Cornerstone Tavern

Cornerstone is an absolutely legendary bar. Great place to pick up chicks if you’re looking to spit some g. If you happen upon a young lady named Payge (with a Y), refrain from buying her tequila shots and potentially sliding into her Instagram DMs (she won’t respond). Great tunes, great times, great atmosphere. Don’t let your «local» friend coax you into leaving, you will regret it and go back 20 minutes later.

If you are female, they’ll let you in without waiting, without membership. If you are male, they’ll tell you to wait in line. I walked up with my female friend, who was let in immediately, but I was not. I’m fine with waiting in a line as long as it is consistent. It is not. This place is ridiculously sexist. I can only think they support HB2.

Mediocre at best. Service wasn’t anything special and music was decent. Drinks were definitely undercut and weak. The outdoor space seemed really cool with plenty of seating, fire pits, and even swings. Really confused about talks of a membership though.

The worst experience I’ve ever had, hands down. Looked cool upon walking by, now I understand why they were so slow on a Thursday night when everyone else was super busy. Rude staff, including management, and the music was awful. Do yourself a favor and go anywhere else within walking distance for a better experience.

Absolute favorite bar on S. Glenwood! The atmosphere is very enjoyable, it can be very calm and low key of very sociable depending on the day and time you go. The fire pits are my favorite part of the place. The bartenders are also superb. I’m not sure her name but she has black hair and is always there on the weekends, get her to take your order! She is so fast and efficient. Highly recommend you check this place out!

Great place with staying power on the ever-​changing Glenwood bar scene. Cornerstone is a charming old house that has been expertly transformed into a quaint bar. However, they recently acquired next-door’s Brooklyn Heights, making the outdoor space larger and adding more bars (indoor and outdoor) for drink orders. Expert bartenders here who make good drinks and can handle the busy weekend crowds, making waiting in line less painful.
The outdoor space at Cornerstone is one of my favorite spots in downtown Raleigh. The fire pits, comfortable couches, porch swings, and outdoor bar all contribute to a super relaxed, fun atmosphere. I can’t think of another place downtown quite like it.
I’ve been to Cornerstone 5 or 6 times now, half of that on Friday or Saturday nights. On the weekends, it can be pretty busy. The place isn’t huge so people complaining about walking through a crowd, it’s gonna happen. You probably shouldn’t be coming here if a bar that’s busy on Saturday isn’t your thing. Come during the week instead when it’s quieter but great for an after-​work drink or a hangout with friends if you want to chat. I can’t remember them off the top of my head but they’ve always had good specials.
There are a few negative reviews about rude bartenders and/​or the bar being busy but let’s remember that masses of drunk people aren’t always a recipe for success and a busy bar is a successful bar. Quit wishing closure on a place because you don’t know yourself well enough to pick a quiet spot. Ok rant over!
Last, but certainly not least, there are more restrooms in the back! Not just one for the ladies which I certainly appreciate when the inside line is 10 girls deep. Go out back!

Atmosphere and staff are always a great time! Was super fun when it first opened and is even more fun today (that’s hard thing to accomplish)! Great beer and liquor selection. Perfect for late evening drinks on patio or even later shots at the bar ;)
The merging to Brooklyn heights was genius!

Rude bartenders, one of them put my credit card in my drink when I turned around to ask my friend to order a drink on my card because of the credit card minimum. Will never go back, I was very very offended and disappointed.

This place gets one star from me for the fire pits, that’s it. Drinks are awful beyond words, extremely crowded (obviously on weekends, but I wouldn’t be there on a weekday). The crowd was a combination of rude/​annoying at best. There was a long line of people waiting to enter into a tiny little place that was already at full capacity (if not more).
If you would like to sit, chat, and grab a good drink, I suggest there are relatively far superior places nearby. However, if your idea is to yell/​shout to annoying individuals while having awful drinks, then this might just be the place.

Great atmosphere is completely ruined by obnoxious house music. The whole presentation is a cozy neighborhood bar. Too bad.

This place is a fun spot to meet up with friends on a Friday or Saturday night. It can get a little crazy after midnight (which is usually when I go home anyway) but the atmosphere is fun with outdoor fire pits, swings and a small indoor dance floor. The drinks are pretty run of the mill and the price point is average.

This place is ok. I like the outdoor seating and the bartenders but outside of that there’s nothing amazing about it. The DJ’s music is all over the place with no real theme on the weekends and the dance floor is tiny.
Every time I’ve gone there has been a line around the corner, then you wait even longer for a drink, then it takes a ton of effort to get through the crowd. Sometimes it is jus too packed there and it’s uncomfortable. Both times someone spilled there drink on me trying to get through the crowd.
I love the décor and set up but I think I would enjoy it more on a night when it isn’t so busy and there’s a different DJ. I think they could play pandora and that would be sufficient.

