Guidebook for Durham
Food Scene
This is the closest local bar (about a mile from my place), and also has a pretty decent menu (beyond just barfood)! Fabulous outdoor seating in warmer weather.
8 locals recommend
City Beverage
4810 Hope Valley RdThis is the closest local bar (about a mile from my place), and also has a pretty decent menu (beyond just barfood)! Fabulous outdoor seating in warmer weather.
This is also a pretty tasty restaurant/bar within about a mile of my place. Great menu, typically buy one get one free sushi.
18 locals recommend
Shiki Sushi
207 NC-54This is also a pretty tasty restaurant/bar within about a mile of my place. Great menu, typically buy one get one free sushi.
This is an excellent little taqueria that is very close to my place (1 mile-ish)! Inexpensive, fresh salsa bar (delicious variety!), and a local favorite. Good for fast, quick, delicious food.
17 locals recommend
Chubby's Tacos
748 9th StThis is an excellent little taqueria that is very close to my place (1 mile-ish)! Inexpensive, fresh salsa bar (delicious variety!), and a local favorite. Good for fast, quick, delicious food.
Great local brewery/burger joint, serving only locally sourced, in-season items. Great community atmosphere as well!
88 locals recommend
Bull City Burger and Brewery
107 E Parrish StGreat local brewery/burger joint, serving only locally sourced, in-season items. Great community atmosphere as well!
This is one of my favorite brunch/lunch joints (also serve a decadent dinner). German bakery attached. Indoor/outdoor seating with a European feel! Fresh flowers & artisans on Saturday mornings.
128 locals recommend
Guglhupf Bakery, Cafe & Biergarten
2706 Durham-Chapel Hill BlvdThis is one of my favorite brunch/lunch joints (also serve a decadent dinner). German bakery attached. Indoor/outdoor seating with a European feel! Fresh flowers & artisans on Saturday mornings.
Great for brunch/lunch anyday, dinner is more upscale. Delicious French food & wine, great atmosphere!
40 locals recommend
Rue Cler
401 E Chapel Hill StGreat for brunch/lunch anyday, dinner is more upscale. Delicious French food & wine, great atmosphere!
Good cafe, delicious (authentic) Cuban food, decent prices. Also nice to hang out/drink coffee/brunch. Dominoes tournaments some evenings, sometimes live music!
15 locals recommend
Old Havana Sandwich Shop and Cafe
310 E Main StGood cafe, delicious (authentic) Cuban food, decent prices. Also nice to hang out/drink coffee/brunch. Dominoes tournaments some evenings, sometimes live music!
Great restaurant/bar with indoor/outdoor seating. DELICIOUS, reasonably priced menu. Great cocktails.
79 locals recommend
Geer Street Garden
644 Foster StGreat restaurant/bar with indoor/outdoor seating. DELICIOUS, reasonably priced menu. Great cocktails.
Nice for small plates, sandwiches, brunch/lunch! In the middle of downtown, nextdoor to Whiskey!
49 locals recommend
Toast
345 W Main StNice for small plates, sandwiches, brunch/lunch! In the middle of downtown, nextdoor to Whiskey!
Breakfast/Brunch restaurant, typical diner-style. Very close to RTP.
9 locals recommend
Brigs at the Park Restaurant
4900 North Carolina 55Breakfast/Brunch restaurant, typical diner-style. Very close to RTP.
Another typical breakfast/brunch/lunch diner-style restaurant. Has a Greek influence!
Benetis Restaurant
5410 North Carolina 55Another typical breakfast/brunch/lunch diner-style restaurant. Has a Greek influence!
Closest local coffee shop to my place. Also has a location downtown on 9th Street.
19 locals recommend
Bean Traders
105 W North Carolina 54Closest local coffee shop to my place. Also has a location downtown on 9th Street.
If you're into upscale local foods, this is a pretty great place. Right nextdoor to the Durham Farmer's Market (in Durham Central Park).
13 locals recommend
Piedmont Restaurant
401 Foster StIf you're into upscale local foods, this is a pretty great place. Right nextdoor to the Durham Farmer's Market (in Durham Central Park).
One of my favorite local south Indian restaurants! Vimala's has a constantly changing menu, based on locally-sourced, in-season ingredients, and has a great community/social-justice vibe!
46 locals recommend
Vimala's Curryblossom Cafe
431 W Franklin StOne of my favorite local south Indian restaurants! Vimala's has a constantly changing menu, based on locally-sourced, in-season ingredients, and has a great community/social-justice vibe!
Deliciousness beyond deliciousness. You can't go wrong if you'd looking for quick, decently priced, authentic med food!
71 locals recommend
Mediterranean Deli, Bakery, and Catering
454 W Franklin StDeliciousness beyond deliciousness. You can't go wrong if you'd looking for quick, decently priced, authentic med food!
This is a new, delicious tapas bar in downtown Durham! I would highly recommend it, but if you're going on a weekend, make sure you have a reservation!
