It’s electric! Miami vibes hit Oak City with ’80s-themed pop-up bar Electric Flamingo in the space below The Merchant on South Salisbury Street. The fab collab between Anthony Rapillo of Layla’s Son Hospitality (Flour & Barrel and V Pizza—to name but a couple), Local Icon Hospitality’s Jon Seelbinder and social media influencer Magnolia Megan spins DJs, colorful cocktails, Cuban-inspired small plates by Local Icon chef Caleb Stewart—and nonstop electric vibes.
Mark your menus—the stars will descend on Greenville, SC’s Peace Center for the 2025 Michelin Guide American South ceremony Nov. 3. Until then, find us holding our breath (and our forks).
Boatman Spirits Co. photo by Forrest Mason, courtesy of Boatman
Row, row, row over to Boatman Spirits Co.—dropping at Seaboard Station with its combined distillery, cocktail bar, restaurant experience with Mediterranean fare and a bevy of bevs to boot.
Tropic like it’s hot at La Mala—bringing the heat and do-not-disturb vibes to West Street in the former Clouds Brewing space via fresh-squeezed fruits, premium tequilas and bold Mexican street eats.
It’s (almost) time to meet Mr. Henry. Local bar guru Matt Bettinger’s (of C. Grace and Hank’s Downtown Dive fame) so-named dedicated Village District bar is set to bow late July. Cheers to shaking things up!
Still big on the pig? Fear not: Clyde Cooper’s Barbeque sold its DTR location to Hibachi 88, but plans to stay open through the end of the year before moving to a new close-by joint.
Raleigh’s chocolatier royalty is rolling out as Escazu Chocolates packs up its Blount Street location for its new Gateway Plaza digs.
Fuel your pedal power or steps with stops at Raleigh’s Greenway Food VendorPilot—now serving Shelley Lake, Lake Johnson, Falls Lake Dam, Buffaloe Road Aquatics, Anderson Point, and Walnut Creek Wetlands Center.
Photo courtesy of Stellar
Cap City gets a cosmic upgrade with the opening of Stellar, Five Points’ vibey new resto and wine bar joining High Park Village’s already star-studded lineup. Think craveable shareables, large plates, desserts and brunch—best paired with a bevvy or two.
Ideal for night owls and early birds alike, Glenwood South’s Latin fusion eatery Cuya now boasts late-night grub and a brunch menu dishing the likes of tostones Benedict, huevos rancheros and mimosas, natch.
Pour one out for Giorgios Group’s North Hills tapas bar and restaurant Las Ramblas, which permanently shuttered its doors after an HVAC system failure in early June.
Sweet dreams are made of Tifa Chocolate & Gelato’s swoonworthy lineup of gelato, chocolates, cookies and coffees—set to unlock in the North Hills’s Captrust Tower late August.
Cary’s already seeing stars—The Bar & Lounge at The Umstead just earned Star Bar status from Forbes Travel Guide, adding to its six-year streak of Five-Star ratings.
Something fishy is afloat at Morgan Street Food Hall. The Crispy Cod is making waves with handbattered fish, crispy chips and sandos.
C’est la vie! Cult-fave French bakery La Farm is upping NC State’s food game this semester with its new Park Shops locale, along with soon-to-bow Mediterranean Deli in the Atrium.
No sticky sitch here—just pure Southern gold. Buzzy Local Hive Honey’s Southeast blend brings pure Southern sweetness straight from local beekeepers.
Butter chicken, pakora paneer and unapologetic Indian classics are serving serious heat at Amrut, just steps from 42 & Lawrence and Beasley’s.
The acai bowl craze continues as Everbowl stretches its Raleigh footprint, serving superfood blends in Brier Creek by year’s end.
Fast-casual chicken salad mainstay Chicken Salad Chick is now dishing out sammies, salads and sides—plus delivery and catering ops—to all the chicks (and dudes) in Smithfield.
Tacos and a patio—name a better duo, we’ll wait. Set to bow later this year at Kane mixed-use development Rockway is Campo Taco Co., a new family-owned authentic Mexican restaurant that will feature expansive outdoor seating and serve up flavor-packed tacos (natch), margs and other cocktails.
Photo courtesy of Red Phone Booth
Ring, ring! The 1920s are calling, and they want you to get excited for award-winning speakeasy-style cocktail lounge Red Phone Booth, which is anticipated to bow in downtown Durham by the end of this year.
Belly up. Blotto, by the same owners of Neuse River Brewing, has opened on New Bern Avenue with a casual neighborhood bar feel—plus a patio—offering eight brews on tap.
Another taco spot to, well, taco ’bout—nationally known Dallas-founded Velvet Taco is coming to North Hills with its eclectic menu (see: Nashville Hot Tofu, Spicy Tikka Chicken and Fish N’ Chip tacos) and late-night hours.
Bringing Asian street food to the Raleigh streets is just-opened Oh Mochi in Falls River Town Center, offering the likes of mochi doughnuts, Korean corn dogs and more.
Velvet Taco | Photo courtesy of Kane Realty
Hole-in-one news for Raleigh: Wake Forest’s locally ownedJeff’s Bagel Run is opening a new outpost just around the corner from Crabtree Mall, complete with all the same boiled bagels and unique housemade cream cheeses the Triangle knows and loves—and obsesses over.
