The Office Tavern

Oldest and Coldest Beer in town!
Everyone has that one ghetto friend, that doesn’t mind pitchers of PBR (even if lukewarm,) and has no problem if the bar stools are covered in duct tape — and it is usually me. I happen to be in Raleigh to run a 5K with an amazing friend, and we found ourselves having some time to kill before my flight home. I asked if we could go to a dive bar. I wouldn’t say she’s «prissy» per se, but I was shocked when she obliged. We took to Unilocal and came across the Office Tavern.
Addams Family pin ball (it works!!!) Check.
Bartender and only waitress are having a cookout Check.
Bathroom graffitti (quite tasteful) Check.
Weird dude in a turtleneck singing in French Check.
Waitress just gives you the remote when you ask to watch the Pats Check.
Most importantly: Lamp-​Bust-​Shrine combo to Elvis. CHECK!
The folks here are down to earth and ridiculously friendly. Pool table, juke box, and yes, even ice cold beer.
Bring cash, some hand sanitizer, and your people watching glasses. Enjoy!

Let me start by saying I’m a big fan of dive bars in general, and that I have been to this place several times. At first I really liked it, but it started to go downhill over time. There are several reasons I now give this place 1 star: 1. The beer is not that cheap. Every beer is three dollars and it’s limited to domestic bottles or cans. This may be cheap for you if you come from a larger city, but from what I have found in Raleigh most bars offer some sort of domestic pint for 2 $. It wouldn’t be bad but you go in this bar on a Friday/​Saturday night, and it’s literally almost empty after 10pm. Most of the time, they end up closing shortly after midnight because there isn’t any one in the bar. This leads into reason number 2. The only music source in the bar is a jukebox that only plays if someone puts money in and requests a song. If not, you sit in complete silence drinking your 3 $ beer. 3. The service isn’t the best — my complements to the bartender who is a guy, he seemed really genuine and nice to talk to, made you feel welcome. The girl on the other hand seemed fairly cold. Overall I would recommend trying it out if you want to pay for the music and have some alright priced beer, just enjoy the place for what it is.

Grimy dive bar — which is actually fine in the right situation, but this place is just dingy and gross with no redeeming factors.
What I mean is that a dive bar can be great if you’re looking for a laid-​back, cheap, friendly neighborhood place.
This place is ONLY grimy. It’s not laid-​back because the usual bar tender is a cold, snarky, unwelcoming, uncomfortable person. Unless you are apparently one of her friends she makes it pretty obvious she would just rather you take your business elsewhere. It’s not cheap. It’s not expensive per-​se, but it’s over-​priced for what it is. And, as I said before, it’s certainly not a friendly place.
It’s also annoying that there is no music unless you pay for it. It’s awkward and quiet otherwise.

This place is an oasis in the middle of a desert. Let me explain: I admire Raleigh for being filled with young, ambitious, competitive individuals, all desperately trying to one-​up each other in every social setting (including Target/Lowe’s runs). Sometimes though, when you’re tired of gettin’ all gussied up just to keep up, you find yourself in a place like The Office where you have absolutely nothing to prove. The seats are falling apart. The regulars cook out together on Sundays and they are incredibly friendly, no matter what you look like (including if you look like you’d like to be left alone). You can grab the remote from the kindest bartender ever (though I forget her name, and I’m sure she’s not offended) and watch whatever you want on TV, and you can also sit back and be entertained by the questionable song selection of the one gentleman who monopolizes the jukebox (I assume there’s actually more than one of these). Other important tidbits (though they’ll explain this as soon as you walk in if you’ve never been there): Cash only. No tabs. Cheap drinks. The parking situation isn’t great, FYI. Totally worth it though.

My friend lives in the St Mary’s Square apartments so we’ve visited this establishment a number of times. It’s basically a standard dive bar. Pool tables, electronic darts, etc. and sometimes some interesting people. The place is pretty grimy, which is fine, but the beer isn’t really as cheap as it should be at a place like this… I mean, every night should have some sort of domestic cheap beer for $ 2 or less at a place like this. Additionally, they don’t have draft beers!
After reading that you’re probably thinking «that sounds like an average 3 star bar.» The extra ding comes from my most recent experience. My friend and I walked over and sat down, at which time, I said «$h!t» in a conversation. The bar tender immediately kicked me out. What the heck? I didn’t say anything mean to anyone. Only adults were present. This place is a dump and it was after midnight and I can’t drop an «s bomb»? The bartender is a girl who has served us numerous times before. Evidently after earning her liberal arts degree her lack of success is getting to her. Well my lovely lady, using your powers to boot innocent drinkers out of your dumpy establishment isn’t making anyone think more of you! Good luck and make sure to keep checking
!

