Guidebook for Durham
Food Scene
It's impossible to tally the time we've spent at our beloved McCabe's. In the warm weather you'll find us in their expansive fenced yard just steps from the loft, chasing our toddler around.
42 locals recommend
Bull McCabe's Irish Pub
427 W Main StIt's impossible to tally the time we've spent at our beloved McCabe's. In the warm weather you'll find us in their expansive fenced yard just steps from the loft, chasing our toddler around.
Our go-to date night... or friend dinner... or lunch. ALL the pizzas are amazing, and try the kale salad and the burrata.
105 locals recommend
Pizzeria Toro
105 E Chapel Hill StOur go-to date night... or friend dinner... or lunch. ALL the pizzas are amazing, and try the kale salad and the burrata.
Mateo Bar de Tapas
109 W Chapel Hill StAward-winning and for a good reason.
Soooo good and filling. Make sure you budget time to wait in line if you don't have a reservation! But it's worth it for the schmears...
68 locals recommend
Dame's Chicken & Waffles
530 Foster StSoooo good and filling. Make sure you budget time to wait in line if you don't have a reservation! But it's worth it for the schmears...
Right around the corner - best little sandwich shop in town. Full of locally sourced ingredients.
49 locals recommend
Toast
345 W Main StRight around the corner - best little sandwich shop in town. Full of locally sourced ingredients.
Taberna Tapas
325 W Main StRight downstairs from the loft!
The Parlour
117 Market StDo not miss the salted caramel ice cream...
A Durham mainstay. Local stores carry their bread, but you can also stop in for a delicious and affordable lunch or snack. Right across the street from the loft!
16 locals recommend
Ninth Street Bakery
136 E Chapel Hill StA Durham mainstay. Local stores carry their bread, but you can also stop in for a delicious and affordable lunch or snack. Right across the street from the loft!
Loaf
111 W Parrish StOur favorite bakery in downtown.
Great for lunch or coffee and a snack. Try the buttermilk donut muffins and the chocolate crostata.
31 locals recommend
Scratch Bakery
111 Orange StreetGreat for lunch or coffee and a snack. Try the buttermilk donut muffins and the chocolate crostata.
Fantastic ramen owned by some of our favorite local entrepreneurs and people. Make sure to check out the upstairs izakaya for a wide sake, wine, and small plates selection.
56 locals recommend
Dashi
415 E Chapel Hill StFantastic ramen owned by some of our favorite local entrepreneurs and people. Make sure to check out the upstairs izakaya for a wide sake, wine, and small plates selection.
Same owner as Bull City Burger and Brewery. The margarita pizza is the best - be prepared to be handed a pair of scissors to cut your own slices!
28 locals recommend
Pompieri Pizza
102 City Hall PlazaSame owner as Bull City Burger and Brewery. The margarita pizza is the best - be prepared to be handed a pair of scissors to cut your own slices!
Pasture-raised beef and seasonal toppings. House-made buns. Great house-made beer selection, too. Kid-friendly. Enjoy the back patio in warmer weather.
88 locals recommend
Bull City Burger and Brewery
107 E Parrish StPasture-raised beef and seasonal toppings. House-made buns. Great house-made beer selection, too. Kid-friendly. Enjoy the back patio in warmer weather.
Just opened! We'll let you know, but every time we've past in the week since opening it's been packed.
61 locals recommend
M Sushi
311 Holland StJust opened! We'll let you know, but every time we've past in the week since opening it's been packed.
Delicious empanadas, arepas, and more, and easy on the eyes, too. Rumors of outdoor seating in the spring.
50 locals recommend
Luna Rotisserie and Empanadas
112 W Main StDelicious empanadas, arepas, and more, and easy on the eyes, too. Rumors of outdoor seating in the spring.
Rue Cler
401 E Chapel Hill StClassic French fare
In the brand-new 21C Hotel and Art Museum, the Counting House is wonderful place for an upscale dinner and hours spent perusing the world-class 25/7 galleries.
