Berit's Durham Guidebook
Favorite Casual Restaurants
Some of our favorite everyday go-to's!
Most are within just a few miles of the house
It's our go-to Asian takeout, with buy-one-get-one sushi rolls. good Chinese, and Thai dishes
Peony Asian Bistro
3515 Witherspoon BlvdIt's our go-to Asian takeout, with buy-one-get-one sushi rolls. good Chinese, and Thai dishes
Yummy grilled burgers and so many milkshake choices! Try the Watermelon milkshake in the summer and the Cheesecake milkshake if you're really going for it!
Super close to the house
8 locals recommend
Cook Out
3624 Hillsborough RdYummy grilled burgers and so many milkshake choices! Try the Watermelon milkshake in the summer and the Cheesecake milkshake if you're really going for it!
Super close to the house
Bojangles
4600 Garrett RdBiscuits and sweet tea! Less than 5 minutes from the house!
Just look for the cow on the roof😁Love this fast, counter service Durham staple! Always super delicious tacos, tortas, mole, etc
About 5 minutes from the house!
21 locals recommend
Taqueria La Vaquita
2700 Chapel Hill RdJust look for the cow on the roof😁Love this fast, counter service Durham staple! Always super delicious tacos, tortas, mole, etc
About 5 minutes from the house!
Pie Pushers
117A W Main StSoooooo good! Both the restuarant downtown and the food truck.
Fun Mexican restaurant near campus. Delicious burritos and open late night. Watch out for the stairs on the way down!
28 locals recommend
Cosmic Cantina
1920 Perry StFun Mexican restaurant near campus. Delicious burritos and open late night. Watch out for the stairs on the way down!
Dashi
415 E Chapel Hill StDelicious and fun ramen bar downtown.
A must-try! NC Seafood by a James Beard Award winner in a fun, casual spot nearby. The menu changes daily according to what's fresh and in season on the coast!
Saltbox Seafood Joint
A must-try! NC Seafood by a James Beard Award winner in a fun, casual spot nearby. The menu changes daily according to what's fresh and in season on the coast!
Classic NC BBQ joint called "legendary" by Southern Living Magazine. Try the pulled pork with some of their great sides and hushpuppies!
15 locals recommend
Backyard BBQ Pit
5122 NC-55Classic NC BBQ joint called "legendary" by Southern Living Magazine. Try the pulled pork with some of their great sides and hushpuppies!
Ideal's Sandwich and Grocery
A little further away in East Durham, but 100% worth the drive!
First Watch
Yummy breakfast, brunch & lunch chain close to the house
Great crowd pleaser for all ages in the warehouse district downtown. Awesome brunch and fun bar.
79 locals recommend
Geer Street Garden
644 Foster StGreat crowd pleaser for all ages in the warehouse district downtown. Awesome brunch and fun bar.
Fast and delicious, this counter-service wood fired pizza is close to the house and has lots of fun options.
Blaze Pizza
Fast and delicious, this counter-service wood fired pizza is close to the house and has lots of fun options.
Favorite Less Casual Restaurants
Some of our favorite places for date nights, introducing visitors to Durham, and other special occasions. Be sure to check websites for hours and other helpful info!
One of our favorites!! My brother-in-law, David Alworth, is the executive chef here.😊 German and southern influenced menu, beautiful indoor and outdoor dining spaces, a fun bar, and great service. Brunch and lunch counter service, table service for dinner. Delicious bakery next door.
Close to the house!
128 locals recommend
Guglhupf Bakery, Cafe & Biergarten
2706 Durham-Chapel Hill BlvdOne of our favorites!! My brother-in-law, David Alworth, is the executive chef here.😊 German and southern influenced menu, beautiful indoor and outdoor dining spaces, a fun bar, and great service. Brunch and lunch counter service, table service for dinner. Delicious bakery next door.
Close to the house!
incredible Italian in cozy space. great service. dinner Tues-Sat
https://www.gocciolina.com/
39 locals recommend
Gocciolina
3314 Guess Rdincredible Italian in cozy space. great service. dinner Tues-Sat
https://www.gocciolina.com/
Love this restaurant so much! Classic French bistro. perfect for date night or any night!
