Amazing drinks & GREAT food! Fav drink was "From Raleigh With Love".. delish! Best Brussels of my life! read more

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My husband and I came here when they had first opened and have come several times since. When they first opened, they didn't offer food, which was not a problem since the chill ambiance and great drinks was more than enough. Beautiful decor, honestly one of the prettiest. Huge chandelier, green velvet booth seats and dark ambiance with candles lighting up the table area. Drinks are great, and creative. Definitely check out their instagram page. They are definitely way busier now then before so definitely book a reservation, especially if you are a party of 4 or more, but the wait is worth it. They carry food now, not huge portions but decent size since the main focus is the drinks. Keep in mind the kitchen (food) ends at 10pm! At our most recent visit I wasn't too happy so I docked a star. I think things could have been handled differently or maybe it was miscommunication. So that night, we were a group of six without a reservation. Thee hostess downstairs was super sweet and let us wait in the downstairs restaurant (Virgil) until should could sort out our seats since it was freezing outside. We were quickly seated and the host upstairs was very professional, since there was a small confusion as to where we were sitting but he apologized and sat as down promptly right after. We all ordered our drinks and our waitress stopped by and asked us how we liked our drinks. My husband responded, "great! But my friend here isn't really in love with his drink...could we switch it out?" She asked what was wrong and our friend responded that there was something off about it compared to other Godfathers so she added "Too butterscotchy?" Of course he couldnt quite describe his distaste for the drink and he agreed so she said it was because of the whiskey and amaretto mix is what caused the butterskotchy taste, from what I could discern is that he should have known what to expect based on the drink description in the menu. She seemed to resist the idea of switching it out for something else and was only willing to remake. It wasn't like he was trying to switch out a drink that was half gone, he had only taken a sip. Our friend wasn't happy with his drink but he drank it anyways since the waitress didn't seem to want to replace his drink and he still needed to pay for it. By the end of the night we each all had about 3 drinks. Then came the Penicillins. Delicious but missing the garnish. My husband told me he thought it came with a ginger candy as a garnish, I checked the menu and it said "ginger". I asked the waitress if it came with a ginger garnish or was the ginger in the drink. She explained that it normally came with a ginger candy but they were out so they used lemons instead. There were two penicillins, none of them had the ginger garnish, and one of them didn't even have a lemon. Not a big deal, but its the fact that my friend couldn't get his drink switched based on the description in the menu yet our drinks are missing ingredients stated in the drink menu but thats "okay". Did any one mention that the drinks weren't going to be prepared based on the ingredients listed in the menu? No. When someone asked us if we liked our drinks and one person didn't, did they get their drink changed? No. Im not sure if this is common at bars but it was definitely a first. read more

