47 Best Bars in Durham

“Absolutely Outstanding. I heard after about the Michelin nod. We are new to town and have been so pleased wit the quality of fine dining and innovation in this small city. We look forward to many more opportunities to experience what was a flawless dining experience at Little Bull. Delicious.“

“Recently visited this location for a team building activity. Our instructor was knowledgeable, engaging, and made sure everyone in our group felt comfortable. They gave us tips on technique, safety, and helped us organize a tournament. Highly recommended for any organization or group of friends looking for a unique and competitive experience!“

“I love Ally 26, the atmosphere is wonderful. The staff is always friendly and knowledgeable. The drink selection creative with many great options to choose from.“

“Great fun with the family“

“Went here for late night drinks with friends and really enjoyed it!

It has three different areas that have different vibes to them without feeling disconnected. Inside there is more dancing bar feel, the lower outdoor area is more of a chill bar area, and the upper areas is great with the rooftop bar. So depending on your mood, this is kind of a one stop shop.“

“Lovely bar with delicious beers. Lots of games and comfy seating and dog-friendly!“

“My band played here last night, and we were treated with fabulous hospitality and warm vibes! The cocktails were fantastic and the bartender had a great personality. The ambience is just perfect and we would definitely return as patrons AND as musicians to this cool little spot <3“

“Great food, drinks, service and atmosphere. Very small and intimate. Loved the ambiance“

“Awesome beer selection, atmosphere & live music!“

“We were in town for a show at the Carolina. We walked in and had a lovely surprise .. a great meal and good atmosphere. Next time we are town we will come back.“

“Great atmosphere fun, friendly staff. Drinks were on point. We loved the Apple Bottom Jeans and Winter Crème Brûlée both were absolutely delish😋“

“Awesome indoor and outdoor seating options, cool vintage interior touches. Always an interesting selection of draft beers, plus basic shots & classy cocktails.“

“My partner and I recently did a wine tasting event with the owner, Esteban, and loved it. He was super engaging, unpretentious, and informative. The tasting was appropriate for both a casual drinker and sommelier level, since it was a small group and he was able to tailor his commentary accordingly. The wines selected are those that I would have not been exposed to otherwise which was a real treat - I feel like the tasting opened up a door into a new world for us!

It would be really great if they would start offering a bit more food service (e.g., bread and butter, cheese, etc), even if it’s super limited. I know I would come more often if I could get a little nibble with my drink.“

“Had a great time!! The bartender was very helpful in choosing different wines. I really enjoyed the DJ.“

“Motorco is a solid venue with a bar and small restaurant bar next to it. There's paid parking nearby and street parking. Free water is available. Additionally there is seating for about 20 people if you get there early enough. Sound quality is solid. Been to 3 concerts at this venue so far and all have been great.“

“We had an afternoon of Whiskey tasting. it was absolutely incredible the guy (Duke) was so knowledgeable about everything whiskey. We tried 6 completely different but all incredible whiskeys (well except the Ardberg).“

“Recently discovered this place the last few months and have enjoyed coming here for drinks. There was this place in NYC that had Pickletini and I had to try it here as I haven't seen it anywhere else. While it was good, it was too pickley for more, they have other cocktails on their menu that I've enjoyed as alternatives.

Overall, good place to have a lowkey hang out night.

(See pictures in Photos section)“

“great scene, great beverages, super chill“

“Bralie’s Sports Bar is hands down one of the best spots around for great food, fun, and entertainment. The food is outstanding every time — fresh, flavorful, and way better than you would expect from a sports bar. Whether you’re stopping in for a quick meal or spending the night with friends, the menu never disappoints.

The customer service is equally impressive. The staff is always friendly, attentive, and welcoming, making the atmosphere feel comfortable and relaxed from the moment you walk in.

What really sets Bralie’s apart is the entertainment. There’s always something going on during nights and weekends, making it a perfect place to catch a game, enjoy live entertainment, or just have a great night out. Highly recommend checking this place out if you want excellent food, great service, and a fun atmosphere all in one spot.“

“In my opinion the best Indian restaurant in our area. The food was interesting and well cooked. We will visit again.“

“The owners, staff, regular patrons and newer customers are what Durham and Orange County are all about..Fun, Friends, and an owner who can win all dance contests that are held to raise money for the many different charities and community needs that need local support. Thank you, Milkcarton“

“Good time with friends and games. Grab a nice drink its chill

Vegetarian options: Yes

Dietary restrictions: No

Parking: Brightleaf

Kid-friendliness: Yes

Wheelchair accessibility: Yes“

“First time! Met a friend for a working lunch. I’ll be back!!“

“Coffee martini is the best“

“Had a killer time watching the Rattletraps last night! Bar is cool, funky, cozy. Awesome staff and a great sound system.“

“Great food, drinks, service and atmosphere. Very small and intimate. Loved the ambiance“

