SideBar

SideBar was a nice cocktail experience on a Monday night while visiting in town. It was pretty quiet inside, but vibes were chill and service quick. Would come back again to try other cocktails.

Excellent drinks, great staff, perfect day or night spot to spend time. From Atlanta here, visiting for a wedding - I've been to bars all over the southeast. This one was THE place in Cary. Loved the environment along with presentation of the space. Everyone in the group raved about the drinks they ordered. When I come through the area again, I know I'll drop by.

This is one of my favorite bars in Cary. It has a slight speakeasy vibe. The drinks are good and the bartenders and friendly.

I found this hidden gem on google while searching for drinks after dinner, and it certainly didn’t disappoint. The bartenders did a great job accommodating our special requests. My husband ordered an old fashioned with an extra shot, and I opted for the semisweet bruleed greyhound. Both drinks were excellent and reasonably priced. The ambience was so relaxing, we will definitely be coming back.

Delicious cocktails! The whiskey sour is a must try.

Great place to meet for drinks after a fast paced scavenger hunt in downtown Cary! The drinks were refreshing and delicious, the server was kind and prompt and the atmosphere was great!

Prior to dinner we wanted a quick cocktail. We had been meaning to go here, but needed an excuse to be in Cary. The night finally came, we had dinner reservations just next door. Upon entry, we were greeted by a nice hostess. Sat at the bar. Ordered some staples, Manhattan and Old Fashioned. Both were very delicious. The prices here are par for the course $9-$13. But there was some cheap beer and good beer and liquor combos. Good amount of bartenders, I saw 6 for a 70% full bar, pretty good. I’d go back for sure.

Can't really comment on the food but I will comment on the drinks! Really lovely spot I met a coworker for drinks after a rough day in the office. We enjoyed cocktails and wine..it was quiet, had the perfect "bar lighting" and the server was really lovely and quick to help out without being intrusive. We made plans to come back because we had such a nice time!

Perfect place for people who are into moody and cozy bar vibe! It is dark with candlelights, plushy leather chairs and light music. The space isn't very large and most seatings are arranged in parallel due to the long, narrow layout, so it may not be ideal for groups larger than 5-6 people, but it's perfect for a date night/small group friends' intimate gathering. The drink menu is impressive, featuring a mix of unique, creative options and classic cocktails. We tried a drink with MSG and a classic Pimm's Cup--both were expertly crafted :) The bartender was friendly and helpful as he shared the inspiration and flavor profiles of the original MSG drink. Can't wait to try more seasonal/original drinks from Sidebar! Ambiance: 4/5 Drink: 4/5 Service: 5/5

Terrible cocktail making and they argue with you about how a cocktail is normally. I ordered an old fashioned and it wasn't muddled or even a full cocktail for the price.

Allison and Jane and all of the servers here are nothing short of amazing! Every time I walk in, I feel like I am at a game, and it makes me not want to leave! Such a wonderful and chill spot to go to after hours. The staff know what they are doing and they are so kind and considerate. Literally, I haven't had a bad experience here since checking them out of our over a year ago. Cary needs a chill full service bar, and this across the street from RBF makes sense. I really enjoy coming here, speaking with the bartenders, and just having a chill and relaxing time. They are so receptive when you want to make a change, and they have such great suggestions! I will continue to come here and recommend that others come here too. It is such a positive and welcoming vibe! Literally cannot wait to come here again as I am sitting here!

I went here on a Saturday night. It was so good. I had to return the following week. Friendly bartenders great vibes. Cocktails and drinks only no food is served but it's a great time.

Recent visit: 8/4/23 My all-time favorite go-to bar since 2020. I love Sidebar for the Classy Cocktails and Professional Adults vibe. I enjoy the dark intimate space for a nightcap. The staff is always welcoming and accommodating with my special drink orders. I enjoy ordering Gin Tom Collins with no sugar. One of my best guilt-free cocktails with simple ingredients.

Awesome staff. Friendly, knowledgeable and skilled. Drinks are truly craft cocktails with unique flavors that will surprise your taste buds. Setting is very intimate and comfortable with warm inviting vibes.

Cute cocktail bar with dark atmosphere. They have a ton of drink options and you can also order off the menu. They don't offer food but there are several places around to pick up food from!

