The Raleigh Times

Downtown has so many great spots for food, and this one ended up being a surprising gem for us. There was an older man already inside who wouldn’t leave us alone, and it took our server stepping in to finally usher him out—it seemed like something they’ve had to do more than once. Kerry, our server, was kind and patient with our son, which we appreciated. The food was delicious across the board, and we liked the unique spin they put on some of their dishes. We’ll definitely give this place another visit and think it’s worth stopping in if you’re nearby.

Stopped here for dinner while in town for the weekend. We were able to seat ourselves right away on a Saturday night. My husband got the southwest chicken wrap, my daughter had the Raleigh times burger, and I had the holy guacamole turkey burger. We had the fried pickle appetizer also. The food was good. The waiter was also the bartender so he was super busy and could not be very attentive. The atmosphere has an old town pub feel. It was very dark inside even though it was a bright summer day outside.

The place is in a great location in downtown Raleigh. I have been there a few times and the food ok, I am sure you can find items on the menu that are better than others. I particularly didn’t like the Shrimp Po’boy too much, it wasn’t terrible but it wasn’t delicious. The other plate was the Chicken Sand. With pineapple that my friend enjoyed. The service was excellent, very friendly and efficient, despite being so busy, which is a quality that helps customers return to a spot.

We had our Rehearsal Dinner here in August 2025 in the Main Floor Dining Room, and we were very pleased with the experience! The entire planning process with Kaitlyn was incredibly smooth, and Maddie was great for the day of service! The food was good, the staff was professional, and the planning was a breeze. Thanks!

I work a few blocks away from Raleigh Times, so when deciding who should host our private event, it was a no-brainer. Raleigh Times is consistently good regardless of the hour. Their staff is super attentive, the quality and variety of food is great, and who doesn't like a rooftop view? We'll definitely be back for work lunches and for future private events.

Loved this place! We were in town due to the comic con at the convention center. My kids and hubby enjoyed our meal here! We had the burger which was big and satisfying both my son and hubby finished everything my sister had the southwest wrap which was also very delicious! I had the flying Hawaiian chicken sandwich a great balance between sweet and savory 🤤. I tried two cocktails while there the peach sour whiskey and mango margarita the peach cocktail was my favorite ended up getting 2. Thanks so much for the great friendly service and amazing food!

Went in just for a couple drinks. They have a great selection of beers as well as cocktails. The Bloody Mary was delicious, never had pickled green beans with one but I think it’ll be a must now! The staff were friendly, and overall the place has a nice vibe. I think it’s one of those bars that’s worth visiting while on a weekend trip to Raleigh.

Every time I go here, they tell me most food is pre-prepared, and cannot make any guarantees about my allergies. It makes my options limited to basically only the burger or the Cuban, which are good. The one time they made me baked Salmon off menu I felt it was a bit undercooked. I don’t really blame anyone but it sucks that so much is pre-prepared I can’t eat it.

This place is so cool!! I love how there's multiple different vibes within the building with different bars. You can be in one area with louder more pop/rock or whatever music they got going on or go to another side where the music is more relaxed and vibey. Our server was super nice and recommended the turkey burger which I thought was pretty delicious!

This is a go-to spot for a local classic. I appreciate how large it is and the plentiful seating options. I've been 3-4x now and have gotten rooftop seating every time. But the self seat concept is a little risky and off putting. The service can be hit and miss with unfriendly, overwhelmed, and negligent servers - but not always! The food and drinks are pretty banal and average but satiating! Would definitely recommend for a fun vibe, not for a formal sit down or foodies.

Stopped in for a quick drink. The views from the rooftop of this restaurant were absolutely breathtaking. Added bonus that there was live music going on right outside the restaurant! The staff were friendly and drinks were yummy. We left were happy and satisfied with our visit!

The Raleigh Times is a unique spot in downtown Raleigh. The restored building offers multiple dining areas including roof top seating, private dining room, and casual dining areas. The walls are adorned with past Raleigh Times newspaper clippings. The lighting is dim making it ideal for date nights and intimate conversation. We chose a table downstairs. Raleigh Times offers a great menu and impressive beer selection. I was in the mood for tacos so I chose the street tacos and later the chocolate torte. Both were excellent! The tacos were fresh and flavorful while the torte was rich and chocolatey. Overall we enjoyed our evening here and recommend this restaurant to others!

