Hidden in plain sight, North Raleigh’s newest speakeasy and cocktail escape
North Raleigh just got its first true cocktail bar—and it’s hiding in plain sight. Meet Dry Cleaners Cocktail Bar, a sultry speakeasy tucked inside a former dry cleaners near Hibernian Pub. The aptly named brainchild of Hibernian Hospitality Group’s Niall Hanley officially opened in late October, giving NR dwellers and passersby a swanky spot to sip without heading Downtown.
Sean Junqueira
“The North Raleigh neighborhood really deserves something like this,” says Hanley. “There’s a lot of people here who want to have a cocktail bar experience who don’t want to go Downtown.”
And this one’s a whole vibe—living up to the hype of Hanley’s roster of DTR drinking dens (Aunty Betty’s, Watts & Ward, Botanical Lounge). Think moody noir film-esque dark-gray walls, vibrant red sofas and wingback chairs, and seductive lamps that would make Mad Men’s Don Draper feel right at home.
“We’re trying to capture a nice and elevated vibe—without the pretension that comes along with that,” explains Manager Reese Hailey, formerly of Aunty Betty’s (and People’s Choice winner at our inaugural Cocktail Classic in 2023!). “I want people to feel fancy without being judged about liking what they like—to feel welcomed, and that they have a community here.”
That ethos extends to the cocktail menu—a collaborative lineup of refined yet unfussy libations, both classics-with-a-twist and inventive seasonal sips. And if nothing on that list speaks to you? “Just ask your bartender to whip something up!” says Hailey.
A true speakeasy, Dry Cleaners keeps things discreet—read: no sign—so only those willing to sleuth it out will be able to sidle up to the bar for a ’tail. Pro tip: Look next to the North Raleigh Hibernian. As Hanley spins it: “If you can find it, then you can enjoy it.” Happy hunting!
I do hope with us being here it opens the opportunity for people to expand outside of Downtown Raleigh in the cocktail scene—and also connects the community from Downtown to the rest of Raleigh.” —REESE HAILEY, MANAGER, DRY CLEANERS COCKTAIL BAR
Now raising the bar at RDU Airport is Durham Distillery’s new Conniption Cocktails and Cuisine.
Durham Distillery’s highly anticipated RDU Airport restaurant and bar Conniption Cocktails and Cuisine has officially taken flight—and it promises to quell your pre-flight jitters, layover boredom and touchdown hankerings… and then some. “Our goal is to really be a place unlike any other at RDU—and offer something really unique for the entire country,” says Durham Distillery co-founder and CEO Melissa Katrincic.
An intimate space to land amid the airport bustle, the new all-day Conniption outpost—the second-largest at RDU behind Crawford’s Genuine—boasts an elevated escape with ample lounge seating and a full bar for travelers looking to treat themselves, whether it’s 4am or 9pm.
Naturally, Durham Distillery’s spirits take center stage—showcased in a range of cocktails, some familiar to fans of the distillery’s DurhamConniption Bar & Lounge. Think signature sips like margaritas, French 75s, old-fashioneds and seasonal G&Ts; brunch bevs like bloodys, mimosas, slushies and upgraded boozy coffee; and a tempting world-class ’tini lineup: subzero gin (served straight from the freezer), dirty, or espresso with coffee liqueur. “Our goal is to have the best airport martini in the country,” emphasizes Katrincic.
The crafty concoctions are complemented by refined brunch and all-day Southern-inspired fare—from wraps, egg bites, yogurt bowls, and fresh beignets with espresso caramel sauce to small plates like pimento cheese, sliders and a cheesy flatbread, plus entrees including Cobb + Caesar salads, a chicken sandwich, house burger, and steak frites.
“This is not only a great opportunity for us to get new people interested in the brand and distillery—but really this is about trying to establish a sense of place throughout the entire Triangle,” muses Katrincic. All told, it’s an experience worthy of a delay—or even a cancellation. Happy travels, indeed. durhamdistillery.com
In the Spirit Further raising spirits, Durham Distillery just dropped its new Damn Fine Mocha Bourbon Cream and Damn Fine Vodka—crafted with distilled, purified water for a clean, crisp finish and that trademark “simplicity with quiet confidence.” Now that’s damn fine.
Shaking up Raleigh’s housing market in a green way is IDYLE, the city’s first net-zero energy-ready townhomes. Recently splashing on the scene on South Bloodworth Street just steps from Transfer Co. Food Hall, the collection of 10 mod three-story, three- to four-bedroom dwellings comes tricked out with eco-perks like solar panels, a Tesla Powerwall, EV-car hookups and a home-monitoring system to track energy performance.
“It’s a groundbreaking project for Raleigh,” says Johnny Chappell of real estate firm Chappell and developer DevPointe. “This was a chance for us to do something that felt like it fit well in the Downtown fabric, but also something that stood out and offered something different for people who are looking to live, work and play in DTR.”
The concept first sparked in 2021 with a mission to increase density, expand affordable housing options beyond larger single-family homes and build sustainably so as to “be good stewards of the planet we all live on,” adds Chappell. Bonus: The primo location means max solar exposure—and positions the Downtown core in the front yard.
Courtesy of Chappell
Fully passive-powered, the homes are capable of generating more energy than they use to earn a Home Energy Rating System (HERS) score of zero—aka max energy efficiency—when upgraded to a full package of 32 solar panels. Translation: Homeowners can all but erase their monthly utility expenses while cashing in on major tax incentives.
