A quad of concepts are delivering new-to-the-market adult urban playgrounds throughout Raleigh.
Raleighites are ready for the next big thing. Something beyond a shiny new restaurant or bar—a do-worthy destination that would lure people to town or entice residents to make a day/weekend out of. In essence, a hot spot that takes our “best place to live” next-level.
Answering the call is a roster of recreation concepts rolling out as soon as this summer. First up, Hibernian Hospitality guru Niall Hanley is expanding his reach and upping the fun factor on Glenwood South with Hop Shots, a Putt-Putt-esque experience bowing behind Raleigh Beer Garden in early July.
The never-before-seen addition to DTR will deliver an 18-hole contoured Putt-Putt course, plus table tennis, foosball, cornhole and two shipping container bars, catering to those who long for some movement while they’re drinking—or those who just aren’t into nightlife at all. “You can see people want more activities,” maintains Hanley. “We have the space in Downtown to make something like that, which is unusual.”
18 holes of Putt-Putt
Table tennis, foosball, cornhole
2 bars
Rendering Courtesy of Pin Point
Then, leaning into the ever-growing pickleball hype, there’s Pin Point, the largest and first combined indoor pickleball and golf concept in the Southeast. Think of it like a baby country club, says CFO Dylan Bryan, with both a membership and drop-in model for those who want to work on their putting and/or chipping (via the only indoor chipping area in the Southeast), play a round or two of pickleball with friends, educate themselves or their kiddos on the game of golf/pickle, or savor a snack and a drink as a spectator.
“Getting a bite to eat with friends, then going to a bar gets old pretty quick,” says Bryan. “Raleigh doesn’t really have [a recreation concept], so we want to be the cornerstone of that—maybe be something that grows within the area that others will see the success we hopefully have and be like ‘OK, there’s a need for this.’ … This is a desire for the community, and we’re answering it.”
16 pickleball courts + 2 championship courts
8 golf simulators
3 chipping bays with separate green & hitting areas
Full bar + prepackaged food in partnership with local Ella’s Popcorn (salads, sandwiches, wraps, chips, etc.)
Corporate event space equipped with projectors
Club fitting rooms, changing rooms, lessons, youth leagues, events (live music, sports watch parties, etc.) & more
Rendering by FAM Design, courtesy of Jaguar Bolera
And on the heels of its premiere “eatertainment” playground, Jaguar Bolera is adding pickleball on the Salvage Yard side in early 2025 to its already-popular duckpin bowling, karaoke, darts and other activities.
The laid-back design and vibe of the Raleigh Iron Works outpost will be mirrored in the new addition, allowing Raleighites to “lean into experiential food and beverage, design, games and activities that let them interact beyond typical ‘going out’ offerings,” says founder Robert Thompson. “We know people want to do more than just sit across the table from each other with apps and drinks”—though of course, you can do that too.
4 indoor pickleball courts, 1 outdoor court
16,000 square feet of “garden” space
Food counter with selects from Jaguar Bolera menu
Total 110 self-pour taps across both buildings
Rendering Courtesy of Swing Racquet + Paddle
And not to be forgotten, there’s dual eat/drink + play Swing Racquet + Paddle. A destination in itself, the racquet and paddle sport club that leans more park rather than sea of courts—and serves up a restaurant/rooftop sports bar to boot—takes “a real swing at reducing barriers to entry by having a blended public/private model,” says Director of Brand Development Cole Wilson. (Stay tuned for an updated timeline in Q3.)
As with the other players dropping on the scene, “Swing is a best-of-both-worlds concept,” maintains Wilson—“combin[ing] a campus of fun, fast-growing sports with first-class food, beverage and entertainment options.” What more could you really want? Looks like Raleigh finally came to play.
Durham Distillery’s RDU location is prepping for takeoff.
Promising to quell any pre-flight jitters—and/or get the vacay started from the gate (!)—enter long-awaited Conniption Cocktails and Cuisine at RDU Airport, the latest extension of the Durham Distillery brand.
Offering a Zen refuge to avoid the stressful buzz typical of traveling through the airport, the stylish restaurant and lounge space isn’t your average airport bar. Slated to bow this fall in Terminal 2 by gate D8, the spirited new concept from America’s highest-awarded gin label promises to be a game changer for terminal time that’ll “make you forget you’re in a terminal,” boasts Durham Distillery co-founder, CEO and President Melissa Katrincic.
