Guidebook for Durham
Food Scene
Loaf
111 W Parrish StGreat rustic breads made in a brick oven.
Rise Durham Downtown
401 Foster StBest biscuits and donuts.
Locally owned, independent restaurant and craft brewery. The restaurant is very much farm-to-fork, working closely with North Carolina farmers supplying beef (with no added hormones or antibiotics) and vegetables. Nearly everything produced on-site, including house-made buns, sauerkraut, and bacon. Great veggie burgers.
88 locals recommend
Bull City Burger and Brewery
107 E Parrish StLocally owned, independent restaurant and craft brewery. The restaurant is very much farm-to-fork, working closely with North Carolina farmers supplying beef (with no added hormones or antibiotics) and vegetables. Nearly everything produced on-site, including house-made buns, sauerkraut, and bacon. Great veggie burgers.
Old Havana Sandwich Shop and Cafe
310 E Main StBest Caribbean and Cuban food
Mateo Bar de Tapas
109 W Chapel Hill StBest upscale restaurant, great chef (Matt Kelly).
Rose's Noodles, Dumplings and Sweets
121 N Gregson StBest chocolate.
Cocoa Cinnamon
420 W Geer StBest downtown coffee shop.
The Parlour
117 Market StBest ice-cream!! Salted caramel is my favorite.
Gonza Tacos Y Tequila
604 Fernway AveGreat guacamole.
Dashi
415 E Chapel Hill StBest Japanese.
NUVOTACO
2512 University DrBest Mexican.
Scratch Bakery
111 Orange StreetBest pie!!
Best pizza. A little pricey. I especially like their white pizza and kale salad.
105 locals recommend
Pizzeria Toro
105 E Chapel Hill StBest pizza. A little pricey. I especially like their white pizza and kale salad.
Toast
345 W Main StBest sandwiches.
Vegan Flava Cafe Inc
Best vegan restaurant. I especially like their lentil and rice dish.
Thai Cafe
2501 University DrBest Thai food. I always get one of their curries.
Drinks & Nightlife
Craft beer brewery devoted to a "plow to pint" philosophy of using local produce to make their beers. Also home to a tavern open nightly. Beer lovers can get a behind the scenes look at how one of Durham’s hometown breweries does its thing and taste the results, too. These take place the first Sunday of every month.
137 locals recommend
Fullsteam Brewery
726 Rigsbee AveCraft beer brewery devoted to a "plow to pint" philosophy of using local produce to make their beers. Also home to a tavern open nightly. Beer lovers can get a behind the scenes look at how one of Durham’s hometown breweries does its thing and taste the results, too. These take place the first Sunday of every month.
The Pinhook
117 W Main StOpen Mic Night. Bands.
Motorco Music Hall
723 Rigsbee AveFun neighborhood bar.
Beyú Caffè
341 W Main StBest place to hear Jazz
Arts & Culture
DPAC - Durham Performing Arts Center
123 Vivian StreetWonderful live theater venue.
The butterfly room and the insect room are my favorites.
203 locals recommend
Museum of Life + Science
433 W Murray AveThe butterfly room and the insect room are my favorites.
A cool multivenue contemporary art museum just down the street from the loft.
62 locals recommend
21c Museum Hotel Durham
111 North Corcoran StA cool multivenue contemporary art museum just down the street from the loft.
Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University
2001 Campus DrEntertainment & Activities
Carolina Theatre
309 W Morgan StBest place to see an independent film.
Sarah P. Duke Gardens
420 Anderson StDurham Bulls Athletic Park
409 Blackwell StShopping
The Mothership
401 W Geer StPlace to buy locally made art.
The Scrap Exchange
2050 Chapel Hill RdCreate re-use store. One of my favorite places in Durham.
Essentials
Durham Co-op Market
1111 W Chapel Hill StThis is where I like to buy groceries.
Bulldega Urban Market
129 W Parrish StA convenient market —just two blocks from the building.