32 upscale places in Durham, editor-picked. occasion restaurants in Durham: destination kitchens for celebrations and visits. All Durham food.
Mateo Bar de Tapas ★ 4.8
downtown · 109 W Chapel Hill St, Durham, NC 27701
Matt Kelly's Spanish tapas room has anchored Durham's fine-dining scene since 2012, with multiple James Beard Best Chef Southeast semifinalist nominations.
Mateo Bar de Tapas ★ 4.8
downtown · 109 W Chapel Hill St, Durham, NC 27701
Multiple James Beard Best Chef Southeast semifinalist Matt Kelly built his name here. Mateo is NC's definitive Spanish tapas restaurant, driven by wood-fire.
Cheeni ★ 4.7
downtown · 202 Corcoran St Ste 100, Durham, NC 27701
Chef Preeti Waas's upscale Indian restaurant was Eater NC's Restaurant of the Year and earned two James Beard Best Chef Southeast semifinalist nods.
Cheeni ★ 4.7
downtown · 202 Corcoran St Ste 100, Durham, NC 27701
Eater NC's Restaurant of the Year with two James Beard Best Chef Southeast semifinalist nods for Preeti Waas, crossing South and North Indian traditions.
Bar Beej ★ 4.7
downtown · 202 Corcoran St, Durham, NC 27701
An 11-seat speakeasy inside Cheeni, 2025 James Beard Best New Bar semifinalist. Indian spices, tropical fruits and NC spirits. Reservations required.
Bar Beej ★ 4.7
downtown · 202 Corcoran St, Durham, NC 27701
An 11-seat reservation-only speakeasy inside Cheeni with a 2025 James Beard Best New Bar semifinalist nod. The themed cocktail programme rotates monthly.
Gocciolina ★ 4.6
old-west-durham · 3314 Guess Rd, Durham, NC 27705
Gocciolina is Durham's handmade-pasta destination with fresh and dried pastas, a natural-wine list and precise cooking. Named Best Italian by Indy Week 2024.
Gocciolina ★ 4.6
old-west-durham · 3314 Guess Rd, Durham, NC 27705
Indy Week's Best Italian 2024 and consistently booked weeks ahead, Gocciolina operates a short handmade pasta menu in a natural-wine room that seats under 30.
Kingfisher ★ 4.6
downtown · 321 E Chapel Hill St, Durham, NC 27701
A James Beard-nominated cocktail bar and anchor of Durham's downtown scene. The programme is seasonal, prioritises NC distilleries and is technically serious.
Alley Twenty Six ★ 4.6
downtown · 320 East Chapel Hill St, Durham, NC 27701
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.
Kingfisher ★ 4.6
downtown · 321 E Chapel Hill St, Durham, NC 27701
James Beard Outstanding Bar semifinalist open to 01:00 Fridays and Saturdays. Seasonal Southern cocktails with late-night charcuterie at E Chapel Hill St.
Alley Twenty Six ★ 4.6
downtown · 320 East Chapel Hill St, Durham, NC 27701
James Beard Outstanding Bar finalist serving classic cocktails from a bar-cabinet-lined room. The first NC bar to reach Outstanding Bar finalist status.
M Tempura ★ 4.5
downtown · 111 Orange St, Durham, NC 27701
Michael Lee's tempura specialist earned a Bon Appetit Best New Restaurants spot, with former Top Chef contestant Savannah Miller leading the kitchen.
Little Bull ★ 4.5
downtown · 810 N Mangum St, Durham, NC 27701
Oscar Diaz's Michelin-recommended Mexican fusion kitchen is one of Durham's most creative, built around birria dumplings and BBQ mole pork chops.
M Tempura ★ 4.5
downtown · 111 Orange St, Durham, NC 27701
Selected for Bon Appetit's Best New Restaurants, M Tempura is the most focused of Michael Lee's concepts. Savannah Miller leads precise tempura.
Little Bull ★ 4.5
downtown · 810 N Mangum St, Durham, NC 27701
Michelin-recommended Little Bull is Oscar Diaz's creative Mexican kitchen built on birria dumplings and a BBQ mole pork chop as the house signature.
