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    Killer Queen

    4.9 (33 reviews)
    Updated 3 months ago

    Killer Queen Photos

    KILLER QUEEN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Hipster
    Romantic
    Classy
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Killer Queen

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    Current wine list
    Zaneta R.

    Killer Queen is an absolute gem in downtown Durham! When I was moving to NC, I worried if there would be wine bars that featured natural wines (my kryptonite) and Killer Queen does not disappoint! They have a fantastic rotating selection of White, Red, Rose, Orange, and Sparkling wines for you to enjoy. The ambiance is so cute and cozy; you feel as though you walked into your best friend's living room with plenty of counter seating to boot! Everyone that works here is so knowledgeable and friendly and willing to work with you until you find your perfect pour. There's also a small but mighty food menu equipped with charcuterie boards and warm chocolate chip cookies. When I tell you this place is one of my absolute favorites in Durham, believe me! Killer Queen for the win!

    Stephanie J.

    I mean with the name Killer Queen how could you not want to visit? It is a wine spot but they also offer beer, cider and zero proof options. They also have a small food menu if you are hungry. I really loved the ambiance and drink options available. I will definitely need to come back to check out the outdoor space. Cheers!

    Killer Queen Wine, and fantastic charcuterie board
    Steve M.

    Fantastic food, the charcuterie plate was superb! The killer queen wine that is bourbon barrel aged it's fantastic. Good enough that we actually bought a bottle to take home. And the price is unbelievable! This is a must visit location for anybody who wants to have a wonderful time, a quaint location, and a chic type of visit.

    Outdoor patio
    Patricia D.

    An Art Deco mixed with an eclectic feel, this wine bar is top notch. The staff were knowledgeable about an array of wines served and extremely friendly. The co-owner was down to earth and passionate about the business which reflects into the customer experience. Highly recommend visiting this gem in the heart of downtown Durham.

    Sauce & Bread
    Gitansh B.

    This place has a very cool vibe to it overall and was pretty busy for a Thursday night around 9p. I sat at the only seat available at the bar and was immediately introduced to many different varieties of wines including orange wines which I had never had before. Both Sylvia and Chandler were absolutely amazing at explaining all the wines and how they are made to me. I was able to taste a few of the orange wines which I ended up including in my wine flight. For food, I had the Bread & Sauce while having my wines which paired well with the variety of wines in my flight. Afterwards, I had Sil's cookies which was so chewy and warm; I wasn't originally going to have it, but Sylvia highly recommended it and I'm so happy that I ended up having them. The chocolate chip cookies were the perfect end to my evening!

    Back patio
    Glenn G.

    This location has been several different businesses over the years including another wine bar before COVID. We follow them on Instagram and had been meaning to stop by. We finally did on a Friday evening after catching a free concert in the nearby Durham Central Park. The decor is fun and funky and the staff is very outgoing and friendly. You can sit inside or go out the back to a cool little patio area -- which is what we did. We enjoyed our wines (they have a wide and ever-changing selection) and the fun vibe, although wine bar prices are usually more expensive than beer taprooms. I believe they also offer light bites since we saw a server carry a plate by. Definitely a fun place to visit.

    Blue and Drunken Goat cheese
    Heather H.

    I was looking for new places to eat and saw the name Killer Queen which peaked my interest. Digging in deeper found it is a wine bar. I love really cute wine bars and the decor and ambiance did not disappoint! Took one of my good friends to start for her 40th birthday dining start. We were served champagne which was super nice. We got a really nice bottle of wine after tasting two I was interested in purchasing. We also got a charcuterie board. I think they forgot us a few times but the board finally came, it was delicious and they took care of us on the issue. I'll be taking the hubbie for sure.

    Charcuterie platter with complimentary accompaniments
    Lan Z.

    We had an amazing time and cannot wait to come back. The staff was so helpful and patient. They gladly poured us samples as we tried to pick the perfect bottle of wine to share. We also ordered a charcuterie platter and was pleasantly surprised by the amount of food and the accompaniments that came with it. Everything was delicious.

    mysti p.

