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Raleigh Nightlife draws an eclectic crowd, and can fill up with local NC State students taking study breaks, young tech professionals discussing the latest mobile phone, or locals clad in Wranglers kicking back after work. What gives Raleigh bars and clubs flavor is the unique blend of Southern charm and dive bar décor – necessities to all local bars include dart boards, pool tables and video game screens, but more inventive decorating highlights include the Goat Bar’s assorted knickacks, like the storied groundhog clad in sunglasses. Nightlife is often the best indicator of daily life in a major city, and Raleigh’s unique blend of charming dive bars and neighborhood favorites are indicative of the city’s Southern hospitality.
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Raleigh Nightlife by category

Bars

The high concentration of college students and the general influx of new residents and tourists alike make Raleigh Bars an exciting choice for a night out on the town. The city's renovated Warehouse District is a veritable hotbed of new bars with dozens within walking distance of each other.
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Sports Bars

Raleigh sports bars are always packed to the hilt throughout the year, even during off season, as there’s always a game going on somewhere in the world. Sports fans and enthusiasts congregate in these local bars where much more than the televisions and beer grab the attention of patrons. Many serve world-class cuisine, featuring such fan favorites as steaks, sandwiches, pizzas, and pastas, along with traditional appetizers and desserts, always enjoyed alongside the world’s favorite tap beers.
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Pubs

Raleigh pubs are renowned for their drinks and hospitality, serving up some of the best brews and Irish inspired feasts outside of Dublin. Some of their sumptuous offerings include Shepard’s Pie, pot pies, and a multitude of heapingly huge sandwiches. The regular beers on tap and Irish whiskeys are the perfect way to guzzle down those large helpings with friends and family. These pubs are, of course, where everyone in town flocks to on St. Patrick’s Day!
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Dance Clubs

Raleigh dance clubs come in a wide variety, offering those with happy feet the chance to either hit the hottest club downtown or to learn their favorite style of dance at a studio. Most dance clubs are of the entertainment variety, meaning that anyone who wants to go can, though the usual cover charges apply at the door. If you don’t feel like paying cover, you can always get there super early and have the entire dance floor to yourself!
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Lounge

Lounges are perfect for meeting dates, colleagues, friends, or even strangers with whom you wish to share a relaxed experience. There are many lounges in the area to choose from, from the upscale swanky lounges of downtown’s luxury hotels to the trendy ones that cater to the hip, indie crowd always on the go. Raleigh lounges are where business and pleasure are always happening, side by side.
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Wine Bar

There’s much to enjoy at the many Raleigh wine bars where the wine is always flowing and the tapas come in as many varieties as the palate can handle. Local wine bars cater to the immense variety of local tastes with everything from upscale imported wines to locally fermented brands that win the approval of tasters and drinkers alike. Several of these wine bars also host tastings on specific nights to attract customers where they partake in wine, beer, and spirits that are internationally renowned.
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