Much like the movies these days, the big theme for Triangle restaurants in 2026 is familiarity and nostalgia. Call it IP, call it proven winners, many of the restaurant projects we’re eager for this year are building on successful brands, either returning with new locations, or expanding into the Triangle for the first time.
This means the arrival of a burger giant, the reopening of a Raleigh icon and the expansions of some of the Triangle’s very favorite restaurants into new communities.
There’s a lot to be hungry for in 2026, these are the projects we can’t wait to see.
Fullsteam’s New Location
We’ll start with the one we’ve waited for the longest. Durham’s Fullsteam Brewery helped create the city’s busiest nightlife district and grew into an influential brewery in the south, famous for celebrating and experimenting with local ingredients in their beers. This year Fullsteam will launch a new era, relocating to a new facility on the American Tobacco Campus. Progress has been slow, with the original target set for last summer. But owner Sean Lilly Wilson said Fullsteam will open its new flagship taproom in 2026.
Rosebud Cocktail Lounge
When Watts & Ward co-founder Patrick Shanahan unveiled his latest bar, Capulet Cocktail Club just a few weeks ago, the result was stunning. Ornate and bursting with floral wallpaper, Capulet remains the Triangle’s buzziest bar. So excitement is mounting for Shanahan’s next project, Rosebud, an underground listening lounge and drinks den taking over the former Fox Liquor Bar space. There’s no menu planned, just bartenders serving up drinks based on a few preferences of the guests. Like Capulet and Peregrine, beverage genius Zack Thomas will be Rosebud’s beverage director…