Raleigh’s New Underground Secret

Dust uncovered on upcoming DTR speakeasy

What’s going down beneath the Sir Walter Apartments on Fayetteville Street has been on the hush-hush—but something spirited is about to surface. Local restaurateur Anthony Rapillo (of Layla’s Son Hospitality—think Flour & Barrel, V Pizza, Flask Cocktail Bar and The SideDoor) and Chopped champ Katsuji Tanabe are breathing new life into the long-dormant speakeasy under the former famed Sir Walter Hotel, with an opening slated for this summer.

The concept will debut as The Third House, nodding to its “North Carolina’s Third House of Government” nickname and legacy as a hub for political activity. True to its covert roots, the new 25-plus-only digs keep things tightly under wraps: no signage, a nondescript alleyway entrance, zero Google or GPS presence—and even photography will be highly discouraged, with a strict dress code to match.

Honoring the dust-covered den’s bones while adding a mod spin, the duo is resurrecting the space’s OG character—from red leather booths and wood paneling to the vintage Subway tile, original bar and dance floor. To boot, expect an Asian-inspired restaurant on the other side of the space—separated by a wall—where Tanabe will dish out sushi and nigiri. (Fun fact: Eventually, the pair will also take over the upstairs with a coffee shop that’ll offer the op to serve hot food.)

On the bar side, Rapillo has tapped local mixologist Duke Campbell (formerly of Dram & Draught and The Willard) as beverage director across all of Layla’s Son ventures, crafting cocktails at The Third House that complement Tanabe’s fare. 

Expect a lively energy to match: “The music’s gonna be louder than most other restaurants,” says Rapillo of the culmination of the two concepts. “You have to pass through the dance floor—hopefully setting the vibe of a fun place you see in New York… or a supper club.”

Beyond dining, dancing and drinking, Rapillo teases monthly experiential events a la Flour & Barrel—think fire throwers, murder-mystery nights, Top Chef dinners and live music four to five nights a week. 

Grown, lively and unpretentious, “this will be a place adults can go, let loose and have a really good time—and not feel super-restricted,” says Rapillo. Aka where the music’s pulsing, the vibe’s loose and the secret’s worth keeping. @third.house.dtr

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