A really nice wine bar in downtown Durham to grab a drink before or after a show. The seating can…read morebe a little tight if the bar is packed, which it was when we went a couple of Saturdays ago. The bartender gave some really good recommendations regarding wine selections. You can order either by the glass or bottle. Nice spot, check it out.

Brunello Wine Bar is a cool spot. The staff members are knowledgeable and the selection is unique…read more My husband and I tried a few different pours and enjoyed them all. It is a smaller spot but luckily it was not busy when we visited. If you are in Downtown Durham then check it out.

Loved this spot and the "weird as sh-t" selection of the day. Very low-key and welcoming vibe --…read moreand good that new businesspeople are exploring south of downtown.

I absolutely loved my experience at delafia! The vibes of this place just drip cool, and…read moreunassuming- I felt like I was back home in Brooklyn coming here! The fascade of the wine bar is hidden so be sure you don't walk by the "barber shop" when you're looking to get in. This bar focuses on natural and biodynamic wines aka my absolute obsession, so I was happier than a pig in mud by the drink selections. The food menu is small, but takes care of business. I recommend a nice tinned fish, giant beans, and the chocolate budino for dessert! The vibes are dark, hip, with an outdoor seating option as well. All in all, a cool destination to check out some fantastic wines.

Had a few beverages at West End Social with bartenders Corbin & Marcus at WES / WEWB: great spot,…read morecool vibe. I would add that [to me] this seemed to be more of a social place to have beverages of *all* kinds rather than simply a wine bar. There was a high-energy afternoon baby shower on the upper level; everyone knew everyone & the place had a solid old friends energy - give it a try. PS: I'll give 'em some grace, but please be sure to have more Tito's on hand next time ;)

Where is the wine??? Cool atmosphere...lots of spirits available but lackluster wine list.read more

I was excited to try Killer Queen for a downtown girls' night. We don't make it downtown very…read moreoften, so I've been enjoying exploring some of Durham's newer spots -- and this one was absolutely worth the visit. The wine list is broad and thoughtfully curated, with options that feel approachable whether you're a casual wine drinker or someone looking to try something new. The sommeliers were welcoming, knowledgeable, and genuinely enthusiastic about helping us find something we loved. The space itself is adorable, with eclectic décor and cozy lighting that makes it easy to settle in and stay awhile. It's a great spot for conversation and a relaxed evening with friends. The only downside is that the space is fairly small, and I would have loved to see one or two more lower seating options for small groups rather than mostly high tops. That said, I could absolutely see us coming back for a pre- or post-theater glass of wine or an easy catch-up night.

Love this place! It's definitely a bit on the pricey side when it comes to the wine, but the…read moreoverall experience makes up for it. The service is awesome--our server was super friendly and gave me a great drink recommendation when I wasn't sure what I wanted. It ended up being perfect. My friend and I shared a glass of the 2023 Cederberg Bukettraube (sweet white wine) and got the charcuterie board for one with the truffle salami. That board was so good--I can't stop thinking about it. The toasted baguette slices with truffle salami and mustard? Unreal. It was the perfect little snack to share. We also had the citrus lavender crème brûlée, which was surprisingly delicious. I don't usually go for crème brûlée, but this one was light, not overly sweet, and just had a really nice flavor. I've also tried their shepherd's pie before and loved it--wish it was still on the menu! The vibe inside is moody and cozy, and they've got a cute outdoor patio too. Overall, such a great spot. A little pricey, but I'll definitely be coming back. Highly recommend checking out Killer Queen.

This is a great little bistro/wine bar/neighborhood spot. It's definitely upscale in feel, but…read morestill reasonably priced. Most of the seating is on a second-floor covered terrace, though there are tables inside as well. It has interesting city views of the University Hill area over South Square towards the "hypodermic building." There are parking options on all sides. The wine list is nice, but I like trying their specialty cocktails. These tend to have interesting additions such as tea-infused syrups and other creative ingredients. I've always had great sandwiches here at lunchtime, particularly the Santorini (a take on a gyro) and the Yacht Club, which is similar to a club sandwich but brightened up and made scrumptious by apricot jam. Their side of Caesar salad is always nice and crisp, with just the right amount of dressing and flavorful cheese shavings. The staff is engaged and attentive without going overboard. There's really no better lunch experience in the area on a nice warm day when you can just hang out and relax with a varied, delightful menu.

Casual spot to grab cocktails before (or after) dinner. Nice outdoor patio with friendly service…read more We enjoyed the White Dove and Bramble On. Both were good.

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

My mom was in town and we wanted some nice Italian. We dropped in on this place after being turned…read moreaway by many restaurants in DT Durham because we didn't have a reservation and it was a Saturday night, so, I get it. This place has one spot open for us and thank goodness because it was fantastic. I think the most exceptional thing about our dinner was the service. Our waiter was such a delight, as was the rest of the staff. Very knowledgeable and just the right amount of friendly. The food was delicious! We got a steak and pasta dish that I added shrimp to. The steak was cooked exactly as requested and was incredibly tender. My pasta was perfectly al dente and the sauteed shrimp fit in perfectly with the flavors. Our desserts at the end of the night did not disappoint either. Each dessert had it's own unique flare that someone could enjoy and nothing was overly sweet. It really complimented the freshness of the dinner. I absolutely recommend coming here, but if you're planning a weekend dinner, grab a reservation!

The restaurant is light filled and airy…read more Pasta dishes and entrees were all very good. Wait staff was attentive.

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.

Second time at Vin Rouge; first was brunch, so good we had to try dinner!…read more Started with escargot, shrimp Provençal, blue crab claws and the caramelized onion tart. All were excellent; fresh, perfectly cooked and full of authentic flavor. The tart was exceptionally good: a tall slice, moist and rich, onions sweet and delicious. For mains, two of us had the almandine, both loved it. Ali's right off the skin, perfect cook, wonderful flavors. Husband had the pork chop, said the flavors were all on point, but the chop was just north of tender and the potatoes, cabbage and sauce could have been hotter. We went back for the perfect crème brûlée and decadent chocolate mousse we loved at brunch, and added the lemon tart: on par with the others. Service was excellent, again. Friendly, knowledgeable and attentive without hovering. Notably top shelf service for the area.

We've passed by Vin Rouge's store-front, and every time we're more curious to see what they're all…read moreabout. Finally had the chance to stop by and it was incredible! Lovely service team paired with an intimate, romantic dining area. Perfect for a date night or celebration! The hostess and our server were especially welcoming and super friendly. On to the food... Our cocktails were made just right, and our entrees were phenomenal to say the least. Not to mention that apple bread pudding. I did wish it was served warm, but it was still delicious and not the "over-the-top"-type of sweet. We also felt that the escargot was too earthy for our personal liking, but I can see it being someone's. Just not ours, and beggars can't be choosers. All in all, a lovely surprise at Vin Rouge. Next time, I'd love to try brunch and a seat in their beautiful patio!

I stopped here for a drink on a Wednesday afternoon and am loving the vibes. I love the variety of…read morebeers and the options for all sorts of different kinds. There is also a lot of space both inside and outside, along with clean bathrooms. This is a really cool place, and I look forward to visiting it again in the near future. On Wednesday nights they offer $5 pint beers, which is an awesome deal.

Sort of off by itself. Good beer, friendly staff. Lots of room to sit outside (it's upstairs, so on…read morea covered deck) and inside.