Enable JavaScript to run this app.
Skip to main content
OpenTable logo
  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Raleigh / Durham / Chapel Hill
  4. Raleigh
  5. Raleigh
The Willard, Raleigh, NC

The Willard

4.4
4.4
621 Reviews
$30 and under
Cocktail Bar
9 Glenwood Ave, Raleigh, NC 27603-1797

Make a reservation

2 people
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
7:00 PM
Booked 20 times today
Experiences are available.

About this restaurant

  • Great for scenic views
  • Lively
  • Great for outdoor dining
The Willard Rooftop Lounge, Raleigh's Best Rooftop Bar of 2023 & 2024, offers signature craft cocktails and inspired bites with stunning views of downtown Raleigh.

The centerpiece of The Willard is the Large Terrace with panoramic views of the Raleigh skyline and dual-sided fireplace surrounded by comfortable, yet modern, seating. Heaters make our outdoor spaces comfortable year-round. Inside, a 22-seat bar is the focal point of the dining room, while Skyview Boardroom offers a unique dining experience for 6-12 guests.

The Willard’s cocktail menu playfully leans into Raleigh’s nickname as the City of Oaks, offering signature craft cocktails aged in oak barrels and cocktails where smoke is a key ingredient.

The seasonal food menu, crafted by Chef Kyle Teears, includes shareables like papas bravas and charcuterie, as well as salads, Flatbreads, and entrees like the Lamb Burger and Steak Frites.
Located on the 7th floor of the AC Hotel Raleigh Downtown in the Glenwood South district.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Cocktail Bar, Lounge, Tapas / Small Plates
  • Hours of operation
    Mon–Thu 4:00 pm–11:00 pm Fri 4:00 pm–12:00 am Sat 12:00 pm–12:00 am Sun 12:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Executive chef
    Kyle Teears
  • Catering
    Catering customized to your needs is available from the kitchen of Executive Chef Kyle Teears.
  • Private party facilities
    At the AC Hotel Raleigh Downtown, the entire 7th floor is dedicated to food and beverage service. With multiple function spaces available for booking alone or in combination, special occasions unfold against the stunning backdrop of downtown Raleigh's skyline, making memories that last a lifetime!
  • Private party contact
    Leslie Hoagland: (984) 272-4486
  • Neighborhood
    Raleigh
  • Cross street
    Hillsborough St
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Outdoor Firepit, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

  • California Disaster Relief at The Willard Rooftop

    Jan 23, 2025 - Apr 30, 2025
    The Willard Rooftop, located atop the AC Hotel Raleigh Downtown, is proud to announce a burger campaign dedicated to supporting those affected by recent disasters in California. From now until April 30th, every burger sold at The Willard Rooftop will contribute $1 to The American Red Cross and the World Central Kitchen. Portobello Burger: marinated mushroom, herb aioli, tomato, balsamic glaze, mozzarella, baby kale, brioche bun Slowik Burger: two 4-oz. wagyu patties, seared onions, american cheese, lettuce, tomato, iykyk sauce, brioche bun Lamb Burger*: ground lamb, bravas aioli, boursin cheese, fig jam, mint-basil “lettuce,” brioche bun
    California Disaster Relief at The Willard Rooftop Photo
  • Mother's Day Brunch

    $0.00 - $30.00 per person

    Prepaid

    May 11, 2025 only
    Celebrate moms and mother figures this Mother's Day on the rooftop! Join us on Sunday, May 11, for a brunch buffet on the rooftop. Your $30 ticket to this exclusive rooftop experience includes brunch favorites with a Willard spin. Additional a la carte brunch items will be available for purchase.
    Mother's Day Brunch Photo

Private dining

What 621 people are saying

The Willard reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.4
4.4 based on recent ratings
  • 4.1Food
  • 4.4Service
  • 4.5Ambience
  • 4Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Raleigh / Durham / Chapel Hill

    Great for outdoor dining

  • Raleigh / Durham / Chapel Hill

    Great for scenic views

  • Raleigh

    Great for outdoor dining

  • Raleigh

    Great for scenic views

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
The Willard offers a "breathtaking view" and a lively ambiance, making it a standout rooftop destination. Guests praise the "delicious food" and "exceptional service," particularly from attentive and friendly staff. While some experiences vary, the upscale lounge vibe and great lighting create a memorable atmosphere, with "perfectly crafted drinks" enhancing the overall experience.
621 Reviews
  1. Nithya VIP

    San Francisco25 reviews

    3.0

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 2
    The easter brunch service was chaotic, the staff did not seem to have a sense of who was covering what. The space was crowded and often not cleared from the previous guest. Some of the staff were trying to do their best, but there was no system and did not create a good guest experience. I doubt we will go back again.