The Merchant NC - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

To be fair, this place would probably be a 4.5 (I'm just a tough critic and this was my first time here). I'm quite impressed with this bar. From the atmosphere, to the service, to the menu, all very nice. This was my first time here. This place is in the old spot of the Level Up Bar and Arcade, right in between Virgil's. The decor gave me 'Upper East Side' vibes with a Speakeasy flair. Nice ambiance, the music wasn't as loud as people keep saying, and the music selection was great too. The bar chairs weren't my favorite but the drinks made up for that. The cocktail menu was extensive and there was something for everyone. All top shelf liquor, and no skimping on added flavor and garnishes. All the mixers and oils were made in house as well. The drinks I ordered were the Femme Fatal, From Raleigh with Love, Love Potion, and the Madam/Sir. My favorite was the From Raleigh with Love. I didn't take a picture because I drank it so fast. They were all delicious, and I do think they were worth the price. I split the Madam/Sir with a friend because it serves 2-4 and I think we both got about 3 glass fulls each from it. I do think splitting the large cocktails is a good way to go if you are trying to maintain a budget. Now the food will bring me back most definitely. They just started a small plate menu earlier this week and it shocked me. We ordered the Duck fat Fries, Buffalo Cauliflower, Sliders, and the Lamb Lollipops. Fries, delicious. They had the right amount of crispiness and the potato was also very tender. It had to have been double fried, only because you still got that rich taste of duck fat, but the integrity of the potato was still intact. They also had a creamy side sauce, But it wasn't needed. The fries were good on its own. Buffalo cauliflower was very good. The buffalo seasoning was not overpowering, you were still able to enjoy the cauliflower. The cauliflower was also in a tempura batter, which gave it a nice crunch. My only drawback would be that it was a tad greasy, they should've let it drain before they put it in the bowl. I wasn't mad at it because the cauliflower did not taste like grease, just towards the end you could see the grease pile up at the bottom of the bowl. Now the sliders, bomb. Between the good cut of meat, bacon onion jam, and a garlic truffle aïoli, simply delicious. The sliders were served medium, and it was so juicy. The flavors marinaded so well together. I definitely think the sliders were my favorite dish. However, the lamb lollipops were a very tough contender. The lamb was cooked perfectly, sometimes when lamb is over cooked it can be very tough and dry out , This was not the case. Also, the show stopping ingredient of the night was the pink dragon fruit chutney on top of the lamb lollipops. It was the most delicious and innovative ingredient to a simple lamb chop, but the flavor combination was so impressive. I want that chutney on everything, and I actually dipped the slider, and the fries in it and it still tasted amazing. Overall, impressive work by everyone working here. Got the chance to speak with the owner, John, and the head chef, Buddy. They also maintain their respective roles at Virgil's downstairs. Very professional crew and I look forward to coming back here again. read more

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The Merchant is now open in the space previously occupied by Level Up. I really like how they remodeled the space. Luckily we went right when it opened at 5PM and it wasn't busy so we sat at the bar. I liked that the menu was sectioned by the flavor profile, i.e., smoky & aromatic, robust & boozy and so on. In each section you can order one of the "classics" or one from "our take". They also have zero proof cocktails (mocktails) and a small selection of beer, cider and seltzer. My husband and I enjoyed a few rounds, we tried the Clockworked Orange, Smoke & Daggers, Fear & Loathing in the Carolinas, Dillinger Escape Plan, Icon American Dream, From Raleigh with Love and Thai Tea Party. My favs were the Smoke & Daggers (I had to order it because it's served in a smoking box) and the Fear & Loathing. My least favorite was the Dillinger Escape Plan but it was another one that I had to order because of how it was served. I can't wait to return to try other cocktails. read more

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Service was horrible. Young lady with long brown ponytail. Drinks were great though! Definitely would go back and ask for a different server

Nice bar and exemplary service with a very fine selection of cocktails and other drinks (beer and wine). In terms of overall experience we preferred Watts & Ward for the cool Speakeasy vibe. The Merchant staff were super friendly and very attentive. New decor and pretty chill inside with good music playlist. Prices were a bit high ($15 range) for a drink but it is fun to try new drinks and their variety is pretty good. The other thing we liked about Watts & Ward was the live music. read more

The experience was impeccable, Su took care of my friend me and she was amazing in not only her customer service but her personability as well. Her recommendations were well rounded and balanced and the banter was as if I had been around one of my best friends in a sense of comfort and passion for the art of mixology. Will be returning and cannot recommend her and the other exceptional staff as well. read more

Lovely cocktails and superior small plates in a gorgeous setting. The music hypes a younger, clubby experience and the service is pleasant if a little green. As a fan of the former Level Up space I'm happy to support any concept that rises above the average bland downtown experience. read more

This place has a lot of potential. The vibe is definitely on point, but there is an opportunity to be better with drinks and overall setting. Some drinks were amazing and really well presented, while one or two were meh (one was sent back). With the competition in the area for similar speakeasy vibe bars, this one wasn't on par on my visit. Service, however, was spot on. read more

Meh...they're trying to be fancy with their $14-20 drinks but I'm not impressed. I don't mind paying for a good cocktail but I don't appreciate paying that for a so-so drink. And please don't act like you're doin me a favor by letting me in. Get some decent beer please. Raleigh has some awesome craft beers and THIS is your selection? read more

