Peccadillo

I love this place! We came here for a birthday drink, and it was exactly what I was looking for: intimate, classy, unique drinks. They have a lovely menu, but I decided to roll the dice and have the bartender make me a specialized drink. I simply told him 2 words: «sweet» and «white liquor» and he made me a delicious cocktail that tasted like a slice of apple pie. Yes, the drinks are more expensive than your average cocktail at a divey bar, but this place isn’t divey! In terms of environment, this is a speakeasy where you will need to keep a close eye out to find! There is not much seating (basically one long, communal table, plus some bar seating) but we had no trouble finding seats. I’ve heard sometimes the bartender wear lab coats, but a’las they weren’t when we were here… just more reason to return =P

I’ve had some mixed experiences here. First time I went, the bartender mixed something for me based on what I might like and a liquor suggestion, which I appreciated. It wasn’t incredibly packed, and I enjoyed the novelty of a dimly lit sophisticated cocktail bar that you found behind an unmarked door. The second time I came here, it was a Saturday night at around 10pm and it was PACKED. We waited at the bar for five minutes before getting finally someone’s attention, and then had to stand in a corner with our coats on our arms since there wasn’t any space to sit.
If you’re looking for something a little different and don’t mind paying a little extra for a nicer drink, then I highly recommend coming here. It’d be a good weeknight date place if you want to impress someone by dragging them through alleyway to this hidden bar. But I’d avoid coming here during peak hours, it’s just too small of a space.

My fiancée and I just left this bar and I have to say that it was one of the worst experiences I have ever had.
We went in on a Thursday night around 7:30. There were a few folks in the bar. The bartender barely greeted us and after asking for IDs tossed them back at us. Next, when I asked for a recommendation she looked at me like I was asking for something insane before offering a Manhattan. After making two subpar drinks, she completely neglected us, never offered water, never asked how the cocktails were, and played on her phone behind the bar. When I asked for the check she continued the silent treatment and again tossed the card and pen on the bar. I have never had such terrible bar service in my life and will absolutely not go back to there again. Go only if you want a stuck up bartender who can’t be bothered to actually assist their customers. Go to the Crunkleton instead.

This bar is totally hidden and out of place for the area, but I love it. Their drinks are on the pricier end — but strong and well made! The service is great and the bartender has always been helpful with drink suggestions. They use fresh ingredients including fresh ginger (which I love!) and you can definitely taste it.
The ambiance is chill with dim lights, but it’s still loud and lively.
While this isn’t the place do to go crazy and do back to back shots – the beverages are strong so be careful!
Best part… the taco bus is right outside!
Overall chill place with strong drinks!

Wow. That Carborro/​Chapel Hill would have a location like this, I am pleased. And not at all surprised.
OK first off, it’s discretely marked by a simple grey door down Brewer Ln. When I first took some of my friends here, they literally thought I was carrying them down some sketch alley. When you walk in, however, it’s a completely different scene with a dimly lit atmosphere, simply decorated walls, and people chatting casually over cocktails. The menu and business cards laying on the bar have a plain-​but-​classy kind of appeal. I asked the bartender for something not too sweet but still pretty good, and he pointed me in the direction of a Plum Wine Flip (huge fan of plum wine, so this was A++ lemme tell you).
I WISH I had gotten that prosciutto. The prosciutto here looks *so good*, and you can literally hear the crunch of the baguette as they slice it.
I had a great, relaxing time, but it was short lived when we went to Topo to find drunk, underaged people drinking and pushing everywhere. And I wished I was back at Peccadillo.

As I move into my mid-​thirties I find myself gravitating more toward places like Peccadillo. I have been legally drinking for over a decade and with that I would rather pay more for a good drink in an atmosphere void of unsavory drunk people. This place is small with one long table that seats a dozen or so patrons and a bar that seats about the same amount. Low lighting and music makes this place a great after dinner drink spot. I enjoyed the nude paintings on the wall; very tasteful, that for me didn’t feel pretentious. Much like their sister bar in Durham all drinks are the same price but instead of wine they do cocktails here. I love to watch a good bartender work and they do just that. Lots of flair with a flamed orange twist you don’t see often enough. I went off the menu with an old fashion and my husband a filthy martini. The craft was there but in the end my drink was ok. My husband’s martini was served plain with the olive juice on the side which I have never seen before but she stated «So you can make it how you like it». I like the idea of it but in the end his drink was just ok as well. I love the low key-​ness and I’m willing to give them another try based on atmosphere alone. I just hope the drinks are more to the level of Bar Virgile or The Foundation next time.