The Raleigh Times rooftop makes you feel cool [wink]. We went out/up for a quick drink and a bite before our show. Alyssa put our order right in and we got to sit down for 30 minutes and enjoy the people and view. We tried the wings and Cuban sandwich. Both were tasty and came out quick. We also like the diverse seating options: outside, bar, window, and traditional table. At this price point, the Times is a solid downtown hang option.

The bartender who was our table waiter on Thursday afternoon was extremely rude and short. We ordered draft beers and the passive aggressive tone he gave us was uncomfortable and very rude. He could have just told us that they only have craft beers. Not a welcoming environment. He put a bad taste in our mouth. Other staff was great but this gentleman made it a bad first impression and we will not be back.

The building and space are just awesome. It's almost like eating in a Raleigh museum (plus some cool Belgian beer things). The service was excellent and they were very accommodating with our stroller and kid at lunch. We had the chicken strips and devils on horseback. The strips were crispy and tasty. They were very filling for the price. The devils on horseback were delicious!

This place had a cool ambiance with the old newspapers on the walls, but the food was pretty much what you would expect for a bar. We decided to give a shot at the restaurant week steak meal, but it came out room temperature and slightly undercooked. It was okay but nothing memorable. Our waiter was very friendly and attentive, we think it may have been better to just order some classic bar food instead.

I ordered the Philly cheese steak and it was delicious. Chips were great too. Service was very slow. I've been to this place multiple times and have had the same experience...terrible service but decent food. I can't say I enjoy coming here, but the food makes it bearable. Ambiance is dark. I also asked for a takeout box and got a free Tupperware container. Not sure if they ran out of the normal styrofoam boxes or what, but I'll count that as a win!

$20 after tax and tip for a sandwich with like 1 thin piece of meat that only covers a fifth of each side of the sandwich, and one side's soggy. I wouldn't choose to go back. Feel ripped off.

Went here on a whim after looking at several choices. Out of town from Reno NV. Fantastic place. Great choice of beers and drinks, friendly staff, and awesome ambiance. Love all the old pics on the walls. 3 bars downstairs 1 upstairs and a great patio upstairs outside. We were gonna check out a second bar but never left.

We stumbled upon Raleigh Times during a bluegrass festival and part of the festival was in the street next to it. We walked by and the food we saw looked stellar O we decided to grab lunch here. We sat inside, but the windows were open so it was as if we were half inside half outside. Service was super attentive even though they started to get extremely busy. Waters were always refilled, that kind of thing. We got a southwest salad and the chicken tenders - tossed in honey jalapeño - my husband and I cut up the tenders to put in the salad and split both. So delicious and filling! Their fries and ranch were also perfect for the meal. They didn't mind that we took our time and enjoyed some drinks while the festival was happening. We didn't stay too long to be respectful considering how busy it was getting, but we weren't rushed at all. A great lunch!

Looking for a place to eat and hangout in Raleigh on a weekend night, we stumbled across The Raleigh Times Bar. I enjoy the older beer hall aesthetic of the place, and it's got a good location right around Downtown Raleigh! For food I got the Andy's Cheesesteak with Fries, it was a ton of food for $14, and being used to DC high prices, I thought this was very affordable and good portions for money! The fries were crispy, not super seasoned but nothing some ketchup/sauce can't fix. The cheesesteak itself was chocked full of steak, onions, and provolone cheese, and it was really tasty! A bit too much bread for me, and the steak could use some more seasoning, but overall it's a good cheesesteak for the price. Service was prompt and friendly, they seated us quickly on a busy Saturday night. Love the rooftop seating area, it's a nice view of the city and just lovely vibes overall.

Legit one of my favorite places in town. Consistently delicious with unique cocktails and excellent service. Definitely a bar/restaurant environment but in an older building that's been renovated.

We, my daughter and her BF stopped by, we had their Amazing cheese fries which had tasty bits of bacon, YUMMERS!! And mozzarella sticks!! OMG!! Nice large pieces! Bigger and thicker than your fingers DELISH!! Oh let me Not Forget their drinks!!!! Had an Ole Fashion Outstanding!! My daughter and her BF had their Sangria, LOVED IT and I'm not a sweet drinker type but it was SO TASTY YUMMY!! Service was very welcoming and the Ambiance was awesome! Can't wait to visit again

If I could give zero stars, I would. I don't know what the hell was wrong with the bartender/server at Raleigh Times tonight, but they acted like doing their job was the biggest inconvenience of their life. I've had friendlier service at the DMV. Don't work in the service industry if you are a POS.