11 locals recommend
Counting House
111 Corcoran StIn the brand-new 21C Hotel and Art Museum, the Counting House is wonderful place for an upscale dinner and hours spent perusing the world-class 25/7 galleries.
We don't normally recommend places that aren't right downtown... but this one is a rare exception. Incredible Italian food, unpretentious but warm atmosphere, just awesome.
39 locals recommend
Gocciolina
3314 Guess RdWe don't normally recommend places that aren't right downtown... but this one is a rare exception. Incredible Italian food, unpretentious but warm atmosphere, just awesome.
Cuban pressed sandwiches, tropical and airy feel.
15 locals recommend
Old Havana Sandwich Shop and Cafe
310 E Main StCuban pressed sandwiches, tropical and airy feel.
Practically right downstairs. Decent coffee, good food and desserts - but best of all, amazing live jazz many nights of the week, and sometimes weekend brunches too.
63 locals recommend
Beyú Caffè
341 W Main StPractically right downstairs. Decent coffee, good food and desserts - but best of all, amazing live jazz many nights of the week, and sometimes weekend brunches too.
Affordable and delicious small bites. Make friends at the many picnic tables outside.
20 locals recommend
Parts & Labor
723 Rigsbee AvenueAffordable and delicious small bites. Make friends at the many picnic tables outside.
Cocoa Cinnamon
420 W Geer StUnique local coffee venue. Try the Italian hot chocolate.
One of our go-to dining spots for the breezy, comfortable atmosphere and solid menu.
79 locals recommend
Geer Street Garden
644 Foster StOne of our go-to dining spots for the breezy, comfortable atmosphere and solid menu.
A Durham classic burger stand. Limited hours, but worth seeking out.
17 locals recommend
King's Sandwich Shop
701 Foster StA Durham classic burger stand. Limited hours, but worth seeking out.
Shopping
Say hi to our friend Land, the awesome owner! He has great taste in books and is happy to make recommendations. Support our local bookstores!
7 locals recommend
Letters Bookshop
116 W Main StSay hi to our friend Land, the awesome owner! He has great taste in books and is happy to make recommendations. Support our local bookstores!
Chet Miller
118 W Parrish StDrool-worthy gift and home shop by the same owner of Parker and Otis, another favorite.
Dolly's Vintage
213 W Main StWonderful local gift shop, with vintage goodies to boot.
The Mothership
401 W Geer StLocal NC makers! Wonderful place to shop for gifts.
Drinks & Nightlife
Sliver of a bar you'd miss if you blinked - amazing wine selection and beautiful back patio.
Bar Lusconi
117 E Main StSliver of a bar you'd miss if you blinked - amazing wine selection and beautiful back patio.
A boutique hotel, but also one of our favorite spots for a paper and a coffee in the downstairs lobby. The roof is a bar after 5 with great views of downtown. Full restaurant too w/ award willing chef
100 locals recommend
The Durham Hotel
315 E Chapel Hill StA boutique hotel, but also one of our favorite spots for a paper and a coffee in the downstairs lobby. The roof is a bar after 5 with great views of downtown. Full restaurant too w/ award willing chef
A self-proclaimed dive bar with booths and tons of board games and books.
8 locals recommend
The Atomic Fern
A self-proclaimed dive bar with booths and tons of board games and books.
106 E Main St
106 East Main StreetA good ol' neighborhood bar. Unpretentious, and one of the nicest proprietors in town.
Great drinks and French-inspired small plates. Warm and cozy, a stone's throw from DPAC and Main Street.
