Best Bars In Apex: Your Nightlife Guide 

Are you moving to Apex, NC, and looking for the best bars? Follow along to find the best place for your next night out! 

Apex, NC, is an inviting town with many things to do, including excellent bars, breweries, and pubs! In this guide, we have put together a list of the best places to visit for a night out so that you don't have to spend your time searching! Apex, NC, has various places to enjoy a night out with your friends, a special occasion, birthdays, a girls' night out, a celebration, and so much more! 

So, if you're planning to move to Apex or are a current resident searching for the best bars, we've got you covered! 

Local Bar 

Location: 2901 US-64 E, Apex, NC 27523

The Local Bar is the go-to spot in Apex where locals gather for good times, cold drinks, and live music. The Local Bar has been a staple in Apex since it originally opened as a gas station in the 1930s. Over time, the gas pumps became beer taps, and "the little bar" became Local Bar. To this day, locals still meet here for laughs and fun on their nights out. 

Some Local Bar specials include $1 jello shots every day, $2 domestic cans on Monday, $4.25 house liquor on Tuesday, $1 off all draft beer on Thursday, $4 mimosas on Saturday, and more! They also have free pool every Tuesday! 

If you're interested in hosting an event, try booking with the Local Bar! They are open for birthdays, corporate or charity events, pub crawl, poker runs, holiday parties, etc. Your guest can enjoy horseshoe pits, pool tables, a chipping range, dart boards, live music, the cook shack, and more. 

Hours: 

Monday - Thursday: 2 PM - 10 PM 

Friday - Saturday: 12 PM - 2 AM 

Sunday: 12 PM - 9 PM 

Glory Days Grill 

Location: 1413 Kelly Rd, Apex, NC 27502

Glory Days Grill is the 16X winner of the best neighbor award and the 18X winner of the best sports bar! It's the perfect place for good food, community events, sports games, and more. This family-friendly American grill offered a full bar, catering and banquet/party facilities, award-winning food, and a fantastic atmosphere with an abundance of televisions. 

Drink specials include $3.99 pints of Miller Lite and Bud Light on Monday, $4.99 glasses of house wines on Tuesday, $4.99 NC drafts on Wednesday, 1/2 priced premium wine bottles on Thursday, $4.49 rail drinks on Friday, $4.99 22 Oz domestic beers on Saturday, $4 mimosas on Sunday, and more! 

Hours: 

Sunday: 11 AM - 9 PM 

Monday - Wednesday: 4 PM - 9 PM

Thursday: 11:30 AM - 9 PM 

Friday - Saturday: 11:30 AM - 10 PM

Rudy's Pub & Grill 

Location: 780 W. Williams St., Apex, NC 27540

Rudy's Pub & Grill aims to feel comfortable and familiar - just like home, and the staff, just like family. They have been open since 2009 and offer some of the best gastropub fares. Everything on the menu is made fresh in-house, and the bartender, Matt, serves the finest concoction of drinks and pints from one of their 18 taps. At Rudy's Pub & Grill, you can enjoy events such as live music, karaoke, trivia, kid's day, poker, or darts. 

Hours: 

Sunday: 8:30 AM - 12 AM 

Monday - Friday: 11 AM - 12 AM 

Saturday: 8:30 AM - 12 AM 

JD's Tavern 

Location: 800 W Williams St., Unit 100, Apex, NC 27502

JD's Tavern serves fresh handmade food and perfectly crafted cocktails and has the best staff! The goal when dining is to make you feel at home and comfortable. The warm and inviting atmosphere welcomes everyone, from families, to those looking for a night out. Since opening ten years ago, JD's Tavern has become a go-to spot for a nightcap, dinner, and good times. 

The menu includes starters, sales, sandwiches, burgers, and finger food. 

Events at JD's include music bingo, NFL Sundays, trivia night, Thursday night brewery invasion, Saturday night karaoke, and more! 

