Hello, sunset! These Triangle rooftop bars and restaurants will elevate your night out
READ MORE
Get outside!
Check out this roundup of the top outdoor concerts, movies, festivals, patios and rooftop bars to enjoy around the Triangle this summer.
Expand All
If an evening out on a patio feels essential to a Triangle summer, an evening on a rooftop feels special.
When you’re on a roof, the breeze is cooler, the sunset is closer, the views are wider and everything good about summer feels just a little more everlasting.
Our quest? Figure out which rooftops did it right — whether their highlights were can’t-miss bites, craft cocktails or skyline views. Some spots on our list have been around and brewing their own spirits for years, while others opened their doors during the pandemic.
This list isn’t meant to be all-encompassing, but a snapshot of some of our favorite places in the Triangle.
RALEIGH
Young Hearts Distilling
225 S. Wilmington St., Raleigh. trophybrewing.com/young-hearts-distilling
Downtown Raleigh’s first distillery-restaurant combo maintains its crown with a stylish third-floor serving area suited for anything from a family dinner to a first date. Cocktails are strong and feature Young Hearts’ housemade small-batch spirits, riffing on classic drinks with creative additions like habanero peppers and butterfly pea tea. The house mocktails are also gorgeously garnished and equally Insta-worthy. All of their farm-to-table small plates are a feast for the eyes and meant to be shared. Our favorite was the fried green tomato appetizer, with hints of sour crunch enrobed in heavenly whipped feta.
Good to know: Young Hearts is among a few bars within the Trophy Brewing empire. The steep stairs are accessible by motor chair and you can take home a bottle of their housemade vodka, agave spirit, “Landlubber” rum or gin for $36.
Tenth & Terrace at Residence Inn Raleigh Downtown
616 S. Salisbury St., Raleigh. 10thandterrace.com
While Tenth & Terrace is definitely a comfortable spot for hotel guests to catch their breath, the comfy 10th floor patio is a modern classic for any passing visitor. Wide views of the city, trees and the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts wait below while a shortlist of fruity, nostalgic cocktails waits inside. Those looking for a laid-back and private place to catch up with a few friends will enjoy the cozy mid-century-modern decor. Those who come hungry tend to opt for the tacos.
Good to know: Tenth & Terrace adds a 23% gratuity for parties of six or more. Their cocktail menu changes, so don’t wait on that tall pink drink you’ve been eyeing.
The Willard Rooftop Lounge
9 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh. thewillardraleigh.com
Atop the AC Hotel downtown, The Willard Rooftop Lounge is one of the latest additions to Glenwood South and the city’s hotel lounge scene. The Willard, which opened in the fall, is swanky, plush, modern and sleek. With two heated outdoor terraces and an indoor dining space, The Willard invites hotel guests and visitors alike to enjoy its batch-made house cocktails and Mediterranean-inspired bites. The scene is on the dressier, more professional side. The service is friendly and accommodating.
Good to know: Stop by during sunset for spectacular city views. You can reserve space at The Willard for social events, work meetings and more in advance.
Highgarden
419 Glenwood Ave., Level 3, Raleigh. highgardenraleigh.com
Lush, neon-lit cabana-style seating keeps 2021 newcomer Highgarden aligned with Glenwood South’s bouncy nightlife reputation. Once you arrive, though, tableside firepits and a great view of the street below make you want to curl up with a friend or two and watch the world go by as you plan your next move. The cocktail menu is as verdant and hip as the decor — stemmed glasses swirling with caffeine and absinthe. Bites vary widely from strawberry shortcake to local meats. The vibe skews young professional and the dim, tall bar seems to stretch into infinity.
Good to know: Highgarden offers a full champagne bar and sangria pitchers. It’s only open Wednesday through Sunday but stays open until 2 a.m.
Level7 Rooftop Bar
101 Park at North Hills St., 7th Floor, Raleigh. level7roofbar.com
A great date spot with coastal vineyard vibes, Level7 draws guests and visitors alike to the breezy rooftop of the AC Hotel in North Hills. A glass-front bar counter right up against the edge of the roof lets you look directly over the trees and nearby restaurants below as you sip a Carolina Classic (featuring Cheerwine syrup) or the most popular offering, a strong and bright grapefruit spritz. The tapas-inspired bar menu offers flatbreads, cannolis and churros. The bar also features half bottles and canned wine on top of the barrel-aged cocktails, and couch seating means small groups would be at home in the young, laidback atmosphere.
Good to know: The menu focuses on small-batch distillers. Event groups can reserve sections of the space for semi-private events. Servers are available if you prefer to order from your seated area. There’s also a parking garage nearby.
DURHAM
The Roof at The Durham
315 E. Chapel Hill St., Durham. thedurham.com/roof/
High above a bustling section of downtown Durham, The Roof at The Durham pairs a sleek business-casual cocktail hour vibe with great bird’s-eye views of the city skyline. Grab a couch seat inside with a view of the dark wooden bar, where mixology becomes playful, or hang out on the roof deck for a more intimate chat. The digital menu is organized by type of liqueur, and though pricier, the creative cocktails are sure to impress at post-work drinks. The specialty menu highlights darker liquors, and the bar menu features oysters and other seafood bites.
Good to know: Make reservations for parties of 10 or more, and keep an eye on the clock — the kitchen closes at least an hour before the bar. The Roof serves a selection of wines from small family vineyards, but you can’t miss The Moonlight, a tangy rum and pomegranate sipper topped with lychee boba, which also tastes great as a mocktail.
The Patio at Unscripted Durham
202 Corcoran St., Durham. unscriptedhotels.com
Around the corner from The Durham, Unscripted’s pool deck morphs into a 21+ bar after 8 p.m., keeping the pool party going all night. The crowd is younger and louder, with strong margaritas and a tropical vibe enhanced by fake palm trees and rainbow light. The music skews towards rap and Top 40, and drinks come in heaping plastic cups. This may not be a place for a serious tete-a-tete, but if you’re more of a people-watcher, lie back in a lounge chair and soak up the energy (and the shareable fishbowl drinks).
Good to know: Local DJs play on the deck from 5-10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights, with Latin tunes from DJ Paradime on Sundays from 12-6. Bouncers may turn extras away when the deck reaches capacity, so don’t dawdle at your pregame.
CHAPEL HILL
Top of the Hill
100 E. Franklin St. #300, Chapel Hill. thetopofthehill.com
Top of the Hill, in the heart of downtown Chapel Hill, has become an institution, thanks to its craft beer, food and its prime views of downtown Franklin Street. Topo, as it’s known, is always the place to be (or attempt to be) when UNC basketball enters March Madness or plays Duke. But in the summer, when the majority of the student population has left town, grab a seat at a high-top table on the edge of the rooftop, order a beverage and enjoy the breeze as you watch the sun set and peer down at the bustle that remains.
Good to know: Cocktails are made with Topo Distillery Spirits, locally sourced and organic spirits made at Topo’s distillery down the street. And we’re fans of the Bell Tower Blueberry Wheat, Topo’s most popular seasonal beer that captures the essence of summer.
Angelina Katsanis contributed to this report.
This story was originally published June 29, 2022 at 6:00 AM.