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I really like The Merchant. I've been looking for a speakeasy in the area so I was super excited when I found out about this place. The bartenders and waitresses are extremely nice and concoct amazing drinks - one of the few places I go where I just let them make me whatever they want because the drinks are always good. The ambiance is great. It's an intimate setting and I enjoy the lighting being low, but it was a little too low where I could barely see, but it was tolerable. I would definitely recommend. read more

The drinks were really good as was the vibe and ambiance. Thoroughly enjoyed my time and will add it to my list of places to come back to

This place was SUPER COOL. I've never been anywhere like it. The tables are candle lit and the restaurant has very calm lighting, making it really relaxing and great for date night. Cocktails are their specialty, so don't show up if you are expecting a draft beer. That being said the cocktails were SPECTACULAR. My favorites were the Love Potion, Graveyard on the Atlantic, and a classing Mojito. The menu includes classics alongside specialty cocktails. The drinks were quite pricey but you most definitely get what you pay for. They are strong, tasty, and creative. read more

Nice atmosphere, speak easy vibe which is cool. Otherwise, not worth the money. Minimum of $50 per person, tiny sharing plates, okay drinks and pretty underwhelming service. Wanted to like The Merchant but unfortunately won't be coming back for the high price tag. read more

It was a very beautiful place to have date night. Drinks were sub par. This wasn't a great place for food. The duck wings were over cooked to the point there was barely any meat on it and the steak and fries weren't that flavorful. I seen the videos on tik tok as a one of the best places in Raleigh to visit and it just didn't live up to the hype. Absolutely beautiful place but food and drinks were not worth it. read more

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The Merchant NC is a cute spot! My sorority sisters and I went for our founder's celebration and it was the perfect place. The decor is darling and the vibe is amazing! We ordered drinks and some food items. I enjoyed the brussels and buffalo cauliflower. The cocktails were really delicious. I will definitely return. read more

The drinks are hit or miss, but the service is what was truly awful. Our server ignored us for close to an hour which was incredibly frustrating. I'd like to try this place again because it was probably just a bad server that we had. The bar itself is a cool atmosphere. read more

This was our first visit to The Merchant and overall it was excellent! We had a number of different cocktails and also ordered Blistered Peppers, Sliders, Lamb lollipops and Gnocchi. I wouldn't order the gnocchi again, the pesto was really bitter. But everything else was excellent and we will definitely be back! read more

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Yeah Merchants definitely gone horribly down over the years. Bartender cant be social which is ironic, servers just hang around their friends, and the manager himself doesn't encourage any sort of professionalism with his team. Its no wonder its a ghost town at merchant. read more

The atmosphere is incredible. It's so good it's worth going. Decorated beautifully with a mix of sophistication and luxury and industrial accents. The cocktail list is extensive and inventive and our waitress was not acutely knowledgeable enough to describe the profiles of the drinks in a way that was helpful to us making a selection. The drinks rank 4/5 generally. We tried 4 and found one to be too sweet, two to be just fine, and one to be pretty good. The atmosphere and presentation are more of the stars of the show than the cocktails themselves. My impression was the cocktails were gin heavy but I certainly did not count so maybe that's not based in fact. The owner made rounds to the table which is a friendly touch. read more

This is a great place with a lot of personality. Kind of a speak easy place with unique cocktails and fantastic food. We came for the cocktails but ended up trying the sliders and fries. Wow - the BEST sliders of my life. My wife agrees. The food is amazing. Service was great (Nick thank you). This is a relaxing laid back place. Defiantly recommend giving it a try. read more

Great experience every time! Best drinks around and pretty decent small bites as well!

