The Hive

I’d love to get a chance to improve my review here, as it based not so much on service (because I was denied the chance to order more than one beer) but rather on how inept they are at running a bar in a college town
My fraternity rented out the place for an event the night. It was to be a mix of undergraduates and alums. Apparently everyone (including my gray-​haired self) was carded and given a wristband at the door. After that point, for someone reason you could leave and re-​enter by just showing the wristband. Fail #1.
Of course the college kids would get a wristband, leave and pull it off their wrist to give it to a friend and then go and get another one.
The simple fix? Card everyone who comes in the door, wristband or not, if they appear to be under 30.
The Hive closed the bar when they realized they had let in underage kids and then the waitstaff started packing up the food we’d paid for in take out containers and brought it downstairs to the Busy Bee. I’m sure everyone ate well on our dime that evening.
So if you’re going to throw a private event, have some idea on how to control your own space.

Confesso que fui ao The Hive achando que ia ter uma vista, mas mesmo sendo no andar de cima do Busy Bee a única vista que você tem é a do estacionamento.
Em uma sexta-​feira à noite o lugar se torna uma «baladinha», com drinks, música e uma pista de dança bem animada — eu não me atrevi a entrar ali no meio, fiquei dançando no cantinho mesmo.
Não achei os cocktails caros mas algumas das cervejas, principalmente artesanais são um pouco acima da média do bairro. A galera que vai lá é bem variada e na noite que fomos tocaram principalmente hip hop (watch me whip y’all). Não há muitas filas e não pagamos nada para entrar.

The Hive is a super cute rooftop spot in downtown Raleigh that’s connected to the Busy Bee’s café kitchen. I sat at a comfortable table for two on a sunshiny day. Our server was a cute and sweet young man (warning, the servers dress in every day clothes so it’s hard to tell them apart from customers sometimes!) If we’re being totally honest, he might have over-​served us (three glasses of fairly strong peach sangria within the hour had me feeling pretty tipsy by 7:30 p.m.) but who’s complaining about that?! And to be fair, I’m a tiny gal, so three drinks to the average diner doesn’t go as far.
The menu is small and trendy, so you have to go in with an open mind, but dear lord was it tasty! I will go back for that grilled chicken sandwich until my bank account just can’t take it anymore. Pear, honey and basil pesto spread brought together a sweet and savory meal from the heavens. I couldn’t decide on a side dish (the absence of good olé french fries was saddening) so I asked my waiter to surprise me. Without hesitation he told me I’d be getting the fried green tomatoes.
Now I’m a northern through and through, so I was a little skeptical, but the foodie in me can never say no to fried dishes. I was expecting small wedges or maybe even green cherry tomatoes, but these were actually thick, circular tomato slices with a panko-​like breading. The tomato’s juiciness left all the delicious flavors, but the deep frying drained a lot of the mess of biting into a ripe fruit. I’m a sauce hound so I dipped them in a tangy, creamy sauce that came on the side of my dish (a hint of lime citrus, it seemed) and I couldn’t put them down long enough to talk to my guest.
As I said, the small menu makes me question how versatile my future visits to the Hive will be, but my one-​time experience was five-​star, and it will definitely bring me back again!

The Hive is a great space especially to throw a private event. The bar is above The Busy Bee and they have a full bar and plenty of space to sit, stand, dance etc. My most recent visit was for a private event and it was awesome. The bar staff were accommodating the burger sliders and tots were awesome.
I’ve also been to The Hive to enjoy some rare and yummy beers and to dance my butt off. Every time I’ve visited late night they have some good tunes being played by the DJ. The dance floor gets packed but it’s still really fun. I love the selection of craft brews they are always changing up the menu and you can find something rare and adventurous every time. Make sure you check out the pricing, some of those beers can be mighty expensive.
Outside The Hive is one of the best rooftop patios in DTR. I’ve always loved this patio with the stringing lights and view of the city, you really can’t beat it.
If you are looking for somewhere fun to hang on a weekday or weekend night then check out The Hive. It can get really busy on the weekend nights and normally there is a line to get in. I much prefer the more chill nights but hey if you want to dance you have to make some sacrifices every once in awhile.
Also keep The Hive in mind for private events there is plenty of space for a crowd and The Busy Bee makes some great food as well.

Good selection of local breweries, the coolcumber is not very good thought. Like a wheat grass drink.

The Hive is not handicap accessible. It is at the top of a long staircase, and would be difficult for any one with even a mild leg problem. There is no elevator. If you have an event there, some people will not be able to attend. If you are in politics and planning a fundraiser, think about who you want to offend.
If you are able to climb stairs, this should be no problem. My purpose is to warn those who plan to attend functions there that they may not be able to attend, and to tell people planning functions that The Hive is not an appropriate place.