Hours: 

Every Day: 11 AM - 2 AM 

Salem St Pub 

Location: 113 N. Salem St., Apex, NC 27502

Salem St Pub has quickly become a neighborhood favorite! They serve the best burgers, have rotating taps, local brews & classic favorites, and their specialty moonshine cocktail! The entire drink menu includes 15 draft beers, various bottles & cans, red & white wine, and moonshine cocktails. My favorite cocktail is the Frozen Peach Moonshine, made with Midnight Moon Original 80 proof and peach puree, frozen with a cinnamon sugar rim, and topped with whipped cream and a cherry. 

"Best burger, wings, and people in Apex! We visit weekly, and it's like an episode of cheers. Everyone knows our names. The food and staff are wonderful. The food is fresh, and tons of craft beers on tap and wines. They are known for their fruity moonshine drinks. Friendly, warm, and cozy in the perfect downtown location."

Hours: 

Monday - Wednesday: CLOSED 

Thursday: 11:30 AM - 11 PM

Friday - Saturday: 11:30 AM - 12 PM

Sunday: 11:30 AM - 10 PM 

Bombshell Beer Company 

Location: 120 Quantum Dr., Holly Springs, NC 27540 

Bombshell Beer Company is located in the heart of Holly Springs and offers beer, wine, cider, and non-alcoholic beverages. Here, you are welcome to bring your own food, but on select days they have delicious onsite food trucks! Bombshell Beer Company is dog and family-friendly and the perfect location for any occasion. Additionally, they host live music, have a growler system for take-home beer, reserved kegs, and a tap club membership! 

Hours: 

Sunday: 12 PM - 8 PM 

Monday - Thursday: 3 PM - 10 PM 

Friday: 2 PM - 10 PM 

Saturday: 12 PM - 10 PM 

Apex Cigar Lounge 

Location: 1510 N. Salem St., Apex, NC 27502

Apex Cigar Lounge has the best selection of boutique brand cigars, a large walk-in humidor, a smoking lounge, pipes, tobacco, accessories, and more. Visit the Cigar Lounge with your friends to relax after work, catch a sports game, and more! 

Hours: 

Monday: 10 AM - 11:30 PM 

Tuesday: 10 AM - 6 PM

Wednesday: 10 AM - 9 PM 

Thursday: 10 AM - 11:30 PM 

Friday: 10 AM - 9 PM 

Saturday: 10 AM - 11:30 PM 

Sunday: 12 PM - 11:30 PM 

HighCraft 

Location: 112 N Salem St., Apex, NC 27502

HighCraft is a newer establishment in Apex, opening in 2021. It has quickly become a neighborhood favorite and offers an excellent environment to connect with neighbors, friends, family, and other community members. They provide customers with an ever-changing beer selection from local and domestic brewers and fresh kegs! 

At HighCraft, they have only the best craft beer from local North Carolina brands like Burial, DSSOLVR, New Belgium, Sierra Nevada, and more. They also sell local beers from breweries, including Deep River, Trophy, Four Saints, Raleigh Brewing, DSSOLVR Brewing, etc. If you're out with friends and don't enjoy beer, they have a small selection of local, domestic, and international wine. 

Hours: 

Sunday - Monday: CLOSED 

Tuesday - Friday: 12 PM - 10 PM 

Saturday: 12 PM - 11 PM 

Peak of the Vine 

Location: 301 N Salem St., Apex, NC 27502

Peak of the Vine is a wine lounge and wine shop that you can visit to sip on exceptional wine or shop for your favorite wine to take home. While sipping on wine in the lounge, you can listen to excellent music from various local artists. They also have fun events like music bingo, themed holiday events, wine flight night, and more. 

You can also purchase one of their wine club memberships! 

• 3 bottles of Wine Club membership + 6 tastings/flight: $74.66
• 1 bottle of Wine Club membership + 6 tastings/flight: $44.06
• Wine Club membership (6 tastings/flight): $37.95

They also have an online shop to purchase wine bottle accessories, including stoppers, charms, wine bags, and boxes. 

