Cocktails, wine bars and dives: drinking in Durham for grown-ups.
Cocktail bars, wine bars, dive bars and gastropubs: drinking in Durham for grown-ups.
A James Beard-nominated cocktail bar and anchor of Durham's downtown scene. The programme is seasonal, prioritises NC distilleries and is technically serious.
Signature drink: Seasonal house cocktails with NC spirits
Food: Bar snacks
The first NC bar to reach James Beard Outstanding Bar finalist status. A rigorous programme deep in amari, vermouths and rare spirits on E Chapel Hill St.
Signature drink: Classic cocktail riffs and spirit-forward originals
Food: Small plates
An 11-seat speakeasy inside Cheeni, 2025 James Beard Best New Bar semifinalist. Indian spices, tropical fruits and NC spirits. Reservations required.
Signature drink: Indian-spiced cocktails with NC spirits
Food: Cheeni menu items available
A cocktail bar on S Mangum with an aperitivo approach: light, vermouthy, food-friendly drinks alongside Mediterranean small plates until midnight six nights.
Signature drink: Aperitivo-style cocktails
Food: Mediterranean small plates
Indy Week's Best Neighbourhood Bar for 2024 and 2025. Third-floor terrace views, well-priced cocktails and a vibe that is younger and louder than Kingfisher.
Signature drink: Creative cocktails with rooftop terrace
Food: Bar snacks
A Mexican cocktail bar with mezcal and tequila at its core and quesabirria tacos on the food side. Runs late on weekends for agave-forward drinking downtown.
Signature drink: Mezcal and tequila-driven cocktails
Food: Street-food tacos and bites
A bar on W Main Street with a rear entrance and seasonal cocktail list in a low-lit room away from the busier sections downtown. Good for wind-downs.
Signature drink: Seasonal cocktail menu
Food: Snacks
A self-serve taproom with over 50 NC craft beer taps where guests pour by the ounce. Best format in Durham for navigating the Triangle's craft beer scene.
Signature drink: 50+ self-pour NC craft beer taps
Food: Bar snacks
Durham's live music anchor with local bands, touring acts, DJs and karaoke through the week. No food, cheap drinks and whatever is playing on the small stage.
Signature drink: Local beer and well cocktails
Food: None
A 7,000 sq ft arcade bar on Foster Street with NC draft beer, retro games and indoor-outdoor space. Pizza and pretzels; the patio is the Golden Belt area hub.
Signature drink: NC draft beer
Food: Pizza and pretzels
A Brightleaf corner bar with 16 microbrew taps, pub food and one of the largest outdoor areas of any Durham bar. Open until 02:00 nightly on W Main Street.
Signature drink: 16 microbrew taps
Food: Elevated pub food
A deli, bar and bottle shop hybrid near Ninth Street. Craft sandwiches, rotating draft beer and a curated bottle shelf from early morning until late evening.
Signature drink: NC craft beer on draft and bottles
Food: Craft sandwiches and deli items
A traditional Irish pub on Brightleaf's W Main strip with trivia, entertainment and a Guinness programme regulars take seriously. Reliably full on match days.
Signature drink: Poured Guinness
Food: Traditional Irish pub food
Open daily from just before noon until 02:00, Queeny's fills the late-night gap with burgers, bar food and drinks. After 22:00 it goes 21+ and louder.
Signature drink: House cocktails
Food: Burgers and bar food
A neighbourhood bar on W Main Street open from 15:00 to 01:00 seven days. The unpretentious downtown option: well-priced drinks, no reservations, local crowd.
Signature drink: House cocktails and local beer
Food: Bar snacks