“Visiting Weldon Mills Distillery was truly an unforgettable experience. The tour was nothing short of amazing — not only was it incredibly educational, but it was also engaging from start to finish. You can really feel the passion and craftsmanship behind every step of their process, and the guides do a fantastic job of bringing the history and science of distilling to life. Customer service was top notch. Everyone we met was warm, welcoming, and knowledgeable, making us feel right at home the moment we walked in. It’s clear that the staff genuinely care about the quality of their product and the experience of their guests. And the drinks? Absolutely incredible. Whether you’re a seasoned bourbon lover or just curious to try something new, their spirits are smooth, flavorful, and expertly crafted. Each pour tells a story, and it’s clear why Weldon Mills is earning a reputation as one of the best distilleries in the region. Highly recommend this stop to anyone traveling through North Carolina — you won’t be disappointed.“

“Right in the center of town and basically everything! Come check it out.“

“Definitely a fun place to go and while away a couple of hours! When you first enter, you have to give them your ID to scan, which seems a bit weird to me, even though it IS a bar because they just look at your ID back where I live. Not sure why they scan it here.

As others have mentioned, you purchase tokens here to play the games. You basically get 3 tokens per dollar and can pay cash, Visa, or MasterCard. So be aware the token machine does NOT take Discover (how 1980's). There are cups by the token machine to hold your tokens, which I appreciated. There is a place as you leave to drop your used token cup in a bin by the exit.

The pinball machines all take 4 tokens. The claw machines also take 4 tokens. Skee ball and basketball require 4 tokens. All the newer games require 4 tokens. Now, there are multiple older standup machines that only take 1 token, like Ms. Pac Man, Donkey Kong, Galactica, Frogger, Street Fighter, Dig Dug, etc. I also saw a few multi-player games around the edge of the room, it they were constantly full, so I have no idea on cost for those.

You can also get a little bit of food if you like and all kinds of alcoholic drinks (It is a bar after all). There is a station to get water with clean cups that appears to be free of charge.

I appreciated how roomy each stall in the restroom is, and at least in the ladies, there were cup holders for your token cup!

Definitely a fun place. Oh, even though it is a bar, at least when we were there in the early afternoon, there were a lot of families and little kids. I think I saw somewhere that an adult is required to enter with kids, and also maybe that kids are not allowed in after a certain time of night.“

“Queereoke was a lot of fun, great tunes, lots of dancing, and fun people.“

“Food was good and served quick. Service was outstanding. We sat in the bar area and our server was quick“

“The food is delicious. My blacked pulled chicken torta was moist and full of flavor. You should definitely try the place out.“

“Great place for beer and pool.“

“My daughter had her birthday party here in one of the private rooms (GENIUS!) and it was one of the best nights of her life! There is nothing that could have made the night a better experience for her. Thank you for offering this service!“

“Our first time dining here and definitely won’t be our last. Everything was exceptional best fries, delicious beet salad. Great gluten free options. Staff super friendly and efficient. Atmosphere was jazzy cool. Our waiter Ryan was great and made the best Arnold Palmers. 10 stars“

“I want to express praise and gratitude to Desmond at the Durham Hotel. I had been calling the rooftop restaurant for a couple of weeks to try and modify a reservation for a birthday party and after five or six attempts, they had not called me back. I eventually called the hotel and Desmond answered and even though it is completely separate and outside of his job responsibilities, he took down all my information and reached out to them on my behalf . Desmond was able to modify my reservation so that I did not have to drive down there an hour each way. He was very professional and I enjoyed talking with him. He is definitely in the right line of work because I felt like I was talking to a friend. Details matter, and Customer Service should still matter. Thank you, Desmond!! Sincerely, William / reservation 9546“

“Had very relaxing time with family. The food was enjoyable.“

“Lunch yesterday Cesar salad vert good Eggplant parm excellent Pasta with meatballs excellent Pasta cooked as requested al dente---sauce very good Will be going back Best eggplant parm we had in the triangle Worth a trip for lunch or dinner“

“Just delicious and fantastic staff“

“ordered 2 pizzas one was gluten-free. we were pleased and tried 2 appetizers and both desserts. thank you our expectations were met.“

“The food was great and the service was excellent! I highly recommend it!“

“I have ordered several custom cakes for special occasions and they have all been delicious! I have a gluten and dairy intolerance and they do an amazing job accommodating both and taking the time to discuss with me my options for cake, frosting and filling flavors. The rest of my family (who can eat gluten and dairy) even LOVE these cakes. They say that they can't tell the difference! The chocolate cake is our favorite.“

“Had the brisket and bbq platter and it was good. I’m stuffed!“

“Fabulous food-great vibe-amazing staff! Love stopping in. What a gem to stumble across.“

“As someone who’s from Philly and came here for a festival that got cancelled (sadly, F Blue ridge rock fest!!🙄) we came here because we heard it was a good place to watch the eagles game and it definitely delivered !!! The vibes and the great energy made it feel like we were back home and definitely the spot to catch the game. & the food was fantastic as well. If I’d ever be back in the area, I’d for sure come back here for a game & some good food!“

“unless you were raised in the hood and like ratchet activity I do NOT recommend this establishment 😭 instead of just just getting a drink...you may get a free workout in once bullets start flying (hope you got running shoes) because people can't control their liquor or emotions.“