Craks, bams, dots, Charleston, pung. … IYKYK—but if not, welcome to the world of mahjong, the table game having a major moment in Raleigh.
Remember the scene in Crazy Rich Asians where Rachel totally schools her judgy soon-to-be mother-in-law amid a room full of people clacking and rearranging small tiles? That was mahjong, where you win by being the first to match your tiles to an allowed combination.
Originating in China, the game picked up steam in America nearly a century ago, especially among Jewish women. From there, the National Mah Jongg League was born in the late ’30s, standardizing the rules for “American” mahjong, which is what most Raleighites play today.
“The game has existed for so long in Jewish circles, but the rebirth of mahjong has been really fascinating,” says Raleighite Emily Kaplan, who first learned to play when she was 9. “It’s been really exciting to see the game become a phenomenon.”
Kaplan’s recently bowed Raleigh Mahj hosts an open play event every month, with its January session selling out in 12 minutes (!)—and still over 60 people joined the waitlist. Meanwhile, Dana Lange, who has taught mahjong for 26 years, says she’s pretty much booked for the next eight months, and last year, a whopping 300 people attended one of her strategy classes.
“I keep wondering when everyone in Raleigh is going to know how to play mahjong,” says Lange, adding that, while the game has been popular in Raleigh for a while, the real explosion started in 2021 postpandemic.
“People were craving a reason to be with people, and this is a low-stress way of creating community,” she maintains of the game that is just as much about community as competition. “There was this six-month period where I taught a morning, afternoon and evening class in Raleigh five days a week.” At the end of the six months, Lange had taught a staggering 750 people—and estimates she’s already taught ~26,000 total.
“Not everyone wants to go play sports all the time,” adds Anne Garland Free, co-founder of recently launched The Dirty Mahj Collective, whose name is at once a nod to the modern, playful spirit of its tile illustrations and the ways in which the collective is redefining the game’s traditional elements. “But when you don’t feel like being active, you can still be social and exercise your brain by playing.”
Fair warning, though, if you give someone a mahjong lesson, they’re gonna want to play. And if they play once, they’ll want to play again… and again. And Lange, Free and Kaplan all agree the game is addictive.
So, clearly, if you haven’t already, it’s time to hop on the mahjong bandwagon. BRB, the next game is calling.
Set the Table First thing’s first, you’ll likely want to take lessons from any of these gamesperts to figure out what the heck a crak and pung is.
Game On Raleigh Mahj’s open play sessions meet at The Flourish Market in Raleigh Iron Works the second Thursday of each month, and Dirty Mahj will launch its open play series in the coming months.
Pro Tip Make sure to snag a 2025 card from the national league with the winning tile combinations.
If you want to break free, roll out to The Rialto for some Candlelight Concerts this Galentine’s Day. Whether going with your gals, solo or with your SO in tow, Fever’s multisensory musical experience promises to give you “some[thing] to love” this frosty season. Transforming historical landmarks into magical moments, Candlelight concerts are about more than moody music. They’re about at once making these culture spaces and legendary musicians—not to mention the time-honored composers—accessible. So whether you’re perched at Raleigh’s Rialto, Merrimon-Wynne House or the Historic Wakefield Barn, you can be rest assured you’re in for some big wick energy. feverup.com
Who doesn’t love free parking? And Raleigh’s parking pilot program—allowing free two-hour parking in select decks—has been met with overwhelming support and positive feedback from residents, visitors and small Downtown businesses alike. Launched in November to encourage more people to frequent DTR, the trial run is set to end in February. “I’ve personally heard from business owners about the positive impact of the program,” says Raleigh City Councilor Jonathan Melton. “It’s my goal for the free two-hour parking in city-owned decks to become a permanent program.” The city is expected to give City Council an update on the pilot’s impact by the end of the month—and then it’s up to Council to decide whether or not to continue it. Better take advantage while you can!
At a time when what’s hot becomes what’s not before you can scroll, Raleigh’s thirst for pivotal public houses refreshingly proves that, at least when it comes to Best Bars, real ones rise up. From a trailer-trash-chic dive to a new version of an old idea that screams main character energy, we present 2024’s class of Best Bars, as overwhelmingly voted by you. So whether you’re ready to drink like you’re on the set of The Hangover (sans Mike Tyson and the tiger) or prim and proper with pinkies up at noon, these bars aren’t just places to sip and savor, they’re where the vibe is always on high—and they’re what makes Raleigh, Raleigh. Cheers!