Great little speakeasy. They made great drinks and equally great appetizers. They made me whiskey sour with the blackberry simple and it was amazing. The setting is perfect with the floating candles and the natural lighting with dark green walls and plants everywhere. The waiter we had was great and attentive. No complaints. read more

Visiting Raleigh with some friends. Really enjoyed the drinks and the sliders. Malea was the best server i've ever had! She was insanely personable and made sure all of our needs were met. Come for the cocktails, stay for Malea! read more

Great cocktail lounge! Very classy atmosphere; dim lighting, velvet chairs, beautiful chandelier, gold/brass accents. Many amazing cocktails to choose from. They have your classics and many unique kinds as well. Great for after dinner drinks, date night, or whatever! Would recommend and go back! read more

Fantastic atmosphere! Fantastic drinks! We get the American Dream and it might be the been the best drink we've ever had. We've been here a few times now and I've got to say this might be my favorite bar in the Triangle. Just heads up, this is a cocktail lounge not a restaurant. The food is great but their primary focus is in the cocktail creation from what I've gathered. read more

Pros: Nice atmosphere and good music at the perfect volume where you can still hear your friends yet enjoy the best. Cons: Thursday evening with less than 20 people in attendance and it took more than a half hour to bring our drink order. Our waiter never checked on us during the wait. My clan of 4 made the mistake of ordering a second drink - well only 3 of us - and it took more than 40 mins for that round ... again without the waiter coming by to check on us or explain the delay. He seemed much more interested in a female co-worker. Eventually another waiter came by to explain why our drinks -which required detail preparations - were late ... only it was not our order. Okay, you get the picture. read more

Drinks were amazing and I live the atmosphere! Cocktails here are a little pricey but they look very well presented and fancy. I definitely recommend this place, I absolutely love it. read more

Overpriced not a fan. Stayed for one drink. Singer was good. Decor was fine. We won't be going back anytime soon.

Creative and great tasting cocktails! Very knowledgeable mixologists mixed with great vibes

Underwhelmed with what I got vs what I expected. My drink was gross, but my girlfriend liked hers and the presentation. The food (came during restaurant week FOR that reason and they were out of 90% of the main menu) was good, but pricey. The vibe is cool, but not really worth it in my opinion. Our waitress for the night was unfriendly and never came back. Probably 20 min later I got her to return and get our food order. She again never returned to the table, not even to deliver it. Hopefully anyone else who goes has a better experience, maybe it was just an off night ‍ read more

My boyfriend and I have tried this place twice now in good hopes to find a nice new cocktail spot and unfortunately this is not it. The first time we came, it took at least 10 minutes until we were even acknowledged at our table, once we ordered drinks they forgot one and took so long to even bring another one we just left. And the drink we did get was sub par at best. We hoped it was just "first opening kinks" so we gave it another try. Going back, we sat at the bar and were not acknowledged for 15 mins, the bartender once said he'd be right with us and never came back. This place has a cool atmosphere but we will not be coming back here due to the terrible service and sub par drinks compared to other bars in the area. read more

Insane drunks and super nice atmosphere. If you want to just chill and drink something that you could only dream of come here.

Stumbled upon this place after a good dinner at Virgil's and couldn't be happier to have found a fun new cocktail bar! Friendly & informed service with a sophisticated atmosphere and extensive drink menu. Looking forward to going back again soon! read more

I made reservations to The Merchant NC in hopes of grabbing a drink with my date after our dinner at Sitti (located within walking distance to Merchant). We arrive at The Merchant NC 15 minutes earlier than our reserved time. They proceeded to seat us at 2 chairs and a small table within arms reach to the kitchen doors. I was not satisfied with the location of our seat due to foot traffic, so I asked the host can he seat us at a normal table, to which he replied 'The available tables were for other reserved guests' as if we did not have a reservation. He also recommended that we wait around to see if those guests were going to actually make it by their reserved times and if not, we could have their table. I didn't want to wait around to see if someone was going to make their reservation as we have set our own reservation for that night the day before. We left because we did not feel valued as guests and felt maybe our skin color had something to do with it. Do not recommend. read more

The Merchant NC - This is the seat they tried to sit us at - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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