Where to find the ultimate cold-weather cure around town
Nothing soothesa cold-weather chill quite like a hot toddy. Dubbed “Southern cough syrup,” the warming winter classic blends dark liquor, hot water, honey, lemon, and a medley of herbs and spices—and, yes, it’s long been touted as a legit antidote for coughs and sore throats (a win-win!). So when you get the shivers this season, trade the cold meds—or your cold bev—for one of these heat-bringing beauts. Doctor’s orders!
Gussie’s
The classic gets the Gussie’s treatment with high-rye whiskey, honey, Angostura and a clove-studded lemon moon—best paired with cozy comfort bites like meatballs, braised short rib ravioli and soup. gussiesraleigh.com
Jalwa
Jalwa’s tropical-leaning riff brings the summer energy with spiced rum, pineapple, ginger and cinnamon, delivering warmth with a sunny twist—heating you up in more ways than one.jalwaindianbistro.com
STIR
Apple cider meets hot toddy in this soul-soothing sipper combining the best bevs of winter in one: housemade apple cider infused with cinnamon, clove, nutmeg and citrus peel, blended with whiskey and finished with fresh lemon. Sweet, tart and aromatic, it’s the ultimate winter warmer.stirraleigh.com
Whiskey Kitchen
Patio season lives on at WK thanks to its sweet, citrusy toddy, made with bourbon, signature housemade allspice honey and lemon—plus a little extra coziness courtesy of the always-packed patio’s heaters. whiskey.kitchen
William & Company
It’s only right that Willco’s toddy be made with mezcal. Fresh lemon and ginger juice plus ginger-infused local honey round out this smoky, warming take on the OG. @willcobar
Wolfe & Porter
Break out from the ordinary and cozy up with the aptly named Cuffing Season toddy—a mix of honey, lemon, cinnamon, Caribbean dark rum and Licor 43 (a Spanish liquor with botanicals, citrus and a woodsy vanilla note). It’s a match made in hot-toddy heaven. wolfeandporter.com
Glenwood South gets its groove back with new club opening.
If you thought Downtown Raleigh’s nightlife scene was cooling off, think again. Dropping a fresh jolt of after-dark energy on Glenwood South is Hibernian Hospitality Group’s Sage Room at Botanical Lounge, officially hitting the scene Jan. 28.
Originally launched as a private event space in 2021—when Hibernian famously resurrected its OG Solas into the three-story Botanical Lounge and Highgarden—the newly activated club level taps straight into the group’s nightlife DNA.
Longtime locals will remember Solas as a prepandemic post-up spot, from buzzy brunch bashes to high-octane DJ sets, live shows and packed dance floors—even weddings and private events—that kept the calendar humming.
Now, that same party-forward spirit returns with a mod edge. Channeling those vibey roots, Sage Room will feat. DJ-driven Top 40 playlists, luxe lounge seating, exclusive VIP bottle service and a small plates menu designed for late-night sharing—positioning it as a go-to for birthday blowouts, bach weekends and spontaneous dance-floor detours. Think elevated club energy without losing the approachable, anything-can-happen MO that made Solas such a magnet.
“We’re incredibly excited to bring this fresh vibe back to Glenwood South,” the team tells RM. “With the combination of great music, comfortable seating, tasty bites and top-notch service, we’re creating the perfect spot for a memorable night out.”
Perched on the second floor, Sage Room becomes another strategic stop in the group’s Glenwood South orbit—easy to fold into a night that starts with bites at Hibernian, spans pours at Peggy’s, Botanical or Raleigh Beer Garden; and ends on the dance floor. In short: proof that Glenwood’s nightlife pulse isn’t fading—it’s evolving.
Piggybacking off of Capulet’s almost-immediate success, Rosebud will carve out its own lane: a sophisticated midcentury-mod cocktail haven drawing inspo from Japanese culture and ethos, while honoring classic cocktails, multigenerational nostalgia and quality service. Layer in a hi-fi sound system and weekly vinyl DJs, and the mix lands as a distinctive cohesive space tuned to a rhythm Raleigh hasn’t quite heard before.
“Having the opportunity to respect what Ashley [Christensen] and all the great bartenders, including Zack, have done here—keeping what they did well and putting our own new spin on it—it’s really cool to have,” says Shanahan. “This was one of five bars before—now it’s one of 500, it seems.”
Writing a new chapter in local F&B lore, the bar will focus on classic cocktails crafted to perfection—no frills, no smoke and mirrors. “The precision is going to make us different,” maintains Shanahan. Leaning further into Asian influence, an omakase flight will anchor the menu, spotlighting three bevs (one of which may be NA or low-proof) curated ahead of time by the bar team and rotating monthly.