Environment: The simple but classy interior surprised me, especially after having to go in through a sketchy grey door (that is now marked «Peccadillo»). It’s mighty small with one long table and the bar table. The whole place can fit a max of 25 people. Dimly lit with candles, nice vibes throughout, intimate and different from the other bars in Chapel Hill.
Drinks: It’s the first place where the bartender was «showy» with making the drinks. Personally, I enjoyed that. I ordered a champagne which was simple but had the perfect sweetness I was looking for. I honestly thought the drink was expensive ($ 12) but had a good time with my friends so I would come back again. However, I can’t imagine what it would be like on a busy night with the space being so small.
Food: I saw multiple cheese plates being served to customers and there are multiple kinds of cheeses and meats offered. Made my mouth water, I’m definitely coming back for that plate.
Service: There was one bartender but he was efficient and friendly. He did what he had to entertain us and to make sure we had a good experience.
Overall, loved my experience here. The drinks are expensive but it’s worth a try.

A bar for motivated patrons, you won’t casually drop into Pecadillo because the door is totally discrete! Just look for 100A Brewer Lane and a industrial gray door front. Inside you’ll find a small entry foyer and large open room with communal table and a beautiful bar to the side. Bartenders wear white lab coats to give off the mixologist vibe.
Liquors and cocktails are the main deal here, house drinks run about $ 12 and have a lot of love put into them. And they are pretty strong so be careful. I like Pecadillo a lot more than their sister bar, Bar Lusconi. While it’s simple and basic, it’s done well and worth the effort…

I found the door! I’ve been wanting to check this place out since the day I heard about it. An extra topping to all my Valentine’s day surprises, my night ended at Peccadillo and it was a perfect ending.
I love these speakeasy’s popping up around the Triangle and I’d say Peccadillo is a unique one. Of course as you might have read from other reviews there is no signage and you have to find the door. It’s a members only bar so you need to pay a $ 1 I think to become a member but it’s easy to get in without any worries.
The bartenders wear lab coats like real «mixologists» which adds to the whole experience. The drinks were strong and they make up some of good versions of the popular drinks from the 20s. They also serve some small plates that I didn’t know about which is awesome ’cause you’re going to need some food if you are drinking here all night.
It’s a quiet spot to enjoy a drink, I think of it more of a special occasion kind of place. I will definitely be back though and look forward to trying out some more of the drink menu next time I’m there.

Very pricy menu but other than that I highly recommend this place. The bartenders are all very friendly and knowledgeable. The atmosphere is very intimate and is a great date spot. The hardest part is finding the door to get in because they take their speakeasy theme very seriously!

Welcome aboard Peccadillo airline, where the drink prices are exorbitant and the appetizer options are peanut-​bag sized.
It’s as if items are priced as a means of keeping the riffraff out, as if being Chapel Hill’s best-​not-​kept secret failed at this task despite their lack of signage indicating that they even exist. Peccadillo attempts to be what the Speakeasy down the street implies in its name, yet Peccadillo’s execution is less appealing.
Before you think this rating is due merely to the high cost of pleasure in this back-​alley establishment, what made it disappointing was the 10-​something minute wait for a very simple cheese&bread appetizer. How long does it take to cut the cheese?
It was also implied that one can not order a drink that isn’t on the menu; at the least, I was ushered into one of their designer cocktails after asking for what should have been an inexpensive whiskey sour.
Redeeming qualities are obvious, though. The atmosphere is darkly seductive, music at an appreciable volume, and the furnishings are classy but rustic wood and metal works. Service was attentive and with smiles. The drinks we had were crafted, not thrown together haphazardly. They weren’t shy on the alcohol content, so I left with a buzz.
However, the cost for one drink and splitting a tiny bread&cheese plate with my comrade? A shocking $ 20 for each of us, meaning this was a $ 40 affair. Get real. This place isn’t selling gold-​foamed drinks or nationally recognized cuisine; you’re paying to feel like an in-​the-​know big-​city elite in a town that still hasn’t grown beyond its podunk roots. While I’ve experienced better for less, Peccadillo is an experience to be had in tiny Chapel Hill, and perhaps worth an occasional return for atmosphere alone.