“Our goal is to create a haven amid the bustling terminal where both newcomers and aficionados can savor the distinctive flavors of Conniption cocktails,” adds Katrincic. “This new venue is designed to offer a delightful respite where travelers can relax and enjoy the very best we have to offer—even on a tight schedule.”
Drawing inspiration from Conniption bottle designs and DD’s on-site cocktail bar in Durham, the chic soothing outpost will also feature a batch of innovative gin cocktails (natch), high-end draft cocktails, and frozen martinis like the distillery’s signature Subzero Purple Rain feat. its fan-fave shade-shifting purple Kinship gin. The crafty concoctions will be complemented by elevated breakfast, lunch and dinner offerings—because when at the airport, time doesn’t exist. Martini at 9am? No judgment.
While the final food menu is still being fleshed out, Katrincic is toying with such delectable draws as popular Corpse Reviver staple marinated olives, spiced nuts, small plates and salads. Single-serving naan flatbreads are likely fodder as well, and the Conniption queen nods to one topped with roasted broccoli, Gruyere and mozzarella, caramelized Meyer lemon slices, and hot honey—which she says the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority particularly loved. There will even be a kids’ charcuterie plate—think of it like an upgraded Lunchable.
“Being chosen for this opportunity by the RDU Airport Authority is a great honor, and we’re eager to introduce Conniption to travelers from around the world,” emphasizes Katrincic. “Recognizing the unique demands of airport dining, we’re dedicated to ensuring quick service without compromising the exceptional quality our guests experience at our distillery’s cocktail bar in Durham.” Looks like you just may find yourself hoping for a delay to dine, drink and destress. Happy travels, indeed. durhamdistillery.com
The wheels on GoRaleigh’s R-Line bus are going round and round once again, while GoTriangle is reinstating fares effective July 1. Ride on for everything you need to know.
Eco-friendly travel for the win! GoRaleigh has reinstated its R-Line bus following a three-year hiatus, which stemmed from low ridership as a result of less visitors Downtown following the pandemic.
The no-cost aspect of the route definitely adds to the R-Line’s allure—also saving a scooter ride, long walk or even drive. Meanwhile, the GoTriangle bus will soon roll out reinstated fares. Starting July 1, a one-way trip will cost $2.50 with a daily cap of $5, weekly cap of $20 and monthly cap of $80—though low-income riders, youths age 13–18 and seniors 65+ can qualify for free fare.
“You used to be able to buy a weekly/monthly pass as well, but we did away with that to make it easier and more streamlined for the customer,” adds GoTriangle Strategic Communications and Marketing Director Wendy Mallon.
To boot, users will also be able to utilize the Umo App to get live updates and trip alerts, plus purchase mobile bus tickets—the latter of which is a new feature also launching July 1. But rest assured riders can still pay on-the-spot with exact cash.
While the resumed fare collection was a hot-button topic, GoTriangle’s decision to return to fares was based on revenue losses sustained during the pandemic, coupled with the agency’s plan to expand service while recruiting additional bus operators. “Our revenue from fares is used to offset our operating expenses, so it’s a vital source of funding to keep our buses running efficiently,“ says GoTriangle CCO Eric Curry. And who doesn’t love an excuse not to get behind the wheel? goraleigh.org; gotriangle.org
Games, grub and guzzles galore found at Raleigh’s first eatertainment concept.
Raleigh Iron Works’ newly bowed eatertainment concept Jaguar Bolera is truly a feast for the senses—NTM a playground of various social activities for all ages (think duckpin bowling, karaoke, darts and foosball—even “makertainment” craft kits).
From the moment you walk into the colorful, vibrant space, your eyes are immediately drawn to the stunning wallpaper, intricate design details and furnishings, and pockets of play areas—and, naturally, your nose will certainly perk up from the smells wafting from the kitchen. In short, it’s sensory overload—in the best way—and you’ll no doubt find yourself wanting to dive deeper into the space to take it in from top to bottom.
The thoughtful design can be traced back to a single artificial muse manufactured by the Jaguar Bolera team: a “1950s gal in her heyday who hung out at the social club,” explains founder/CEO Robert Thompson. “We spent some time thinking about her life and the objects and activities of someone in the 1950s—and you’ll see that spread throughout the venue.”
See: the brooches embedded in the host stand, light fixtures mimicking rattan garden baskets (she likes to garden), lots of flowers (note the custom-made pedal-shaped chair backs), her plateware-inspired pictures, a mirror encased in a tortoise-style frame (a nod to her sunglasses, natch), and womenswear patterns like vintage tweed and plaid—never mind the poodles in the unisex bathrooms (she, like Elvis, loves poodles).
