There's no better choice for my first review of 2013 than Landmark Tavern, which is quickly becoming one of my favorite places to begin a Friday night.
Dimly lit and thin, it can get crowded and intimate quickly. This is what most would refer to as a hipster bar, with most of its patrons dressed nicely and there's no shortages of scarves and plaid during Winter. If you're looking for a lot of personal space, it's best to go on a weeknight where it's much more spacious. Landmark is the perfect place for groups and if you have a penchant for conversation, it's one of the best bars to be social. So get talking!
The music is at an appropriate level as to not drown out chatting, but loud enough to enjoy. I love their choice in songs -- laid back, mellow and fun indie tracks. There were so many moments where I thought "They're playing this song!? Man I love this place!"
Bartenders, even when busy, are attentive and friendly...and to further raise their hipster rank, PBR is on draft and cheap. The rest of their more sophisticated drink selections are on the moderate to pricey scale, but the rotating draft and nice bottle options make up for the prices.
The back patio is very specious with ample seating and space heaters during the colder months. If you're a smoker, this should be your favorite bar, as they allow smoking out back. For sports fans, they also have a TV which seems to stay on ESPN, which is a good way to glance at a game to keep updated.
I look forward to visiting more often this new year.
I was there tonight, which was technically Sunday the 30th, at around 1:30. Â Landmark is one of my favorite bars, and although I don't feel like I go enough, I go as much as I can. Â Tonight I went with a few coworkers from an acclaimed restaurant in the triangle where we serve as well as bar tend. Â After my coworker ordered a drink which was unusually weak (all gingerale and no hint of whiskey at all) I decided to get a beer. Â I asked for the beer menu, and had one tossed to me. Â When I ordered a Guinness, I remembered that I saw a 5 dollar price, but the bartender, the only girl there who was wearing glasses and had brown hair, told me it was 6. Â I was a bit confused, so I waited for her to come back by before I took a sip of my drink to verify the price, and when I asked she said to me, "we pour a 20 oz. pour for beers unless asked otherwise." Â I can completely understand that thought, so I was pulling out my money to pay the 6 dollars when she brought out a menu and added, "but if you're pissed about it, give me 5 dollars and I don't really give a fuck." Â At that point I was eager to finish the transaction because of the rudeness, so I put 6 dollars down. Â What made me the most upset was the fact that I saw her log into the POS system and put 5 dollars in the register and the 1 dollar I left for the supposed 6 dollar beer in the tip jar. Â Needless to say she did not get more of a tip than the one she stole from me. I've never experienced this kind of rudeness or trickery in this establishment, and the two men who were also bartending seemed to be friendly and gave the patrons the drinks that they asked for. By all means, go to Landmark because it's one of the best bars in Raleigh, but do not give your money to the bartender in question.
Review Source:I really like Landmark. Its a pub like atmosphere, with a decent beer selection and a nice patio. It can be a bit crowded on the weekends (but generally I think this is just a sign of a good bar!). The staff are nice, and the crowd is generally a young, social, and polite. Its a great place for a low key drink with some friends!
Review Source:After an awesome evening yelping in wonderland, hubs and I decided to go somewhere for a quick night cap. Â We headed towards the closest place we knew of, Tir Na Nog, but they were charging a $5 cover for a comedy show. Â Umm, no thanks, we just want to go somewhere for ONE drink, not pay $10 just to walk in the door. Â So we walked towards City Market and into Woody's. Â No seats at the bar, the smell of stale beer, and a vibe we just weren't feeling. Â Again, no thanks. Â Keep walking. Â Hmm, Battistella's- a Hurricane, maybe? Â Nope, it's closed but an employee walking inside (maybe to prep for Monday?) suggested we check out Landmark Tavern- said it was a cool place. Â Landmark it is! Â We immediately liked the vibe here. Â Not pretentious like I sort of expected. Â Nice & dark with good music playing at a volume that was loud enough to enjoy but low enough to enjoy a conversation. Â There were only a handful of people sitting at the bar, no one at the tables inside (it was about 8:00 on a Sunday night) but the patio out back was packed. Â It looked like a pretty cool little spot considering it backs up to the Moore Square parking lot. Â Quite a bit of seating out there & some cornhole action going on. Â No food served here but definitely a nice little watering hole in downtown Raleigh without that annoying hipster vibe that I tend to encounter too often when downtown. Â We'll definitely be back and also plan on checking out the London Bridge Pub across the street!