Visited Peccadillo for the first time recently on a Thursday night. It has potential (or had?), and the ambience is sexy and sophisticated, but I was disappointed with the drinks. I expected a more extensive cocktail list, with more original and innovative creations. The menu was very simple. I had a ginger something or other, and my date ordered a Manhattan. The Manhattan came neat rather than on the rocks and had too much bitters. The bartender who delivered it told us proudly «this is the first Manhattan I’ve ever made.» Well, that’s great, but when we’re paying beaucoup bucks for drinks I’d rather have experienced bartenders making them. For the next round of drinks I just ordered a Victoria beer from Mexico. The cheese plate was good. But I can get cheaper and more creative drinks at the nearby hipster bars.

Went to Peccadillo for the first time last night. This bar definitely caters to a middle aged crowd. There were few college students. Drinks around around $ 12-​$ 15 each. Cocktail menu is limited and not really anything special. Waitstaff was a bit rude to my party since we are in our early 20’s. They really don’t want that age crowd, it seems to me. This bar is not «Carrboro» by any stretch of the imagination. True, there might be an air of «exclusivity,» but to me it just felt unwelcoming. It’s fair to say that I will not go out of my way to return to this bar, but I’m glad I went just once.

Peccadillo is a fairly new bar and feels very refreshing compared to other bars in the area. Like previous reviewers, the bar has a classic, minimal and almost retro feel to it. Walking in, the only seating are either along the bar or around this large wooden table.
Finding Peccadillo can be difficult for the first time. I heard about this place through a friend who only described the location to me. Finding the bar, a friend and I were walking along the building looking for this place. We heard music and saw a slightly cracked door, and thankfully it was Peccadillo.
Don’t expect a wide variety of cocktails but expect high quality drinks at a high price. To put things in perspective, before coming to Peccadillo I went to Lantern to grab a few drinks. I found the drinks at Peccadillo, on average, to be pricier than the drinks at Lantern. Despite the limited menu at Peccadillo, I wouldn’t be surprised if the bartenders knew how to make some classic cocktails, so don’t feel limited to the menu.
The bartenders are extremely nice and friendly. Upon entering and walking to the bar, one of the bartenders openly greeted us and introduced himself. Along the shelves, they strangely have beakers and some of the bartenders wear lab coats. I’m not sure if they somehow use the beakers or the lab coats are some kind of gimmick but it is «different» from the typical bar; however, it does feel unnecessary. I’m not sure if they are somehow incorporating it into a theme with the drinks or if they are just doing it for the sake of doing it.

I’ve lived in the Chapel Hill area for about 4 years now and had never heard of this place till recently. A friend of mine recommended it so we headed there for drinks on Valentine’s Day. Compared to other bars in the area, Peccadillo is a gem. The best way to describe it is a more classy bar with a retro feel. The bartenders wear lab coats and there are beakers in the bar which is cool in my opinion. The lighting is really dim as well. FYI, if you’re comparing this place to other bars in bigger cities, you’ll be disappointed. But it is definitely a nice change of scenery compared to the college bars around the area.
It may be hard to find on your own because there isn’t a sign or anything, it’s just a bare door on the side of a building. I was warned beforehand that it was a bit pricey and loud so I was expecting that but the strength of the cocktails was definitely unexpected. I’m a huge fan of bourbon and asked the bartender what to get and he recommended the Manhattan. It was great! If you enjoy a good strong drink in an intimate setting but don’t mind loud music, this place is for you!
To be fair, the menu is quite limited but I like that more than picking through a sea of cocktails that are too sweet for my own taste.

I stopped by here with some friends to celebrate a birthday. Thankfully the birthday girl was also not impressed and we didn’t stay long. Very poor (few) draught selection and those available are relatively (to the Carrboro and Chapel hill area) overpriced. It was a fairly busy saturday night but the set up of the Peccadillo only facilitated a lot of standing around drink in hand. A few friends purchased uninspiring, and again overpriced, cocktails.
To enjoy the Peccadillo you need to have a very particular tastes, regarding the drink options and atmosphere. I would personally not go back but it is definitely worth checking out yourself!