Heyyyyy please tell me why we decided to eat at Raleigh Times downtown and seen this....Now they have a hair salon inside the restaurant and at a food table go figure and they both work there....the lady is actually the bar tender....too much

Amazing!! This New England loved the beer battered cod !! The nachos were amazing! the bbq pork on it was smoked and delicious. The beers are all excellent. It was all homemade and fresh. This was our first time here and the bartender/server we had was attentive and fast! Highly recommend

I can't say enough great things about the food here. The jalapeño honey chicken sandwich is amazing. As are the fries, the potato chips, and the ranch dressing. We had a slice of peanut butter chocolate pie for desert thanks to the incredible waiter and it was spectacular. Speaking of the server, Brad, he was beyond stellar and frankly I haven't received service like his in a VERY LONG time. The service here, his service and those that brought out the food, is exceptional and actually applaud worthy. Overall the place is hip, it's cool, and I could help but smile when I looked up and saw a pic of the late Jimmy V! You must try this place. I'm ashamed that I've lived here for as long as I have and I've never been here. And Brad, thank you again!!!!!!! Wish I had taken pics of more than just the nachos but I ate it up.

Just a good old fashioned bar. Service was slow but the one person was hustling so understandable. Definitely a chill atmosphere for a bar in a good way.

Very cool atmosphere! Loved the rooftop and all the levels. Great beer selection. Sadly, this the the first stop of the day, so we just had a beer and enjoyed the scenery from the roof - no food ... which upsets a fat man like me! Their food looked great - next time, we'll hit this place and have beer and wings! The service was great ... super friendly and knowledgable. Really enjoyed this place.

My friends and I stopped in during our bar hopping weekend and what an awesome place this is! I love that this building is a restored piece of history that's been transformed into a place for people of all ages to get together whether it's for dinner or for drinks. We sat upstairs in the indoors area since the outside rooftop area was already full. We were greeted pretty quickly and brought waters. Since we had already been to a few other places I thought It'd be a good idea to order food. I saw the Devils on Horseback and just had to try them! Anything bacon wrapped is an automatic must for me! The combination of the bacon wrapped dates and to stuff them with goat cheese was a heavenly combination! Topped with the balsamic glaze just added to the flavor of it all! It's a pretty filling appetizer if you're just looking for something small to nosh on, or share with the table if you're planning to have dinner as well! To drink I had a Dragon Berry Mojito which had a nice balance of power and berry flavor! I have to say this is one of my favorite spots in Raleigh and I can't wait to come back.

Just had lunch on the rooftop! It was the BEST view of downtown and the food was great! Our table shared Tacos, a Cuban and Shrimp and Grits! Love the variety on the menu and that every item was perfect!!

Was here about 4 months ago July 2023 Great vintage ambiance, weathered looking wood and decor (that's a good thing!) Was greeted nicely by the server, everyone was nice and welcoming The food was really tasty and menu selections were adequate. I wanted to try more but I was too stuffed! Decent place, decent prices, wouldn't mind going back if I'm ever in the area That's all YELPies! Enjoy!

New Yorker ( and bartender) here who just moved to Raleigh 2 days ago. The Raleigh Times was my first bar experience down south and I couldn't have asked for a better one! Our bartender Sabotage was on point from the second we took our seat at the bar. Greeted us and handed us our menus, was knowledgeable and so on point with his IPA recommendations when asked and continued to provide prompt, friendly service throughout our entire time there. I may not have been to many bars in NC yet but I can say for sure that I'll be going back to this one!

It's just delightful to see a quaint bar with brick walls. The server was very helpful despite him being the only one taking care of the bar as well. The food was great with lots of excellent choices to choose from. The craft beer was exquisite as well. Overall I am going back again hopefully soon

Had the southwest salad with grilled shrimp. Delicious. Great staff. Love the atmosphere.

Fun place with great menu. Unfortunately the food was just so-so. We were there with a party of eight and only one person was happy. They did have gluten free options which is a plus.

We gathered for a rehearsal dinner. It was set up as a buffet with salad, grits, mashed potatoes, green beans, pork chops, and gravy. Dessert was an apple turnover. The appetizer was bacon wrapped dates. Everything was great, except the porkchops were overcooked and dry. That is one protein that is hard to get right on a buffet. The bartenders were great. They were very friendly and kept the patrons satisfied. Being First Friday, it was loud outside, but everyone had a great time. We had the whole upstairs to ourselves, and the weather was perfect for the patio. This is a great place to book for a special occasion. Be ready to walk a ways. We had to park four blocks away.

