(919) 755-9589
105 Oberlin Rd
Raleigh,
NC
27605
35.786
-78.6615
Neighborhoods: University, Cameron Park
What People Are Saying About Players Retreat
The Editor
Contributor
Citysearch
In Short – Players Retreat is tucked away a few yards from Hillsborough Street, hidden just well enough to prevent the undergrads from swarming it. Hundreds of beer steins and exotic bottles line the walls. You can read the original 1951 menus and hang your coat on the personal coatrack at the front of your booth. If games are your forte, there's billiards, darts, pinball and a few TVs to watch the Wolfpack beat the Heels.
10/29/09
Best bar in Raleigh
by HarryNut
You can always find a seat at PR. It's filled with people not out to impress everyone. Solid bar food, specials are okay, but I usually go with the canned PBR.
01/26/09
Old school bar
by mkathrynp
PR has great lunch specials--very affordable, ample parking in the lot across the street, which is amazing considering it's location so close to NCSU campus. They also have good drink specials--recommend martini special, which is on Thursday I believe. Great outdoor seating with TV's chained to the restaurant (ha). Inside, it's a little bit dark and sketchy--hasn't changed since my Dad hung out there in the 70's--pool tables, darts, fish tanks, mix of old and young. Wouldn't recommend sitting inside if you don't like to breathe in cigarette smoke. OH and the sign that says popcorn is not self-serve on the pop corn machine is EXTREMELY serious, DON'T TOUCH IT!
I go here pretty regularly--order the stir fry over rice--and lately the service has sucked, which is a shame. It's always a fun place to go see the Canes! but the service is definitely taking a nose dive--sitting around 20 minutes with an empty beer meanwhile the waitress has disappeared, etc.
- Pros: Good food and drinks, inexpensive, great location
- Cons: Mean old man bartender, extremely smoky, gross bathrooms
10/24/08
Part of me
by edean
My Dad helped open the joint in 1951. In fact, following my birth he slipped down from the old Rex hospital and had a celebratory beer! Bernie and Mickey were the best! It's changed hands a couple of times but it has kept it's charm. While I was at State, I guess I lived there most of my free time and always considered it home. Now following several "ladder climbing" ventures throughout the U.S., I find myself drawn back. It's changed in little ways...Bernie would have loved the scotch bar! I think it's the best place in town! Although I'm obviously predjudiced in my assesment, I think the guys there have done a great job in keeping the bar of Roman Gabreil and Nick Pond alive and well! Stay with it guys!
The Details on Players Retreat
On The Menu:
A wide selection of sandwiches, burgers, even a pork chop plate, nothing on the menu over $10, most items served with chips and a pickle. PR has several fine beers on tap and lots of imports and microbrews in bottles.
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