Best Overall
Photo by Alright Studio, courtesy of Dram & Draught
Dram & Draught Bigger than a bar, Dram & Draught is a destination. From the moment the “registered lubrication” station rolled up the dusty garage door on its initial filling-station location just spitting distance from its forever home in Bloc[83], Dram cemented itself in the cool-kids club—and squarely at the top of the class. Ranking not just as a Best Whiskey Bar, but also a seven-time Best Overall Bar—prevailing every single year since its first fill of a dram and pour of a draught—the all-are-welcome bar has never taken itself too seriously, even in spite of the backlit bottles that scale the wall library-style and literally require its bartenders to climb a literary-esque rolling ladder. Equally fit for a post-wedding tipple in the moody green glow of night or for a casual 3pm sip against sun-soaked floor-to-ceiling windows or alfresco on the wraparound patio anchoring the top of the Entertainment District, Dram isn’t just a bar. It’s a Raleigh institution—and Raleigh clearly loves it. Glenwood South, @dramanddraught
Photo by Raleigh Magazine
Gussie’s A new version of an old idea, the midday-to-midnight neighborhood bar has managed to foster a strong sense of community in short order, delivering everything Raleigh has been yearning for in a cocktail haven. Taking inspiration from namesake co-owner Clayton O’Kane’s great-grandfather, Gussie’s offers a comforting third place for all walks of life to unwind, regularly adapting to patrons’ needs and wants. And it’s obvious why locals are obsessed. Good times abound throughout the welcoming watering hole, complete with cozy nooks, colorful wallpaper and a vibey bar. And of course the cocktails are not to be slept on—think fresh seasonal drinks by talented bartenders, including 2024 Bartender of the Year Kaylah Thomas—altogether offering the kind of place where you’d feel just as comfortable drinking a beer and a shot as an old-fashioned, craft cocktail or housemade NA concoction. Suffice it to say, Raleigh has definitely found its home away from home at Gussie’s. Warehouse District,@gussiesraleigh
Best Whiskey Bar
The Blind Barbour Making the drive down Wade Avenue worthwhile, The Blind Barbour has a cult-classic following for good reason. Tucked in the OG Crowley’s space off Dixie Trail, the juggernaut dive bar-meets-speakeasy-meets-classy cocktail bar feels like the kind of watering hole you’d stumble into in the mountains. Think wood-paneled walls, pensive lighting and mellow bartenders who may come off too cool for school, but craft a mean beverage—whether you order straight from the menu or request a special riff based on your taste preferences. It’s safe to say, after a brief stay off our Best Bars list, The Blind Barbour is so back. West Raleigh, @blindbarbour
Dram & Draught Known for its 300+ whiskeys and Lex Luthor-esque ladder, Dram & Draught is in a league of its own—not just as a whiskey bar, but as a reliable and unrivaled drinking destination. Glenwood South, @dramanddraught
Best Cocktail Bar
Photo by Raleigh Magazine
Aunty Betty’s Of all the gin joints in all the world, Aunty Betty’s is exactly the kind of place Raleigh didn’t know it needed until it arrived. Breaking onto the bar scene six years ago as the city’s first gin-focused libations haven, the speakeasy-esque moody Morgan Street hidden gem has prided itself with the best of the best pours and people since it bowed—including 2023’s People’s Choice Bartender Winner Reese Hailey and this year’s nominee Rey Kukela. Warehouse District,@auntybettysbar
Gussie’s In a city filled to the brim with great drinking dens, Gussie’s quickly became the go-to—not just as a best cocktail bar, but one of the best bars in the city (see p. 72). In short, a visit to Gussie’s is always a good idea. Warehouse District,@gussiesraleigh
Best Wine Bar
Photo by Tom McGovern, courtesy of Barcelona Wine Bar
Barcelona Wine Bar Like the city of its namesake, Barcelona is always a good time. The fancy-yet-unfussy space sets the mood with warm vibey lighting, livened by the clink of glasses brimming with wines the world over. A birthday, anny or anything worth drinking to can (and should) be celebrated tableside with a pour of porrón or the buzzy wine bar’s signature sangria—which is likely what you’ll find locals sipping as they lounge under the sun (or blankets!) on the year-round patio dropped straight from the Euro vacay of our dreams. Cin cin! Warehouse District, @barcelonawinebar
