitely somewhere you want to sit and stay a while. There are only two single bathrooms in this bar, which, if it is a busy night.... you will wait in line. read more

I went to this place early December and it was a wonderful experience. Great drinks with a great atmosphere. I recommend this place to everyone who want to get in the Christmas spirit! read more

Yo! This bar is the absolute finest In fact, the cocktails are perfectionist Order one with gin And cognac por fin I'd go again - "Lazy Sunday's" the greatest! read more

Cute quaint and cozy . You can definitely unwind and relax here to some old school smooth hip hop very welcoming as well read more

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

Great vibe and yummy drinks! Love it the Art Deco vibes and open seating, great for coming with a group of people or even on date night. Will definitely be back read more

We came in December for the Christmas theme. Very cool Atmosphere and the drinks are great. The bartender is very cool and friendly-Ray. I highly recommend. read more

Officially my new favorite bar. For starters, yes, you need a membership card to get in. Great news: it's just $1. I love how the Haymaker is essentially one open room. It's dim, it's cozy, and it's chill but fun. Along one side is the bar and on the other side is some seating. There is table service if you decide you want to sit down rather than go to the bar, and the service has always been top-notch. It's the most comfortable bar experience without any of the stuffiness (or should I say snootiness, if that's a word). Now on to the drinks. They've crafted a variety of cocktails that'll suit most people's preferences in my opinion. Most of them are $10 which is reasonably priced. I've had a few different cocktails myself, and my FAVORITE is Sing Like a Bee. The earl-grey infused gin is actually mildly pleasant, and I can't really taste the alcohol which I honestly enjoy. There's another cocktail that has the word "beach" in it that a friend ordered, and the all-spice gives me a warm feeling perfect for fall!! (Wine and beer are also available.) This place is great for large groups. They have punch bowls so that your group can share. You know what the best part of this place is? The cups. Yes, I have had my cocktails in cute teacups. The great thing about this stylistic choice is that the teacups are all different. I think this gives the place a vintage/hipster kind of vibe while still being a fairly upscale casual bar, which I dig. read more

Waited for 25 mins for someone to come to our table to take our drink order even though there were only 5 other people in the bar. After 25 minds we decided to leave. Not too pleased with this place even though the environment and music were great. read more

The Haymaker - Lol. Lies - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

A wonderful experience. I really enjoyed my cocktail and had a great time. I went during Christmas time and it was beautifully decorated.

The Christmas decorations are cute and all but the drink prices are $12+ and it's a dollar fee to get in (not a complaint but they dont even keep track of who is a member or not). It wasnt a horrible experience but not a memorable one either. Parking is a hassle downtown read more

A classy bar with delicious drinks and old world atmosphere. Enjoyed our before dinner drinks here but would definitely recommend it for anytime. read more

The Haymaker - Great classy bar with delicious drinks and old world atmosphere. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

I LOVE this bar. I have been here several times with friends, and it has the best atmosphere. The Haymaker deserves 5 stars all around. The drinks are made thoughtfully and are all delicious, some of my usual favorites are Sing Like a Bee and French 75. Most of the time when I go there is a woman bartender, and she is awesome. Super easy-going, great drink recommendations, and timely service. This place is a great spot for before or after dinner drinks! Highly recommend read more

What an adorable little gem! Get over here before they get to crowded! It's tucked behind Bgoods. You can tell when you are there that who ever did the interior design thought about every single thing! Also they have bubbles on tap! How can you beat that? I mean really! Also instead of nuts or pretzels they had goldfish. Also I loved the guest book. Too cute! read more

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Sweet little bar tucked behind retail spots. Quiet place to get a cocktail. They often do tiki drinks so ask for the secret menu. Shhhhh, don't mention I said anything. read more

Excellent craft cocktails and fun, sexy atmosphere. I recommend bringing a couple of girlfriends and trying a punch bowl - They're delicious! read more

If you wanna talk about a classy bar this is it, it's beautiful the drinks are totally fabulous and it's quiet even when there are tons of people every time I have some I've still been able to enjoy a light conversation with my girlfriends and enjoy the night and not have to fight for air time compared to other places. read more

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

I've stopped by The Haymaker several times now and I'm always impressed with the cocktails. The staff is knowledgable and surprisingly quick, considering everything that goes into all their signature cocktails. I dig the atmosphere - comfortable lounge furniture with a lowkey hip hop vibe. The bathrooms are single-units without gender distinctions, which is always a plus. Catch a peek at the wallpaper and you'll be pleasantly surprised. The cocktails are a little pricey, but nothing out of the ordinary for the Downtown Raleigh bars, and these drinks really are top-notch. Nothing but expertly blended, solid selections. It's a chill spot for a drink, but I always find myself ready to move on after a cocktail. It's weird - they sunk a lot of time into building a primo atmosphere, but I never find myself lingering longer than an hour or so. But definitely add it to your late-night to-do list --- it's a great addition to the Raleigh bar scene. read more

Awesome low key bar in the heart of Raleigh. Depending on when you go (especially during the week), crowds are super light and the bartender has always been top notch, able to create very elaborate and unique cocktail. While a little on the pricier side, the atmosphere is awesome and a it's nice to have a place in Raleigh with a laid back upper class evening of drinks read more

Great cocktails, great ambiance. Come here to start, or finish your night. Expect quality drinks and a low key environment.

Haymaker is a great spot for higher end cocktails. It's a bit hidden but close to much of downtown. The Christmas pop up bar they did recently was really cool and unique. The decorations were over-the-top and all of the themed drinks I tried were great. I give it four stars and not five because 1. I've experienced slower service a couple times now and 2. I think for the money there are cocktail bars with drinks that are just as good and a better ambience downtown, like Watts and Ward. That said, Haymaker is still totally worth stopping in and trying a drink-- I have yet to have a drink I did not like. read more