A cute, fancy cocktail bar in downtown Cary! I came here last year, maybe on the weekend, there was no seating available. They suggested sitting outside in the middle of December with no outdoor heaters. So, we went elsewhere. They should invest in some outdoor heaters for more busy days during the Fall and Winter. I finally was able to get a drink here this past week! The drinks are well-thought out and refreshing. My favorite was the Whisky sour. Interestingly, there was some egg whites in this drink(which you cannot taste). Their drinks were strong but not overtly alcoholic tasting! The service was good, but there was only one server. She seemed a bit stretched. I would definitely recommend this place for some post-work drinks!

My friend brought me here for a birthday drink on a Friday night. Staff was very friendly and attentive and it was a very comfortable and cozy setting. Bar was very clean and there was a variety of comfortable seating, Nice variety, cocktails, beer and wine and reasonably priced.

We love SIDEBAR. Servers were great. Drinks were great. Vibes were fantastic. Highly recommend coming here. No wait at all

Great craft cocktail bar. Bartenders are friendly, attentive, and truly appreciate their craft. I watched as they put the same great amount of effort into every drink they made throughout the time I was there. Highly recommend.

Great drinks with amazing bartenders... This is a drink only place, but if you're gonna go get your fortified on by having a painkiller.

Super cute divey bar with reasonably priced cocktails, Simple but full menu, and cute vibe! We had reservations for dinner next door and grabbed a quick drink here prior. We were able to grab a few stools at the bar and each ordered a dirty Tito's martini extra dirty. I was impressed that while making the beverage the bartender had ice in our cups to chill it. The drinks were strong and good. If we had more time I'd be interested in exploring some of their other cocktails and I'd absolutely be interested in returning! My only critique is parking is a DISASTER in downtown Cary. If you're planning on going to any bar or restaurant in this area, come with a ton of patience to try to find parking!

OK. For the locals--I'm from Austin, TX visiting so hit up Nickel City in Austin on Google Maps to see how this all relates. SideBar is a rare gem in that it focuses on well-made cocktails in a serene setting while also offering a nice selection of cheap, yet high-end microbrews. It's all about options, and here it's about the vibe and atmosphere. All 3 bartenders were sociable, attentive, and adept at mixing a drink. Liam started me off and I ran his ear a bit as I immediately thought of Nickel City in Austin, and being away from my wife watchin' my sister's pets and attending to my parents, it was great to get out and chat. SideBar is that place you go to before dinner elsewhere to kill time when your date is important, or it's that place after dinner to kerp things going. It's the place you go to with friends when you want to chat it up and not be distracted by sports TV's. You can mix crowds as there are stellar microbrews or just plain PBR or Miller available. It's just that oddity that straddles different worlds. You can bring in food from outside, use nearby places, or just skip the munchies, but what's missing is a food truck attached that is separate yet exists for the bar to submit orders and payments to on a seamless tab--that's where Austin's Nickel City takes this place to another level--but hey, this is Cary,NC, and there's nothing that competes. 5 stars.

Very nice bar with delicious drinks and a modern feel that's not too overwhelming. The servers were extremely responsive. The drink menu was good not great.

I'm pretty unimpressed when a bar that is supposed to be a cocktail bar can't do an espresso martini or chocolate martini. Don't be so stuck up and give the people what they want.

With a great ambiance and variety of cocktails, this place is perfect for date night! I ordered the "Why is Sally so Dangerous" cocktail and it was so good. I had to tell them no spice though and the bartender did a great job. Note that this place can get crowded pretty easily inside so you may end up sitting outside. Nothing wrong with outside, but the inside is very beautiful and has a nice atmosphere.

What a great cocktail bar!! Drinks were amazing and a perfect way to end the night. It has indoor and outdoor seating. Service was awesome and selection of drinks top notch! Will definitely be back when in Cary, NC!

Wow, Cary just keeps getting better and better! And with the new SideBar it's now doing great craft cocktails. Owned by Matt B of C. Grace fame, SideBar is a chic corner lounge located near Bond Bros Beer and Pizzeria Faulisi. The space is a classic L-shape with couches and stuffed leather booth up front along with a long bar. Good looking spot with interesting art-deco lamps overhead and great ambiance. I stopped in on maybe it's first or second day and had a great gin fizz amped up with lemongrass. Given Matt's history and mixology skills, I'd expect SideBar to be THE place for a cocktail in Cary. He's got an impeccable record when it comes to cocktails so it's great to see him start up his own bar. Looking forward to trying more off the menu ($9 to $12) for both classic and house cocktails....