Vita Vite There’s little a wine and cheese sesh at Vita Vite can’t fix, whether enjoyed DTR cozied up by the fireplace or out on the porch swing, or overlooking Midtown Park on the North Hills nook’s open-air mezzanine. Doubling as art galleries, both sophisticated spaces lend the ideal setting for a girls’ yap sesh, pre- or post-dinner bottle, or solo outing. Talk about drinking aesthetically at its finest. Midtown & Warehouse District, @vitaviteraleigh
Best Speakeasy
Photo courtesy of Foundation
Foundation Down a set of concrete stairs in DTR and past an ominous red neon sign is the city’s favorite unassuming yet edgy subterranean whiskey-soaked exposed-brick haven. At Foundation, regulars leave Raleigh behind (or above) to hang in the intimate space while sipping on “the goodliest drinks under the cope of heaven” to a backdrop of alt-rock and total reverie. Saturated in the Downtown scene for 15 years now, it’s an iconic fixture that has stood the test of time—and for good reason. Fayetteville Street District, @foundation_bar
Photo by Patrick Shanahan, courtesy of Watts & Ward
Watts & Ward Burrowed under a buzzy stretch of Wilmington and Martin streets, sultry low-lit leather-dotted Watts & Ward makes you feel like you escaped into a booze-soaked episode of Mad Men sans the drama—ever so fitting for a bar inspired by Prohibition. Behind a haze of imagined feels-like-it-should-be-there cigar smoke and sexy jazz sounds, Watts’ halls echo with the great ghosts of Raleigh’s past—and the former stylings of 2023 Bartender of Year Kelly Lynch—while its batch of bartenders sling booze-forward beverages that are more craft than cocktail. Moore Square District, @wattsandward
Best Restaurant Bar
Photo by Raleigh Magazine
La Terrazza The most regal slice of Raleigh real estate to ever unfold, new-this-year La Terrazza’s pair of indoor/outdoor bars perched atop The Dillon peaked quickly. On any given night (sans Mondays), find masterful cocktailers crafting and pouring booze-forward beverages, bubbles, spritzes and vino high among the DTR skyline, luring locals again and again for peerless reverie. Warehouse District, @laterrazzaraleigh
Flour & Barrel Boasting a “love of the stranger” aura, all are welcome at local restaurateur Anthony Rapillo and Top Chef-vet Katsuji Tanabe’s tantalizing Flour & Barrel. The sultry yet sophisticated bar just off Glenwood Ave at once delivers classy energy and high-end sips via cheekily named classic ’tails. Think the G-Class Marg, Thirst Trap and Shitty Aperol Sbagliato (that’s anything but shitty), plus house-brewed beers to boot. So you can be sure there’s enough to go around to keep the (refined) party going all night long. Glenwood South, @flourandbarrelnc
Best Rooftop Bar
Photo by RDP3 Photography, courtesy of Highgarden
Highgarden Serving supreme skyline views high above Glenwood, this former Glenwood South pillar (RIP Solas) has established itself as a mainstay once again. This time around, the greenery-dotted rooftop bar doubles as both a couch-sprinkled cozy retreat and a DJ beats-bumping neon light-embellished dance floor. Either way, a lofty destination. Glenwood South, @highgardenraleigh
The Willard Find cocktails and small plates with unparalleled vistas perched atop the seventh floor of the Glenwood South AC Hotel, where dual vibey outdoor terraces are lit—one literally and figuratively by a dual-sided fireplace. Set on clean gray concrete, soft white seating elevates the atmosphere, while clever cocktails like Honey Badger Don’t Care and trendy tipples such as the spritz or espresso martini promise to make the Uber worth it—and render an excuse to dip into Glenwood South, @thewillardraleigh
Best Bar Food
Photo by Raleigh Magazine
My Way Tavern Don’t confuse all the TVs at My Way for some low-grade sports pub with trashy food. The neighborhood haven is a go-to for bangin’ bar fare (think wings, burgers, loaded macs) that always slaps—providing the perfect base for any and all occasions. From casual hangs to solo post-work brews—and, yes, game days—to everything in between, the comfortable neighborhood grub and drink hub makes for an ideal spot to, well, have it your way. Glenwood South, @mywayraleigh
Standard Beer + Food Far greater than your standard neighborhood tavern, Standard Beer + Food has something for everyone. Consistently creative bar food like oyster tacos, smashburgers, pimento cheese and wings provides delicious ops for all, from kiddos playing in the backyard beer garden to come-as-you-are locals looking to kick back. And paired with a batched frozen cocktail or custom brew, this locale is the perf spot to post up and toast up. Seaboard & Person Street District, @standard_beerfood
Best Brewery
Photo courtesy of Trophy Brewing Co.