Squeeze the day at just-bowed Village Juice & Kitchen at Glenwood Place, offering housemade clean eats that are “Mother Earth-approved”—from cold-pressed raw juices and smoothies to salads and grain bowls to wraps, toasts, and other sweet and savory brekkie ops.
Trio of concepts aims to revitalize a sleepy strip.
A veritable cornucopia of new dining options is set to transform a once-ignored section of the New Bern Corridor. Enter the 1601 New Bern Avenue development, anticipated to begin unfolding as early as this spring.
It’s “a blank canvas with a lot of potential,” says Squeeze juice bar and cafe’s Wes Woody, one of the purveyors eager to breathe life into the area, alongside taco concept Que Pashoo Tacos & Bar and neighborhood bar Blotto. “There’s an opportunity here to shape the culture and create a real community hub.” In short, the trio of upcoming heavy hitters is poised to serve this East Raleigh corridor a major upgrade.
Squeeze Get ready to squeeze in some liquid gold. Beyond fresh juices, expect customizable smoothies and acai bowls, lunch salads and sandos, plus coffee to keep you fueled—all making for the perf outpost to yap with friends while you feed the vibe, not the regret. @squeeze.raleigh
Blotto Expect to get “drunk” (aka “blotto”) on good times via rounds of pool or some straight chill time paired with “Tried and True” traditional martinis, craft cocktails and beer, natch. Bringing a bar to a relatively, ahem, underserved area, “we’ll be joining the neighborhood as a trailblazer,” says co-owner Jennifer Kolarov—who also runs Neuse River Brewing with husband Ryan—of her excitement to convert New Bern into a happening locale. And for those who prefer an alfresco hang, Blotto delivers via not one, but two outdoor patios. And when the snackies hit, come prepared with BYO bites or look out for the occasional food truck. @blottonc
Que Pashoo Tacos & Bar Rounding out the trifecta is this taco restaurant and bar serving a range of tasty + authentic fiesta folds and craft cocktails in a vibrant atmosphere. “Our goal is to bring something special to this community,” says co-owner Ruth Guerra—“a space where people can connect, celebrate and enjoy incredible food.” So you can come hungry, stay late and let the tequila (er, good vibes) flow. @quepashoonc
New Bern Avenue’s star is on the rise as the first corridor for the City of Raleigh’s new Bus Rapid Transit system—and, now, it’s poised to shine even brighter thanks to the redevelopment of 1601 New Bern Avenue.
Already underway with an expected completion slated for this fall, the project—a joint venture among Capitol Commercial, Carroll Development and AB Capital Advisors—will boast 11,650 square feet of retail and restaurant space, plus a resurfaced parking lot and a 14-foot-wide sidewalk for outdoor seating at select spaces.
Poised to become a mini-gateway to Downtown Raleigh among a slew of other upcoming proximal redevelopments, the redesigned strip center also calls for a BRT station. And with it, the New Bern Avenue corridor is experiencing what some might call a dose of gentrification, as projects like these pave the way for new businesses and residents alike.
Case in point: The powerhouse duo behind craft brewery and brasserie Neuse River Brewing, Jennifer and Ryan Kolarov—alongside business partner Carl Boyajian—has inked a lease and will be introducing yet another crowd-pleaser to East Raleigh. Expanding their footprint literally and figuratively, their space bowing June 14 in the 1601 New Bern Avenue development is strictly a bar.
“We’ve had a lot of opportunities to do things in other places. This area specifically appealed to us because of the growth that’s happening.” —Jennifer Kolarov, co-owner, Neuse River Brewing, Blotto
Dubbed Blotto, aka British slang for “tipsy,” the new drinkery is all about keeping things simple, approachable and appealing. “We’ve been talking about opening up a bar as a watering hole, not a restaurant and not another brewery,” maintains Ryan, nodding to Neuse River Brewing’s uberpopular brewed on-site craft brews and fantastic fare. “We just found a perfect spot in East Raleigh.”
But don’t expect any old dive. Designed to be a laid-back retreat—think tropical plants, dark wood accents and a Tiki-themed patio welcoming people and pets alike—Blotto is intended for every inch of its 2,500 square feet to feel like home, whether popping in for a quick drink or settling in for a hang sesh.
Like its decor, the bar’s menu is sure to suit myriad tastes—delivering drinks worth bellying up to the bar for, but without brain-bending cocktail names or breaking the bank. “We want Blotto to be a bar for everyone,” says Ryan of Raleigh’s newest upcoming third place. “We want to have fun [classic] cocktails with fresh-squeezed juices. We don’t want our mixers coming out of a bottle, but we also don’t want the drinks to be $25. Just simple and approachable.”
To wit, fam-friendly by day and 21+ by night—with diverse draws like trivia nights and live music—the bar “where everybody knows your name” answers the call for all Raleighites.
“We’ve had a lot of opportunities to do things in other places,” says Jennifer of the emerging district, where they hope to see other cool concepts—think cafe, vino, restaurant—join them a la Person Street or Gateway Plaza vibes.
“This area specifically appealed to us because of the growth that’s happening.” Looks like Blotto may just be the harbinger answering the call for the booming New Bern Avenue corridor. blottonc.com
