Raleigh has a thriving craft beer scene, and local spots like Brewery Bhavana, Crank Arm Brewing, Trophy Brewing, and Raleigh Brewing Company are some of the best in the city. From downtown taprooms and breweries with full-service restaurants to outdoor beer gardens and neighborhood gathering places, we’ve rounded up some of the best Raleigh breweries—along with a few worth the drive—to help you find your next favorite pint.
Compare the Best Breweries in Raleigh, NC
Get a quick snapshot of our top Raleigh breweries, including what they’re best known for, food options, and whether you can bring your dog.
| Brewery | Best for | Food service | Dog-friendly? |
| Brewery Bhavana | Belgian beers and dim sum | Full-service restaurant | No |
| Crank Arm Brewing | Casual craft beer | Food vendors | Check with brewery |
| Trophy on Morgan | Craft beer and pizza | Restaurant menu | Patio only |
| Wye Hill | Dining with skyline views | Full-service restaurant | Patio only |
| Raleigh Brewing Co. | Craft beer and community events | Food trucks | Yes |
| Neuse River Brewing | Belgian beers and brasserie dining | Full-service brasserie | Outdoors only |
| Clouds Brewing | Relaxed taproom and games | BYO food; food trucks | Yes |
| Trophy on Maywood | Fresh releases and food trucks | Food trucks | Yes |
| Ponysaurus Raleigh | Craft beer and pizza | Restaurant menu | Patio only |
Breweries in Downtown Raleigh
Brewery Bhavana
218 S Blount Street | Moore Square Modern and chic, Brewery Bhavana is one of our favorite spots in downtown for its unusual combination of craft beer, contemporary Chinese cuisine, books, and flowers. Located near Moore Square, this isn’t your typical taproom. Browse the bookstore and flower shop before settling in for dim sum, small plates, and drinks. If you’re interested in trying something beyond a familiar IPA or lager, explore the brewery’s selection of saisons and Belgian-style offerings. Brewery Bhavana is a particularly good choice for a date night or a leisurely meal. Reservations recommended.
Crank Arm Brewing Company
319 W Davie Street | Warehouse District Born from a love of beer and bicycling, Crank Arm Brewing Company offers a relaxed setting in Raleigh’s Warehouse District. Order a pint, pull up a chair, and challenge your friends to a board game while sampling the brewery’s IPAs, lagers, pilsners, and seasonal releases. For a taste of its cycling-inspired lineup, look for the Unicycle Citra IPA or Bike Pump Czech Pilsner, subject to availability. This is more of a casual taproom than a sit-down restaurant, so check for visiting food vendors and upcoming events if dining is part of your plan.
Trophy Brewing on Morgan
827 W Morgan Street | West Downtown Raleigh Pizza and beer. Need we say more? Trophy Brewing on Morgan Street is one of our picks for a meal with friends in downtown Raleigh. Order one of the restaurant’s creative specialty pizzas and wash it down with a locally brewed Trophy beer. We suggest checking the rotating tap list for seasonal releases alongside staples like Trophy Wife Session IPA. The restaurant has indoor seating and an outdoor area with fire pits, so there’s room to settle in and enjoy another round. For a more traditional brewery taproom experience, visit Trophy’s separate Maywood location.
Wye Hill Kitchen & Brewing
201 S Boylan Avenue | Boylan Heights Come for the craft beer, stay for the view. Wye Hill Kitchen & Brewing stands above Boylan Bridge, with a spacious patio overlooking the downtown Raleigh skyline. We recommend grabbing an outdoor table when the weather cooperates—it’s one of the best settings in the city for enjoying a locally brewed beer. The kitchen serves modern American dishes, including shareable appetizers, burgers, and seasonal entrees, plus weekend brunch. Cocktails and wine round out the drink menu, making Wye Hill a good option when not everyone in your group is a beer enthusiast. The patio also has a designated pet-friendly area.
Other Raleigh Breweries Worth Visiting
Raleigh Brewing Company
3709 Neil Street | West Raleigh A longtime fixture in Raleigh’s craft beer scene, Raleigh Brewing Company is known as much for its community atmosphere as its extensive beer selection. The Neil Street taproom offers an impressive selection of 32 beers on tap, from familiar styles to seasonal releases. It’s also a gathering place for locals, with trivia nights, run clubs, and other regular events. We recommend checking the calendar before visiting—you might catch a bluegrass jam or another neighborhood get-together. Food trucks frequently visit, and nonalcoholic options include kombucha, root beer, and coffee.
