Triangle area breweries, bottle shops that are kid-friendly
Just because you’ve got the kids, doesn’t mean you can’t get out and enjoy a tipple with your significant other or some friends. Gone are the days of “YOU BROUGHT YOUR KIDS TO A BAR!?”
Many local watering holes now not only tolerate accompanying children, but even cater to them.
Here are a few of my favorites around the Triangle.
Strike and Barrel (Wake Forest)
Make the whole family happy by heading to Strike and Barrel in Wake Forest. Mom and Dad can grab a drink at the full bar with daily drink specials, craft cocktails, and a large list of liquors to choose from; while the kids entertain themselves with arcade games, and duckpin or traditional bowling. Parents can even take a break from their drinks to join in the fun with shuffleboard, cornhole, or bocce ball. If you get hungry, Strike and Barrel has a full menu that goes well beyond bar food. They have everything from beef sofrito empanadas and grilled apple flatbreads with a bourbon and honey drizzle, to a kid-friendly menu of traditional favorites. Strike and Barrel is a great place to imbibe while still enjoying a family date night.
TapStation (Apex)
TapStation has 23 rotating beers on tap, all brewed either in-house or at their sister brewery Mason Jar in downtown Fuquay Varina. Wine is also available, and for those whose day demands something a little harder, there is a full cocktail and liquor menu featuring plenty of bourbon.
I had the chai tea old fashioned, and while I didn’t taste much in the way of chai, I still enjoyed it thoroughly. There is a menu full of the kind of food that soaks up all that alcohol, including specialty burgers, chicken sandwiches, hot dogs, grilled cheeses, desserts, a kid’s menu, and tots of all forms.
Their epic, not to mention delicious, pretzel weighed in at two pounds and was made for sharing, which is good because my daughter always wants to take whatever is on my plate.
The best part of TapStation is the ENCLOSED play area with tires of various sizes to climb, and a large sand pit. That means parents can enjoy their drinks with their kids occupied and within view. While unfortunately the gate to the play area doesn’t lock, it took my daughter a little bit of time to figure that out. Even when she did finally escape, she only wandered over to the turf area to play with the giant Connect Four. Any place that keeps my kid entertained, and reasonably contained, is a winner in my book.
Vinos Finos and Crafty Beer Shop (North Raleigh)
For a classy date that necessitates having your children in tow you might consider visiting Vinos Finos in Lafayette Village. There you and your significant other can enjoy South American wines by the glass or in well curated flights. There is a tapas menu to complement your wine (or vice versa,) but no dedicated children’s menu. If your child is anything like mine though, they will be more than happy to eat more than half of your cheese and Charcuterie board, including all of the grapes.
Be sure to visit on a nice day however, as what sells Vinos Finos as a place you might consider bringing your kids along is Lafayette Village’s large open grassy area. You can sit outside on the patio and enjoy your wine while your kids run around to their hearts’ content within full view. Pro-tip, bring along a ball or bubbles.
If a brew is more to your taste, never fear, Crafty Beer Shop next door can hook you up with the same convenient proximity to the grassy space for the kids. This is more than just a bottle shop as it features a large rotating selection of draft beers on tap. Despite being a bar, they won’t turn your small children away. The super friendly bartender was even kind enough to teach my friend’s two year old how to pour his first draft. Talk about getting them started young!
Ponysaurus (Durham)
One of the more well-known and obvious choices among seasoned brewery enthusiasts with kids is Ponysaurus Brewing. The FENCED IN grassy area, copious amounts of picnic tables and yummy pizza knock it out of the park on a nice day. While there are only so many places your kids can go, keep an eye on your small children around the fire pits.
East Bower Cider Company (Raleigh)
If cider is your drink of choice, East Bower Cider Company in Raleigh is a great place to check out. They have a wide assortment of interesting flavors, with the Pineapple Jalapeno being my personal favorite. In front of their entrance is a turf area with umbrella picnic tables, firepits, and Adirondack chairs. The space is replete with families, children, and dogs. The steady stream of friendly (leashed) dogs kept two toddlers entertained for the entire duration of our visit. As for food offerings, there is generally a food truck parked out front, although their cuisine may not always be super toddler friendly, as was the case for us. Charmingly however, East Bower was well prepared for our peckish tots with their kids' Charcuterie boxes. We bought one for our daughter which included a small mandarin orange, cheese, fruit snacks, and Pirate’s Booty cheese puffs. Not a meal, but it was able to tide her over and keep her from getting hangry.
Rosecomb (Cary)
A large, and mostly enclosed (only two gates for possible escapees,) outdoor courtyard at Rosecomb makes for a drinking oasis for mom and dad while the littles play with the giant connect four games, cornhole or large building blocks. You don’t have to leave your kids out of sight for one moment since beer and wine can be conveniently ordered and delivered to you at your picnic table.
My personal favorite is the rose wine on tap. If the kids demand their own refreshments, Ashley Christensen's BB’s Chicken is connected to Rosecomb and offers delicious fries, chicken tenders and milkshakes that you won’t be able to resist sharing. Fortunately, BB’s Chicken can be ordered and delivered to your table as well.
Our group visited with a combined five children in tow, ranging in age from ages 8 weeks to 4 years. The baby was kept safely in the shade with the added comfort of a fan, while the toddlers and preschoolers found plenty to amuse themselves, including dancing to the live music playing outside. My daughter never even attempted an escape, and I was amazed how infrequently I was called upon to provide entertainment. Even the trusty cell phone wasn’t called upon to save the day.
These are my personal favorites, but with the lenient view of kids at drinking establishments these days, the options are plentiful. In Raleigh for instance, Tapyard and Bowstring are some other popular choices.
In Durham I found the staff at Bull City Ciderworks to be exceptionally tolerant of the virtual hoard of (not so perfectly behaved) children that accompanied their parents to my husband’s birthday party there.
I encourage you to explore, find your own favorites, (obviously) don’t over-indulge if you are planning to drive, and don’t feel obligated to leave the kids at home.
