Words I would associate with Watts and Ward are: sophisticated, trendy, and spacious. There's a…read moregreat variety of drinks that you don't see at other establishments. The interior is dimly lit, so much so that I had to use the flashlight on my cellphone in order to read the menu.

Husbands brought me here and I am in love…read more Venue: It has a little speak easy feel. 3 indoor bar in different section with its unique feel and one outside (outdoor patio). Drinks: we had the Manhattan and penicillin. Fresh and high quality ingredients. Love the craft cocktails made by skillful mixologist. Service; friendly bar tenders and staffs. Will be coming back!

The vibes walking in are pretty classy. We felt underdressed. They had some jazz music going on. It…read morewas very loud inside. We went out back and they had a waitress come to us to take drink orders. It wasn't bad out there. We tried to light the fire pit we sat around but it didn't work. The people next to us were smoking cigars. It was quite strong. We ended up leaving because of the smell.

Came for a work event, staff was great and the vibe is super cozy and cute! Fun spot to come with…read morefriends

Lilly was great and very attentive... the rooftop bar, music and hookah was everything. Will…read moredefinitely come back

Thanks to Ron W., I was able to attend a sneak peak preview of Raleigh's newest VIP space, The…read moreVoodoo Room. The extra secret, private room is located upstairs in The Big Easy, down a back hallway through an ominous door labeled "staff only". This isn't a space that you can just walk into (now that you know where it's located), rather it's a private venue space, charging $300/6 hours on Fridays and Saturdays with a $500 minimum bar tab and $100/6 hours Sunday-Thursday with a $300 minimum bar tab. The small space includes a New Orleans voodoo theme complete with voodoo dolls and bare breasted fortune tellers (in photos). Your party is invited to enjoy the velvet couches and hairs artfully placed around the room and has access to a private bar (and bartender). I love the back wall, with photo windows viewing Salisbury Street and a huge wooden bench seat. Rebecca and her husband Steve, the owners of The Big Easy, created this space to throw a rocking New Years Eve party, and they're inviting locals to use it during the year. Rebecca hired a fortune teller for our VIP night, but options are practically unlimited for what you want to bring in (bachelorette party strippers?!) The room is pricy to rent, but the intention is to get in a "classier" group of people that will keep the space up (however, there's definitely room for a dance party in the room, think old Bee Hive tightness). The best part: that VIP feeling as you are personally led up to the room by a manager, it was VERY speakeasy and secretive!

I've been here 2-3 times now and the whiskey selection is always great and so is the service. This…read moreis an excellent hidden neighborhood gem!

This is absolutely a hidden gem amongst bars. It's in an inconspicuous abandoned looking shopping…read morecenter off the beaten path, but they make some of the best cocktails in the city. They have a very extensive inventory of bourbons including all the high-end ones you would want. The bartenders making amazing recipes including my partners favorite, Tom Yum, taste just like the soup. I can often enjoy a whiskey sour with no issue and use the menu to try something different. They don't serve food, so it's a good place to come after dinner. The ambiance is simple, a wooden bar and now that they have expanded, they have some tables as well. This past trip was the most crowded I've ever seen it in there, but the service was still quick and attentive. This bar is a staple for me.

I really enjoyed this restaurant. The food lived up to my expectations. The fried duck ravioli was…read morepretty good. It had a solid crunch out the outside and it was still flavorful and rich on the inside. The steak was exceptional. Perfectly booked medium rare throughout with a perfect sear. The cheesecake was the only thing I was a little disappointed by. It was good, but it wasn't cheesecake. It was pretty much just cake with a tiny bit of cheese filling. The service was good. Our server and the manager were pretty attentive and made sure we had everything we needed. The ambiance was nice, your typical upscale steakhouse. I didn't get a chance to go into the speak easy but from what I saw it seemed like it'd be a really fun place to grab a drink

Every bite of the March Wine Dinner was pure magic. Chef Paul truly outdid himself with the…read more4-course pairing. I was so obsessed with the food that I only walked away with two photos--I was too busy enjoying the moment! Can't wait to come back for another round. Such a gem in Wake Forest!

Have been here a few times and have always enjoyed myself. The bartenders are the best in town and…read morereally care about what drink they make. Always have a good conversation with them as well.

Fire bar, excellent bartender, excellent ambience. Absolutely no complaints about this space and…read morethese drinks

Great service and great spot to unwind!!!Always stop here for a stick when in Raleigh!!!!!read more

Stepping into the cigar bar feels like slipping into a well-dressed time machine that decided to…read moreloosen its tie. The air hums with the scent of tobacco, oak, and good decisions made slowly. Plush couches and deep leather chairs form little islands of comfort, perfect for sinking into a conversation that doesn't need to end soon. Along the walls, humidors stand like treasure chests, keeping their cigars in stately silence. Vintage wood glows everywhere--from the bar's polished surface to the beams above--each grain steeped in quiet history. Overhead, TVs flicker with old games and new ones alike, while dart boards wait nearby for a little friendly competition between sips of bourbon and curls of smoke. The bartender slides the Old Fashioned across the bar with the precision of a man who's been doing it long enough to know that showmanship is for amateurs. No fancy garnish, no chatter--just the soft clink of glass meeting wood and a nod that says this'll do. Happiness here isn't loud or glittery--it's slow-burning and pleasantly lopsided, like a jazz tune played just slightly off the beat. It seeps in between sips and smoke rings, wrapping itself around you like the worn leather of the chair you've claimed for the night. It's the kind that finds you sitting still, glass half full, smoke curling upward like a satisfied sigh. Cheers!

My friend and I stopped by SideBar for a quick drink the night before her birthday and it did not…read moredisappoint. The drinks were great! We tried the sherry colada and the bruleed greyhound. Staff was also friendly and knowledgeable. Inside - the vibe is very moody and dark. It would be a great spot for a first date or a cocktail before dinner. There's no food on the menu FYI.

Awesome little spot in Cary! Came for a couple drinks with clients and enjoyed the golden lotus and…read morea glass of prosecco. Other drinks we ordered included the Painkiller and classic beer and goldschlager shototer. Great ambience, good for networking, date night, just hanging out. Our waitress was friendly and attentive as well. Street parking was available but we were there on a Tuesday night, could see it being tougher over the weekend. But definitely worth checking this spot out! @azfitfoodfun