This new concept from the team behind C Grace and Sidebar in Cary offers elevated craft cocktails in a timeless atmosphere
by Catherine Currin | photography by Food Seen

Outside: a facade painted forest green, the trimwork almost-black, the bar’s names in a classic serif in a brassy gold. Inside: a polished-wood bar, leather booths, petite marble-topped tables. Plaid pillows echo the wallpaper insets in the ceiling, and an Oriental rug adds a homey touch. 

This is Mr. Henry, a new bar in the Village District that offers a complete departure from its neighbors. “We wanted a space that felt timeless,” says co-owner Matthew Bettinger, “like it could’ve been there for 50 years and will still feel right 50 years from now.”

For two years, Matthew, his wife, Catherine, and business partner Jeff Kinard, the three leads at CMJ Hospitality, had been on the hunt for their next project. After closing downtown Raleigh’s beloved jazz bar C Grace in 2022, the co-owners of Hank’s Downtown Dive and Sidebar in Cary felt something was missing closer to home.

“We thought, maybe we should open the bar we wish existed,” says Matthew. So when the former Which Wich sandwich shop space in the Village District became available, Catherine immediately saw the vision. She designed the space, leaning into her childhood memories of riding horses to weave an equestrian theme throughout the bar. The narrow space has a long bar lit by glass-encased pendants, with vintage illustrations of horses and riders on its walls. To keep the space from feeling “too new,” they brought in hand-me-downs from their other spaces, including pre-loved tables from Hank’s. 

The bar’s general manager, Skyler Spaulding, has worked for CMJ hospitality for more than seven years, most recently as general manager of Sidebar. Spaulding says Mr. Henry’s menu is robust and there’s an array of approachable cocktails, beer and wines for any situation, from friends looking for a casual drink before heading to a comedy show next door at Goodnight’s to couples wanting an intimate nightcap after dinner at a nearby restaurant like Tazza or Piccola Italia.

“It’s a small space, and we decided to keep it strictly a bar, and for ages 21 and over. No televisions. We really wanted to focus on creating an exceptional drinking and conversation environment,” says Matthew. 

Mr. Henry comes at a time of growth for the Village District’s nightlife, with even more bars, restaurants and a new hotel on the horizon. Matthew says his goal is for the bar to be a place for Raleighites to go in any situation. “If you want a beer and a shot, great. If you’re in the mood for a martini, perfect. Maybe you just want a glass of wine or a simple highball — we’re happy to do that too,” says Matthew. “That’s the ethos for all of our endeavors. We never want anything to feel exclusive or make anyone think they’re drinking the ‘wrong’ thing.”

Spaulding says that the bar’s mission is to serve elevated versions of classic cocktails with a Mr. Henry spin. “One of our best-selling drinks is what we call the Mr. Henry Martini,” says Spaulding. Its signature ingredient is a house-made brine. “We spent a lot of time developing it, and it really makes the drink special. It brings together a mix of flavors, like dill, classic kosher salt, even a little MSG,” he says. “It tastes like you combined every style of martini — dirty, dry, citrus-forward — and let them coexist in the same glass.”

The Bloody Mary is another staff favorite, a homemade mix with ginger, Tabasco and Worcestershire sauce. “It drinks a little bit lighter than your classic Bloody, but you still get the foundation of the tomato base,” Spaulding says.

Spaulding says that at first glance, the bar may come across formal or fancy, but the team wants everyone to feel welcome and at home at Mr. Henry. “It’s really not that precious. It’s for anyone, anytime,” Catherine says. “Maybe it’s your quick stop on the way home after work. Maybe it’s a special occasion. Or maybe it’s just a random Tuesday. All of that is welcome.”  

This article originally appeared in the January 2026 issue of WALTER magazine.