    Visiting Durham & came here bc of the name & loved eveything about it. Narrow, dim lit wine bar decked with a speakeasy vibe!!! Love everything from the wine list, charcuterie, decor to the knowledgeable and fun friendly staff!!!

    Killer Queen
    Matthew G.

    Favorite wine spot. Drink outside the set up is great. Staff is best part. Matt always adds extra attention but everyone is amazing. I could get a room and live there.

    Toasty warm patio

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    2 years ago

    Our bartender was excellent - had great suggestions and was very attentive. Romantic setting. Didn't try the food but maybe one day?

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    5 years ago

    Friendly, knowledgeable staff- clearly passionate about what they do. Great addition to downtown Durham!

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    Ask the Community - Killer Queen

    Review Highlights - Killer Queen

    Both Sylvia and Chandler were absolutely amazing at explaining all the wines and how they are made to me.

    Mentioned in 5 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    4.6(57 reviews)
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    Great decor - large, open space, with very light furniture. There are quite a few places to sit…read moreoutside, if you want to ask the host(ess) for a place out there. There's an S-shaped bar along the right side as you walk in with a few smaller tables scattered to the left and ahead, but if you walk around the plantings, there are larger tables in the rear. We had reserved a place for eight, and they fit us in with plenty of room around as a buffer. Few other parties joined us back there, so it was very quiet and great for friends catching up. We tried several wines, but I was a bit shock ed that the list wasn't longer: three reds, three whites, a few rosés and sparkling offerings was all there were. The only Italian red was a blend, which was ok. 60% Sangiovese, it was ok, but I'd have loved a bold Tuscan red like a Montepulciano d'Abruzzo or a full-on Sangiovese. I ordered the wild mushroom flatbread and the pasta carbonara. the flatbread was delicious, and very filling. Half went home for a lunch treat the next day! The pasta was ok, but there weren't the flavors I was expecting. Hardly any meat was in the dish, and it was just a kinda "ok" creamy pasta dish. But the service and the atmosphere was amazing! It's funny - many in this group have met since and we always remark how other places have such a larger wine selection than this one that has "wine" in the name. Maybe they need to change the name if they aren't going to have a wider selection. Still a fun place, just done expect a lot of selection.

    I really love this place. The food, wine and the dessert was delicious we really enjoyed everythingread more

    Photos
    The Wine Feed - French toast

    French toast

    The Wine Feed - Entrance from the back room

    Entrance from the back room

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    Liberty & Plenty Distillery - The Liberty & Plenty Distillery lounge is situated in the front of the distillery, and features a full cocktail bar and patio.

    Liberty & Plenty Distillery

    4.8(17 reviews)
    0.6 mi

    Five stars for Liberty & Plenty, a true gem that we didn't even plan on visiting. We were headed…read moredown the street to somewhere else, saw the sign, looked at each other and said, "Let's check this out" and I am so glad we followed that impulse because it turned into one of those stops that completely makes your afternoon. What was supposed to be a quick pop in turned into two full hours of socializing, tasting, talking and working our way through a lineup of spirits that dhows just how much care and craft is happening inside this place. I need to say, Stephanie is a darling. She's not a bartender. She's a proper mixologist, the kind of professional who knows her spirits, knows her history, knows how to read a customer, and somehow manages to be both entertaining and deeply knowledgeable at the same time. She walked us through their menu with the kind of confidence that makes you trust every recommendation, and every drink she made had that extra flourish that tells you she actually loves the work. It's rare to find someone who can make you laugh, teach you something, and hand you a drink that's better than what you expected all in the same moment, but she does it effortlessly. Somewhere between the rum and the vodka, we learned that they're gearing up for a big move to Wilson, expanding from two stills to a dozen, which is wild and honestly well deserved because the quality here is already top-tier and the idea of them scaling up that much is exciting. You can feel the ambition from the crew here, the sense that they're on the cusp of something bigger, and it made every sip feel like you're getting in on a story that's about to blow up. That said, I'm begging. Please, please, please, find a way to keep a tasting room in Durham. You're awesome, the vibe is awesome, the people are awesome, and this city needs places like this where you can wander in on a whim and end up staying for two hours because everything feels and tastes just right. Expansion is great, growth is great, Wilson is lucky to have you, but Durham will really miss you if you disappeared completely. Liberty & Plenty is the kind of spot you stumble into once and then start recommending to everyone you know. If you're anywhere nearby, go. And if Stephanie is behind the bar, settle in, because you're in very good hands. [Review 1073 of 2026 - 4782 in North Carolina - 26252 overall]

