Ninth Street Bakery ★ 4.2
Downtown Durham's original artisan bakery on E Chapel Hill Street since the 1990s. Sourdough loaves supply local restaurants; walk-in only, seven days a week.
Worth the queueCountry sourdough loaf
Bakery counters in Durham worth queuing for: levain breads, laminated pastry, regional bakes and the morning ritual.
Where to queue for bread and pastry
Monuts ★ 4.3
Monuts built a following on Ninth Street with seasonal-glaze donuts and quality dairy. Bagel sandwiches and coffee round out a morning menu that sells early.
Worth the queueSeasonal glazed donut
Loaf ★ 4.4
Loaf on W Parrish Street is a Wednesday to Saturday bakery of naturally leavened breads and laminated pastries with genuine long-fermentation discipline.
Worth the queueNaturally leavened country loaf
Guglhupf Bakery, Cafe & Biergarten ★ 4.3
A German bakery and biergarten on Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd baking rye breads, pretzels and strudels alongside the ring cake that gives the place its name.
Worth the queueGuglhupf ring cake
The Mad Hatter's Cafe & Bakeshop ★ 4.1
An Old West Durham bakeshop on W Main Street with a front porch and all-day scratch-baking. Scones, muffins, quiches and layer cakes fill the morning case.
Worth the queueSeasonal layer cake
Parker & Otis ★ 4.3
Parker & Otis at American Tobacco Campus is where locals send visitors. Pimento cheese on grilled bread with bacon and tomato is the signature of the shop.
Worth the queuePimento cheese and bacon grilled sandwich
Miel Bon Bons ★ 4.1
A French-influenced patisserie on W Main Street specialising in bon bons, macarons and seasonal pastries. The Brightleaf location draws a neighbourhood crowd.
Worth the queueFlavoured bon bons
La Recette Patisserie ★ 4.2
A weekend-only French patisserie in South Durham baking to sell-out each Saturday and Sunday. Croissants, tarts, eclairs and seasonal specialities made fresh.
Worth the queueCroissants and seasonal tarts
Bull City Bake Shop ★ 4.0
A bake shop in southwestern Durham focused on celebration cakes and seasonal pastry rotation. Walk-in pastries and cookies are available during retail hours.
Worth the queueCustom celebration cakes
Beyond the French Corner Bakery ★ 4.2
A French-trained bakery in North Durham making croissants, kouign-amann and brioche with classic lamination. Draws customers from across the Triangle.
Worth the queueKouign-amann
Book food experiences in Durham
Private tour · 2 hours
Durham Walking Tour and Tales of Crime and Punishment
Take a walking tour around historic Durham. Visit the city's attractions while also hearing intriguing stories of crime and punishment through the ages from your guide.
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Private tour · 7 hours
Durham: Private Full-Day Guided Walking Tour
Discover the history and culture of Durham on a guided walking tour. Visit the Durham Cathedral and Durham Castle, and enjoy coffee and cake at a local café and a beer...
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Private tour · 4 hours
Durham: Private Half Day Walking Tour
Explore Durham on a private walking tour. Discover the city's history, visit the UNESCO-listed Durham Cathedral, and enjoy coffee and cake at a local cafe.
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