Still, green doesn’t mean giving up luxe. Think chef’s kitchens with custom cabinets by local pros, quartz countertops, high-end electric appliances, and walls of windows framing views of skyline vistas. Rooftop terraces pull double duty, pairing solar panels that both power the homes and shade the space for optimal lounging and entertaining.
The result plays right into IDYLE’s calling card: boundary-pushing sleek, smart, sustainable living that’s anything but cookie-cutter. “We’ve had a very positive response, not only from homebuyers, but from those interested in something truly original,” emphasizes Chappell. “Anytime we get to do something outside the box or that pushes our creativity, it’s good for our team—and for the Raleigh market.” Call it a blueprint proving that, in Raleigh, sustainability and style aren’t mutually exclusive—they’re the new standard.
Soaring high after Peregrine’s blockbuster debut, co-owner Patrick Shanahan—also of Watts & Ward fame—is having his moment. … And he’s only just getting started.
Dipping his toes back into the bar world, the painter, photographer, filmmaker and entrepreneur will unveil not one, but two new cocktail bars in partnership with longtime friend and fellow filmmaker Robby Opperman: Capulet Cocktail Club at The Exchange, and a new Japanese-American concept in the former Fox Liquor Bar space in DTR—with the beverage programs led by local mixologist Zack Thomas.
Building on the success of RM’s Best New Restaurant, Shanahan’s channeling his cinematic instincts into Capulet, set to debut Dec. 16. The name an ode to Romeo and Juliet’s Juliet Capulet, the romanticized space fuses Ancient Rome and modern disco, evoking themes of opulence and rich textures. Picture a deep red-tiled double horseshoe bar sitting underneath a soaring ~30-foot dome, rich jewel tones, velvet curtains, and antiques throughout, dotted with private booths, a fireplace and a small stage for live performances. Outside, a lush garden a la an Italian courtyard blooms with flowing fountains, Roman sculptures and its own bar.
From left: Patrick Shanahan, Zack Thomas, Robby Opperman| | Photo courtesy of Capulet Cocktail ClubFerdinand | Photo courtesy of Capulet Cocktail Club
“It’s almost as if you found a Roman ruin redecorated in the ’70s,” muses Shanahan… “an Italian fashion house hidden away in a garden for hundreds of years for people to stumble upon.”
Getting back to his filmmaking roots, the vario-medium storyteller approaches the project much like he would a movie—crafting a set through lighting, sound and design. “The nice thing about films is it’s a mix of all artistic styles in one place: music, visuals, art, fashion. All those have really inspired me.”
Cocktails at Capulet will lean Italian via a curated vino program, bottled beers, amaro-driven drinks and spritzes, plus a full European spirit selection. “I’m excited to get back into the world I know—the cocktail world,” emphasizes Shanahan.
Together with Peregrine, Capulet adds another destination to The Exchange—not to mention Midtown’s first bona fide cocktail bar. “I’m hearing what’s coming and I just want to be a part of that and help develop what this little section of Raleigh could be,” says Shanahan. “I’ve lived here my whole life, and having a little corner of Raleigh that I could really leave a mark on and do something special is exciting for me.”
Come early next year, the mastermind will also debut his DTR concept in the former Fox’s basement. Like a “cultural handshake,” the new bar blends shared artistic values of both Asian and American cultures—complete with a Japanese kissa (aka listening lounge), live-band karaoke, plus an extensive sake, whiskey and highball program.
Building off the basement’s bones Ashley Christensen laid, Shanahan’s design nods to the clean lines and natural materials of midcentury minimalism, with a bar top echoing furnituremaker George Nakashima’s work. “I’ve had so many good nights at Fox, and I’m honored to [take over] that spot,” he emphasizes. “When you walk down, you’ll be transported into a whole new realm.”
With two bold concepts on deck, the multihyphenate isn’t just expanding his footprint. He’s reshaping Raleigh’s bar scene—curating immersive worlds where storytelling takes center stage. Both are unmistakably Shanahan. And both will be impossible to resist.
As momentum builds on New Bern Avenue with Raleigh’s first Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line and an influx of recently bowed businesses, a new development from the City of Raleigh will be a huge game changer for the area.
Over a year after the city bought the old DMV HQ on New Bern Avenue in Southeast Raleigh, city staff recently completed an intensive public engagement process for the future of the 5.88-acre property—with community ideas including affordable housing, indoor and outdoor community gathering spaces, the incorporation of local food (whether a commissary kitchen, co-op or food hall), retail, public art and installations that incorporate the history of the area, and overall accessibility.
“This site can hopefully become a hub for the surrounding neighborhood,” emphasizes City of Raleigh Deputy Director of Planning & Development and Urban Projects Ken Bowers—while acting as a connector to DTR as it continues to push out from the city’s core.
The DMV site in particular was attractive to the city for this project due to its location on Raleigh’s first Bus Rapid Transit line. “We wanted to make sure lower-income households were able to access the improved transit that’s going to be provided,” says Bowers. Not to mention “this part of East Raleigh has historically been affordable because market rates, sales prices and rents were lower than other parts of the city.”
Now, the site is undergoing a market and design study to gauge what’s possible: how much can actually be built, what types of projects make financial and physical sense, and where rents might land. That work wraps in November, after which the city will seek development proposals—aiming to pick a developer by Q3 2026. Bowers adds the current four-story zoning will likely have to change to meet community demands.
“The city doesn’t often have a large site like this that we can reposition to redevelop to achieve some community priorities and policy goals,” he explains. “If this is successful, we hope it can be a model for sites elsewhere in the city.”