You’ll meet some interesting people here.
If you dare, you’ll enjoy $ 2 domestics and free pool on Sundays. On occasion, I hear that you’ll find free snacks at the bar (pizza or donuts), or a pig roasting in the smoker outside.
But, it’s definitely a hole-​in-​the-​wall if I ever saw one. In the mens room, a press of the soap dispenser caused a poof of dust — as if it hadn’t been filled in days, weeks, or years.
This is old Raleigh though, and perhaps the oldest bar in the city if you count the pre-​1989 years when they occupied the space where Lily’s Pizza is now. I would make sure to visit at least once, but you may want to bring a friend.

I love the o. t… Always friendly. Dimly lit, cold beer, nothing more and nothing less. Free pool and $ 2 beer on Sundays! The Office Tavern is a true roadhouse style joint.

Such a friendly bar. I stopped here several months ago on a whim and I felt incredibly welcome. The place was full of regulars, but they were interested in meeting a new person, rather than just ignoring a new person. The bartender was equally friendly. Looking forward to going back.

Simply put, nice people and cold beer. If you want a real bar you owe it to yourself to stop in. Say hey to Mike.

Another great local bar. The guy behind the counter is always spot on, the people all friendly (even if they keep to themselves a bit more than the affable crowd you’re likely to encounter at, say, Thee Backdoor.). Solid all-​around.

I happened to show up at this place while they were prepping for a local’s (Lamar) 80 something birthday. Since I was an out of towner it was a little awkward at first.
But, the bartender was very nice and made us feel at home. A simple place to go relax with some beer in the company of nice people.

The Office Tavern on W. Johnson that I went to had a sign at the front stating «coldest beer in Raleigh.» When I actually got my beer, a Heineken I believe, it was pretty much just slightly under room temperature. They do NOT have anything on draught. The bartender, who looked like she’d been dragged out of a truck-​stop diner kicking and screaming, rendered me a crabby «cash only» instead of a greeting as I crossed the threshold. Those were the only words she had to say other than «4 dollars.» The bar’s only other customers at the time were a couple completely disheveled 50-​somethings that looked like they’d just come in from the rain to spend their earnings after a day holding «will work for food» signs at a highway intersection. The only thing one of them had to say was «Hey buddy, can I borrow a buck.?»
Don’t get me wrong I’m a huge fan of the seedy dive-​bar sect, but COLD, albeit cheap beer and a decent attitude go a long way. Office tavern, Raleigh… FAIL.

Well, I was going to take a swing at the overdressed night crowd on Glenwood Avenue, but Ron W. took care of that for me. Kudos, pretty much nailed it.
The bar is the perfect example of what the area should have more of, other than rooftop spots that serve drinks in plastic glasses. Dimly lit room, pool tables, signs and other memorabilia on the walls that helps paint a timeline of its existence. Natural Light neon signs, to fish nets on the ceiling and a elvis lamp — this is the shining example of proper bar décor.
Friendly bartenders, $ 3 domestics everyday (yeah, $ 2 PBR is nice, but we all need a break every once in a while) and the best part — a juke box that won’t put Taio Cruz on repeat.
They don’t serve food, but there’s a rack of snacks, and if you’re lucky, the occasional box of Krispy Kreme’s on the bar. Beer and donuts — I can work with that
Next time your friends want to drag you out to Glenwood South for a night of debauchery at 606 or Solas, ask them to do you the favor of stopping here first to pre-​game. Who knows, maybe you’ll convert them.

If you’re ever on South Glenwood and just REALLY tired of all the stilettos, dragon shirts and pop-​collars, have I got the place for you! I’ve lived in the hood for over two years but had never stepped into the Office Tavern until I got an invite from fellow Charlotte Unilocaler Tonya P, «Come on out drinking!» How could I resist?
The Office Tavern is totally hidden out in the open on Johnson Street, you probably have walked by and not noticed the place. Inside it’s a little dusty with some country music, darts, pool table and video games. Nothing but a basic bar with friendly bartenders! Got to meet the owner, Bill who provided some help for my new friends with a side-​trip to the Foxy Lady but that’s a story for another day…
What can I say but the Office Tavern is just your basic, relax and drink beer type bar. And I’ll tell you what, on S. Glenwood it’s a welcome change of pace to have something that’s just about the basics. +1 star for the Office Tavern keeping it real…

Dark, dimly lit bars in the afternoon make me happy. Sunshine in my eyes make me cry. Beers lined up on the counter, look so lovely!!! Beer almost always makes me high.
The Office Tavern makes me want to break out in song. We walked in this bar for a beer, three hours later we were on first name basis with everyone. We even Unilocaled Ron W and made him come out. Didn’t his mama tell him not to talk to strangers?
It might be safe to say, it will be my first stop on the party train while visting Raleighwood. All aboard!

Sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your name. One of those places is The Office Tavern – as good as it gets in the dive bar category. Really cold beer; an Elvis lamp, neon lights, pool tables, and probably the friendliest bar staff and regulars I’ve ever met. There’s also a great juke box, and the owner (Bill) might give you some free credits if you’re nice.
There’s no food (only Tom’s snacks) but you can order pizza or takeout and eat it there. And it’s beer only. Which is probably a good thing…