Review Source:I stopped into Landmark after going to first Friday with some friends. We had just been so see this really awesome street band, and Landmark was right across the street. We really needed a drink and some air conditioning, so we headed over. Â I thought the bar was really great.
Landmark was very comfortable and relaxed, the perfect place to chill out, have a drink and talk with friends. Â It isn't huge, but it's not small either, and even though it was crowded, it didn't feel crowded in an annoying kind of way, there was still plenty of room to stand, and getting a drink at the bar didn't take very long. Â The drink prices were a little up there, but I sort of expect that from this part of downtown. They had decent beer selections both on tap and bottled, which I wasn't really expecting and they had several cocktail and wine selections as well. I ordered a standard cranberry and vodka, and it was really good, it wasn't watered down or weak that seems to happen in a lot of other bars. Everyone else seemed to enjoy they're drinks as well.
There was a small outdoor patio area as well which is nice to enjoy with the upcoming summer months ahead of us. And I know the ladies will be able to appreciate this, for a bar the bathroom was really nice, clean, lots of TP and enough stalls to avoid crazy long lines. Â They had background music on, but this definitely isn't the type of bar where you expect loud music or dancing. Â It's nice to be able to just hangout, drink and be able to hear each other's conversations instead of shouting over loud music. Now don't get me wrong I love the dancing club scene too, it just depends on what you're in the mood for that night. If you are in the mood for a comfortable, chill, cozy bar with good beer and cocktails, then head to Landmark!
I like this bar. Â Cozy, relaxed, and comfortable. Â The bar tenders pour good drinks and warm up to you fast. Â I recommend going on a weeknight. Â Patio out back too. Â This place just has a good vibe and it's personality is a good fit with downtown Raleigh. Â I just wish it was closer to my house. Â Only drawback is they don't have food, if you can call that a drawback. Â Hey, its a bar! Â My wife and I accidentally stayed until closing we had such a good time.
Review Source:Great ambiance, great drinks, great people!
We stumbled upon this place after leaving another nearby bar. Â Our plan was to go to The Foundation, but as we walked by this place on our way, it looked too cute and fun to pass up. Â It was crowded, but not annoyingly so - you could still move and lucky for us there were 2 newly emptied seats at the bar....they must have known we were coming :). Â We opted for beer after seeing their great selection - both on tap and in the bottle. Â It's not a selection as extensive as The Flying Saucer, but for a bar this size - we were impressed with the selection. Â They also offer wine and cocktails, but I didn't pay much attention to the options as we were in a 'beer or bust' mood. Â The bartenders were great - very friendly and attentive. Â I liked the crowd that was there too - mostly mid-upper 30's and very laid back. Â No one was trying too hard here and that alone will bring me back time and time again. Â
If you haven't been - go!
One of the best times I have been out till closing!!!! This place was a blast. I wasn't digging it at first, over ran by males all cluttering the walkway trying to be loud and impress their counterparts. We quickly repositioned ourselves and found the lively crowd that was jamming to the live music. We found good brew, friendly people and walked away from a memorial night of gettin' jiggy wit' that....fun fun fun
Review Source:Landmark is my favorite straight-up drinking and chatting bar in downtown Raleigh. Get a beer and head to the patio with some friends with whom you need to do some catching up. Sure, it's hot in the summer, but the people are great. There are patio heaters for the winter (you know, those 3 weeks it gets chilly).
They have rotating tap beers, but Gary knows what I like to drink and can always recommend a good one.
