Berkeley Cafe

Lunch spot by day, smoky blues bar by night, the Berkeley has been a downtown Raleigh fixture for years. Laid-back and down to earth, the no-frills décor features wood booths and photos of the regulars. The bar is up front, but most folks end up in the back music room, which features a large stage and a good sound system. Music tends toward blues, with some rock, R&B, jazz, country, and assorted other genres thrown in for good measure. Regulars make up the majority of the crowd, but if you're there for the music, you'll fit right in.