It’s fun, what’s not to like?!
The music is usually pretty hopping and side note, there is usually some good eye candy lol. The elevated dance floor looks over Wilmington Street so that is a nice little perk.

Awesome music, but definitely overcrowded. A fight broke out when I was there, which is never a good thing for a bar. Not sure that I would recommend it for everyone, nor do I think I’ll be going back. I can listen to good music more at peace in my own home.

Great bar and eatery in the heart of downtown Raleigh. I’ve only been here during the Hopscotch festival, but both times had a great experience.

Its a great downtown Raleigh hot spot, but it can be overcrowded at times and the vibe can be up and down. The DJ plays great music and the ladies are beautiful… but they can be picky about who enters their establishment fro time to time.

For a weekend night out, it’s my favorite! It has an outside rooftop area that’s awesome and the back of the bar is great for people who don’t like to dance. There’s also a big dance area that’s always pretty crowded and the music is always awesome! It’s the best of both worlds for the groups that have dancers and non-​dancers.
2 favorite things? One– the Beesting. Get it — it’s a jalapeño margarita and is amazing! Two– the bouncer. There’s almost always a line so being in good with him is key!

Probably my favorite downtown dance bar. They have a rooftop which is a must in my opinion on warmer days and the music is great! The people are most of the days very good looking and the bartenders are quick and responsive which makes for an alcohol filled experience.

For me, the downtown bar/​dance scene does not get better than this in Raleigh! I frequent the downtown scene on Friday and Saturday nights and have tried majority of the places Raleigh has to offer. Although I have a handful of other favorite places which I will also be reviewing the Hive holds a special place in my heart. Now let me tell you why.
The Hive/​The Busy Bee combo have something for everyone, and I mean everyone. If you want to just chill and have a couple nice drinks out for a low key evening, the Busy Bee is your spot. If you are in the mood to dance, the Hive is where you want to be. The DJ is always playing a great combination of new and throwback hits which is perfect for a night out. And an added bonus is that the DJ will often appease your semi tipsy self with your song request you’ve been dying the hear all night!
The bar service is always quick given how many people are always there and they have a great selection. My all time favorite drink is The Sting which is a spicy/​sweet jalapeño infused cocktail. They also have a a wide variety of beers for great prices.
The Hive is definitely worth the wait in line and highly recommended!

Where do you want to grab some drinks tonight? Idk, let’s just go to the Hive?
Check coat for dos dollares? You’re going to need to.
Located above the Busy Bee Café, the Hive is such a cute little buzz!
Sometimes it does get a little crowded which slowly leads me to the outside area in the back for some air, errrr smoke.
I like the music they play here because it’s such a shuffled playlist. After taking my initial tequila shot out of a boot, (shot glass size) Casting over the crowd for dance floor I maneuvered through the crowd to find a small stage in which the dancers easily outgrew. We busted a few moves and then split. As in left. (haha)
Great little spot I like to make appearances. It’s really a hit or miss because it’s such a small venue so although the music is good, if I can’t get jiggy with it, I’ll usually keep it moving, elsewhere.

I’ve partaken in dance parties here, and from what I remember they were hilarious and awesome. Not like a dance club on Glenwood, where you don’t really dance but sort of pose to make yourself look good so you can pick up some guy (gag me with a spoon). The dancing here was DANCING. Movement and sweat, as it should be.
But what really makes this place great is the mix of people. Fratty guys, hipster folks, regular old whatevers… seems like everyone is here and that’s a-​okay with me!
On my last visit, the music at the beginning of the night was all star: late 90s/​early 00s r&b and rap. Everything a group of late 20/​early 30 somethings want to hear to get pseudo nostalgic. We rapped, we laughed, we drank.
As the night progressed and the crowd grew (in size and inebriation) the music moved into more modern stuff. That was our cue to leave this time, but had we all been in a different state, it may have made us move to the dance floor and groove.
Table service is wonderful so you can skip the bar, and while it seems like there’s just one person handling that at night, he was always there when we needed him, which is appreciated. Keep those glasses full, good sir!
Had the weather been nicer, we probably would have sat outside since getting outside drunk is always better than inside drunk. It’s great if you can score a table and relax. I’d spend an entire night here if I had that going for me.
Keep in mind that you have to walk up a huge flight of stairs to get to this bar, so it’s best to do while sobes. Stumbling down is easier than stumbling up, so just make the decision to start (and maybe end) your drinking shenanigans here.

