42 Best Bars in Durham

“Oh wow, this place is so wonderful. An absolutely beautiful space, really attentive and friendly staff, and delicious food. We had two cocktails, the barbacoa (favorite), ceviche (favorite), octopus and arepes (both really good). Also had the bread pudding for dessert and it was to die for!! Pricey ($150 for two), but definitely worth it for special occasions. Highly recommend this lovely restaurant! PS. Lots of GF options.“

“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.“

“Far and away one of my favorite places to take people in Durham when they visit us. Everyone who works there is so friendly. Their inside is cozy and decorated festive depending on season. Their rooftop is great and as a bonus, they offer blankets for when it gets cold. Limited food menu but what I've eaten has been good (I'm not personally going here to eat though) I'm going for their fun drinks, both cocktails and mocktails, and the view.
I do see people coming for the first time sometimes get discombobulated as to where to find it. Go in the building and take elevator and you'll see an open peachy pink door that leads to their bar.“

“This place is a little hidden in its upstairs location, but it was worth finding! There is plenty of parking-which we loved right off the bat. The atmosphere is lovely, the staff was attentive, very friendly and welcoming. We very much enjoyed our food and the relaxed vibe. (The deviled eggs are excellent!)
This is the perfect place to get together with friends for a drink, bites and a dessert. We will definitely be back.
-We even got their cheese box to take home with us! It’s so cool that they offer this on their menu and we will enjoy it very much for the upcoming holiday.“

“A lovely wine bar with a wonderful selection of orange wine! I stopped by again on my birthday a few weeks ago, and was warmly welcomed by the owner Esteban. I think Brunello focuses more on the wine than the bar. In other words, it’s a great place to try out and get educated on new wine, but it’s less “vibe-y” as a bar. I wonder if softer chairs/a couch would help. Overall highly recommend!!“

“Words will 𝔫ever suffice for the love I 𝔥ave for this establishment. It’s loyalty to what Durham represents, has always represented, and will always represent is crystallized in this safe space. With that being said, let’s keep it safe; let’s keep it real and keep rocking in our free world that we as Durham’s citizens created. God bless the Bull. Love and honour! -𝔡𝔯𝔬𝔷𝔶“

“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.“

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

“Intimate restaurant with an intimate menu. Excellent presentation and preparation“

“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!“

“Great fun with the family“

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

“Awesome beer selection, atmosphere & live music!“

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

“The Bartender's were nice and cool as hell! Arrived between after work crowd and karaoke at 7. Mixed crowd after 7 but felt welcomed and comfortable the whole time. Many things to do besides drink, which was the point during the search. Was in town on business and glad we went there. Two pool tables, darts and air hockey if you can believe it. If in Raleigh Durham area again, I will return. Hopefully that same bartender is working! ??? Had a salad, the ribeye steak sandwich and the tuna appetizer. All was good, The tuna appetizer was really good! Friends had burgers and they looked satisfied also.“

“A favorite of mine…heading there tonight!!“

“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“

“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“

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

“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).“

“One of my favorite venues! The staff is always super nice and helpful, they allow reentry for most shows, the bathrooms are clean, the sound and visuals are good, the band merch is in a good spot, etc. And if you hang around after the show, you can often meet the bands! Parking can be tricky but if you allow enough time you can find an adequate spot not super far away. The attached Parts and Labor is also dope, the cheeseburger slider and the fried cheese bites are amazing!“

“I love it! Such a dope environment for family and a nice setup! Very well done!“

“The memories as an OG Durmite here will forever be burned in my soul as mostly full of joy and comradery. However, you let sketchy people who do heinous things into the business for the sake of inclusion, and a man assaulted me in the back patio. Bring back the bouncer, these vagrants have no place in Durham. I love Accordion 🖤“

“Coffee martini is the best“

“Definitely recommend Doyle's! Great place and great people. Get you pool game on or just hang out at the bar if that's your thing. The bar tender is awesome!“

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

“(Translated by Google) A very nice place. Excellent attention, the hostess is an angel. Good prices and great products. The best smoothies in the area. 100% recommended.A very nice place. Excellent attention, the hostess is an angel. Good prices and great products. The best smoothies in the area. 100% recommended.(Original)Un lugar muy agradable. Atención excelente, la anfitriona es un ángel. Buenos precios y magníficos productos. Los mejores batidos de la zona. 100% recomendado.A very nice place. Excellent attention, the hostess is an angel. Good prices and great products. The best smoothies in the area. 100% recommended.“

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

“Really liked my time at Surf Club on a Wednesday. The place was busy but didn't feel crowded, and the bartenders were quick to serve, with several beers on steep discount (think $3-4/pour) as they were trying to open up taps for new kegs. I'm usually a brewery guy, but the divey atmosphere is fun and I'll definitely be going back.“

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

“I brought my son and nephew to enjoy some arcade games and food during the holiday weekend. My nephew doctored up his cheese pizza with all the extra seasonings and then decimated it all 😂 My son had the chicken pesto pasta and I forgot to warn him the sauce can be too oily so he didn’t get through it all since it upset his stomach. They both enjoyed their gaming and gifted some tokens to people when we left.“

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

“It was our first time going today and it certainly won't be the last! we loved everything about this place. The staff is wonderful, helpful, and very kind. she explained everything well and let us extend our reservation for another hour. Prices are very reasonable especially if you come with friends and split. the room was very comfortable and we all enjoyed having fun together.“

“Absolutely the best time in the Bull!!!“

“The security for the living room is brilliant, they were so welcoming and it’s the best place for a night out. They recommended the Camden pub afterwards, but the Camden refused us on the door because we weren’t 23.“

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

“Always good to get there early so you don't have to wait on a table.

Vegetarian options: N/a

Dietary restrictions: N/a

Parking: Park on the street or by brightleaf parking lot?

Kid-friendliness: N/a

Wheelchair accessibility: N/a“

“The Brunch food and surroundings were really lovely. But the service was much to be desired. We asked for more time to look at the menu, and then struggled to get anyone's attention for a good 10 minutes. It's really loud at brunch, which didn't bother us. But it's something to keep in mind if you are hard of hearing or you prefer a quieter brunch place. Most likely we won't be back.“

“Lovely staff, amazing service, and nice cold beer 🍻“

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

“The folks here are wonderful - staff and visitors alike. The drinks at the bar are very creative, the stout was recommended and it was actually the best stout I've had. We will be back!“