The Velvet Hippo is a bar in Downtown, Durham.
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.
Editorially verified June 24, 2026 by Lewis Vaughan, TableJourney editor. Source.
Food program: Bar snacks
Address: 119 Orange Street, 3rd Floor, Durham, NC 27701
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 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