Neuse River Brewing & Brasserie
518 Pershing Road | Near Five Points Neuse River Brewing & Brasserie takes a slightly different approach to Raleigh craft beer, combining Belgian-inspired brewing with European bistro-style dining. Located near the Five Points neighborhood, the brewery specializes in Belgian ales and IPAs while experimenting with other styles. Its brasserie serves dishes inspired by European cuisine with a North Carolina twist, making this one of our picks for a proper sit-down meal with your beer. Prefer to keep things casual? Enjoy a drink in the taproom or near the outdoor herb garden. Weekend brunch is another reason to visit.
Clouds Brewing
1233 Front Street | Midtown Raleigh For a laid-back brewery experience away from downtown, plan a trip to Clouds Brewing’s Midtown Raleigh taproom. The brewery specializes in European-inspired lagers and ales, with small-batch experimental releases that give regular visitors something new to try. There’s indoor and outdoor seating, games, and a calendar of events. Unlike Clouds’ full-service restaurant in Durham, the Raleigh brewery doesn’t operate a traditional kitchen. Bring your own food or see which food truck is scheduled during your visit. The taproom is also family- and dog-friendly, with nonalcoholic options available.
Trophy Brewing on Maywood
656 Maywood Avenue | South Raleigh Already tried Trophy’s pizza-and-beer restaurant on Morgan Street? Head to Trophy Brewing on Maywood to experience a different side of the brewery. This is Trophy’s production facility, where the adjoining taproom serves familiar brews alongside fresh releases. We recommend picking something new from the draft list, and then finding a seat on the spacious outdoor patio. Food trucks rotate through regularly, so there’s often something to eat without leaving the brewery. Dogs are welcome, and you can pick up a four-pack to take with you.
Ponysaurus Brewing at Raleigh Iron Works
2221 Iron Works Drive, Suite 100 | Raleigh Iron Works Beer, pizza, and a lively patio are the main attractions at Ponysaurus Brewing’s Raleigh Barrel Room & Restaurant. Located in the Raleigh Iron Works development, this outpost of the Durham-based brewery serves Ponysaurus beers alongside casual fare such as pizza, garlic knots, and salads. Order a pint at the bar and settle indoors or on the dog-friendly patio. The menu also includes wine and cocktails for anyone looking beyond beer. It’s a brewery-affiliated restaurant and taproom rather than a separate production brewery.
Breweries Near Raleigh Worth the Drive
If you’re up for exploring more of the Triangle, these breweries in Cary, Fuquay-Varina, Knightdale, and Wake Forest are worthy additions to your itinerary.
Bond Brothers Beer Company
202 E Cedar Street | Downtown Cary Bond Brothers Beer Company is renowned for its award-winning ales, lagers, and sour beers. The spacious taproom and outdoor beer garden make it a great stop while exploring downtown Cary. Bring your dog, grab something from a visiting food truck, and settle in with a pint. The barrel-aged sour beers are our top pick.
The Mason Jar Lager Company
341 E Broad Street, Suite 151 | Downtown Fuquay-Varina If you prefer a crisp lager over a hop-heavy IPA, The Mason Jar Lager Company deserves a visit. Specializing in lagers, this Fuquay-Varina brewery offers a welcoming taproom, outdoor patio, playground, and lawn games. It’s a particularly good pick for families, with food trucks, live music, and other events adding to the atmosphere. Leashed dogs are welcome, too.
Oak City Brewing Company
616 N First Avenue | Downtown Knightdale Housed in a renovated 1920s bungalow, Oak City Brewing Company has a neighborhood feel and a spacious outdoor beer garden overlooking Knightdale Station Park. Grab a pint from one of its rotating taps and enjoy the patio, or bring the family for an afternoon of lawn games. Food trucks visit regularly, and dogs are welcome.
