Bowbarr

The photobooth is the best part of Bowbarr, while the lingering sewage smell is the worst. That’s really all that need be said. Because, yeah, lingering sewage smell. I guess hipsters love them some lingering sewage smell.

Any bar that reminds me of Dirty Frank’s in Philly or High Tide in San Francisco is A-​OK in my book and Bowbarr is very much cut from the same cloth, so much so that I’m a little embarrassed to say I’d never been until recently.
Staff is friendly, drink prices are reasonable for Carrboro, and the seating options are awesome. The black toilet in the bathroom is also a treat, so dark that you can’t see what’s lurking in the bowl which is probably a good thing.
Stoked for next week’s five year anniversary Tropical Hot Dog Nights!

Great spot. Low key. Comfortable. Love it. Hope it stays in Carrboro for a long time. Recommend highly.

Come here for… the vibrant personalities.
I don’t know if it’s the $ 5 membership (which I feel like you only need if it’s busy, FYI), but people are more willing to talk to strangers here. I once made a friend who claimed that she and her hunting buddies invented the pickleback shot like 20 years ago. Oh, and there are some hipsters. They play random VHS movies (?) nonstop – no sports, etc.
Stay for… the jalapeño cocktails.
Although there is some good mood lighting, it’s not like one of those places that screams fancy NY cocktails and fine cigars. The drinks are a little cheaper than that – while they do have some ingenuity, they tend to choose cheap liquors in their drinks (think crat), not to say that others don’t. Microbrews are around $ 5, and they sell the more hipster-​y domestics for cheaper.
As a nice little bonus, it’s pretty warm inside – and it has the advantage of feeling a little more isolated despite being only a block or two away from main Franklin.
Probably wouldn’t ever be my «go to» type of place, but it’s neat from time to time.
Oh, and there’s a photo booth, which is cool.

Awesome whole in the wall pub. Cool drinks, cool staff. And awesome selection of vinyl playing. Not to mention the kitschy (the good kind!) VHS selection playing at any given moment. (I’ve seen everything from Dirty Dancing to a Social Distortion doc). If you are a fan of cymbals you’ll like the décor :-). All around a place that pulls odd being cool without trying too hard to be cool. You want to go to there.

I’ll just come right out and say that Bowbarr is my favorite hipster bar in Carrboro.
It’s nice to have a bar to go to that isn’t freaking obsessed with UNC.
They have a super-​tiny TV that only seems to be there to mock television.
The décor is nice enough for what the place is.
The prices are good in comparison to other Chapel Hill /​Carrboro bars.
They have a strange little layout, with a standard bar, and then a little row of seats behind the bar stools, almost as if the people are sitting in a pew, watching the bar.
A lot of the time there will be a large-​ish crowd outside smoking their cigarettes. I for one don’t smoke, but the outside area tends to be quite social and friendly, so I make it a point to spend some time out there anyway whenever I go to the Bowbarr.
In the winter, Bowbarr is nice and warm, which I appreciate. Also, the bartenders have by and large been kind-​hearted. Again, appreciated.
This is the bar that townies go to. You’ll see some of the people who organize or attend the Free Market here, and people will be happy to engage in a lively discussion about the merits of expanding the Harris Teeter, or allowing the CVS to relocate.
There’s an element of surprise at Bowbarr. One night we went, and there was a wedding reception going on! We couldn’t tell though, because the dress code was flannel, but they were totally cool with my wife and I interacting with them.
I’ve got one and a half complaints.
1. Only one uni-​sex bathroom. I’m pretty sure my wife has never used the bathroom there for this reason.
½. It’s like right next door to AA, which just sort of feels awkward, but I don’t know who was there first.
Verdict: My favorite bar in Carrboro.

This bar is probably about as hipster as it gets in Carrboro, and I don’t mean that in the pejorative sense. When your options are hipster vs. meat market…
There’s a little outdoor area, there are books in the one bathroom. (Really?) and one tiny television that I assure you will NOT be playing the sports game. I had the pleasure of watching the end of Starship Troopers and the beginning of… Starship Troopers.
I do really like this bar, because even if it’s faux cool, it’s way cooler than a lot of other options, especially the further you head east. Reminds me of a Brooklyn bar, except the beer on tap selection isn’t very extensive. Trying to find «my bar» in the area. I’ll come back. Maybe it’s here?