Without intention, we ended up at this place on a whim! We were on our way to Bond Brothers, which is a brewery about 500 feet away, but decided to stop at SideBar. It was around 2 pm on a Sunday-- not too busy but not completely dead either. The mixologist seemed very skilled in her technique and was warm and friendly. We ordered some of the "favorites" on the cocktail menu, including those in the picture. The Carolina's Gold #2 was so delicious-- it tastes like a refined rice pudding in a cup! It is a very laid back, calm atmosphere, so don't expect to be spending Sunday Gameday at this joint. It is cocktails only, so plan accordingly. Will definitely go back soon!

Great little fully stocked bar in the heart of downtown Cary. Love the atmosphere and the menu has a balance of classic and modern, highly quaffable cocktails.

Great selection of beer , Dog friendly which is a amazing plus , and the beers are all well priced , it has an incredible outdoor area , a few fire pits and delicious food trucks , If you want to unwind and have a fun time this is the spot

I really wanted to like this place but they have some serious service issues to work through...which is unfortunate because the drinks were good but they took 30 mins to make which is ridiculous. We were there for an hour, ordered right away and didn't get our first drink until 30-35 mins in...and it was not busy.

This was a really good experience for us! The cocktails were reasonably priced. I could feel the attention made personally for my drinks. I asked for a few recommendations and they were very willing to help! This is a really good option if you're not in a beer mood. We will be back!

Nice little bar. We wanted to check it out after a meal. Walked in and found seats at the bar instantly. Those working were attentive and we never felt like we were ignored. Water at the beginning and drinks came quickly after ordering. Would go back to try more of their specialty drinks.

This place is a fantastic bar. The ambiance is wonderful. Great service and great drinks at a reasonable price. The Brûlée Greyhound is out of this world.

Great vibe and excellent drinks. It's hard to beat the atmosphere for a great night out.

We came with friends for drinks before dinner next door. Both the service and martinis were excellent. You can order from the restaurant next door and have it delivered to your table here.

First visit to SideBar and it was such a wonderful choice. Each staff person I encountered was more than helpful, attentive and accommodating. The brûléed Greyhound was delicious and the pop-up food from Hanks - which btw, I didn't have to move to go fetch, they delivered it to my table - was delicious. I'll be back.

Classy bar in the heart of Cary. So impressed with their booze collection and cocktails are always top notch. It feels comfortable and welcoming but still grownup.

What a great little cocktail bar! This is our go to for a drink if we're going out for dinner in Cary. They have a wide selection of signature drinks but the bartenders are great and can make drinks off the menu as well. The decor and ambiance is really nice. A good place for date night or to hang out with friends.

Love everything about SideBar. Ambience, service and cocktails are top notch. I've never been disappointed.

Been here a handful of times and I just love the atmosphere. Has a speakeasy feel to it and the drinks have always been delicious. I really enjoyed the Brulee'd Greyhound. Top notch presentation and flavors.

Neat find! PIZZA ONLY! Delicious thin crust, great environment. The bathroom decor was probably my favorite haha - but overall the beer list was wide enough and the pizza was 12" and two for a couple is more than enough. Very clean and did not have to wait in a line, or make a reservation ahead of time on a weeknight.

Such a fantastic addition to downtown Cary! We enjoyed all of the drinks that we tried, the Last Call and Quick Decisions, Carolina's Gold, Bruleed Greyhound and Bravado & Bitter. I can't wait to see what new cocktails this spot is mixing up next!

Love this chic downtown Cary bar! We booked a late Valentine's dinner so we were looking for a nicer cocktail bar to head to for drinks first. Lo and behold, Sidebar showed up on my yelp search and I was surprised it was so close! A cool bar, in Cary?! I was pleasantly surprised to find a dedicated parking lot behind the establishment (Sidebar 1, Glenwood south 0) so that's a major plus. Bar itself was crowded but the employees were awesome and came and welcomed us warmly immediately when we walked into the door. The gentleman helping us also told us to keep our eyes peeled at a back table, since he was pretty sure that party was about to leave soon so we could take their spot. They also gave us drink menus and took our orders, so we didn't even have to jostle for anyone's attention behind the bar. I've never had anyone working at a popular crowded bar on a weekend give that much attention to each customer. Icing on the cake, was that there was literally a chocolate cake they were serving to all the patrons. Apparently it was their anniversary so free cake for all! The drinks we got were awesome (I had the gin and grapefruit one..forgot the name) and eating it with cake made it that much better. I can't wait to go back! Thanks Sidecar!

