Wonderful neighborhood bar. Came in during drag bingo. The staff was super attentive and overall friendly crowd. Fun environment on a weekend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Gabriel Carson
Delicious, strong cocktails and good ambience but a little small. Needs candelabras
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Shay Stamper
Really cute place, I have only been once, but will definitely be back. It seems like a great place to hang out and meet new people.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sara Schwartz
There is nothing like Arcana Bar and Lounge. The service is incredible. The vibe is great. The drinks are out of this world. The owner is AMAZING! Any event that happens at Arcana is so rad. If I could, I would be here several nights each week. I feel so lucky to have found it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Bryan Anderson
Beautifully inclusive bar. Fun place to drink and/ or dance.
Luca Calero
Very slow bar service, nearly waited 30 minutes for a drink on more than one occasional and the bar staff was not very warm or welcoming.
Breezy
Great little vibes in this place! I love the inclusivity and their events are always fun and interesting. Drinks are pretty good for the most part but occasionally I'll get a weird one. Service is consistently slow but it's a craft cocktail experience so it's to be expected. Chill place that I enjoy going to! Great music and love the tarot.
Atmosphere: 4
Service: 4
hayley linder
Dark as heck but very cozy. Bee sting is in the photo.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Sam Stein
Great place. Micah makes absolutely killer cocktails. A true mixologist. The best dirty martini I have ever had. A must visit.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Breezy S
Great little vibes in this place! I love the inclusivity and their events are always fun and interesting. Drinks are pretty good for the most part but occasionally I'll get a weird one. Service is consistently slow but it's a craft cocktail experience so it's to be expected. Chill place that I enjoy going to! Great music and love the tarot.
If you want to go somewhere totally different from other bars in Durham in a classy yet not pretentious atmosphere with a creative menu full of delicious drinks with so much intention and thought in their design this is the place for you. Arcana is not only a safe space for the LGBTQIA+ community and their allies, but such a great spot to check out local art, music, and community events. It’s been my favorite bar for years and I am never let down by the staff or the diverse crowd of regulars and new comers at this bar.
Wheelchair accessibility: They will personally send someone up with the elevator to make sure wheelchairs have accessibility to the basement bar, and will show you back to the elevator and out of the accessible entrance.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Fear Hel
In theory, this spot is really cool, but upon entry, we realized that it was flavorless and lacked diversity. We decided to give it a shot and order a couple of drinks, which were gross. We sat at the bar and while while others were served, who showed up after us. we were never greeted, and once I asked for the tab snapped at me asking for my name when we were the only people sitting at the bar. What a let down.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 1
Service: 1
Cass Anderson
vibes were immaculate
drinks were very tasty and appropriately priced
AJ Vrieze
A new lesbian bar added to the registry! The owner has real vision and the decor and atmosphere are dark, sultry and chill. The drinks are top notch, and the events are always kickin. I love this place.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Rebecca Wellons
My review for Arcana is long overdue. Let’s start with the bar basics: their cocktails are unique/well crafted/lovely with a wide variety of options and knowledgeable bartenders. The decor is moody and eclectic without being oppressive. The not-so-basics: this was one of the first bars I went to (perhaps in 2018) in downtown Durham around midnight that I felt safe/comfortable in at a subconscious level. The guests are sometimes introverted, sometimes exuberant, and usually very welcoming. It can be a little challenging to find the first time but is well worth the effort :) I’d check the event schedule before bringing my mom (it can get a little spicy) but it really depends on your mom ;)
Dietary restrictions: Many of their cocktails are already low in sugar. For those with a little more, the bartenders have been great about modifying drinks to reduce it.
Wonderful neighborhood bar. Came in during drag bingo. The staff was super attentive and overall friendly crowd. Fun environment on a weekend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Delicious, strong cocktails and good ambience but a little small. Needs candelabras
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Really cute place, I have only been once, but will definitely be back. It seems like a great place to hang out and meet new people.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
There is nothing like Arcana Bar and Lounge. The service is incredible. The vibe is great. The drinks are out of this world. The owner is AMAZING! Any event that happens at Arcana is so rad. If I could, I would be here several nights each week. I feel so lucky to have found it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Beautifully inclusive bar. Fun place to drink and/ or dance.
Very slow bar service, nearly waited 30 minutes for a drink on more than one occasional and the bar staff was not very warm or welcoming.
Great little vibes in this place! I love the inclusivity and their events are always fun and interesting. Drinks are pretty good for the most part but occasionally I'll get a weird one. Service is consistently slow but it's a craft cocktail experience so it's to be expected. Chill place that I enjoy going to! Great music and love the tarot.
Atmosphere: 4
Service: 4
Dark as heck but very cozy. Bee sting is in the photo.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Great place. Micah makes absolutely killer cocktails. A true mixologist. The best dirty martini I have ever had. A must visit.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great little vibes in this place! I love the inclusivity and their events are always fun and interesting. Drinks are pretty good for the most part but occasionally I'll get a weird one. Service is consistently slow but it's a craft cocktail experience so it's to be expected. Chill place that I enjoy going to! Great music and love the tarot.
Atmosphere: 4
Service: 4
Restaurantji Recommends
If you want to go somewhere totally different from other bars in Durham in a classy yet not pretentious atmosphere with a creative menu full of delicious drinks with so much intention and thought in their design this is the place for you. Arcana is not only a safe space for the LGBTQIA+ community and their allies, but such a great spot to check out local art, music, and community events. It’s been my favorite bar for years and I am never let down by the staff or the diverse crowd of regulars and new comers at this bar.
Wheelchair accessibility: They will personally send someone up with the elevator to make sure wheelchairs have accessibility to the basement bar, and will show you back to the elevator and out of the accessible entrance.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
In theory, this spot is really cool, but upon entry, we realized that it was flavorless and lacked diversity. We decided to give it a shot and order a couple of drinks, which were gross. We sat at the bar and while while others were served, who showed up after us. we were never greeted, and once I asked for the tab snapped at me asking for my name when we were the only people sitting at the bar. What a let down.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 1
Service: 1
vibes were immaculate
drinks were very tasty and appropriately priced
A new lesbian bar added to the registry! The owner has real vision and the decor and atmosphere are dark, sultry and chill. The drinks are top notch, and the events are always kickin. I love this place.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
My review for Arcana is long overdue. Let’s start with the bar basics: their cocktails are unique/well crafted/lovely with a wide variety of options and knowledgeable bartenders. The decor is moody and eclectic without being oppressive. The not-so-basics: this was one of the first bars I went to (perhaps in 2018) in downtown Durham around midnight that I felt safe/comfortable in at a subconscious level. The guests are sometimes introverted, sometimes exuberant, and usually very welcoming. It can be a little challenging to find the first time but is well worth the effort :) I’d check the event schedule before bringing my mom (it can get a little spicy) but it really depends on your mom ;)
Dietary restrictions: Many of their cocktails are already low in sugar. For those with a little more, the bartenders have been great about modifying drinks to reduce it.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
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