Patricia & Richard
Things To Do
Rose's Noodles, Dumplings and Sweets
This restaurant has the best Asian fusion food we have (very likely) ever had and was originally inspired by the style of casual but delicious Japanese restaurants in San Francisco. Their desserts are incredible, too. It's located on the edge of downtown Durham in an old, preserved brick building.
Pizzeria Toro
Pizzeria Toro objectively has the best pizza in Durham. Expect creative, delicious menu items inspired by traditional Italian cuisine with Mexican influence, using fresh and local farm ingredients.
Little Bull
Prepare to be amazed by this Mexican/Asian (yes, really) fusion restaurant! Their menu is experimental and wacky in the best way. The birria dumplings are a highlight.
Gocciolina
This is the first restaurant we went to in Durham and fortunately we live very close to it! This is probably our favorite Italian-inspired restaurant. Gocciolina is off the beaten path but could be worth visiting if you have the extra time. Their menu changes every day and they have the freshest food with a farm-to-table concept and friendly neighborhood vibe.
Mateo Bar de Tapas
Mateo is a tapas restaurant, but they also serve delicious larger plates like paella, emblematic of Spain. A smaller, more intimate place basked in candlelight and beautiful historic details, it's a wonderful place to dine. Another tapas bar up the street, Taberna Tapas, is also great if Mateo is booked; it's more rustic in its menu and ambience.
Vin Rouge
Vin Rouge is an upscale, though home-style, French restaurant in Old West Durham. Think red velvet curtains, white tablecloths, marble, and old, rustic wood. The oysters here are amazing and so are the pomme frites! After eating, walk the strip of shops along 9th Street. We like to pop into The Regulator Bookshop if we're in the area.
The Parlour
The best ice cream! They even have dairy-free options. The Parlour is centrally located in the CCB Plaza/Main Plaza downtown. Peek the statue of a bull around the corner.
Killer Queen wine bar
This is a wonderfully eclectic hole-in-the-wall spot with good drinks, charcuterie, and small plates. You can sit inside or on their patio out back. Look for the disco bull––it's hard to miss.
The Velvet Hippo Bar & Lounge
This rooftop bar is laidback, yet elevated, and infused with a lot of personality. The Velvet Hippo's creative drinks, tasty small plates, and neighborhood feel are a few reasons it has quickly become a local favorite.
Queeny's
This is an unassuming bar and restaurant next to The Durham Hotel and Kingfisher cocktail bar, and it's a gem of a place. They have a colorful, retro vibe and the best late-night food.
Cocoa Cinnamon
Go to this location for a pick-me-up with churros and coffee! If you're not a coffee drinker, get a Mexican hot chocolate to dip your churros in. Their second location on Geer Street is closest to downtown with great coffee and tea, too, but no churros. So you can weigh your options there.
PRESS Coffee Crêpes Cocktails
What a great place for breakfast and/or lunch! They have sweet and savory crepes as well as sandwiches and other menu items. We like to go here, then walk around the American Tobacco Campus across the street.
Guglhupf Bakery & Restaurant
This German-inspired restaurant has an indoor/outdoor casual garden vibe. We love to go here for breakfast and lunch, then walk to Golden Fig Books next door afterward.
Letters Bookshop
Who would we be as people if we didn't include a bookstore? This is one of our favorites for a few reasons: 1) they have used and new books; 2) they have an upstairs with more books and gifts; 3) they sell beer and wine.
Parker and Otis
Parker and Otis is a special place located within the American Tobacco Campus in downtown Durham. A joint gift shop and cafe, this spot is quirky and fun to visit. Go here for lunch or browsing, then walk by other local spots in the American Tobacco Campus, like the WUNC radio station and Burt's Bees Headquarters.
The Waiting Room
Wander over to The Waiting Room if you're in the mood for a dessert bar and/or small plates. Located in the American Tobacco Campus, it's a small, hidden place and a fun getaway. You can also walk to other shops, restaurants, and bars along the way and see the "Old Bull" marquee sign in all its red, glowing glory.
Weldon Mills Distillery Durham
There are a few great distilleries in town, including Durham Distillery and Liberty & Plenty Distillery, but Weldon Mills is cool because it's kind of underground. As in, you will be on the lower level of a building and it will feel a bit like you're underground. The food is good here, too. Looking around, people always seem like they're having the best time! Maybe swing by or check out another distillery up the road. You can't go wrong.
Missy Lane's Assembly Room
Coffee shop and hangout spot by day and jazz bar and music venue by night, Missy Lane's is a special place in downtown Durham. They have a nice cocktail bar and lounge that also serves food. Shows are both free and ticketed, so be sure to check their schedule for show-specific details.
Motorco Music Hall
Another great music venue is Motorco. We have seen a fair amount of shows here, including Miami's Magic City Hippies. Connected to the venue is Parts & Labor, the food and beverage section, which has surprisingly good food for decent prices. Sometimes we spontaneously pop in and eat here. There are also many good restaurants and shops within walking distance. (Louella Wine Bar is one of our favorites.) Whether you see a show at the music hall or get something to eat at Parts & Labor, you're sure to have a good time!
Durham Performing Arts Center
The Durham Performing Arts Center (DPAC) is one of the coolest places here. (Shout out to Jovan for hooking us up with tickets to Wicked!) Seeing a Broadway show at DPAC is one of the best experiences. The crowds are lively. The theater is grand. There are windows everywhere to look out of. American Tobacco Campus is right beside DPAC for walking, eating, drinking, and shopping as well.
The Carolina Theatre
In the mood for a movie, show, or concert in a historic building, featuring grand red curtains? The Carolina Theatre might have something outlandish and/or cool for you to enjoy. A staple to Durham, the building has been around since 1926. We've seen a few shows and movies here. One of our favorite memories was being the only ones in the theater for a movie called Past Lives. We ate a lot of popcorn and had our share of commentary.
American Tobacco Campus
American Tobacco Campus isn't a college campus, despite the name "campus." (Strange, we know.) It's a place to eat, shop, and walk around next to the Durham Bulls stadium. If you haven't already, check out the movie "Bull Durham," inspired by the original baseball team. Also, Burt's Bees has its headquarters at American Tobacco Campus. You can walk by the building and see some bees––actual Burt's bees––at work.
Brightleaf Square
Brightleaf Square is similar in style to American Tobacco Campus with a few more businesses and restaurants. Lately, we have been eating and hanging out here more. There is a gift shop called Indio that we really like, a stationary shop, a DIY candle place, and three especially good restaurants: Fonda Lupita (one of Patricia's favorite Mexican places), Emmy Squared Pizza, and Nikos (upscale Mediterranean). One of our favorites––Rose's Noodles, Dumplings, and Sweets––is right around the corner, too.
Sarah P. Duke Gardens
Duke Gardens is worth the trip. There are unexpected trees and plants growing in this expansive garden with some of the most beautiful flowers we have seen in the region. Duke Gardens is made of a series of garden "sections," so you feel like you're moving through space and time. Grand fountains to your left, bamboo garden to your right... Who knows? You may just find a secret garden along the way.
36 Hours in Durham, NC
If you would like to explore more options or ideas for things to do in Durham, this is a fun article published by the New York Times. I know. We were surprised Durham made the NYT, too. How cool (and random) of them!