Nestled along the banks of the Neuse River, New Bern, North Carolina, is a city steeped in history, charm and culture. A unique blend of past and present, this enchanting locale has become a point of interest for fans of the popular television series Outlander.

Hopefully this summer, when the Tryon Palace gardens are at full bloom, I will get a chance to check out Tryon Palace to hear the facts versus fiction of the Outlander series. They offer a tour that explores the lives of the fictional Fraser family, their friends and their interactions with true historic figures of the Colony of North Carolina through the period of the American Revolution.

But this weekend it was frigid — especially for North Carolina — and I wanted to try a new place to warm up from the inside out! The James Drinkery, a speakeasy that opened in 2023, seemed like a fun option.

After we parked our car and began to look for The James, it became clear why it’s called a “speakeasy” — it’s tucked away in the backside of a building in a clandestine location, just like a speakeasy in the 1920s. But once you find the hidden entrance, you’re rewarded with the charming interior. A fun cushioned seat that looks like the front of a car greets visitors and offers a great photo op. Then we entered the bar area and read through the menu of interesting cocktails.

I enjoyed a Mad Hatter Tea made with blueberry gin and crème de fruits noirs (which, if I had to guess, were probably from our beloved Hackney Distillery in Washington, North Carolina), tea and lemon juice. My husband ordered his favorite, a smoked Old Fashioned. For those participating in Dry January, they offered a Pumpkin Spice Mocktail with pumpkin butter, orange juice, lemon juice and maple syrup. For the adventurous with more of a sweet tooth, the Campfire ’Smores Old Fashioned is made with Bulleit Rye Bourbon, Kahlua, Demerara and orange bitters, with a toasted marshmallow and graham cracker rim.

Campfire Smores Old Fashioned

Pumpkin Spice Mocktail

After drinks, we planned on eating dinner at one of the restaurants nearby but learned from our mistake: If you have a party of six, you’ll definitely need reservations on a Saturday night! But, luckily, I was prepared with another option in case we couldn’t get a table downtown. We had been to Saltwater Grill in Swansboro, North Carolina, and I was surprised to learn they also have a location in New Bern. So we headed just outside the city to the town of River Bend on the Trent River to Saltwater Grill at Riverbend. It’s a great location overlooking the water, and in summertime, guests can pull right up in their boats.

My friend and I had one of the specialties, Angels on Horseback, which is scallops and Atlantic shrimp wrapped with bacon and laid over house-made risotto and lobster velouté sauce, topped with asparagus, cold fresh crab meat and a drizzle of balsamic glaze reduction. Other menu items we enjoyed were blackened chicken Alfredo, the ribeye, fish tacos and she-crab soup.

Angels on Horseback

Blackened chicken Alfredo

I can’t wait to keep exploring New Bern, trying new eateries and drinkeries, and maybe I’ll finally get that tour of Tryon Palace!

— Tracey Cullen, art director