Raleigh's first non-alcoholic bar will open on NYE

Umbrella Dry Bar, Raleigh's first non-alcoholic bar, will open New Year's Eve, organizers announced this week.

The bar, bottle shop and event space will be located at 14 W. Martin St. in the former space of Garland restaurant. It's New Year's Eve Opening Party will have limited admission. Tickets are $100 each and include two drinks, a midnight toast, and music from a DJ.

Umbrella Dry Bar will then reopen for good on Friday, Jan. 5, 2024. The timing of the opening will coincide with "Dry January," when many people opt not to drink alcohol for the entire first month of the year.

Founder and co-owner Meg Paradise introduced the concept in 2022 during pop-ups across Raleigh. This year, the bar operated as the semi-permanent pop-up, “Umbrella in the Garden," in Norwood Gardens.

Paradise has teamed up with Raleigh-based entrepreneur Kevin Barry for the bar's first permanent location.

"After meeting Meg and experiencing her passion and commitment and Umbrella Dry Bar’s exceptional cocktails on my thirtieth birthday, I became instantly enamored with this avant-garde concept in the beverage industry and its potential for growth,” Barry said.

Paradise said the bar's mission is to "redefine the social drinking experience by offering zero-proof craft cocktails and functional, restorative, alcohol-free beverages."

"We believe in evolving the ritual of ‘having a drink’ into a more inclusive and health-conscious experience," Paradise said. "It’s all about conscious sips, clearer connections and cultivating community."

Umbrella Dry Bar will be open Tuesday through Sunday.

Reservations can be made for table and lounge seating and walk in's are welcome. Seating at the bar and front lounge will be available on a first come, first serve basis.