White Street Brewing Company
218 S White Street | Downtown Wake Forest White Street Brewing Company is a good reason to explore historic downtown Wake Forest. The taproom serves a rotating selection of craft beers, including its signature Kölsch and Hoptimist IPA, along with experimental releases brewed on-site. Challenge your friends to darts or shuffleboard, and then get a bite from a nearby restaurant or food truck to enjoy with your beer.
Planning Your Raleigh Brewery Visit
If you’re looking to take a brews cruise around Raleigh and the surrounding area, we have a few tips to guide your journey.
Exploring Downtown Raleigh Breweries on Foot
Yes, you can walk between several downtown Raleigh breweries, and we’d recommend making an afternoon of it. Start with a Belgian-inspired beer at Brewery Bhavana near Moore Square, and then head west through downtown toward Crank Arm Brewing in the Warehouse District. From there, continue to Trophy Brewing on Morgan Street for pizza or finish with a pint and skyline views at Wye Hill near Boylan Bridge. These breweries are spread across downtown, so plan for a fair amount of walking rather than a quick stroll between neighboring taprooms. If you’re driving into the city, consider parking once and exploring on foot. For breweries outside downtown, plan for a rideshare or designated driver.
Exploring the Raleigh Beer Trail
The Raleigh Beer Trail adds a bit of friendly competition to your craft beer adventures. This free digital passport lets you check in at participating breweries using your phone and earn points toward prizes along the way. There’s no app to download or purchase required. The trail covers more than downtown Raleigh, with participating establishments throughout Wake County, including Cary, Wake Forest, and Fuquay-Varina. We suggest picking a few breweries in the same area for each outing rather than trying to cover the entire trail in one day. Visit the official Raleigh Beer Trail page for current participating locations, rewards, and program details.
Best Cocktail Bars in Raleigh for Something Different
Craft beer isn’t the only thing Raleigh does well. If you’re ready to trade your pint for a cocktail, downtown features underground cocktail lounges, neighborhood bars, and even a bar-slash-bakery. Head to Foundation for expertly mixed drinks in a speakeasy-inspired setting, or stop by Bittersweet for a cocktail paired with one of its decadent desserts. Wolfe & Porter is another local favorite, offering a relaxed neighborhood-bar atmosphere with creative drinks and a lively patio. Staying at StateView? You can stay in for a nightcap. Our on-site restaurant, Flask & Beaker, serves cocktails alongside a menu of contemporary American dishes. For more places to raise a glass, explore our guide to the best cocktail bars in Raleigh.
Stay at StateView Hotel While Exploring Raleigh
After a day of sampling Raleigh’s craft beers, kick back at StateView Hotel. Located near NC State’s Centennial Campus, our hotel puts you within driving distance of the city’s breweries, restaurants, and nightlife while providing a peaceful retreat overlooking Lake Raleigh. Settle into one of our modern rooms and suites or order a meal at Flask & Beaker, our on-site restaurant serving contemporary American cuisine and craft cocktails. Looking for more ways to fill your itinerary? Explore our guide to Raleigh attractions for inspiration beyond the breweries. When you’re ready, view our rooms and book your stay at StateView Hotel.
FAQs About Raleigh Breweries
Which Raleigh breweries have outdoor seating?
Several Raleigh breweries offer outdoor seating, including Wye Hill Kitchen & Brewing, Trophy Brewing on Maywood, Ponysaurus Raleigh, and Raleigh Brewing Company. Wye Hill is a favorite for its downtown skyline views, while Trophy on Maywood has a spacious patio and Ponysaurus offers outdoor dining. For a more relaxed taproom experience, Raleigh Brewing Company also has outdoor seating.
Are Raleigh breweries family-friendly, or are there adults-only options?
Many Raleigh breweries are family-friendly, including Clouds Brewing and Raleigh Brewing Company. Some offer outdoor seating, games, and casual spaces where parents can enjoy a beer while spending time with their kids. Note that not every brewery welcomes guests under 21, and some may restrict minors during certain hours or events. Check individual age policies before visiting with children.
Which Raleigh breweries offer nonalcoholic drinks?
Several Raleigh breweries feature nonalcoholic options. Raleigh Brewing Company offers kombucha, root beer, and coffee, while Clouds Brewing lists nonalcoholic beverages among its taproom offerings. Selections vary, so view current menus for alcohol-free alternatives.