Guidebook for Durham
Food Scene
Cocoa Cinnamon
420 W Geer StA popular spot for locals. Delicious coffee!
Where Durham eats. Better than average bar food with local beers on tap and a large outdoor patio. Wednesday all beers on tap $3.50!
79 locals recommend
Geer Street Garden
644 Foster StWhere Durham eats. Better than average bar food with local beers on tap and a large outdoor patio. Wednesday all beers on tap $3.50!
(Located on 9th Street — NOT Parrish St) This is where to go for breakfast. We get bagel sandwiches, but if you have a sweet tooth the donuts are awesome. Pro tip: sit at the bar to skip the line and get counter service.
102 locals recommend
Monuts
1002 9th St(Located on 9th Street — NOT Parrish St) This is where to go for breakfast. We get bagel sandwiches, but if you have a sweet tooth the donuts are awesome. Pro tip: sit at the bar to skip the line and get counter service.
Take your tastebuds on tapas date. Spanish tradition meets southern ingredients in this dimly lit den of deliciousness.
103 locals recommend
Mateo Bar de Tapas
109 W Chapel Hill StTake your tastebuds on tapas date. Spanish tradition meets southern ingredients in this dimly lit den of deliciousness.
Enjoy fancy wood fired pizza in this popular downtown spot. Open for lunch too! Pro tip: if there's a wait go through the restaurant and sit at the bar to eat. And always get the amazing kale salad!
105 locals recommend
Pizzeria Toro
105 E Chapel Hill StEnjoy fancy wood fired pizza in this popular downtown spot. Open for lunch too! Pro tip: if there's a wait go through the restaurant and sit at the bar to eat. And always get the amazing kale salad!
Casual but delicious brick oven pizza. Also they get their beers freshly brewed from next door Bull City Burger and Brew.
28 locals recommend
Pompieri Pizza
102 City Hall PlazaCasual but delicious brick oven pizza. Also they get their beers freshly brewed from next door Bull City Burger and Brew.
Great burgers in a casual atmosphere. Grab a menu in line and order at the counter. They brew their own beer here as well!
88 locals recommend
Bull City Burger and Brewery
107 E Parrish StGreat burgers in a casual atmosphere. Grab a menu in line and order at the counter. They brew their own beer here as well!
Durham's original neighborhood bar. Above average bar food selection and great people watching on the front patio. A Durham tradition.
30 locals recommend
Federal
914 W Main StDurham's original neighborhood bar. Above average bar food selection and great people watching on the front patio. A Durham tradition.
Drinks & Nightlife
Motorco is part music venue, part beer garden, all Durham. The place to run into locals. The music hall has world class performances, while the beer garden has long outdoor tables and snacks. A great place to people watch at the intersection of Geer and Rigsbee.
106 locals recommend
Motorco Music Hall
723 Rigsbee AveMotorco is part music venue, part beer garden, all Durham. The place to run into locals. The music hall has world class performances, while the beer garden has long outdoor tables and snacks. A great place to people watch at the intersection of Geer and Rigsbee.
This brewery often has a food truck out front, dogs inside, and kids everywhere.
137 locals recommend
Fullsteam Brewery
726 Rigsbee AveThis brewery often has a food truck out front, dogs inside, and kids everywhere.
Durham's long-time LGBTQ & Friends nightclub features the only dedicated dance floor downtown, as well as large back porch and lawn games. Check their webpage for nightly events including drag shows, karaoke, dance parties, and more.
11 locals recommend
The Bar Durham
711 Rigsbee AveDurham's long-time LGBTQ & Friends nightclub features the only dedicated dance floor downtown, as well as large back porch and lawn games. Check their webpage for nightly events including drag shows, karaoke, dance parties, and more.
Keeping Durham Durty "Since Forever". Good for indie music shows, dance parties, or just a dive-nightclub vibe. Take advantage of the earplugs for sale behind the bar when there's live music.
39 locals recommend
The Pinhook
117 W Main StKeeping Durham Durty "Since Forever". Good for indie music shows, dance parties, or just a dive-nightclub vibe. Take advantage of the earplugs for sale behind the bar when there's live music.
BOARD GAMES! And comic books! And reasonably priced beverages. And a totally unpretentious vibe.
8 locals recommend
The Atomic Fern
BOARD GAMES! And comic books! And reasonably priced beverages. And a totally unpretentious vibe.
An absolute must for sunset on a pretty day. The rooftop at The Durham Hotel is the best view around. Just walk right into the hotel lobby and keep left around to the elevators. Go all the way up to the roof top.
100 locals recommend
The Durham Hotel
315 E Chapel Hill StAn absolute must for sunset on a pretty day. The rooftop at The Durham Hotel is the best view around. Just walk right into the hotel lobby and keep left around to the elevators. Go all the way up to the roof top.
Social Games and Brews
1007 W Main StA bar meets an arcade. Great beer selection and often a food truck out front.
Bar Virgile
105 S Mangum StA fancy bar with fancy cocktails and little snack plates.
Green Room
1108 Broad StPool hall / Durham dive.
Sightseeing
Duke Gardens are truly a wonder to behold. From the asiatic arboretum to the english formal gardens to the native forest to the duck pond. Do yourself a favor and get lost in this free and open to the public extensive gardens.