    What a lovely surprise to find this gem tucked away in downtown Durham! I had heard great things…read moreabout their espresso martini, so when we finally visited, we had to try it. And, it truly lived up to the hype. One of the best we've ever had! I also tried two other cocktails made with their house-distilled rum and gin, and both were delicious and perfectly balanced. The seasonal menu is creative and reasonably priced, we were genuinely impressed. The ambiance is charming and cozy despite a bit warm inside (the AC was pretty weak), but quiet and tastefully decorated with velvet couches, exposed walls, vintage touches, and fresh flowers on each table. We had fun flipping through their amazing cocktail book collection on the shelf too. The bartenders were very friendly and offered us focaccia from Ninth Street Bakery to pair with our drinks for free, which was such a thoughtful and tasty addition. We thoroughly enjoyed our experience and are so happy to see a micro-distillery thriving in the heart of Durham. Can't wait to return for an official tour and to sample more of their spirits!

    Photos
    Liberty & Plenty Distillery - Front of Liberty & Plenty, Durham

    Front of Liberty & Plenty, Durham

    Liberty & Plenty Distillery
    Liberty & Plenty Distillery

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    Louella Wine Beer and Beverages - Store

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    4.7(27 reviews)
    0.6 mi

    Have you ever walked into a place and felt like it's a place you would make for yourself? That's…read morethe way I felt walking into LouElla's After a long day at work and some evening errands, Jack and I were making our way home, when I decided to check out wine stores that were still open on my route. Louella's came up as one of the few still open after 9 PM. I checked the website, and found that they have not, one, not two, but an entire page of fortified wines and Vermouth! As a cocktail nerd, this place checked boxes I didn't even realize I had! There's half a rack of bitters and other premixes. The atmosphere on this blissfully warm night in September was dimly lit, quietly elegant ambiance music (Think Brian Eno, Volcano Choir, or Bon Iver) From outside, with two large TVs above a bar, you may think it's a typical sports bar. But no one here is drinking beer, they have pizza from down at Hutchin's Garage and various wines out on the tables out front. With real glasses. Like adults. Here in the south in a semi-pandemic semi-lock-down. After picking out three different sweet vermouth to try, I bought a glass of Dolcetto and a pre-boxed cheese/meat tray. Although the cheese was from the cooler, as it set out, it was evidently fairly fresh, because it warmed up testily. Sadly, they close at 10, so I'll have to wrap this up later. Suffice it to say, if you're looking for a place to grab a special bottle to upscale your Negroni, or just can't seem to find Pechaud's bitters anywhere, now you have a place to check out. There is an entire 85% more of the store to explore for me, since I had arrived with a narrow purpose and found it immediately. But you can bet, I'll be back. It's within walking distance of FullSteam, MotorCo, Hutchin's, Cocoa Cinnamon's Old North Durham location. They've only been open for six months, when you don't count COVID time, so give 'em some love, folks! They are the type folks we need to support!

    It's a cute spot in a great location with other small businesses. The flight prices were fair and…read morethe pours were nice. My friends and I sat and had wine after brunch at another spot near by. I would definitely return.

    Photos
    Louella Wine Beer and Beverages - Vibe

    Vibe

    Louella Wine Beer and Beverages - Weird productions pancake breakfast - lifewithhanny

    Weird productions pancake breakfast - lifewithhanny

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    Killer Queen - wine_bars - Updated September 2026

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