    Is this helpful?

  2. Paula

    Washington DC4 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We went to Easter brunch and had a wonderful experience. The buffet was well stocked and a very good value for the money. The view of Raleigh is amazing. All of our servers were delightful. We will be back!

    Is this helpful?

  3. Phyllis

    Washington DC4 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    The scheduled opening is 11 AM; however, they were late bringing out buffet items up until around 11:30 if you open at 11, I would expect everything to be set up at 11. The food was great, food temperature was a good, and the buffet variety was great. They even offer a few à la carte menu items if you didn’t want the buffet. I would definitely go again.

    Is this helpful?

  4. Selina

    Philadelphia2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I have a wonderful pre birthday celebration there today. I enjoyed the tremendous view of the city. The food was absolutely delicious, and the ambiance was relaxing and fun. I really appreciate how attentive, warm, and friendly out server Eric was. I enjoyed that there was a range of seating arrangements. I will definitely come here again.

    Is this helpful?

  5. Natalie VIP

    Richmond22 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 12, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We were pleasantly surprised at how great the cocktails were! We didn't expect much since it was located in a hotel but they ended up being some of the best drinks we had all weekend!

    Is this helpful?

  6. Patrice

    Raleigh1 review

    5.0

    Dined on April 10, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great service with Vicente, food was delicious! I will be back.

    Is this helpful?

  7. Tiki

    San Francisco3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 10, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    It’s a nice lounging type experience outside. The rooftop is great.

    Is this helpful?

  8. Jheri

    Los Angeles4 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 6, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This is my first time coming to the Willard and it was a wonderful experience. I was able to find parking and easily navigate to the rooftop. Every single person that worked there was so kind and accommodating. The view is unmatched and it’s just great energy up there. The burger was absolutely delicious. It was also a great portion size. I actually couldn’t completely finish my burger, which is rare for me. I just appreciate this whole experience and can’t wait to come back again.

    Is this helpful?

  9. Stephanie

    San Francisco1 review

    3.0

    Dined on April 5, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Service was great but food was overrated. Duck wings were decent but chicken kabobs tasted rubbery and not like real chicken.

    Is this helpful?

  10. An

    Jacksonville1 review

    2.0

    Dined on March 29, 2025

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The hype was not all that it appeared. The advertisement made it appear to be bigger and with a nice vibe however, the outside was small, not many choices on the menu, the drinks were 98% watered down. It wasn’t what I expected.

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

The Willard is rated 4.4 stars by 621 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation


Booked 20 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for The Willard

9 Glenwood Ave, Raleigh, NC 27603-1797

Additional information

  • Cross street
    Hillsborough St
  • Neighborhood
    Raleigh
  • Hours of operation
    Mon–Thu 4:00 pm–11:00 pm Fri 4:00 pm–12:00 am Sat 12:00 pm–12:00 am Sun 12:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Cocktail Bar, Lounge, Tapas / Small Plates
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Kyle Teears
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Outdoor Firepit, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Phone number
  • Catering
    Catering customized to your needs is available from the kitchen of Executive Chef Kyle Teears.
  • Private party facilities
    At the AC Hotel Raleigh Downtown, the entire 7th floor is dedicated to food and beverage service. With multiple function spaces available for booking alone or in combination, special occasions unfold against the stunning backdrop of downtown Raleigh's skyline, making memories that last a lifetime!
  • Private party contact
    Leslie Hoagland: (984) 272-4486
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Cookie Preferences
Copyright © 2025 OpenTable, Inc. 1 Montgomery St Ste 500, San Francisco CA 94104 - All rights reserved.
OpenTable is part of Booking Holdings, the world leader in online travel and related services.
Booking Logo
Priceline Logo
KAYAK Logo
Agoda Logo
OpenTable Logo