For me, Peccadillo is a «special occaision» kind of place, meaning, I am poor and this place is expensive. But if there’s one thing P-​dillz excels at, it’s making you feel cool just being there. And that’s important– why else choose a schmancy bar over pantless Bulleit shots in your kitchen at a dollar a pop?
My first night there, my friends and I were all twittery and nervous– Will they let us in? Is it exclusive? No, it’s not. It just appears that way for the ‘cool’ factor. It’s hard to find, but crossing the threshold from streetside to swanky is like being transported, somewhere we Carrborians only dream of– Bushwick. And the prices reflect that.
I sat down at a table and was promptly waited on by Dean. I was oddly amused by his lab coat and the beakers at the bar, and asked him if he served any «savory» cocktails, assuming that the mad scientist theme was a mixologist reference– maybe they’d make me something weird like a dijon+sage martini or something. It was Dean’s turn to be amused as he pointed out the FOUR cocktails they serve. FOUR. THEY SERVE FOUR. (martini, negroni, manhattan, neat/​otr) What is this nonsense??? I was close to walking the five blocks back to my well-​stocked kitchen. But it turns out you can swap out the whiskey or tequila or gin in something for something else, blah blah, so he convinced me to get a Tequila Negroni. And for a ten dollar cup of liquor, it was pretty damn good.
A friend of mine ordered the cheapest beer on the menu and said it was the best beer he’d ever had. «einbecker schwarzbier» only found at Sam’s Quik Shop and Peccadillo, locally.
The bartenders here, especially Dean, really make this a great bar, however. As a twenty-​two year old, I’m used to getting snubbed by bartenders who don’t expect me to spend money, or aren’t interested in chatting. Dean hung out at our table, answered many of our questions, and put up with my fading sobriety with a smile. I insisted to him that I like my martinis dirty and that I’m a salt addict, and with my next martini (which was delicious) he also provided a CUP of Castelvetrano olives! I. was. stoked. And so was the rest of my table. My friend ordered the cheese plate and it was one of the best cheese plates I’ve had in some time, pretty pleasing for «bar food.»
The night ended with Dean serving me a glass of Cava on the house, endless banter, and me, hobbling and singing my way down Mainstreet to my house. These guys know how to show you a good time, the mood was right, and for one night I felt like I’d left the triangle for something a little more hip. I will definitely be returning, especially when I have friends I want to impress.

It’s a pretty great little cocktail place, back where the Reservoir used to be. They’re hard to find on purpose.
Turns out we knew one of the owners, he used to tend bar at Crunkleton. This has a similar but simpler vibe — plenty of top-​shelf liquor, but stripped down — e.g., there are like 5 choices of nice bourbon, same with vodka.
Food choices were simple, like wurstplat and a little «flight» of chocolates, that was just as it sounds, little pieces of chocolate.
We felt like — not a place to spend all night, but a great place to stop on a crawl. Will definitely be back. (Actually I am going back tonight!)

It’s five stars because it’s hard to find. It’s three stars because you pay big-​city prices. Then again, where else in the Triangle are ya gonna get a good martini?
Some things are a little overdone, like the «flight» of chocolate on a plank of wood with a tea candle. The rest is underdone, nicely.
If you want to find the place, don’t worry, you will. You might spend a moment turning about, asking yourself and your party: could it be this auto parts place? That guy has a long beard; he looks like he might be a bouncer for a speakeasy. Oh, look, there is an interpretive dance hall with my professor twirling about, arms flailing.
Yes, look near the interpretive dance hall. To the east of it. Aw, F it, the door is sloppily painted with a 100A. Oops.

Peccadillo is in where The Reservoir used to be. Remember The Reservoir? Grungy, rock awesomeness with games and $ 2 PBR tall boys? Peccadillo is the exact opposite. It’s also quite a good thing.
On walking into Peccadillo, you notice almost immediately that this is a classy bar. They have a $ 5 membership fee (a little higher than most places (Wine Bar and OCSC, for two, are $ 1), but it’s only a one time thing), so going with a friend who is a member is ideal. You notice really quickly that the place is dark: as we pointed out, you could probably hide in a corner and not be noticed for the entire evening. However, it’s that classy dark that recalls all classy bars on Mad Men, or other shows with classy bars (these escape me at the moment). You also notice that it is definitely not The Reservoir anymore: there’s a level of sophistication that replaced the old Reservoir grungy feel with a more high-​class drink place, something you’d find in a big city rather than Chapel Hill/​Carrboro.
Once you get to the bar or the table (those are your two options, but have no fear, the bartenders will come check on you at the tables), you get to see the menu. It’s a nice menu too, with wines, beers (4 beer options, all imported from Germany/​England/​Scotland), and spirits, with mixers to go with the spirits. I ended up with a Theakston XB (this one
), which was both unconventional and interesting at the same time. It was pricey, but everything here is.
Overall I like this place: the bartenders are good at what they do (and what they do is make strong drinks), and the service is excellent. It’s pricey, but if you’re looking for a much more chill, jazz-​music infused place and the Crunkleton is full, this is a good place to check out.