Yup, this place is a staple for me. It’s almost as if Bowbarr was lifted and moved here from the trendier haunts of NY or SF, but retains a friendly vibe. If you are looking for the cool spot in Chapel Hill/​Carrboro, you will find it here. I have turned many friends on to this place because of the great drinks and awesome bartenders.

To know Bowbarr is to love her. On a cold winter’s night, your plastic framed black glasses will fog with delight at the body heat warmth generated by the drunken crowd. On a summer’s day, you’ll sweat your ass off unless you step outside for breath of fresh air and a smoke. Don’t lean against the wall or else you’ll get attacked by a bug.
Board games, photo booth, alcohol, friends, cool seating and a clientele that can handle their booze. A refreshing respite from the amateur hour that is Franklin Street.

Nice patio area, but super crowded because of the limited size. Forced to sit at the bar, which was fine cause the place is cool inside too. Liked my cocktails, but was really annoyed by the volume of the music. Does that make me old?

I only have one real complaint with this place, and that’s the lack of adequate restroom facilities. Seriously, on a busy night, you have to wait in line for an eternity to use the single, unisex stall. Luckily, it was clean in there.
Otherwise, this place is fantastic! The décor looks a bit like a hipster’s dark and stormy acid-​trip, but definitely not in a bad way. There is an assortment of novel and reasonably-​priced cocktails. Last time, I tried the Prosecco Limoncello, the Pom Collins, and something with vodka, tequila, and chili powder. All were fantastic.
Likewise, the bar staff is pretty phenomenal. Unlike a lot of hipster bars, everyone seemed to be very warm and helpful (they didn’t judge my friend for not knowing what Mezcal was, or for asking if they carried RedBull– they don’t, by the way).
I don’t know if Bowbarr will become my go-​to «spot», but I will definitely be returning, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a unique drinking experience.

Bowbarr is an interesting place: a mixture of hipster elements (the bathroom line conversation I had with a drunk gentleman about how Algeria was the new Egypt, something I hadn’t thought about, making it «a revolution, but not one you’ve ever heard of»), a little bit of good beer, and a lot of «Wow, this place is a little too hot».
Bowbarr is not for the meek, especially if it’s stuffed. If there’s one thing I noticed, it was how much I appreciated getting outside after spending a good deal of time in here. I like the décor and everything else associated with it, but I need a little more ventilation for my own good.

Bowbarr, my favorite place to be in Carrboro. I don’t think it’s quite right to label it a dive bar — it has a bit of a grungy feel, but everything inside from the artwork to the drinks are pretty classy. I have accepted the mescaltini as my lord and savior, it is without a doubt my favorite drink.
I wish I could give an extra star for the Bobby Orr pinball machine.

Bowbarr is a lot of fun! When it opened right near my house, I was kind of skeptical, due to the stereotypes of rudeness and arrogance that often is associated with a «hipster» bar. I’m glad to report that Bowbarr clearly ignores those stereotypes.
The bartenders are friendly and cordial. It is often crowded“ish” on a weekend night but never overwhelming. The lighting and music are nice. There is a giant couch in one corner which is great for big groups and meeting new people, while on the other side there are some tables and benches. There is also a pinball machine (bring quarters, it’s addictive) and a small but cute and useful outdoor area which is great for nice days.
Best part: their specialty drinks! They are more than fair in price ($ 4 – 7 usually) and are often pretty unique with very interesting ingredients. Mezcaltini? Amazing. Pom Collins? Awesome. Italian Lemonade? Great. They experiment with different mixed drinks too.
Worst part: only one unisex bathroom. At some points in the night there was a relatively significant line for the one bathroom. That said, the bathroom is pretty nice.
Definitely recommended if you’re looking for a chill kind of hangout on a Friday/​Saturday night. I haven’t gone during the weekday, so I’m not really going to address that.
Overall: Try Bowbarr out!