A nod to Orson Welles’ Citizen Kane, “Rosebud,” like Capulet, also reflects the local hospitality entrepreneurs’ background in filmmaking and love of cinema while diving deeper into the film’s central theme of nostalgia. That throughline comes to life in retro furniture sourced from Shanahan’s vast 10-year collection, an extensive vinyl selection, layered decor and even the Japanese denim workwear-inspired employee uniforms.
“If Peregrine is like an art gallery and Capulet is a sexy museum, then Rosebud is an analog archive vault,” emphasizes Shanahan. “It’s a very Americanized version of Japanese ethos—still rooted in respect, where everything is an homage.”
Photo by Sean Junqueira
While certain aspects of Rosebud will echo Fox’s iconic past, the basement bar will be almost unrecognizable upon completion—more cinematic set piece than neighborhood watering hole. The exposed brick walls will be covered with wood paneling and cream curtains; the OG black leather booths have been traded out for five different “living rooms” (separated seating areas with a couch, two chairs and a coffee table); and the bar is getting a glow-up from Raleigh Reclaimed, including a black marble bartop. A larger living room, curtain and neon rose will frame the front entrance, lending the space a moody, almost Xanadu-like glow.
Born and bred Raleighites, Shanahan and Opperman’s resurrection of a Downtown icon reflects their hope for DTR’s continued growth. “I’ve seen the ebbs and flows of DTR since I was a kid—and I don’t think you just can give up on a place that you’ve grown up loving and has shaped you,” says Opperman. “Creating new, exciting concepts around Raleigh is really important. That creative energy existed once here—and it’s dying to come back.”
Rooted in Raleigh’s past but built for now, Rosebud carries the city’s creative cocktail spirit forward—pouring something it didn’t know it was missing. @rosebudraleigh
“We’ll never abandon Downtown Raleigh or Raleigh in general—we just have so much hope for it. Now we’re hoping to create something that will bring people back Downtown.” —Robby Opperman
The rumors are true—The Goat has made a comeback in its OG Western Boulevard digs (*pause for applause*). The beloved 2003-born West Raleigh dive bar is officially extending its two-plus-decade run and reviving the allure of its sticky floors, cheap drinks and crowded decor.
Owners Brandon and Amanda LaRoque closed the longtime business in August 2024, initially planning to retire. But after a financial setback thanks to a hacked crypto account, the couple decided to return to work—and to the bar that had become a second home for so many.
“I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason, and that God has a bigger plan,” says Amanda. “We thought about it for a little bit, and Pam from Pam’s Farmhouse [next door] had been asking us to come back—so here we are.” Add in the wave of public outcry following the initial closing announcement, and the decision felt increasingly clear.
Fans can expect the same ole Goat bar you know and love: same daily drink specials, free hot dogs and that no-frills dive bar vibe—just with a fresh coat of paint and some updated equipment and furniture (think beer coolers and barstools). And while the signature dollar bills once covering the walls and ceiling have been cleaned off, Amanda predicts it won’t take long for a fresh crop to take over. Give them three or four months, she says, and the space will be papered once again—thanks to a mix of loyal regulars and new patrons.
“We’re super excited to see everybody,” emphasizes Amanda. “We kept in touch with a large portion of people—and everybody’s excited for us to come back.
It just goes to show, you can always come back to your roots—and sometimes, the best things in life desire an encore. Here’s to finding your way back home! @the_goatbar
After over a year of R&D, the distillery at Boatman Spirits Co. is ready to set sail. Three spirits are making their debut in February: a vodka, a Navy Strength gin, and an American Dry gin built on juniper and layered with coriander, citrus and subtle bittering botanicals.
Designed for versatility, the vodka will fold seamlessly into Boatman’s current cocktail program, while the gins will star in new ’tails crafted by the bar team. The bottles—branded by local creative Paul Tuorto—will also be available for purchase at the distillery, with plans to expand to local bars and statewide ABC stores.
The brainchild of distiller Geremy Prichard, the bar’s spirits lineup is already full steam ahead, with tomato leaf and honeysuckle varietal gins, rye and single-malt whiskies, and fruit brandies in the pipeline. Drawing on his bioprocessing sciences background from NC State, Prichard prides himself on using grains grown across NC, including Albemarle barley and Oriental’s Tidewater Grain Co. rye.
“Setting up local supply chains has always been really important to me,” he says. And, so, Boatman’s thoughtfully charted journey continues—one pour at a time. boatmanspirits.com
