Shakey Ray’s Tavern is a welcoming bar and grill in Apex, NC, where satisfying food, refreshing drinks, and lively entertainment come together in a casual, cozy setting.
Whether you are stopping in for a relaxed lunch, enjoying dinner with friends, meeting someone for happy-hour drinks, or looking for a comfortable spot for solo dining, Shakey Ray’s offers an inviting experience with something for every occasion.
The menu features hearty comfort food, food served at the bar, desserts, and full table service, making it easy to settle in and enjoy a satisfying meal from start to finish.
The bar is well stocked with beer, cocktails, and other alcoholic beverages, while the entertainment lineup keeps the atmosphere lively. Guests can enjoy bar games, karaoke, live music, live performances, dancing, and quiz nights, creating plenty of reasons to return throughout the week.
Known for fast service, a great beer selection, and excellent cocktails, Shakey Ray’s is equally suited to a quick bite, a festive night out, a catered gathering, or a leisurely meal with friends and family. Outdoor seating adds another option for enjoying your visit, and the on-site bar and restroom provide added convenience.
With a strong 4.50 out of 5 rating from 395 customer reviews, Shakey Ray’s Tavern has earned a reputation for friendly service, enjoyable food, and a memorable neighborhood atmosphere. Guests can choose dine-in, takeaway, delivery, or curbside pickup, and reservations are accepted for added planning convenience.
The tavern also offers wheelchair-accessible parking, an accessible entrance, accessible seating, and an accessible toilet, helping make the experience comfortable for more guests. Credit cards, debit cards, and NFC mobile payments are accepted.
Visit Shakey Ray’s Tavern at 5160 Sunset Lake Rd, Apex, NC 27539, or call +1 919-363-2378 to plan your next meal, celebration, or night of entertainment.
Our Specialties
Every dish tells a story. Explore our carefully curated menu featuring seasonal favorites and signature creations.
Our chef's signature creations featuring locally-sourced ingredients and innovative culinary techniques.
We partner with local farmers and suppliers to bring you the freshest seasonal ingredients every day.
Every plate is prepared with attention to detail, combining traditional recipes with modern presentation.
Our Story
Welcome to a place where great food meets warm hospitality. We believe dining is more than just a meal - it's an experience to be savored and shared.
Our kitchen is dedicated to creating dishes that bring people together, using recipes that honor tradition while embracing innovation.
Photos
A glimpse of our restaurant experience
Food & Drinks
Hear from our valued guests
The bartender Merriam is awesome. Is the first time we ever been here. Lady treated us like gold. Thank you very much ma'am for the wings and drinks.
Good atmosphere. Good service! The servers were super nice, prompt with fresh drinks. Tasted us like regulars. In town for UNC basketball. Great experience overall. Will go back. Wife had the buffalo wrap. Said it was good. Their ranch was amazing! Went well with the fresh made house chips.
Great service! Great place to watch a game. The food was fresh and tasty. Community environment full of regulars. The bar tenders are very attentive and communicative. Stand out place.
Food is great! Everyone is welcomed! They have live bands! And everyone working looks out for customers! Did i mention Merriam learns who you are, and what food you like? (She is great!)
Great atmosphere! Shanda makes fabulous drinks and is attentive with a great attitude. She always greets me with a smile! These days it’s difficult to find a place that supports live music. They have awesome live bands almost every weekend in the evenings!
We have only been local within the last year. This little tucked away gem will not disappoint, so far BEST garlic pamesan wings, great burgers, and friendly service. Definitely a locals joint but worth the visit.
Great food. Great drinks but best of all is the atmosphere Stewart and Meriam keep you coming back. Make you feel like family but in a good way. lol The live music nights are great too. It’s our place to go.
Overall Score – 5.5 out of 10 This was a true tavern-style experience. The inside was basic with a standard setup, and while there was outdoor seating, it wasn’t anything special. The vibe leaned heavily toward a mixed bar crowd, with a dartboard area in use. Only one staff member was handling everything—phone, tables, and bar—so service was slow but friendly. Bathrooms were moderately clean. Bacon Cheeseburger – 5.4 out of 10 Decent burger overall, nothing that stood out. Just your average bar-style burger and fries. The added queso chips for $2 felt overpriced for what was served. Buffalo Wrap – 5.6 out of 10 This came with spice level options, which was a nice touch. The wrap had good flavor but leaned a little too salty. It was a decent size, though there weren’t enough onion straws to add texture. Still tasted good overall.
5/25/2026- Had lunch with my Wife. Had the buffalo chicken dip to start with. My Wife had the Dagwood and I had the triple club sandwich. All was great and the service was great as well. Enjoyed our lunch.
My SO and I had been up at the Duke Clinic in Holly Springs. Shakey Rays was on our way home. We stopped, cute little place. Very blue collar from the few people that were their. Customer service AMAZING! We ordered the reuben egg rolls and the supreme flat bread for there. The reuben egg rolls were delicious. We wanted to take more home. The supreme flat bread was crisp and fresh. We took boneless wings, Shakey rays burger, as well as the garbage plate home. Honestly they were still delicious after our hour drive home. Jaime was so sweet and intentive. Never once had to ask for refills or anything. My SO said we should take a trip there once a month even if its just for the egg rolls.
Common questions about Shakey Ray's Tavern
Shakey Ray's Tavern is located at 5160 Sunset Lake Rd, Apex, NC 27539, United States, Apex, NC, United States.
You can reach Shakey Ray's Tavern by calling +1 919-363-2378.
Shakey Ray's Tavern has a rating of 4.5 out of 5 based on 395 customer reviews.
Shakey Ray's Tavern features the following accessibility: Wheelchair-accessible car park, Wheelchair-accessible entrance, Wheelchair-accessible seating, Wheelchair-accessible toilet.
Shakey Ray's Tavern features the following service options: Outdoor seating, Kerbside pickup, Takeaway, Dine-in, Delivery.
Shakey Ray's Tavern features the following highlights: Bar games, Fast service, Great beer selection, Great cocktails, Karaoke, Live music, Live performances, Quiz night, Serves local specialty, Sport.
Shakey Ray's Tavern features the following popular for: Lunch, Dinner, Solo dining.
Shakey Ray's Tavern features the following offerings: Alcohol, Beer, Cocktails, Comfort food, Dancing, Food, Food at bar, Happy-hour drinks, Happy-hour food, Late-night food, Quick bite, Small plates, Spirits, Wine.
Shakey Ray's Tavern features the following dining options: Lunch, Dinner, Catering, Dessert, Seating, Table service.
Shakey Ray's Tavern features the following amenities: Bar on site, Restroom.
Shakey Ray's Tavern features the following atmosphere: Casual, Cozy.
Shakey Ray's Tavern features the following planning: Accepts reservations.
Shakey Ray's Tavern features the following payments: Credit cards, Debit cards, NFC mobile payments.
Shakey Ray's Tavern features the following children: High chairs.
Shakey Ray's Tavern features the following parking: Free parking lot, Free street parking, Plenty of parking.
Business Features
We look forward to welcoming you. Make a reservation or stop by - walk-ins welcome!
Request a table and we'll confirm your booking shortly.
