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Where to Hugo Spritz

Where to Hugo Spritz

by | Aug 20, 2025 | Eat, July/August 2025

This summer may not have a clear soundtrack—but she def has a flavor. Meet our spirited boyfriend: Hugo. With its crisp effervescence (hello, prosecco!), a kiss of subtly sweet elderflower and a cooling whisper of mint, the sultry spritz is pure summer in a glass (and the perf anecdote in 100+ degrees). Easy to make at home—and great for the summer bod to boot—not all Hugos are created equal. On my spritz summer tour, I did the hard work for you. Here, a trio of spots you should be sipping the sweet nectar before summer slips to fall.

Dram & Draught
Hands down the best Hugo in town—whether cozied up in DTR or kicking back at Fenton—this spot also shakes a riff on the spritz that feels made just for Raleigh in the dog days of summer. Not your run-of-the-mill prosecco-plus-elderflower-mint, the seasonal Spritz & Gigz riff, affectionately crafted by Ross, blends Ketel One Grapefruit Rose, blackberry, lemon, a touch of sugar, basil tincture, soda and prosecco for a floral, fruity twist that still hits all those spritz notes (effervescent, herbaceous, sweet). Basically, you can’t have just one.

La Terrazza
Rooftop vibes and spritz goals? Say less. La Terrazza’s Hugo is a classic floral-forward delight, mixing St-Germain, prosecco, club soda, lemon and mint into a light, sunny sipper that tastes like summer—and makes sunset sipping extra sweet.

Wye Hill
Sips with a view? Don’t mind if I do. Perched atop Boylan Bridge, Wye Hill pours a skyline-level spritz in Spotless Mind, starring St-Germain elderflower, gin, Italicus bergamot, orange blossom agave, lemon—and bubbles, natch. It’s floral, effervescent, elegant… a spritz sophisticated enough to make me forget all about those spicy margs.


Other spots worth savoring Hugo:
Cuya
High Rail
East End Bistrot (especially on the Champagne Terrace)
Stella’s
Have a fave spritz spot? Email us at [email protected]

Stella’s—a Dive Bar for the Girls

Stella’s—a Dive Bar for the Girls

by | 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