A fun place to hang out and dance. The drinks are very delicious and I think fair price for being on a street with other clubs and bars. The music is always fun, giving you throw backs with some current hits. Just all around a great atmosphere once you walk in. Even the bouncers are friendly!

This is hands down the best bar on Glenwood Ave. the DJ plays fun party music on weekends. I’ve never been there during the week, but I have heard they do live music on certain days. The bartenders are fast and efficient considering the bar is always packed! The outdoor bar and patio is the best part of Cornerstone. This is what makes cornerstone so great, it has something for everyone: if you want a dance party, cornerstone is your place, if you want to hang out w some friends and have good convo, cornerstone is your place, if you want to escape the stresses of life and channel your inner «Hitch»…CORNERSTONE IS YOUR PLACE.
Prior to coming here I read some reviews that said the place was too crowded, well this is testament to how popular the bar is, that is a good thing. Why would a bar not want to be busy. So if you want boring with no people and a lot of space to roam around and not be able to see any good looking females… cornerstone is not the place.
Cornerstone gets my vote of approval.

Crowded like most of the popular bars on Glenwood but easier to get bar service than most! Nice outdoor patio setting with multiple large couches and seating areas for groups if you want to spend time outdoors while in downtown Raleigh.

Come when it’s nice out but skip when it’s rainy!
Cornerstone has an impressive patio with a huge selection of comfy seating, tables and even a few porch swings. There are also several fire pits for when it’s a bit chilly. Drink are priced similar to other area bars, but keep in mind there is a $ 10 minimum for credit cards. I have never had a mixed drink here, but the beers and ciders (along with the atmosphere) are great.
The problem with Cornerstone is that it’s indoor space is tiny, extremely loud and pretty plain. There’s no real charm. We usually pass through on our way to the back patio but it’s so loud from the DJ in the corner that we can’t even hold a yelling conversation.
Also it’s worth it to note that there are four bathrooms (two inside and two outside) and at least the women’s bathrooms (can’t say anything for the guy’s) we’re VERY clean! I was impressed especially considering it was a busy Saturday night. It seemed as if they have lots of staff cleaning up and keeping things tidy. Love it!
Definitely check out while the weather is still nice, but perhaps find a different spot when the weather gets icky.

This place can get pretty crowded on a Friday and Saturday night. The drinks are pretty good and they have local beer which is nice. It’s like going to someone’s house to party so don’t expect much. They have nice outside firepits all around the place so definitely take advantage of the outside seating. They also just added swings outside which is pretty cool. The staff is always super friendly and the dj is awesome!

Even though i’m not much of a bar person, this is a great one to come to with your people. It’s a big house, basically, with a big inside and outdoor space which surrounds it. a lot of couches for groups to sit, indoor and outdoor bars, and I like the touch of the fire pits outside.
The inside gets kind of crowded, especially when people start dancing near the front entrance, but the outdoors has plenty of space for walking around. The bathroom lines get plenty long — you’re better off stepping out and peeing on a tree or something.
Funny how Myst across the street has a dress code and has a 95% Black clientele, and here there is no dress code and is 95% white. So you have your choice and could even try both places (as I did).

Well, ok– there are some redeeming qualities.
The fire pits are nice. And it may be fun to come here on a weekday when it’s not so crowded.
Even though it was packed, there was fairly easy access to the bar.
And that’s where the good ends. Douchey crowd. Annoying people. Watered down drinks. Not a fun place on a busy Friday. I like to unwind, not be surrounded by loud, douchey people at the end of a long week.
That said, I did make a new friend. (Non– douchey). Not everyone is a douche. Just 80% of people here.
Or maybe I’m just getting old…
Oy.

On New Years Eve a group of friends and I went to Cornerstone Tavern at 1130pm, a place we have been several times with no problem. When we walked up the bouncer told us there was a membership, something we had never heard of-​ever. He said it was new, recently started. We asked him how to obtain a membership and he said that they were out of papers, but people could apply online, however the membership couldn’t be approved tonight. I pulled up the website and there was nothing about a membership on there.
During the time that he was telling us about the membership he continued to let several people in, saying that he «knew» the people. I asked the people inside and people he was letting in who were in line if they had memberships and they had no clue what we were talking about.
This led me to question why we weren’t being let in; was it race, age, maybe gender? How could a group of professionals who had been there several times not be allowed in under the guise of a «membership». Have you given your bouncers the ability to decide who they do and don’t want in your tavern simply by their personal preferences?
When we went to the bouncer we were not drunk, rude, or disrespectful. We were just a group of friends who were trying to go to your club as we have been before.
This was a huge disappointment because we will no longer visit your establishment. We don’t want to have to worry about whether the bouncer will want us to go into the establishment.