Little Bull ★ 4.5
downtown · 810 N Mangum St, Durham, NC 27701
Little Bull's weekend brunch applies the same creative lens to morning formats: birria eggs Benedict, guava pastry and the full cocktail programme from 11:00.
Vin Rouge ★ 4.4
old-west-durham · 2010 Hillsborough Rd, Durham, NC 27705
Giorgios Bakatsias's French bistro has anchored Durham since 2004, with steak frites, moules and a well-edited wine list; Sunday brunch adds crepes.
Seraphine ★ 4.4
american-tobacco-campus · 324 Blackwell St, Ste 402, Durham, NC 27701
Seraphine is a Michelin-recommended Cajun and Creole restaurant at American Tobacco Campus. Crawfish etouffee and Southern cocktails are the draw.
Seraphine ★ 4.4
american-tobacco-campus · 324 Blackwell St, Ste 402, Durham, NC 27701
A Michelin-recommended Cajun and Creole restaurant at American Tobacco Campus. Louisiana flavours and NC sourcing; the terrace view is the best seat.
Vin Rouge ★ 4.4
old-west-durham · 2010 Hillsborough Rd, Durham, NC 27705
Bakatsias's French bistro has kept classical French standards on Hillsborough Road since 2004. Steak frites, moules and French wine anchor it.
Vin Rouge ★ 4.4
old-west-durham · 2010 Hillsborough Rd, Durham, NC 27705
Vin Rouge's wine programme is classically structured with Burgundy, Bordeaux and Loire by the glass and a cellar list. Sunday brunch extends glass options.
Vin Rouge ★ 4.4
old-west-durham · 2010 Hillsborough Rd, Durham, NC 27705
Vin Rouge's Sunday brunch adds crepes, eggs Benedicts and French pastry to the bistro. Reservations make it one of Durham's quietest mid-morning options.
Nikos ★ 4.3
brightleaf · 905 W Main St, Unit 21B, Durham, NC 27701
Giorgios Bakatsias's Michelin-recommended Greek restaurant at Brightleaf Square serves sharing plates, grilled meats and Greek wines, plus weekend brunch.
Nikos ★ 4.3
brightleaf · 905 W Main St, Unit 21B, Durham, NC 27701
A Michelin-recommended Greek restaurant at Brightleaf Square. Small plates, grilled meats and curated Greek wines from the Bakatsias group on W Main St.
Convivio ★ 4.3
downtown · 104 City Hall Plaza, Suite 100, Durham, NC 27701
An Italian-focused wine bar on City Hall Plaza with a tight programme of Italian producers and small plates that reflect the country's regional variety.
Mothers & Sons Trattoria ★ 4.2
downtown · 107 W Chapel Hill St, Durham, NC 27701
An Italian trattoria on W Chapel Hill Street with generous portions, housemade bread and a lively weekend room featuring ingredient-led cooking.
Rue Cler ★ 4.2
downtown · 401 E Chapel Hill St, Durham, NC 27701
Named after the Paris market street, Rue Cler is a classic French bistro with white tablecloths and a timeless menu anchored by duck confit and steak Diane.
Counting House ★ 4.2
downtown · 111 Corcoran Street, Durham, NC 27701
The restaurant at the 21c Museum Hotel sources from NC farms and fisheries. Weekend brunch among rotating contemporary art is the best hotel-brunch downtown.
Melo Trattoria ★ 4.2
brightleaf · 124 W Parrish St, Durham, NC 27701
A compact Italian kitchen on W Parrish Street making pasta daily from NC-sourced ingredients. The cacio e pepe and seasonal risotto are the strongest plates.
Counting House ★ 4.2
downtown · 111 Corcoran Street, Durham, NC 27701
The 21c Museum Hotel restaurant serves brunch amid rotating art. NC shrimp and grits and smoked salmon benedict are the strongest plates on the local menu.
Parizade ★ 4.1
brightleaf · 2200 W Main St, Durham, NC 27705
Parizade has anchored the Brightleaf area since 1996, serving Mediterranean lamb, grilled fish and mezze. The outdoor terrace fills on warm evenings.