103 locals recommend
Mateo Bar de Tapas
109 W Chapel Hill StThis is a new, delicious tapas bar in downtown Durham! I would highly recommend it, but if you're going on a weekend, make sure you have a reservation!
I've not been to this one yet (since I'm gluten-free!), but this place has gotten pretty rave reviews since it opened!
105 locals recommend
Pizzeria Toro
105 E Chapel Hill StI've not been to this one yet (since I'm gluten-free!), but this place has gotten pretty rave reviews since it opened!
Delicious pizza, near the train-tracks in downtown Durham, close to shopping at Brightleaf Square. ALSO, they have a delicious gluten-free pizza crust option! :)
13 locals recommend
Peabody Pizza Company
810 W Peabody StDelicious pizza, near the train-tracks in downtown Durham, close to shopping at Brightleaf Square. ALSO, they have a delicious gluten-free pizza crust option! :)
A really nice restaurant (dress a little nicer) which has a rotating menu of amazing local foods. I've seriously never disliked an order there! Also has a nice upscale bar area!
27 locals recommend
Nana's
2514 University DriveA really nice restaurant (dress a little nicer) which has a rotating menu of amazing local foods. I've seriously never disliked an order there! Also has a nice upscale bar area!
Run by the owner of Nanas, Nanataco is a quick, fresh taco bar with amazing food. Definitely recommended!
67 locals recommend
NUVOTACO
2512 University DrRun by the owner of Nanas, Nanataco is a quick, fresh taco bar with amazing food. Definitely recommended!
Many different types of BBQ for the meat lovers, as well as great vegetarian sides! Across from Motorco (great music venue), Fullsteam Brewery, Cocoa Cinnamon, Geer St Garden, etc.
48 locals recommend
The Pit Durham
321 W Geer StMany different types of BBQ for the meat lovers, as well as great vegetarian sides! Across from Motorco (great music venue), Fullsteam Brewery, Cocoa Cinnamon, Geer St Garden, etc.
Want some quick, delicious BBQ? this is the place - a little place that is fast, delicious, and ALSO has great veggie options! Just nextdoor to Nanataco.
43 locals recommend
The Original Q Shack
2510 University DrWant some quick, delicious BBQ? this is the place - a little place that is fast, delicious, and ALSO has great veggie options! Just nextdoor to Nanataco.
This coffee shop is multi-purposed! There's a fantastic outdoor area for the cafe/coffee/juice bar. Additionally, they've just added a farm-to-fork 4 star restaurant on site!
Straw Valley Food & Drink
5420 Durham-Chapel Hill BlvdThis coffee shop is multi-purposed! There's a fantastic outdoor area for the cafe/coffee/juice bar. Additionally, they've just added a farm-to-fork 4 star restaurant on site!
Drinks & Nightlife
Fullsteam Brewery
726 Rigsbee AveGreat local bar!
Really nice ambience in this place, a little dressier (no sandals/flip-flops), and live jazz every Thursday.
Whiskey
347 West Main StreetReally nice ambience in this place, a little dressier (no sandals/flip-flops), and live jazz every Thursday.
Bull McCabe's Irish Pub
427 W Main StLocal Irish pub, decent bar food as well.
Nice wine bar near tobacco warehouses, very close to downtown.
13 locals recommend
West End Wine Bar of Durham
601 W Main StNice wine bar near tobacco warehouses, very close to downtown.
Great bar, great menu (beyond bar-food, they have a good chef and great specials). John Edwards sightings have happened here on many occasions!
30 locals recommend
Federal
914 W Main StGreat bar, great menu (beyond bar-food, they have a good chef and great specials). John Edwards sightings have happened here on many occasions!
Sightseeing
The biggest local farmer's market (in Durham, at least!). Year round, reduced hours in the winter.
106 locals recommend
Durham Farmers' Market
501 Foster StThe biggest local farmer's market (in Durham, at least!). Year round, reduced hours in the winter.
This is a cute little shopping area downtown, with boutiques as well as a bunch of little restaurants/bars clustered near the area.
45 locals recommend
Brightleaf Square
905 W Main StThis is a cute little shopping area downtown, with boutiques as well as a bunch of little restaurants/bars clustered near the area.
for the hikers out there, this is a FABULOUS state park, with great trails and a beautiful river. Totally worth the drive out.
215 locals recommend
Eno River State Park
6101 Cole Mill Rdfor the hikers out there, this is a FABULOUS state park, with great trails and a beautiful river. Totally worth the drive out.
Another great natural area. You'd have to google it, but I think you can rent kayaks and what not here.
14 locals recommend
Poplar Point Campground
558 Beaver Creek RdAnother great natural area. You'd have to google it, but I think you can rent kayaks and what not here.
Another great hiking location, kind of located between Raleigh and RTP. Lots of entrances, probably best to google it and pick a location.
119 locals recommend
William B. Umstead State Park
8801 Glenwood AveAnother great hiking location, kind of located between Raleigh and RTP. Lots of entrances, probably best to google it and pick a location.
Shopping
Arden B
6910 Fayetteville RdI'm not a huge mall fan, but for those who are, this is the place to go.