It's a neat location with a lot of potential, but it's not a place I can get excited about. Maybe it was an off night thus week but my son and I both got the fish and chips and it all tasted pretty much the same like the frier oil needed changing. Our waitress was friendly and attentive, but unfortunatel it's a place you go because people will be there and not because you crave the food. Thought the fried pickles are good. This place is near marbles and I meet a workmate there occasionally when he's in town and taking his kid to marbles and we can sit outside when it's nice. But I have never had a meal here that I found good enough that I sugggest people go here to eat.

LOVE Raleigh Times always my go to. Great food reasonably priced even inexpensive, good atmosphere especially with outside seating. I always get the Cuban with chips and it never misses. Today I had Spencer as a server and he was fantastic, my glass was never empty.

I went by this place super late (1ish) and picked them because of their high rating on yelp. I was a little nervous when I arrived because it was late, they were pretty full in their main area, and they had shut down some areas. The lady came and asked who she could help and opened the area back up. The food was the late night menu (which is very limited), but it was fresh, hot and quick. I have to say their service was next level. Would definitely recommend!!

We only stopped here to grab a few beers and watch some baseball. It's definitely not a sports bar but there are a few small tvs in the joint. We mentioned to our server Brad that we were from out of town and we were like "so what's good around here?" Dude was genuinely thoughtful in his responses- even taking the time to write down a few recommendations for places to hang out or chow down. If you're looking for great service, nice beer selection and cool ambiance stop by this spot- you won't be disappointed.

This was my first time at Raleigh Times and it did not disappoint! We of course started off with some appetizers, including the pico and guac following the Devils on Horseback. The pico and guac were amazing but i skipped the Devils on Horseback because I am not particularly fond of goat cheese, although the presentation of the dish was gorgeous. To drink I had one of their signature cocktails, the SunRise Sangria. It was refreshing, light and a perfect pair to the Kale Caesar Salad which I added Salmon to. The only problem I had with my dish is that my salmon seemed to be overly spicy, which I normally would love because I am a fan of hot foods but this was a little much. The salad was also very dry considering caesar's normally come tossed but all of the dressing was still at the bottom of the bowl. The ambiance of Raleigh Times was especially delightful though with lively music and friendly servers. I will definitely be coming back with friends for a fun outing.

Awesome place. Great service, great mozzarella sticks, and food. Had the Salmon Fried Rice and it was delicious. Super picky about fish in restaurants, but it came out perfect. Husband ordered a burger medium rare and that's how it came out.

Raleigh Times has a great menu with plenty of options. I got the Brussel sprouts salad with salmon and the salmon portion was huge. The salad was delicious. We went on a Monday night and we waited for over an hour for two salads and two Cuban sandwiches. My friend asked to cancel her order for her salad as her parking was going to expire and they waived her salad off her bill, but did not offer any type of discount to anyone else. The food was great but the service needed work. Also, I understand places are still short staffed following COVID, but if the runners are backed up, the servers should maybe be helping instead of socializing and vaping with their friends outside the restaurant. What was supposed to be a quick dinner on a Monday turned into a 2.5 hour event. Would recommend, but make sure you have some time on your hands. I've sat at the bar here before and had a way better experience but that was over a year ago.

We love it here! Great beers and even better food. The wings and tacos are one of a kind !

I'd go back probably! The food was good and the service was good l. I think it's really more of a 4.5 stars for me than a true 5 stars. It was also really easy to get a table on Sunday for lunch, which is great. I feel like sometimes it is so hard to get a table in a restaurant on weekends in Raleigh. I thought my cod was fine, and I really liked my French fries. They were kind of chewy (as opposed to crunchy) but that is exactly what I was looking for. The portion was pretty good too, and the prices were fine. The veggie burger was good too, but I wish they had more details on their menu about it, because without details a veggie burger can be kind of a gamble!!! I also liked my cocktail (it was yummy) but I don't think it had AS much alcohol in it as some other cocktails I've gotten recently. The water was good too.

The food was phenomenal as always! Loved the shrimp and grit, it was packed with flavor from the shrimp to sausage to the grits. We also go the fried pickles and they do a great job with thin long slices of pickle. The service was good but a bit slow. If you are looking for a quick lunch this might not be the place for you. But if you have some time to spare it's worth sitting outside on a nice day.