Trophy Brewing Co. Adding another Best Brewery award to its trophy case is this pizza-pub paradise and its ever-growing lineup of bustling locales (shoutout to newly opened The Bend!) that holds space for locals to kick back on the patio with a pie and trophyworthy brew. Or swing by to grab a four-pack of hops on the go—because no matter where you sip, it’s always good as gold. Warehouse District, @trophybrewing
Photo courtesy of Crank Arm Brewing
Crank Arm Brewing A “biker bar” of sorts, gear wheel-logo’d Crank Arm is built on a blend of bikes + beer—a theme that plays out in equal measure across the sprawling passion-fueled concrete Warehouse District digs. Pedaling onto the scene in a 2013 brewery bonanza on the earnings of co-owners’ pedal-powered Crank Arm Rickshaw, the adaptable brewery-meets-cocktail bar has overcome waning interests and tastes to stay relevant—and ride with flair, 1 mile (er, day) at a time. Warehouse District, @crankarmbrew
Best New Bar
Photo by Sean Junqueira
Stella’s Giving trailer-trash-chic a name, Stella’s is the ultimate GNO destination—where the “G” is equal parts girls, gays, guys and everyone in between. Eclectic thrills abound in every nook and cranny, from vinyls and retro snaps to lighthearted signs and vintage ’zines—even a mailbox to store your secrets. In essence, it’s an unpretentious ’80s/’90s-inspired glitz-infused honky-tonk that takes nostalgia next level—in the best way—via a range of bracelet-making, coloring books, live music and the like. All told, despite its end-of-2024 opening, Stella’s feels as though it’s always been where regulars while away the night on West Street—and it likely will be for a long time to come. Smoky Hollow, @stellasonwest
Photo by Raleigh Magazine
Wolfe & Porter When the green light is on, you know what time it is. It’s hard to remember West Morgan Street before Wolfe & Porter and the band of bars quickly transforming this “bend” of road. An homage to NC native literary luminaries Thomas Wolfe and William Sydney Porter (aka O. Henry), everything about this moody-meets-homey multilevel neighborhood bar is an invitation to hang—whether for the trivia, bingo, vinyl DJs and live music, or Cool Sh🔥t Saturdays; to order a pick-me-up from the front window; or to hang around the fire pit on the backyardesque patio. All come for classic + experimental cocktails, spirits and daily drink specials—and the signature Cherry Bounce, natch. Basically, it’s the kind of bar we all wished was on our block. Warehouse District, @wolfeandporter
Best LGBTQ+ BAR
Legends Music is a major draw at the vibey pink-and-purple hued gay bar where top 40 and ’80s hits pump into the massive space that all but birthed the gayborhood. Legendary in its own right, glitter meets rebellion at this party palace where queer, straight and everyone in between get low on the elevated dance floor or post up for high-energy drag shows feat. fierce—and even famous—queens on the reg. As #LegendHasIt, there’s a reason Legends’ sensory experience has owned the LGBTQ+ Best Bars category for seven years running—and its next chapter in its new space (see p. 83) promises to slay! Warehouse District, @legendsraleigh
Ruby Deluxe A glitter-charged frenzy awaits at this sparkly space shaking up Raleigh’s LGBTQ+ bar scene since 2015. Serving lewks, snatching wigs and dragging in the drama, Ruby Deluxe is a glam-slam seltzer and stiff drink-fueled queer party serving drag shows, burlesque, bikini bingo and the like. Karaoke brings the house— down—and brings out surprisingly impressive pipes—on would-be sleepy weekdays where pop hits and music theater classics collide. Fayetteville Street District,@rubydeluxeraleigh
Best Game Day Bar
Players Retreat Wake up, it’s game day! Bargoers from all walks of life can agree the oldest bar in Raleigh is the place to, ahem, pack in for a game-day romp or casual weekday drink alike, thanks to nostalgic decor, sudsy bevs and winning bar food. Plus, it’s perfectly proximal to the Belltower for when the Wolfpack lights it red. Hillsborough Street Corridor, @theplayersretreat