And for a bar, the ladies' bathroom is exquisite.
Hipsters come in many flavors, as do their watering holes. Â I'd mark this one under the "classy hipster" category. Â The atmosphere is classic and subdued--dark, lots of wood, simple and a nice place to have a few drinks. Â The best way to sum this place up is to say that there isn't anything gimicky about it. Â The exterior is pretty unassuming, and therefore might be easy to pass on by. Maybe that's the trick here---a well-kept secret right on Hargett.
The bar itself is really beautiful (as in, the thing the bottles are sitting on). Â It's a gigantic salvaged carved wood piece that alone is worth stopping by this place, if you like antique furniture and fixtures. Â
I had a bloody mary, that came with a heavy pour of vodka and a pickled okra garnish. Â Not my usual drink selection, but a tasty choice for a Sunday afternoon.
The service was friendly, and despite what other Yelpers report, I felt that it was easy to get the bartender's attention even when she was chatting with regulars. Â That's what a neighborhood bar is all about--the bartender will chat with the regulars, but you shouldn't let it put you off if you're not one of them.
We spent some time inside, then migrated out back to their patio area. Â It's a comfortable pleasant place to hang out, and they've done an impressive job of transforming the space between their building and the parking garage behind it. Â All the brick back there is a lovely backdrop for the intimate, flower-adorned patio.
All in all, a great experience. Â Call me a lush if you will, but I will be back again and again.
Good: close to work, love one particular amber beer I'd never had before (and don't remember the name of, but it's the only amber on tap there right now), and love the ambiance inside and the great chill smoking patio out back.
Bad: $6 for a beer, and I swear if I loudly keeled over and died the bartender wouldn't interrupt his conversation to find out what happened. Or if I wanted another beer.
My first visit to Landmark was on New Year's Eve. I added it to my pub crawl, even though I'd never been there before. It turned out to be our favorite stop of the night.
There is nothing particularly special about Landmark, but quite honestly, that's what makes it great. It's not a gimmick filled club or bar with DJs playing music so loud you can actually feel your colon vibrate.
They don't serve food, so make other plans for dinner. But it is great for what it is...A local watering hole with a beautiful bar, competent bartenders, a satisfactory beer selection and full supply of spirits for cocktails. A good choice if you need to add a new bar to your rotation.
I must have gone on an off night. I wasn't that impressed. The inside of the bar has a nice atmosphere and feels like a neighborhood bar. No food is served. It was originally going to be a cigar bar, but they made it no smoking.
Service was ok, but not great. The bartender was busy talking to regulars and it took awhile before we were served.
I would recommend heading across the street to Raleigh Times or the Foundation.
This has become one of my favorite watering holes in downtown Raleigh. Â The atmosphere/decor is great, and the service is fantastic as well. Â If you're a fan of jazz, make sure to ask Chico if he has any on hand on the nights he's working.
Beer prices are reasonable, and the mixed drinks are mixed just a right, maybe with a little extra punch every once in a while. Â Might be the best bloody mary I've had since I got here.
Short review only because it's booze only, so if you want something to eat, make sure you get it before you show up. Â The outdoor space is nice, though you're looking at a parking deck, so don't expect much of a view. Â
Hint: Â On the way to the bathroom, check out the photo on the wall, see if you can find something that doesn't belong...
Was there last night with 3 friends, and while the atmosphere was fun, it was very crowded which led to slow bar service. Agree with the other reviewer (even though it's obviously someone who works there) - the Andy Dick lookalike bartender was quite good with keeping the tab straight, and all of the barbacks were quite pleasant despite the slow service, which was undoubtedly due to the crowd. However, the guy at the door seriously needs an attitude adjustment. He certainly thinks he's all that (he isn't), and if I've just dropped a large amount of money in your establishment, I don't expect to be shouted out of the place at 1 minute past closing - at least let me finish the drink I paid for. Unfortunately, I won't go back if this guy is still on the door - would rather go across the street to the Raleigh Times.