It’s a pretty cool place.
If you’re doing a Carrboro crawl, don’t miss it.
Awesome vintage Bobby Orr pinball machine. In a Blackhawks jersey, and they just won the Stanly Cup, ungh.

Bowbarr is one of the only places in the ChaHill/​Carrboro area that makes me feel like I’m back in the city. It’s a nice, casual place with cute and original DIY décor, including painted detailing on the walls, a formal living room in the back, carnival lights around the bar, a grotto in the bathroom and little tables/​stools made out of logs. Somehow, they give the impression that they’ve been there for years. The crowd is relaxed and not too scene-​aspirational, with seemingly nary an undergrad in sight.
Good mixed drinks (though it would be nice if they used actual ginger beer, rather than fancy ginger ale, for their Dark & Stormy) and a reasonable beer selection. How can you not love a place that has a nonalcoholic drink called «Pregnant Lady»?
The only real negative– there’s only one bathroom for the entire bar, which can be kinda a drag. Overall, I look forward to hanging out there in the future.

Carrboro had something lacking in nightlife scene, I’m pleased to say that Bowbarr fills that niche. Thoughtful, provoking décor with obvious personal touches; Brighter than ocsc, quieter than reservoir. Openish seating that facillitates crowd interaction and meeting new people. I think this will become a great off hour bar. Bonus — Bobby Orr Pinball! There is a kitchen table in the back, but I believe it is temporary.
Ladies should be comfortable using a mens/​womens bathroom. One couple that can’t wait to get home or a taco truck depth charge might leave your patiently waiting bladder in a bad place.

I don’t think I would have ever known about Bowbarr, had a Unilocaler not pointed it out to me. It’s got a hardly noticeable storefront right by a tattoo parlor on the edge of Carrboro. (And it’s not on Unilocal!Or –er– it wasn’t, till we added it that night!). So yeah, Unilocalies, we’re letting you in on the secret ;) — which as it turns out, is not so secret to the Carrboro kids. $ 5 membership fee since there’s no food here, but it allows for three guests at least.
We hit them up around 11:30 on a Saturday and were lucky to grab space on the couch and chill out with some drinks. But people kept rolling in, and the hallway-​style set-​up got busy real quick. It’s the sort of bar you’d find in a bigger city: they somehow make the alley-​way space work, and work well. The ceilings are painted black and white, and kind of look like those ol’ spiral illusions. The bar reminded me of a food set-​up at the fair. They’ve got tree-​stump tables. And a formal dining room at back (sounds weird, but in reality, it’s awesome). And a Carolina blue toilet. Sweet.

Places like this are what make the West Franklin/​Carrboro area so appealing to me for a Saturday night out. It’s a cute place you’d never know was there, unless someone took you there… or of course, it shows up in your friends’ facebook places to be fans of. And it’s in easy walking distance of so many other places in case it’s full, or the others are.
It’s simple, small, not too loud, interesting in the décor department and has board games in the back of the bar at a full size dining room table for those who like to play games when they drink. Drink specials are simple, but fun (gin and wink yum) and of course, PBR on tap. The place makes you feel like you’ve been transported to an NYC bar on a cold evening in little Carrboro. I love it.
Do be prepared to have someone in your group have $ 5 on hand for a membership if it’s you’re first time.

The crowd is grad student hipsterish mid to late 20’s. It straddles the fence between «Lounge» and «Dive Bar», the only thing pushing it into «Dive Bar» is the crowd and the staff.
I like the set up, but I was tempted to 3 star it. Reasons: Bar staff not good at noticing the order people have been waiting, one bathroom total (wtf???), and a $ 5 membership w/​3 guest limit.
However, the bartender quickly rectified his change mistake (it was a $ 20, not $ 10) and someone swooped in regularly to take our glasses. Plus, they have lots of nice seating and this area near the front where the little tables are actually tree stumps! I felt like a Bernstein Bear!!!
It’s definitely the place to go to have some drinks & good convo. Plus parking in Carrboro is super-​awesome compared to the Crazy that is Chapel Hill on weekend nights.