Photo courtesy of Teets
Teets Football isn’t the only excuse to hit up Teets. UFC fights and hockey games attract diverse crowds, while less raucous ops—think open jam seshes and DJs—bring the good vibes without the chance for an L. And when the professional competition runs dry, multiple ways to game abound, from darts to cornhole to beer pong. It’s giving a college party—but one you actually want to go to. Glenwood South, @teetsraleigh
Best Dive Bar
Photo courtesy of Johnson Street Yacht Club
Johnson Street Yacht Club Yachtgoers stay “salty as hell” at fan-fave JSYC, where the slide is hella fast and the spirits are always high—and cheap. The divey downstairs is a staple for beer, seltzer, well drinks and shots, plus a game of pool, natch. While the rooftop is reminiscent of a tropical Tiki bar, serving up frozen and colorful bevys that’ll have you on island time, where the hardest decision will be what to drink next. Glenwood South, @jsyachtclub
The Cardinal Not at all bothered with reimagining a dive bar, The Cardinal is the place where “spirits and everybody” come together for a plain ole’ good time. No fussy drinks, uptight bartenders or dress code—just a line of cans repping its beer menu, quirky decor (think sassy placards like “let that shit go” and “if you didn’t leave a tip don’t bother coming back”) and plenty of revelry to go around via rowdy regulars and badass bar staff. Pro tip: A quick-order hot dog always hits the spot—best paired with a pepperoncini shot. Smoky Hollow, @thecardinalbar
Best Craft Beer Bar
Photo courtesy of Raleigh Beer Garden
Raleigh Beer Garden Long dominating the ranks of the finest U.S. beer gardens, RBG has earned a Best Craft Beer Bar title the past four years for a plethora of reasons—namely the 380+ brews on tap. But the multiple levels and bars, expansive back patio, bar games and rooftop deck def don’t hurt. And for those in the mood to compete, the three-time Guinness World Record holder and the sprawling three-story bar also upped its game again this year with the addition of Hop Shots mini golf. Score. Glenwood South, @raleighbeergarden
State of Beer The best state to be in? A state of beer, natch. The curated neighborhood vibe—read: brick-lined walls, ample outdoor seating and a cozy warehouse feel—beckons passersby to kick back with a cold one and make themselves at home. Ample brews pair perfectly with sammies and salads or star as standalone sips for a great state, indeed. Capital District, @stateofbeernc
Best Patio Bar
Photo courtesy of The Avenue
The Avenue The Avenue has all the markers of your best tailgate/house party—without the hassle, and with plenty of people-watching perks. A big draw for alfresco hangs and game day, drinks run the gamut from trendy seltzers to pick-your-poison beers and ’tails, best drunk over an indoor game of billiards or out on the massive grass-dotted patio convincing enough to confuse for your backyard and packed with fire pits, TVs and more games galore. Glenwood South, @theavenueraleigh
Person Street Bar Past a game room complete with pool tables and foosball, and through an unpretentious bar buzzing with regulars sipping fab-but-unfussy cocktails and brews, one of the best tucked-away patios invites. With its bejeweled ashtrays, embellished tables and overhead string lights, Person Street knows when it comes to the perfect patio, there’s no need to reinvent the wheel. Not at all interested in reimagining the neighborhood vibe as stuffy or elevated, Person Street serves up the exact homey community hangout its patrons are thirsty for. Seaboard & Person Street District, @personstreetbar
Best Live Music Bar
Photo courtesy of Clockwork
Clockwork Just trippy enough to recall Stanley Kubrick’s dystopian Clockwork Orange Milkbar—sans Alex and his gang of hoodlums—Clockwork has been chugging along like, well, clockwork since it first leveled up the local scene. Just like the bar, every cocktail name tells a story—see George Carlin’s famous notion that you can’t be both fine and dandy at the same time captured in the jalapeno-infused spicy and refreshing Fire & Dandy. Regardless of what you order, every night at this revelatory romp room is packed with consistently buzzy bevs and beats and surprisingly elevated eats—not to mention a frequent stint by GM and this year’s People’s Choice Bartender and legend-in-her-own-right Kellie Corcoran. Glenwood South, @clockwork919
