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The Willard, Raleigh, NC

The Willard

4.4
4.4
577 Reviews
$30 and under
Cocktail Bar

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2 people
19:00
Booked 14 times today
Experiences are available.
  • Great for outdoor dining
  • Good for special occasions
  • Great for scenic views
The Willard Rooftop Lounge, Raleigh's Best Rooftop Bar of 2022 & 2023, offers signature craft cocktails and inspired bites with stunning views of downtown Raleigh.

The centerpiece of The Willard is the Large Terrace with panoramic views of the Raleigh skyline and dual-sided fireplace surrounded by comfortable, yet modern, seating. Heaters make our outdoor spaces comfortable year-round. Inside, a 22-seat bar is the focal point of the dining room, while Skyview Boardroom offers a unique dining experience for 6-12 guests.

The Willard’s cocktail menu playfully leans into Raleigh’s nickname as the City of Oaks, offering signature craft cocktails aged in oak barrels and cocktails where smoke is a key ingredient.

The seasonal food menu, crafted by Chef Kyle Teears, includes shareables like papas bravas and charcuterie, as well as salads, Flatbreads, and entrees like Cherokee Trout and Steak Frites.
Located on the 7th floor of the AC Hotel Raleigh Downtown in the Glenwood South district.

Private dining

Private dining

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Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Cocktail Bar, Lounge, Tapas / Small Plates
  • Hours of Operation
    Mon–Thu 16:00–23:00 Fri 16:00–00:00 Sat 12:00–00:00 Sun 12:00–21:00
  • Phone number
    (919) 803-5200
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Executive Chef
    Kyle Teears
  • Catering
    Catering customized to your needs is available from the kitchen of Executive Chef Kyle Teears.
  • Private party facilities
    At the AC Hotel Raleigh Downtown, the entire 7th floor is dedicated to food and beverage service. With multiple function spaces available for booking alone or in combination, special occasions unfold against the stunning backdrop of downtown Raleigh's skyline, making memories that last a lifetime!
  • Private party contact
    Leslie Hoagland: (984) 272-4486
  • Area
    Raleigh
  • Cross Street
    Hillsborough St
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Outdoor Firepit, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

  • Gingerbread House & Cocktail Making Class

    US$30.00 per person

    Prepaid

    18 Dec 2024 only
    Join us for a festive evening of fun and creativity! On December 18th from 6-8pm, the AC Hotel team invites you to a hands-on gingerbread house-making class. Learn the art of assembling and decorating your own miniature gingerbread house, guided by our AC Hotel team. To make the process even more enjoyable, we recommend pairing up with a friend or loved one. For just $30 per person, you'll receive: • A celebratory glass of champagne to kick off the event • A mini gingerbread house kit to decorate • A delicious holiday cocktail, along with a step-by-step recipe to recreate at home Don't miss this opportunity to get into the holiday spirit and create a lasting memory.
    Gingerbread House & Cocktail Making Class photo
  • Christmas Day Buffet

    US$0.00 - US$60.00 per person

    Prepaid

    25 Dec 2024 only
    Celebrate Christmas Day at The Willard Rooftop and savor a delicious buffet of holiday favorites. Enjoy ham, roasted chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, veggies, and more, all while taking in the stunning skyline views of Downtown Raleigh. Skip the hassle of cooking and cleaning and make this Christmas a truly memorable experience. Bring your loved ones and create lasting memories at The Willard Rooftop. This year, celebrate the magic of the holiday season in style at the AC Hotel Raleigh Downtown. Enjoy the ambiance of our festive decor, sip holiday cocktails by the fire on our rooftop lounge and immerse yourself in the Christmas cheer and entertainment on Glenwood Avenue.
    Christmas Day Buffet photo
  • Santa on the Rooftop

    8 Dec 2024 only
    Take gorgeous photos of your family with Santa with a backdrop of the downtown Raleigh skyline. Santa will be on hand for photo ops and holiday wishes Sunday, December 8, 1-4pm. Enjoy a warm cup of coffee, cocoa, or an adult beverage from the bar. Your visit with Santa is free, and no professional photography will be provided – please be prepared to take photos on your phone or bring your own camera. (To keep the queue moving, we request no tripods or other special equipment.)