50 locals recommend
Vin Rouge
2010 Hillsborough RdLove this restaurant so much! Classic French bistro. perfect for date night or any night!
Durham staple created by one of the leaders of the charge to turn Durham into a foodie town. Gorgeous setting, top notch service, 5 star food.
https://www.parizadedurham.com/
9 locals recommend
Parizade
2200 W Main StDurham staple created by one of the leaders of the charge to turn Durham into a foodie town. Gorgeous setting, top notch service, 5 star food.
https://www.parizadedurham.com/
soooo good! southern influenced Spanish tapas. dinner service only https://mateotapas.com/
103 locals recommend
Mateo Bar de Tapas
109 W Chapel Hill Stsoooo good! southern influenced Spanish tapas. dinner service only https://mateotapas.com/
great sushi and small plates downtown. https://www.m-restaurants.com/m-sushi
61 locals recommend
M Sushi
311 Holland Stgreat sushi and small plates downtown. https://www.m-restaurants.com/m-sushi
Fantastic steakhouse by a longtime Durham restauranteur. It's in a cool space downtown next to the Durham Performing Arts Center.
16 locals recommend
NanaSteak
345 Blackwell StFantastic steakhouse by a longtime Durham restauranteur. It's in a cool space downtown next to the Durham Performing Arts Center.
Modern Indian food with craft cocktails in a fancy English pub setting downtown
28 locals recommend
Viceroy
335 W Main StModern Indian food with craft cocktails in a fancy English pub setting downtown
Sooooo special and sooooo good! The reincarnation of one of the first big deal restaurants on the Durham scene!
Nanas
Sooooo special and sooooo good! The reincarnation of one of the first big deal restaurants on the Durham scene!
Traditional Ethiopian restauraunt with a modern twist. Located on Main Street with a great patio for people watching.
13 locals recommend
Goorsha
910 W Main StTraditional Ethiopian restauraunt with a modern twist. Located on Main Street with a great patio for people watching.
Bars + Breweries + Nightlife
neighborhood-y (dive-y) Irish bar with good food
14 locals recommend
James Joyce Irish Pub and Restaurant
912 W Main Stneighborhood-y (dive-y) Irish bar with good food
Alley Twenty Six
320 E Chapel Hill Stfamous for fancy cocktails and their burger
great music venue in warehouse district with lots of outdoor space and good food
106 locals recommend
Motorco Music Hall
723 Rigsbee Avegreat music venue in warehouse district with lots of outdoor space and good food
A Durham favorite! Located in the warehosue district near Motorco and other fun bars within walking distance.
137 locals recommend
Fullsteam Brewery
726 Rigsbee AveA Durham favorite! Located in the warehosue district near Motorco and other fun bars within walking distance.
The Blue Note Grill
709 Washington Stlive music & casual food
Shooters II
827 W Morgan StDuke student hangout with mechanical bull and dance music
Boxcar Bar + Arcade
621 Foster Stbeautiful mid century modern hotel and bar downtown. chef is a James Beard award winner.
17 locals recommend
The Roof at The Durham
315 E Chapel Hill Stbeautiful mid century modern hotel and bar downtown. chef is a James Beard award winner.
intimate tarot themed space with craft cocktails and a variety of artistic events
https://arcanadurham.com/#home
19 locals recommend
Arcana
331 W Main Stintimate tarot themed space with craft cocktails and a variety of artistic events
https://arcanadurham.com/#home
Outdoor Adventures and Playgrounds
get some fresh air and stretch your legs! some of the best places in the area to explore!
check out https://www.alltrails.com/lists/durham-nc--4 for info about all kinds of local hikes!
Over 7000 acres of research forest spread across 3 counties. great place to hike and explore. recommend using the Alltrails website for info on specific trails. Several trail heads are close by the house! Be sure not to miss a tour of the Lemur Center!!