Photo courtesy of The Pour House
The Pour House When strolling down Blount Street on any given night, it’s difficult to resist the beckon of chatter and tunes drifting through the poster-covered exterior walls of this moody music cave. More so a venue and vinyl shop than a traditional bar, the divey drinking den attracts crowds of every demographic—all jumbled together in close quarters encouraging chatter and moshing under the buzz of the music, colorful lights, questionable decor, and the smell of PBR and Miller High Life. A haven and home for both artists hailing from Cap City and road-weary bands and solo acts, every genre from shoegaze to alternative country can be heard blaring from this lovably-sleazy joint—and all are welcome to dance along. Moore Square District, @thepourhouse
Best Burbs Bar
Dram & Draught Fenton Clearly what Dram has created across its seven-plus sip spots is second to none. Also ranking as a Best Bar since the day it bowed, the Fenton locale calls you in again and again—whether for the inside trademark Dram bibliotheque liquor-bottle stylings, a patio perch or some rooftop revelry, but always for its classic tipples, bangin’ bourbon list and seasonally updated ’tails. And, perhaps its biggest feat—it’s worth the short commute to Cary. Cary, @dramanddraughtcary
Photo courtesy of SideBar
SideBar SideBar remains your favorite bartender’s favorite bar for a reason. Gregarious badass bartenders fuel thirsty bargoers likewise in the mood for a beer and a shot or a high-brow ’tail in a bar built around a coffee table (true story). Regular live music and jazz Sundays serve up the best distractions—and nothing here is ever that serious, which is everything we need right now. Cary, @sidebarnc
The Side Door
Holding down the fort in Cary is The Side Door, a refined refuge tucked beside V Pizza that is far more than just a side chick. With a moody interior and specialty cocktail menu, this literal side door provides a sweet escape for girls’ nights and Sunday scaries alike—never failing to serve up the perfect balance of sultry and sweet that’s well worth crossing the border for. Cary, @thesidedoornc
“I’m humbled and overjoyed to be recognized,” emphasizes Prieto. … “I’ve dedicated my life to the craft of barbecue, and through it, have found so many meaningful ways to serve my Knightdale community and tell my story. It’s incredibly rewarding to see our work here at Prime Barbecue—and the craft of barbecue—appreciated by our peers.”
After less than a year on the scene, DTR’s Figulina also earned the honor of Best New Restaurant semifinalist at the hands of former Poole’s chef de cuisine David Ellis and wife/co-owner Sam.
“We never imagined receiving this kind of recognition in our first year,” says Ellis, who learned about the nod in a barrage of texts and calls. “I’m incredibly proud of our amazing team whose passion and dedication make Figulina what it is. This honor truly means the world to us, and we’re so grateful to see our work resonate with others—not to mention the inspiring company we’re listed among.”
While Crawford has been named a JBFA semifinalist five times, the significance of the honor hasn’t waned. “When I was a young cook struggling with addiction, I never imagined in my wildest dreams this could be possible,” he says. “Today’s recognition as Outstanding Restaurateur speaks to the power of sobriety and perseverance.” Congrats to all the winners! See below for all the NC nods, and find the full 2025 list here.
“What an incredible feeling! To have brought the cuisine of our homeland to a place I’ve never been and been so quickly embraced and celebrated—it is beyond words. I’m deeply grateful for the love and support from Raleigh and the James Beard Foundation!”