Super cute classy bar with a pretty small indoor seating area. There's a few tables scattered, your traditional bar area and bar seating along the large window facing the outdoor patio area. The drink menu was extensive and diverse. They had plenty of options for different spirits and they were all pretty unique. They're also able to make you practically anything you'd like. I met up a friend for after work drinks. We each had one of each bruled greyhound and clover club (I think? It was a gin drink with amazing flavor and pinkish in color). Everything was perfect about both drinks! The service was also on point. Our water glasses never went empty even though we still had our cocktails in hand. The prices were reasonable and they pours were also nice. I'll definitely have to bring my husband here on a date night. I think they take reservations. We got there early so had plenty of seats to choose from but as we were leaving the place was getting pretty busy.

Tyler made us some fantastic drinks! Love the atmosphere, very retro. The Brûlée Greyhound, Manhattan,Old Fashion, Last Call and Quick Decision were all excellent.

Great service and selection. Nice place to meet friends after work for drinks. You can get a charcuterie board from the establishment next door. What's not to love?

I love this place. Such a great addition to DT Cary. It's a really cozy feel inside, I love the dim lighting and seating. But be careful, this place is packed on a Saturday night especially when it's cold and no one is using the outdoor seating. Got the cucumber gimlet and it was super yummy. Everyone was really pleased with their drink selection. Service was quick and we didn't have to wait too long for drinks even though it was slammed. Can't wait to come back in warmer weather with the kids. Let them play outside while we enjoy a nice drink. Isn't that the American Dream?

Great local spot for cocktails - the splendid in the grass is particularly good. It's a mojito with a splash of wine!

Excellent bar. We live in Durham but if we lived in Cary this would be our favorite bar. The bartender was friendly, fast, and super knowledgeable. She advised on choices and her drinks were perfect. It has a very nice and comfortable environment. Don't miss the Brûlée'd Greyhound and the Last Call & Quick Decisions. Highly recommend.

Very cool spot to crab a custom cocktail - extensive drink list! Atmosphere is dark and small, cozy vibes. Also have good outdoor space to take drinks when it is too full inside, they do not let you crowd around the bar.

Sidebar? Yes absolutely! Cant reccomend enough really. The staff is great and the ambience is so cool. Just chill and enjoy excellent drinks by one of the Best Bar Staffs in Cary.

Yummy cocktails! I had a Dark n Stormy (one of my favorite drinks), and Hubs had something an Old Fashioned and then I think he asked the bartender to make him a Cameron's Kick which is basically a smokey whiskey drink. He liked both! I thought the DnS was nice and had a good level of spicy ginger flavor as opposed to some which are more sugary. The bartenders were lovely and the environment is laid-back. We sat at an open window facing Bond Brothers and watched some puppies and children running around. I can't wait to go back and try more yummy cocktails!

Hostess and manager were rude and unwelcoming. They made no effort to get us seated as we waited at the door. We got the feeling that they didn't like the color of our skin. Racist!!!

Best cocktail bar in downtown Cary. The ambience is nice, staff is friendly. Last time I was there with a friend, the bartender brought out the drinks to our table since it wasn't too busy. That was a really nice gesture. Definitely recommend if you're looking for a nice cocktail bar with a chill vibe.

Love this new neighborhood bar with a cool, friendly vibe. Originally, I said they'd get five stars if they had the liqueurs and liquor to make a chocolate martini, but heir mixologists love a challenge to make fun drinks. However, their mixologists have won me over, and make the best margarita ever, so five stars it is!!! My husband loves the "Where have they gone" cocktail, and I've tried several other ones here. They always offer to make me a drink that I'll love. They sometimes offer live music too! They have inside and outside tables, to enjoy great spring weather!

So fun! Amazing cocktails, amazing liquor choices! Just flat out amazing!!!! Bartender/Owner was friendly and super knowledgeable as well! Gave great recommendations for later too!