All together, the design-forward environs make for the perfect backdrop to relish in the massive eatertainment concept, this version of which also involves a scratch kitchen and craft beverages. As the name nods (jaguars are indigenous to the American South and Mexico), Southern and Mexican fare shine at the hands of Culinary Director and current Top Chefcontestant Manny Barella, with the cuisine taking inspo from his youth South of the Border and past restaurant experience across the South, not to mention a stint at an Austin ’cue joint.
Doubling down on the food-first MO, Thompson maintains: “Bowling is an activity we have, but what we are is a restaurant that serves fantastic food. It’s great that Manny ended up being offered to compete [in Top Chef] because it makes my job easier trying to get my message out there that we’re serious about the food.”
At the capable hands of Barella, the menu perfectly marries the two cuisines in dishes like pork belly burnt ends (find better pork belly—we’ll wait), smoked brisket tacos, lamb birria taquitos, shrimp and grits, and pork ribs al pastor. To boot, less expected yet authentic plates like beet hummus are an ode to a dish Barella used to throw on the grill and eat while his family was cooking steaks in Monterrey, Mexico. Sunday Funday will also be in full force thanks to brunch selects like churro monkey bread, huevos rancheros, chilaquiles and lemon ricotta pancakes.
“I’m pouring my Mexican heart and Southern soul into every dish on the menu,” says Barella. “From the pimento cheese and sliced brisket to the cochinita pibil and lamb birria taquitos and every dish in between, I’m excited to share the flavors of Jaguar Bolera with Raleigh.”
Moving away from the traditional casual dining setting, the social destination plays into a food hall-style service where guests order at a counter—and the food finds you via a pager that tracks what table you’re at (the future is here, y’all). “The idea that we’re using a tech approach to stuff but still doing real scratch and careful food is what excites me,” emphasizes Thompson.
Not to be left out, when it comes to imbibes, there’s 73 self-pour taps of beer, wine, cocktails and NA bevs—including a nonalcoholic margarita (!). Boozy ops include a nitro cold brew martini; strawberry Aperol spritz; and (our fave) the Jalapeno in the Coconut. Pro tip: For a refreshing ’tail, the vodka-based Garden Party is, well, a pleasant party on your palate.
“Both the host of the party and the life of the fiesta,” the new eat-drink-play space promises to be the cat’s meow. And they’ve only just scratched the surface, with pickleball and pingpong expected to launch early 2025—though the concept’s already a winner in our books. Game, set, match!jaguarbolera.com
Soon shaking up Glenwood South is La Mala’s just-announced DTR location.
Get your party hats and dancing shoes ready—La Mala is bringing the fiesta to Glenwood South. The sister restaurant to Glenwood Avenue’s La Santa is opening a second location—the first boasting Downtown Durham digs—in the former DTR Clouds Brewing space by the end of the year (fingers crossed for as early as November). And it promises to be a vibe.
“We decided to take over the former Clouds Brewing because it’s a prime location, and our concept is to have fun, drink, eat and dance—so the area seemed fitting for that,” says owner and CEO Jesse Monsivais, the mastermind behind both concepts, along with partners Eleuterio Madrigal and Leonel Vega. “Plus the outdoor seating area has so much potential.”
Indeed, the vibrant, colorful bar atmosphere will make for the perfect space to socialize while imbibing—not to mention provide sustenance for the dance floor (!). Frequent flyers at the Durham outpost can expect the food and drink menus to be much the same as those in the Bull City, with the addition of exclusive City of Oaks offerings such as Mexican-style pizza and wings.
Beyond the exclusive-to-Raleigh bites, authentic Mexican street-food faves shine at La Mala. Think best-sellers like quesabirria and asada tacos, Mexican fries, made-to-order guac, and the Torta Cubana—plus Friday/Saturday/Sunday brunch ops like chilaquiles and tres leches French toast. (So, yes, you’re gonna wanna call out “sick” on a Friday.)
Tequila- and mezcal-based cocktails round out the experience—and are definitely worthy of a ’Gram snap. Hey, flower-adorned Gold Digger; bright teal-colored Agua de Tulum; and Bad Bunny, served in a Clase Azul mug. Naturally, you can’t go wrong with a standard margarita either, made with La Santa’s signature mix.
Photo by Albright Studio
“We want to add these items to bring something different to Downtown Raleigh and not compete with our mother location,” adds Monsivais. If anything, it’s all the more reason to gather your friends to party. Fiesta mode: on.lamalamx.com