What 577 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.4
4.4 based on recent ratings
  • 4.1Food
  • 4.3Service
  • 4.5Ambience
  • 3.9Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Raleigh / Durham / Chapel Hill

    Great for outdoor dining

  • Raleigh / Durham / Chapel Hill

    Great for scenic views

  • Raleigh

    Great for brunch

  • Raleigh

    Great for outdoor dining

  • Raleigh

    Great for scenic views

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
The Willard boasts a "fantastic view and ambiance," making it an ideal spot for drinks and relaxation. While the food receives mixed reviews, the "knowledgeable staff" and "great cocktails" are often praised. The rooftop setting offers a "beautiful atmosphere" perfect for enjoying Raleigh's skyline, especially for special occasions.

577 Reviews
  1. James

    Raleigh

    9 reviews

    5.0

    9 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    It was a nice atmosphere and the food was very good.

    Is this helpful?

  2. Gregory

    Raleigh

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We arrived to a late reservation and the staff bent over backwards to accommodate us.

    Is this helpful?

  3. Lisa

    Greensboro

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 4
    Food was okay, at best. Rolls were hard. Mac and cheese was dry. Desserts were dry. Had to refill our own water because we couldn't find the waitress. Won't be going back.

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  4. Mark

    Raleigh

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 5
    The place is physically nice. Actually quite nice. Very modern. The outdoor seating was nice. The food was mediocre. It was OK. It wasn’t bad. When you spend $250 for a buffet. It’s not unreasonable to expect it to be extra nice. With some maybe unique choices. Not even close…. As I said, it was adequate. Which made it really not good considering the cost. I’m sorry, but I have to be honest….. friendly staff… and to be clear that $250 was for three people actually it was more than that. There was one beer each I believe the whole thing came for three people to about $290. It wasn’t remotely worth that based on the quality. But again, nice people.

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  5. Tracy

    Raleigh

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 2
    We attended the Thanksgiving event. Terrible, rude service. We had reservations but, we were seated at a small and low table. It felt as if we were being made to sit at a “Kiddie” table. Very unprofessional. Way overpriced. Will not do it again. Would not recommend!!

    Is this helpful?

  6. Carel

    Raleigh

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 24 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I Love the place. Can’t beat the view. This is definitely the best rooftop lounge in Raleigh. The food is great and so is the staff. I definitely recommend it.

    Is this helpful?

  7. OpenTable Diner

    Raleigh

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 3 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Ambiance was great and our server was wonderful. Lovely place, plan to return soon!

    Is this helpful?

  8. Josh

    San Francisco

    8 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on 2 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We been here multiple times. We brought more friends with us! We will be back again!!

    Is this helpful?

  9. OpenTable Diner

    Philadelphia

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 31 October 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This was out first time here. Wanted to check it out to see how everyone was talking about this place. Realize that the ambience is absolutely beautiful. The service is impeccable. And the food is absolutely delicious. Whoever is making it does a wonderful job. Will definitely recommend this to everyone I know. And I would definitely try it definitely. And the views are amazing.

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  10. Keilana

    Raleigh

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 31 October 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Very helpful staff, friendly to KIND younger (teen) diners, food came out quickly and custom mock tails were delicious at a great price for such a fancy establishment.

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

The Willard is rated 4.4 stars by 577 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 14 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for The Willard

9 Glenwood Ave, Raleigh, NC 27603-1797

Additional information

  • Cross Street
    Hillsborough St
  • Area
    Raleigh
  • Hours of Operation
    Mon–Thu 16:00–23:00 Fri 16:00–00:00 Sat 12:00–00:00 Sun 12:00–21:00
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Cocktail Bar, Lounge, Tapas / Small Plates
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive Chef
    Kyle Teears
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Outdoor Firepit, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Phone number
    (919) 803-5200
  • Catering
    Catering customized to your needs is available from the kitchen of Executive Chef Kyle Teears.
  • Private party facilities
    At the AC Hotel Raleigh Downtown, the entire 7th floor is dedicated to food and beverage service. With multiple function spaces available for booking alone or in combination, special occasions unfold against the stunning backdrop of downtown Raleigh's skyline, making memories that last a lifetime!
  • Private party contact
    Leslie Hoagland: (984) 272-4486
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Impressum
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Cookie Preferences
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