Food & Drink

8 new cocktail or wine bars to try in Raleigh and Durham

Raleigh and Durham boast diverse cocktail hotspots and wine bars, ranging from James Beard-winning restaurants to charming neighborhood venues. Highlights include Jaguar Bolera, an expansive eatertainment complex featuring birdcage chandeliers and self-pour drink stations, and Sous Terre, a speakeasy-style concept from a renowned local chef with an exclusive keyholder system.

Notable additions like the unnamed bar in Smoky Hollow promise craft cocktails and a no-tipping model, reflecting the region’s dynamic drinking scene.

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories below were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.



NO. 1: WE GOT A SNEAK PEEK AT NEW RALEIGH HOT SPOT JAGUAR BOLERA. OUR 10 TAKEAWAYS

One of the Triangle’s biggest openings of the year is set for this weekend. We got a sneak peek. | Published May 16, 2024 | Read Full Story

NO. 2: A NEW DINER AND COCKTAIL BAR WILL OPEN IN DOWNTOWN RALEIGH’S SMOKY HOLLOW

A former brewery taproom in Raleigh is set to become the city’s newest cocktail bar. | Published March 27, 2024 | Read Full Story

NO. 3: NEW DOWNTOWN RALEIGH RESTAURANT WILL BE A HOT SPOT FOR BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER & DRINKS

Raleigh will add a glitzy new all-day restaurant this summer. | Published April 23, 2024 | Read Full Story

NO. 4: DURHAM OPENS NEW SOCIAL DISTRICT AT SOUTHPOINT MALL. HOW TO GET A TO-GO DRINK

A popular shopping center launched an open container area Aug. 23. | Published July 17, 2024 | Read Full Story

NO. 5: A NEW WINE BAR AND RESTAURANT IS COMING TO RALEIGH’S NORTH HILLS. HERE’S WHAT TO KNOW

The new spot is the sixth location of a popular Charlotte wine bar. | Published January 11, 2024 | Read Full Story

NO. 6: FROM BASEMENT DIVE TO DREAMY COCKTAIL BAR, A LOOK AT A TOP RALEIGH CHEF’S LATEST

The underground bar is an amenity to the restaurants above, or it’s your own private club. Here’s a first look at the new spot. | Published May 21, 2024 | Read Full Story by Drew Jackson

NO. 7: RALEIGH’S VILLAGE DISTRICT ADDS A NEW WINE BAR FEATURING DOZENS OF WINES BY THE GLASS

The former Carolina Bakery has gone in a new direction. This is the second NC location for this wine bar. | Published August 1, 2024 | Read Full Story by Drew Jackson

NO. 8: A NEW BAR OPENS IN RALEIGH’S SMOKY HOLLOW — AND THERE’S NO TIPPING

There’s nothing quite like this new bar in Raleigh. Everything is on draft — and there’s no tipping. (Plus, celebrity bartenders.) | Published June 28, 2024 | Read Full Story by Drew Jackson

This report was produced with the help of AI tools, which summarized previous stories reported and written by McClatchy journalists. It was edited by journalists in our News division.

Get unlimited digital access
#ReadLocal

Try 1 month for $1

CLAIM OFFER