40 locals recommend
Duke Forest
North Carolina 751Over 7000 acres of research forest spread across 3 counties. great place to hike and explore. recommend using the Alltrails website for info on specific trails. Several trail heads are close by the house! Be sure not to miss a tour of the Lemur Center!!
only 1.5 miles away! low-intensity, peaceful hike. nice creek for dogs and kids( maybe grown ups too 😁) and trails connect to Duke Forest if you'd like to do some longer hikes.
Hollow Rock Nature Park
692 Erwin Rdonly 1.5 miles away! low-intensity, peaceful hike. nice creek for dogs and kids( maybe grown ups too 😁) and trails connect to Duke Forest if you'd like to do some longer hikes.
Brightleaf Stables
1215 Sherron Roadguided trail rides! great horses and owned/operated by a super nice family
historic mill and home sites with great trails and swimming holes along the Eno
https://www.ncparks.gov/eno-river-state-park/home
215 locals recommend
Eno River State Park
6101 Cole Mill Rdhistoric mill and home sites with great trails and swimming holes along the Eno
https://www.ncparks.gov/eno-river-state-park/home
Old Chapel Hill Road Park Playground
4652-4730 Old Chapel Hill RdOne of the coolest playgrounds in Durham!
The closest playground to the house. Play structures are best suited for smaller kids plus some fun climbing rocks and other unique things. There's a paved path for bikes and scooters, and a disc golf course too!
Cornwallis Road Park
2830 Wade RoadThe closest playground to the house. Play structures are best suited for smaller kids plus some fun climbing rocks and other unique things. There's a paved path for bikes and scooters, and a disc golf course too!
Fun outings
a world class treasure! 55 acre botanical gardens on Duke's campus
https://gardens.duke.edu/covid-19-closure
378 locals recommend
Sarah P. Duke Gardens
420 Anderson Sta world class treasure! 55 acre botanical gardens on Duke's campus
https://gardens.duke.edu/covid-19-closure
Durham Bulls Athletic Park
409 Blackwell Stawesome way to spend the day. not just for kids either!
https://www.lifeandscience.org/
203 locals recommend
Museum of Life + Science
433 W Murray Aveawesome way to spend the day. not just for kids either!
https://www.lifeandscience.org/
Go wander and see what you find! So many great restaurants, shop and things to see!
30 locals recommend
Downtown
Go wander and see what you find! So many great restaurants, shop and things to see!
Founded in 1754, Hillsborough is a quaint, lively town with fun shopping, restaurants and gorgeous historical homes. About 15 min away.
43 locals recommend
Hillsborough
Founded in 1754, Hillsborough is a quaint, lively town with fun shopping, restaurants and gorgeous historical homes. About 15 min away.
downtown and open year round! open Saturday mornings all year and Wednesday afternoons April to October.
all local farmers offering produce, meats, flowers, honey, etc.
local artisans often set up pop up tents along the outskirts of the market
https://durhamfarmersmarket.com/
106 locals recommend
Durham Farmers' Market
501 Foster Stdowntown and open year round! open Saturday mornings all year and Wednesday afternoons April to October.
all local farmers offering produce, meats, flowers, honey, etc.
local artisans often set up pop up tents along the outskirts of the market
https://durhamfarmersmarket.com/
West Franklin Street
West Franklin Streetmain drag for UNC campus. great eating and shopping
beautiful restoration of the historic American Tobacco factories. great place to wander or eat before a Durham Bulls game.
116 locals recommend
American Tobacco Campus
300 Blackwell Stbeautiful restoration of the historic American Tobacco factories. great place to wander or eat before a Durham Bulls game.
catch a top notch traveling Broadway show, great concerts and comedy too!
https://www.dpacnc.com/home
244 locals recommend
DPAC - Durham Performing Arts Center
123 Vivian Streetcatch a top notch traveling Broadway show, great concerts and comedy too!
https://www.dpacnc.com/home
fantastic example of gothic cathedral architecture right here in Durham. non-denominational Sunday services are open to the public with special services on holidays
https://chapel.duke.edu/
45 locals recommend
Duke University Chapel
401 Chapel Drfantastic example of gothic cathedral architecture right here in Durham. non-denominational Sunday services are open to the public with special services on holidays
https://chapel.duke.edu/