The food is good, especially the fries. It's a little loud for conversation, but good atmosphere. We sat at the bar and the bartender was helpful and quick with the drinks and food.

The Raleigh Times Bar is one of my favorite restaurants in Raleigh. There's a wide variety of culinary choices and the beer menu is thoughtfully rotating all the time. The salmon fried rice is a classic. Service is friendly and casual. This is a great place for drinks after work or dinner with your family.

I went here with a business happy hour. We got there at about 5:30 and our party grew in size from about 4 to about 20. Good on our waitress for sticking with us. We ordered a bunch of different drinks and appetizers. Their menu has the standard array of bar bites from bacon wrapped dates, nachos, fried pickles, and wings. All were pretty good and shareable. They have a few interesting cocktails to include a pomegranate margarita. Pretty good beer selection too. A great chill vibe. We sat outside but the interior is all wood and slightly decorated for the season. Overall a nice spot to grab a low-key drink after work or on a weekend.

This place has a great beer and drink menu and the food and staff are top notch. The environment is laid back and comfortable. I would eat here anytime I'm in Raleigh.

I came here years ago to have a burger (which was delicious) and decided to come back again to see what else they had on the menu and was not disappointed! I would definitely make this my go to spot whenever I'm with friends downtown because it's a beautiful place with outside seating on the street and on the roof, nice inside seating, and a great menu full of different options. Parking downtown is on the street wherever you can find it. I would recommend making reservations on the weekend too because it's a popular spot. We reserved for lunch on the rooftop and didn't have to wait at all. We got: Nachos with beef barbacoa, fried chicken sandwich, 4 beef barbacoa tacos, salmon fried rice, and beer-battered cod. Their beef barbacoa is DELICIOUS so the inevitably the tacos and nachos were both delicious. However the nachos are super super crispy- chips were almost burnt and I wasn't a fan of that but some people prefer that. The fried chicken sandwich and beer battered cod were both also great and you can't miss with those. The salmon fried rice could've used a little more flavor in the rice and salmon but the presentation was great and the egg was a nice touch and tasted good with the rice. I wanted to try the shrimp and grits however since I don't eat pork I asked for it without and they said their sauce is already made with pork so it wasn't possible. Our food didn't take too long to come out and everything was hot and fresh. Yes their ranch really is good and I loved their fries as well. We were helped my multiple attentive servers on the roof and everything was great!

Such a low key Saturday night out. I would definitely return as one of my go to spots when I'm in the area. GLOWS: 1. The Peruvian wings are BOMB 2. Chicken quesadillas are really good, but portion is small 3. The apple tart dessert was sooo good, with the ice cream, it was amazing. 4. The service was friendly and efficient, one of the best parts of the night. 5. The vibe was chill, I felt comfortable to eat and relax, and also have a few drinks. GROWS: 1. Music could have slightly more variety to catch a better overall vibe. 2. The food portions could have half and full serving sizes for people who came to eat verses people who came to just drink

Ate here for the first time in years, and it's still good! Shrimp and grits were spicy and delicious.

Great food and great prices. All of the staff we have interacted with have been amazing. Love the industrial atmosphere and cocktails! This will be a regular spot for us for sure.

Recently went to The Raleigh Times Bar with a friend for dinner. The service was decent, our server was attentive and nice. Considering the reviews, I was pretty disappointed with the food. We ordered the salmon fried rice, fried pickles, chicken nachos and the rueben sandwich. The GOOD-the fried pickles were the bomb and the homemade ranch was top tier. The collard green kimchi on the Rueben was amazing. Also the outdoor seating was nice. The BAD-The salmon fried was not nearly as appetizing as it looked, salmon was overcooked (after they asked me how I wanted it cooked), rice was burnt and overpowered my whole plate I couldn't finish it, the nachos were overcooked-the chips were super hard, chicken and guac lacked flavor. We went around 9:30 on a Thursday so idk if the late hours that resulted in subpar food or if it's always like this. I may try again at a earlier time on a different day

Service staff was good honestly the only redeeming factor. Found something floating in my beer. Tried to speak to someone about it and I was directed to who I was told was the owner. Extremely arrogant and willing to throw his employees under the bus. As a previous food service manager myself, not a good look. I don't recommend any place with corporatism in mind.