Hours: 

Sunday: 1 PM - 9 PM 

Monday - Wednesday: 3 PM - 10 PM 

Thursday: 3 PM - 11 PM 

Friday: 2:30 PM - 12 AM 

Saturday: 1 PM - 12 AM 

Tap Station 

Location: 320 S Salem St., Apex, NC 27502

Tap Station in Apex is a family-friendly brewery and restaurant that recently opened in the Spring of 2022. It was originally the building of Holt and Sons service station that they redesigned to create what is now Tap Station. They did their best to retain the viable parts of the original structure. They were able to remain part of the historic registry and maintain the building as a unique landmark in Downtown Apex. 

Today, Tap Station offers many outdoor gathering spaces, including a firepit, playground, and a rooftop patio bar. They serve exceptional food along with handcrafted cocktails, an extensive whiskey menu, and incredible beers made onsite. The beer menu includes 23 rotating taps made at Tap Station or their other brewery, Mason Jar. 

Hours: 

Monday: CLOSED 

Tuesday - Thursday: 11 AM - 10 PM 

Friday - Saturday: 11 AM - 11 PM 

Sunday: 11 AM - 10 PM 

Peakway Taps 

Location: 800 W William St #140, Apex, NC 27502

Peakway Taps closes earlier in the night than most others on our guide, but it's the perfect place for a quick drink or drinks with colleagues after work. They are known to be Apex's best craft beer shop, serving fresh craft beers along with 100+ beers to go! 

A unique event they host is Monday Runday Club. The club's goal is to get people up and moving but make it fun with friends and drinks. There is a 2.5, 3.5, and 4.5-mile route option for runners and a 1.5 or 2.5-mile walking option. After your walk or run, you can join your friends at Peakway Taps to cool down with a delicious beverage. 

They also host trivia nights! 

Hours: 

Monday - Saturday: 11 AM - 9 PM 

Sunday: 12 PM - 6 PM 

Bottle Theory 

Location: 3675 Green Level West Rd., Suite 100-101, Apex, NC 27523

Bottle Theory is a local craft beer and wine shop serving award-winning beverages to Apex and West Cary since September 2021. All of the servers at Bottle Theory are either Sommeliers (wine experts) or Cicerone (beer experts), so you are sure to find something unique and amazing. 

They strive to deliver: 

• Consistently high quality across beer, wine, and the physical space and events
• An environment where all are welcome and respected 
• Continuous improvement as we learn and grow 

We highly recommend you stop by, whether to gather with friends & family or visit one of their various events! Events include NC beer tasting, local brewery tap takeover, weekend wine school, trivia night, local block parties, and live music. They host weekend wine school to teach you about wine from a new country each month. 

Hours:

Monday: 2 PM - 9 PM 

Tuesday - Thursday: 2 PM - 10 PM 

Friday - Saturday: 12 PM - 11 PM 

Sunday: 12 PM - 8 PM 

Hot Shots Hideway Bar 

Location: 107 Edinburg Dr., Ste 125, Cary, NC 27511

Hot Shots Hideaway Bar is a neighborhood bar in Cary, NC, that offers cocktails, draft beer, a laid-back atmosphere, billiards, darts, and arcade games. Hot Shots is one of the best bars to meet up with friends, enjoy a late night out, and enjoy various games and activities. 

Hours: 

Monday - Thursday: 2 PM - 2 AM 

Friday - Saturday: 12 PM - 2 AM 

Best Bars in Apex - Final Thoughts 

Apex, NC, offers many unique places to spend your next night out. They have great locations for a nightcap, date night, drinks with friends & colleagues, girls' night out, and more! Most bars, restaurants, and breweries also offer fun events like music bingo, trivia, informational beer/wine nights, bar games, etc. 

While we only listed a few bars in Apex and the surrounding areas, there are plenty of options for any occasion! We hope you get the chance to check some of these bars out and love them as much as we do. 

Exploring Apex and the Triangle area is something we love to do at Raleigh Realty. If you're interested in moving to Apex, please contact us or visit our website to connect with one of our exceptional agents! 

Check out our other local guides: 

Cost of Living in Apex 

Best Restaurants in Apex 

Best Coffee Shops in Apex 

Best Apartments in Apex 

Area Spotlight: Pleasant Park in Apex, NC