Here’s a list of the top bars to watch UNC, Duke & NC State football this season
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Triangle sports bars cater to fans from Duke, UNC, and N.C. State campuses.
- Popular venues offer game-day perks like drink specials, TVs, and local beers.
- Options span Durham, Raleigh and Chapel Hill with locations near stadiums.
College football season is back — and the Carolinas are home to a long list of sports bars to cheer on your team .
Whether you’re a Blue Devil, Tar Heel or part of N.C. State’s Wolfpack, the Triangle’s college sports bar scene does not disappoint.
If you’re looking for a spot to catch a game, or even celebrate before or after, here’s a list of popular bars for football fans.
Duke University
Location: 427 W Main St, Durham, NC 27701
Perks: “If it’s happening in Durham, it’s probably happening at Bull McCabes, according to the pub’s website. The bar is close to Duke’s campus and features what’s boasted as the most comprehensive sports TV packages possible.
Location: 754 9th St, Durham, NC 27705
Perks: Family-friendly with a dog-friendly patio, plus four HD big screen TVs and a staff that will “gladly accommodate game requests, Dain’s says.
Location: 904 W Main St, Durham, NC 27701
Perks: The restaurant and bar, which has been a fan-favorite since 1978, has 17 TVs with every sports package available.
NC State
Location: 3801 Hillsborough St, Raleigh, NC 27607
Perks: In addition to 10 120-inch big screen TVs, the dog-friendly Wolfpack spot has both indoor and outdoor cornhole boards and pool tables for game day fun.
Location: 5433 Wade Park Blvd #100, Raleigh, NC 27607
Perks: Nestled about a 15-minute walk from Carter-Finley Stadium, Bru’s Public House is a popular spot for Wolfpack fans grabbing a pre-game bite or catching the action on the big screen.
Location: 1626 Glenwood Ave, Raleigh, NC 27608
Perks: The Five Points spot is offering specials all season long for Thursday night football, Saturday college game day and NFL Sunday game days.
Location: 2426 Hillsborough St, Raleigh, NC 27607
Perks: Located right across from N.C. State’s main campus, the Hillsborough Street staple — with Wolfpack decorated rooms — has daily drink specials. Last year, there were even additional TVs outside on game day.
Location: 105 Oberlin Rd, Raleigh, NC 27605
Perks: The historic pub, owned by a Wolfpack alum, isn’t just loved by local sports fans, but was also named one of the South’s standout game-day bars. Plus, there’s even a Wolfpack burger on the menu.
Location: 2235 Avent Ferry Rd, Raleigh, NC 27606
Perks: Another Wolfpack staple with over 60 TVs, 40 beers on tap, plus a couple of N.C. State-themed cocktails, too.
UNC
Location: 370 E Main St #110, Carrboro, NC 27510
Perks: The OG Bru’s Public House is in Wolfpack territory, and its second location is for cheering on the Tar Heels. But you can count on both spots for all the major sports streaming packages and more than 20 local draft beers on rotation.
Location: 175 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill, NC 27514
Perks: The Tar Heel spot — famously named after Dean Smith’s famous coaching strategy — boasts itself as “Franklin Street’s premier destination for casual dining and the Carolina sports experience” with housemade bar bites made with locally-sourced foods, according to the Four Corners website.
Location: 112 1/2 W Franklin St, Chapel Hill, NC 27516
Perks: Two words: blue cups. Yes, those Carolina blue cups that arguably all die-hard Carolina fans have.
Top of the Hill Restaurant & Brewery
Location: 100 E Franklin St 3rd floor, Chapel Hill, NC 27514
Perks: Boasted as the “social crossroads of Chapel Hill,” Top of the Hill — a.k.a. TOPO will be showing every UNC game this season for those who weren’t lucky enough to snag tickets to the sold-out season.
Other popular Triangle sports bars
If you want to join in on the gameday fun no matter who is playing, here is a list of other popular sports bars in the area:
- Bralie’s Sports Bar in Durham
- Buffalo Brothers in Cary, Garner, Raleigh and Wake Forest
- Carolina Ale House in Cary, Durham, Garner, Raleigh and Wake Forest
- Kickback Jack’s in Durham and Raleigh
- RallyPoint in Cary
- Rudino’s Sports Bar in Garner, Hope Mills, Knightdale and Raleigh
- Sharky’s in Raleigh
- Sports & Social in Cary
- Tobacco Road Sports Cafe in Durham and Raleigh
- Village Draft House in Raleigh
- Woody’s Sports Tavern & Grill in Cary, Morrisville and Raleigh
Did we miss your favorite sports bar? Let us know at ask@newsobserver.com.
The News & Observer’s Drew Jackson contributed to this story.
This story was originally published August 26, 2025 at 11:54 AM with the headline "Here’s a list of the top bars to watch UNC, Duke & NC State football this season."