378 locals recommend
Sarah P. Duke Gardens
420 Anderson StDuke Gardens are truly a wonder to behold. From the asiatic arboretum to the english formal gardens to the native forest to the duck pond. Do yourself a favor and get lost in this free and open to the public extensive gardens.
Take a stroll through the American Tobacco Campus. Once home to large scale tobacco manufacturing, the iconic Lucky Strike water tower and smoke stack still define the Durham skyline.
116 locals recommend
American Tobacco Campus
300 Blackwell StTake a stroll through the American Tobacco Campus. Once home to large scale tobacco manufacturing, the iconic Lucky Strike water tower and smoke stack still define the Durham skyline.
Parks & Nature
The Eno River is a beautiful and easily accessible natural resource. Extensive hiking trails, swimming holes, and historic elements make for endless discovery.
215 locals recommend
Eno River State Park
6101 Cole Mill RdThe Eno River is a beautiful and easily accessible natural resource. Extensive hiking trails, swimming holes, and historic elements make for endless discovery.
This city park features historic buildings, extensive grounds, a working grist mill, hiking trails, and a large dam.
30 locals recommend
West Point on the Eno
5101 N Roxboro StThis city park features historic buildings, extensive grounds, a working grist mill, hiking trails, and a large dam.
Durham Central park is the "Bull City's Backyard". This large urban park features open fields, woods, gardens, a skate park, and a large pavilion which is home to Durham's Farmers Market. Check DCP's website for information on free concerts and other events.
20 locals recommend
Durham Central Park
501 Foster StDurham Central park is the "Bull City's Backyard". This large urban park features open fields, woods, gardens, a skate park, and a large pavilion which is home to Durham's Farmers Market. Check DCP's website for information on free concerts and other events.
This walking and biking trail runs from Trinity Avenue north to Northgate Park. A little slice of nature through the heart of the city.
8 locals recommend
Ellerbee Creek Trail
Ellerbee Creek TrailThis walking and biking trail runs from Trinity Avenue north to Northgate Park. A little slice of nature through the heart of the city.
Trail runs from downtown Durham south all the way to Southpoint mall. Great for biking.
106 locals recommend
American Tobacco Trail
7616 Fayetteville RdTrail runs from downtown Durham south all the way to Southpoint mall. Great for biking.
Arts & Culture
A museum, hotel, and restaurant. Galleries are free and open to the public. Be sure to make your way to the basement to brave the old bank vault, and the walk around the old bank vault!
62 locals recommend
21c Museum Hotel Durham
111 North Corcoran StA museum, hotel, and restaurant. Galleries are free and open to the public. Be sure to make your way to the basement to brave the old bank vault, and the walk around the old bank vault!
Duke University's Nasher Museum of Art offers an extensive permanent collection and impressive traveling exhibits. Large patio serves lunch and brunch on weekends.
70 locals recommend
Nasher Museum of Art
2001 Campus DriveDuke University's Nasher Museum of Art offers an extensive permanent collection and impressive traveling exhibits. Large patio serves lunch and brunch on weekends.
Gorgeous historic independent theater hosts musical acts, and has a small movie theater. Local beer on tap too!
104 locals recommend
Carolina Theatre
309 W Morgan StGorgeous historic independent theater hosts musical acts, and has a small movie theater. Local beer on tap too!
Museum of Durham History
500 W Main StA little taste of Durham history!
Historic tobacco homestead and interactive tobacco museum. A great place to bring a picnic.
10 locals recommend
Duke Homestead
2828 Duke Homestead RdHistoric tobacco homestead and interactive tobacco museum. A great place to bring a picnic.
Shopping
Coffee, sandwiches, and a million gifts from wine to toys to housewares.
61 locals recommend
Parker and Otis
324 Blackwell StCoffee, sandwiches, and a million gifts from wine to toys to housewares.
Get lost in the sprawling store! A Durham tradition. And don't miss the permanent Christmas room in the back!
16 locals recommend
Morgan Imports
113 S Gregson StGet lost in the sprawling store! A Durham tradition. And don't miss the permanent Christmas room in the back!
An old-school shopping mall with a Macy's and footlocker, among other chain shops.
12 locals recommend
Northgate Mall
1058 W Club BlvdAn old-school shopping mall with a Macy's and footlocker, among other chain shops.
Fifis Fine Resale Apparel
1000 W Main StFantastic upscale clothing consignment.
Essentials
If you cut across Duke's East campus it's about a 10 minute walk.
199 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
621 Broad StIf you cut across Duke's East campus it's about a 10 minute walk.
Durham's original beer store. If you can't find it here it doesn't exist. Now with more beers on tap and a back bar area.
11 locals recommend
Sam's Quik Shop
1605 Erwin RdDurham's original beer store. If you can't find it here it doesn't exist. Now with more beers on tap and a back bar area.
Local milk, eggs, and craft beer. Unpretentious exterior with more than you might expect to find inside.
Trinity Food Mart
403 W Trinity AveLocal milk, eggs, and craft beer. Unpretentious exterior with more than you might expect to find inside.
Harris Teeter
2107 Hillsborough RdLocally owned coop market open to all. Great place for local produce as well as organic and specialty items.
52 locals recommend
Durham Co-op Market
1111 W Chapel Hill StLocally owned coop market open to all. Great place for local produce as well as organic and specialty items.