Review Source:Potentially, definitely a four or five-star experience based on the ample liquid refreshment menu, a solid back-beat and a familiar by way of comfy setup. Alas the service tonight, though mildly congenial, ended up a tad lacking in the paying attention to the consumers department. Don't get me wrong, no one expects a neighborhood bar masquerading as a downtown bar to Â
It's a pretty simple arrangement, this one, and the bulk of the buildout seems to have hinged primarily in the physical accoutrements of the room and somewhat on the side of the beer. Other nuances were lost by virtue of the fact that neither of the two bartenders seemed to totally be in the game. Lots of regulars, and lots of friends who in turn know lots of regulars. Obviously Landmark Tavern is doing some things quite right. And if they could shore up the nuances of the things that don't seem to come as naturally, they'd be golden. I just may wait a bit until those wrinkles smooth out. Naturally.
What a great addition to Raleigh's bar scene! I love this joint. So do most (all?) of my friends. The bartenders are terrific, friendly, & know exactly what I'm gonna order and have it ready for me as I walk up to the bar. Their well bourbon is Evan Williams, which I love. Good beers on tap too that change out regularly. The music selection is a good tasteful mix of punk, metal, indie, soul, pop, country, classic rock, etc. It gets way too crowded on Friday and Saturdays for my liking but on any night during the week there's a great group of Raleighites to get hammered with. Good good times.
Review Source:The Landmark is becoming my favorite bar in Raleigh! The look of the bar was inspired by the classic Irish Public House. The wood work on the bar is beautiful.  But looks aside, this place has a great mixed crowd with $2.50 imperial pint PBRs. The service is friendly  and the outdoor seating is crucial on summer nights.
Review Source:Landmark is a throwback to a 1950's italian style coffee shop or gelateria- its smooth, mahogany bar runs nearly the entire length of the side wall, and a dimly lit gray/blue interior, ample wooden sitting areas, and antique fixtures give it an upscale, nostalgic feel. Â A great place for a weeknight date- Â Landmark romances the bar scene. Â Having a beer won't feel quite so common. Â
There are 5-6 beers on tap, including pints of PBR for 2.50. Â The wheat beer rotates. Â As of February, Avery's White Rascal was removed in favor of Allagash White. Â This still displeases me. Â But in all seriousness, more draft beer would be grounds for a 4.5. Â Designer draft beer can run up to 4.50/pint, with mixed drinks at around 8.50.
Restrooms are well maintained, but the guys' restroom is only one at a time.
The major drawback of this bar for many is that it gets a little smokey. There is, however, a heated beer garden outside if you think your buddy is showing early signs of emphysema.
The crowd is eclectic, although the majority are non-fratty twenty somethings. Â
if you go after 7, park in the garage on blount st, walk down the stairwell and enter in the back to improve your street cred.
its worth checking out.
Landmark has a great patio and I suggest drinking out there. The best thing about this bar is that its always half as crowded as Raleigh Times..so when you get tired of people you know you can pop in here.
The atmosphere is very down to earth and the crowd is mixed..there's not one specific type of people that go here.
However, i'll disagree with the previous reviewer and say that the interior is very lacking. I feel like i'm in an unfurnished pizza joint with a bar. The guy that runs the place seems super-nice though.
Landmark is a great little bar, and I love the patio out back that merges with the parking deck. Â It's the kind of space that no one ever thought would be used for anything, but it feels really classy and comfortable now.
The interior of the bar is so swank and shiny it almost makes me feel anxious, but they've done a good job at toning down the attitude of the place to make it relaxing and homey feeling.
As with all Empire Eats establishments, beers at Landmark are pricey. Â Not AS pricey as the Times, but then they also don't have the selection that the Times has. Â
It gets crazy busy on weekend nights, so don't expect to sit down if you go in after ten on a Friday or Saturday. Â During the week it's quiet and dark, and a great place to go grab a beer after you get off the bus at Moor Square Station right across the street.
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