63 locals recommend
Bar Virgile
105 S Mangum StGreat drinks and French-inspired small plates. Warm and cozy, a stone's throw from DPAC and Main Street.
Rock's Bar and Hair Shop
119 W Main StStop in for a shave and a home brew! Hip and friendly barbershop and bar.
One of our most beloved spots since 2008. Live music, embracing and wonderful people, Durham's living room
39 locals recommend
The Pinhook
117 W Main StOne of our most beloved spots since 2008. Live music, embracing and wonderful people, Durham's living room
Alley Twenty Six
320 E Chapel Hill StKnown for some of the best cocktails and bar service in town.
Brand new tarot bar, tucked away in an atmospheric underground nook just behind the loft.
19 locals recommend
Arcana
331 W Main StBrand new tarot bar, tucked away in an atmospheric underground nook just behind the loft.
Venture just a little east for a great new brewery. You'll often find food trucks here if you're looking for a bite with your beer.
112 locals recommend
Ponysaurus Brewing Company
219 Hood StVenture just a little east for a great new brewery. You'll often find food trucks here if you're looking for a bite with your beer.
Kotuku Surf Club
703 Rigsbee AveDark and laid-back, with a huge "yard" for the warmer months.
The cornerstone of this neighborhood, which didn't exist until it came along. Try the summer basil ale! Food trucks are often found outside.
137 locals recommend
Fullsteam Brewery
726 Rigsbee AveThe cornerstone of this neighborhood, which didn't exist until it came along. Try the summer basil ale! Food trucks are often found outside.
Arts & Culture
The art galleries here are open to the public and really incredible. Stop in for a drink at the bar and say hi to the magenta penguins!
62 locals recommend
21c Museum Hotel Durham
111 North Corcoran StThe art galleries here are open to the public and really incredible. Stop in for a drink at the bar and say hi to the magenta penguins!
Just celebrated its 90th anniversary! Catch a movie, film festival, or a live show. We adore this theater.
104 locals recommend
Carolina Theatre
309 W Morgan StJust celebrated its 90th anniversary! Catch a movie, film festival, or a live show. We adore this theater.
Music and arts venue in a great, hip part of down. Check out their outdoor restaurant, Parts & Labor.
106 locals recommend
Motorco Music Hall
723 Rigsbee AveMusic and arts venue in a great, hip part of down. Check out their outdoor restaurant, Parts & Labor.
We love Bulls games! One of the most fun and cheapest ways to spend an evening. Walk from the loft in minutes.
220 locals recommend
Durham Bulls Athletic Park
409 Blackwell StWe love Bulls games! One of the most fun and cheapest ways to spend an evening. Walk from the loft in minutes.
World-class Broadway and music. One of the best-attended theaters in the country, year after year.
244 locals recommend
DPAC - Durham Performing Arts Center
123 Vivian StreetWorld-class Broadway and music. One of the best-attended theaters in the country, year after year.
Entertainment & Activities
If you have kids, and a car, don't miss this museum. Make sure to check out the magical Hideaway Woods and the Butterfly House.
203 locals recommend
Museum of Life + Science
433 W Murray AveIf you have kids, and a car, don't miss this museum. Make sure to check out the magical Hideaway Woods and the Butterfly House.
Sightseeing
Get out in nature and visit our Eno River. Cross the swinging bridge and take a cool dip in the water. Miles and miles of trails to hike.
215 locals recommend
Eno River State Park
6101 Cole Mill RdGet out in nature and visit our Eno River. Cross the swinging bridge and take a cool dip in the water. Miles and miles of trails to hike.
There are several restaurants worth visiting here, but the main reason to go is to see an amazing renovation of Durham's tobacco past. In the summer there are often concerts on the lawn.
116 locals recommend
American Tobacco Campus
300 Blackwell StThere are several restaurants worth visiting here, but the main reason to go is to see an amazing renovation of Durham's tobacco past. In the summer there are often concerts on the lawn.
Everything Else
A great place to be on a Saturday morning, if not for the fresh veggies then for the food trucks, live music, local crafts, and more.
106 locals recommend
Durham Farmers' Market
501 Foster StA great place to be on a Saturday morning, if not for the fresh veggies then for the food trucks, live music, local crafts, and more.