OG dive proves the only thing in the water is loyalty.
Any given Sunday sidled up at an unassuming bar in West Raleigh, you’ll find a loyal legion of regulars who’ve been holding court for nearly 40 years—from game days to pool and dart duels to trivia nights.
So, “Who Dat?” Sharky’s owners Randy and Simone Wilson have been calling the shots since 2012, when they took over from founder Jack Pinkstaff, delivering a spirited revamp that’s kept the now “saintly” dive vibe very much alive.
Born and bred in the Big Easy, Simone dishes a dose of Cajun flair via a menu that skews sports bar-meets-Nawlins—from gumbo to “quite possibly the best shrimp po’boy in the country (including New Orleans)” to house-smoked wings that sing.
Bartenders pour whatever you’re craving—from beers to bourbons—whether you’re bellied up at the bar or grabbing some liquid courage for billiards (or darts, cornhole, giant Jenga, etc.)… and without breaking the bank.
The patio (with game viewing) is a major draw; the bar food, bait; and the unassuming large-screen-loaded hang, a legend in its own right. “I don’t drink,” says one bargoer—“but Sharky’s is by far my favorite bar for the people-watching.” And, adds another, “Their food is f*cking delicious.”
But despite the cult-fave fare, Sharky’s is—for all intents and purposes—a true neighborhood dive. It’s the Crowley’s of Northwest: where you might go when you’re craving a bourbon at Blind Barbour but live above Crabtree… or when you want to shoot pool without the corporate-chain energy.
Because in a culture obsessed with new, novelty and cocktail couture—and in an otherwise bar-desert stretch—Sharky’s has stayed the course in its stripped-down, no-pretense MO and not just survived, but thrived: super chill, welcoming and living its mantra as “the coolest bar in the world.” And the stans are here for it—those four decades off Duraleigh proof-positive that real staying power rests in cold beer, consistency and a kind of community you can’t manufacture.
Hidden in plain sight, North Raleigh’s newest speakeasy and cocktail escape
North Raleigh just got its first true cocktail bar—and it’s hiding in plain sight. Meet Dry Cleaners Cocktail Bar, a sultry speakeasy tucked inside a former dry cleaners near Hibernian Pub. The aptly named brainchild of Hibernian Hospitality Group’s Niall Hanley officially opened in late October, giving NR dwellers and passersby a swanky spot to sip without heading Downtown.
Sean Junqueira
“The North Raleigh neighborhood really deserves something like this,” says Hanley. “There’s a lot of people here who want to have a cocktail bar experience who don’t want to go Downtown.”
And this one’s a whole vibe—living up to the hype of Hanley’s roster of DTR drinking dens (Aunty Betty’s, Watts & Ward, Botanical Lounge). Think moody noir film-esque dark-gray walls, vibrant red sofas and wingback chairs, and seductive lamps that would make Mad Men’s Don Draper feel right at home.
“We’re trying to capture a nice and elevated vibe—without the pretension that comes along with that,” explains Manager Reese Hailey, formerly of Aunty Betty’s (and People’s Choice winner at our inaugural Cocktail Classic in 2023!). “I want people to feel fancy without being judged about liking what they like—to feel welcomed, and that they have a community here.”
That ethos extends to the cocktail menu—a collaborative lineup of refined yet unfussy libations, both classics-with-a-twist and inventive seasonal sips. And if nothing on that list speaks to you? “Just ask your bartender to whip something up!” says Hailey.
A true speakeasy, Dry Cleaners keeps things discreet—read: no sign—so only those willing to sleuth it out will be able to sidle up to the bar for a ’tail. Pro tip: Look next to the North Raleigh Hibernian. As Hanley spins it: “If you can find it, then you can enjoy it.” Happy hunting!
I do hope with us being here it opens the opportunity for people to expand outside of Downtown Raleigh in the cocktail scene—and also connects the community from Downtown to the rest of Raleigh.” —REESE HAILEY, MANAGER, DRY CLEANERS COCKTAIL BAR
