by Lauren Kruchten | Feb 4, 2026 | Eat, February 2026
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.
by Lauren Kruchten | Oct 28, 2024 | Eat, November 2024
Sir Walter Coffee brings vibey coffee and cocktails to City Plaza.
Fueling Fayetteville Street’s momentum, find Sir Walter Coffee’s long-awaited second DTR outpost bookending Main Street—opposite newly opened Birdie’s.
Delivering an all-day affair ideal for a to-go coffee and pastry, leisurely brekky or lunch, evening happy hour meeting, date night, or anything in between, the new hot spot promises to percolate an otherwise sleepy section of DTR.
“We’re excited,” says co-owner Kevin Frazier, who came from the bar world (think Charlie Goodnights and City Limits Saloon—to name but a couple) up until he “got tired of the 3am” and hoped to get some of his “Starbucks coffee money back” in 2016. “We feel really good about it and we love the location. We’ve [already] seen a lot of traffic down here.”
And, not shocking because, in short, it’s a vibe. Intentionally counter to everything the typical coffeehouse is, SWC swaps the standard “white subway tiles, crappy furniture, and either phenomenal or a little pretentious baristas” for its intentional “coffee, craft, comfort” MO, says Frazier.
To wit, an exterior patio alive with uplighting, massive orange underlit umbrellas (“because orange is such a warm color,” he says) and tunes welcomes people to stay and play—or even work. Patio tables and Adirondack chairs surrounding a repurposed firepit border accordion doors and windows for that indoor-outdoor alfresco feel. “Highwoods wanted a Sir Walter Coffee but elevated, so we’re a Sir Walter Coffee but elevated,” says Frazier.
Inside, find a thoughtfully crafted concept with ample cozy nooks and seating ops, from church pews and a UK-flag adorned leather couch (a nod to Sir Walter Raleigh’s British roots—though, fun fact, the cafe/barroom’s moniker is actually dubbed for Sir Walter Raleigh Tobacco, a nod to what Frazier’s father smoked, not to the English statesman) to custom-made booths and coffee trays, classy bar stools and beautiful finishings.
Building further on Sir Walter’s OG Davie Street locale, the core menu, served till 4pm, features elevated food options across breakfast and lunch. Think bagels shipped directly from New York, sandwiches, breakfast tacos, avocado toast, salads and more—transitioning to such late-night bar bites (from 4–10pm) as bruschetta, potato skins, deviled eggs and spicy sausage cheese balls, not to mention daily blue plate specials like meatloaf Mondays and fish taco Fridays.
On the bar side, aka Sir Walter’s “alter ego,” dubs Frazier, find five coffee cocktails (hello, espresso martinis!), five specialty cocktails and five classic cocktails—plus three cocktails, four beers and prosecco on tap. Rounding out the bar program, there’s mimosa flights, Tiki drinks, and a “funky G&T” feat. St-Germain and served for four via an Oscar Award-esque vessel that will promise to make you a regular.
And, of course, at its very core, there’s coffee. The Charter Square spot will keep churning out the coffee and espresso drinks for which it’s known, complete with eight specialty blends of its own branded Cardinal Sin espresso and abundant housemade syrups. “We’re not reinventing the wheel, but we’re definitely doing coffee a little differently,” maintains Frazier. And Raleigh is here for it. sirwaltercoffee.com
Fun fact: Sir Walter Coffee is not actually named after Sir Walter Raleigh, but the cans of Sir Walter Raleigh Tobacco Frazier’s dad used to smoke.
by Lauren Kruchten | Oct 24, 2024 | Eat, November 2024
Stella’s is officially opening in a revamped space on North West Street on Oct. 26.
If a dive bar were a girl, it would be Stella’s. The ’80s/’90s-inspired “trailer trash-chic” watering hole is opening in the former Devereux location on North West Street—and it’s already a total vibe for girls, guys and everyone in between.
In standard fashion, the space received a colorful makeover in the months leading up to its opening. Stripping the space of its former Devereux life, owner Lena Ali and a gaggle of community members cultivated Stella’s personality with retro photos of Raleigh residents, parents and friends epoxied on the bar top; local art; wood paneling; disco balls; Christmas lights; thrifted/upcycled fixtures; and more—including the famous cow couch that once called Pink Boot home (!).
“The primary focus of the bar is that it is a community space,” emphasizes Ali. “The process of building the bar itself has been more or less of a community art project, which has been so fun and incredible to be a part of that we want to cultivate that in the bar’s daily operations as much as possible.”
As far as drinks go, Stella’s sticks to the basics with staple beer and seltzer options—plus a handful of seasonal cocktails designed and named by local guest bartenders. “I also want to put more of an emphasis on NA and THC options,” says Ali—“and lean a tad farther into wine than your standard dive bar—because, you know, girl.”
With that said, Ali’s goal “within this weird little 900-square-foot space” is for everyone to be “involved, welcomed and included,” she adds. “At Stella’s, the goal is to make everyone feel like a regular—even if it’s their first time in.” @stellasonwest