1 star for the view
1 star for how empty i found it at 5 on a weekday afternoon (enjoyable, imo)
1 star for the view again
Really, the only reason to come here is to sit up top and judge the below-​goers.
I asked if they had any drink specials and was told «nope.», but was treated to a menu of slightly overpriced beers, an explanation of each, and a taste of one. I chose my brew and sat outside in the breeze and a little bee nosedived into my glass. He and I both got kinda buzzed and flew away from there. (Sorry, analogy gone too far.)

«Bee to the blossom, moth to the flame; Each to his passion; what’s in a name?» — Helen Hunt Jackson, American writer
Perching atop of Busy Bee, I swear I know where The Hive is but seem to ALWAYS missed the door. I kept going inside Busy Bee looking for a stair to go up.
If you have parked your car in the downtown Deck before, I know you have seen part of The Hive. Listen for live music and find the rooftop patio with tables and chairs and people having a merry time. That’s only half of the place. If you step through the narrow door beside Busy Bee Café entrance, you can find yourself in the secluded bar on top of it.
Here you can find hardwood floor, a fully stocked bar, live music from DJ (especially on the weekend,) and a pretty good time with your group of friends. The indoor area could be a bit crammed, especially during busy party hours on the weekend, so be expecting to bump shoulders and rub elbows with strangers.
There is food here served, but you shouldn’t expect to make a meal out of it; but when you have a few beers and drinks, and got a helluva hankering for munchies, you can find a few bites of fried oysters or slider sandwiches to hold you over.

I have been to the Hive for a few networking events and from that experience is what I am basing this review on.
The Hive is the upstairs bar located above Busy Bee Café. It’s kind of a cute play on names there. I have never eaten there, but have ordered drinks (beer). They seem to have a pretty good selection, although from what it appeared most of their beers are bottled. They do have a few on tap however. They offer a wide selection of wheat beers, pilsners, and other microbrews. Despite the fact that the Hive has been abuzz with activity when I was there (lots of people), the bartenders handled the crowd well and I had no wait time what-​so-​ever in making sure my hand had a beer in it.
The only downside to the Hive is when you there for events where it is quite crowded like the times I have been there, it can be hard to move around. The area around the bar is long and narrow and movement can be restricted because of the lack of openness. Fortunately they do have an outside area where you can go and hang out and take in the fresh air while enjoying views of the City Market area while imbibing in beer, wine or other cocktail of your choice.

Up until a few months ago I hadn’t stepped foot into this building and now I find myself making excuses (any excuse possible) to get back in there!
I strongly recommend finding a table on the patio just before dusk and bunkering down for a couple hours while the sun sets and the drinks flow.
While you’re at it order some food. I HIGHLY recommend the Loaded Tots, Baked Mac & Cheese and/​or the Fish Tacos. NOM!
I’ve had all but one of their specialty drinks and think the Queen Bee is my absolute fave! Upon your first visit though you must, must, *must* try The Sting. Fun fact: your life is not complete until you do.
The wait staff is always fun and friendly with a helpful dash of sarcastic (which I love almost as much as loaded tots).
Oh! And in case anyone is wondering, the Baby Baby Salad does not in fact contain babies. I asked…

An impressive plethora of Belgian beers, sunny roof-​top seating and a great location make this place pretty neat, but I still think it could be better…
Don’t get me wrong, it’s a fave spot, but the drinks can get a little pricey and the service is nothing to get all spazzed up about. Water was never refilled and I think we saw our waitress maybe 2 times through our hour and a half stay. I like it but I definitely don’t love it, the end.

The Hive is upstairs from the Busy Bee, and it’s all the buzz (I’m punny!) in Raleigh right now. We hit it early, around 10pm, and the crowd was just starting to grow; luckily we landed a table (there are only a few) in the back corner. It was near the patio and kind of drafty, but otherwise I liked the atmosphere. Quirky with Christmas lights and a little gritty with exposed brick walls. The patio is supposed to be a big draw, but it was cold and a little rainy. They had some umbrellas up but no heaters. I bet it’s killer in the spring and summer though!
I was REALLY digging the DJ they had … but when I pushed through the crowd to do the Humpty Hump I was pretty disappointed to find the dance floor non-​existent and the stage smaller than my guest bathroom. Too bad, because we were all ready to shake our groove thang.
On a Saturday night, they had two bartenders, a barback, and a cocktail waitress — and even though it was balls to the walls in there, the staff kept up with the orders really well. I’m not normally a featured cocktails kind of person, but the Queen Bee sounded to good to pass up (with honey and champagne and other awesomeness) — loved it so much, I got two.
They’ve got a convenient coat check. But it’ll cost you two bucks.