This is a great Playa Bowls location! I love stopping in after my classes at Ninth Street Dance. Be sure to download the app so you can get points that lead to rewards like free smoothies! The staff is friendly and the music is great. I wish they had more seating, but it's a small spot. I tried the Tidal Waves smoothie yesterday and it was beautiful and delicious. I like how they're adding protein to more menu items. read more

Playa Bowls - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Playa Bowl is located on 9th street and has a very beachy/colorful vibe when you walk in. There are so many different options to choose from and because my sister and I are indecisive, we decided to get the mixed bowl where you can choose 2 different bases. We ordered the following: Acai and Coconut base w/ Pura Vida topping (granola, blueberry, strawberry, and honey) Pitaya and Coconut base w/ (I forgot the name of the topping but it had banana, mango, granola, blueberry, and coconut flakes) Both bowls were very refreshing and I appreciate how they stuff the bowl to the brim with the base and toppings. My personal favorite was the coconut but honestly, everything was delicious. I also love how they sprinkle some granola on the bottom of the bowl and it maintains its crunchy texture even if it sits under the base for a while. Playa Bowls are definitely not cheap but if you sign up for their membership (just via phone number), you can collect points and/or receive discounts. Aside from the delicious treats, the staff members were friendly and were very quick! read more

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Ordered a delicious fruit dish from this location through Door Dash....It was a great fruit dish and I look forward to going to the physical location...but the dish I had was very scrumptious and I can't wait to go back and try some of their various options........ read more

This place is always so perfect in the summer when it is so hot and humid outside. I got the mango bowl that was absolutely delicious and it had pineapple with the coconut flakes to help with a little bit of crunch. Plus, if you're in a hurry, this is a perfect place because it's always so quick to pop in. read more

Playa Bowls - Mango Power - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Just finish enjoying the Goldie mango bowl priced at 14.51 with tax. While this is a bit more on the expensive side. I don't have any complaints as it was made fresh with little to no preservatives added. Service was quick. I was able to get in and seated before the official lunch crowd started coming in. Sidewalk Construction impacted outside seating however there seem to be 2 benches to enjoy which were taken. I will warn you- this is not a place to take calls of any sort as the music was on blast. For the music lovers-enjoy the variety of music & their fresh offerings. read more

Playa Bowls has excellent ingredients, menu options, and team members. I came into Playa Bowls with a local community event's bowl voucher and was thoroughly impressed with the interior decor. The space on Ninth Street is spacious and has great natural lighting. I also liked being greeted by the service member behind the counter. She took my order promptly and helped guide me through which free acai bowl to get with my voucher. Once I received my order, I took it to go, but I would totally come back just to sit inside the store and eat next time. I am impressed with the fresh mango and banana in the bowl. The second time I visited, I got a coconut cold brew beverage. I really enjoyed it and thought the drink wasn't too sweet. I will likely be back! read more

Playa Bowls - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Fun and knowledgeable staff. The atmosphere is clean and the wall menu is convenient. Good place for a sweet tooth. read more

Playa Bowls - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I'm obsessed with the açaí bowls here. I always end up ordering the same one which has been my favorite- pura vida. The fruit is always so fresh and abundant. The only downside is the price at $15 per bowl. read more

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This location is in a very busy part of basically the Duke campus. The store was hopping!!! The entire time we were there they had a flow of customers. The cashier said it had been like that all day, so this place is churning some good business. The bowls themselves appear to be one size & they have a lot of different types of bowls, juices & smoothies. We were there to check out their newly released passion fruit bowls & they were pretty good. The store itself was themed a bit like a beach store. read more

This is my fourth time at Playabowls over the last year... it's expensive, but the bowls are so good, I crave it and have to go back! Plus if you sign up for the loyalty program, there are frequently specials and coupons. The restaurant is perfect... adorably, brightly decorated with original art. It's perfectly clean. The food is always fresh and beautifully prepared, and I can tell the employees work hard. The wait times in-store can be long, so the last couple of times I have done online ordering. Both times I've arrived a few minutes after I got a message the order was ready, and it was not ready. Today, I arrived 10 min after my order was reported done, and it was only nearly done and sitting on the counter, apparently for some time, because it was partially melted. The way the store is set up, you can't interact with the employees near the pickup spot to let them know you're there. The pick up area has a very awkward feel... there is no waiting area near the pick up location, and I feel like I'm bothering someone to let them know I'm there, for a pickup. You have to stand in a narrow hallway with other waiting customers, and it feels like you're jumping the line to talk to an employee. Honestly it's enough to make me not go back, and find another place to get my bowls. :( I would not like to do that, since this place is otherwise great. A to-go pickup fridge near the front and moving order pickups to the dining area would seem to improve things for the customers. Hoping for better service next(last?) time back! read more

Such a warm, welcoming place to have a smoothie or bowl. They have a huge menu and you can get any kind of bowl with a lot of options. Plenty of street parking or you can park in the parking lot across the street. They offer inside and outdoor seating. I love how bright and colorful it is inside. Their prices are reasonable and the bowls are full and not too small. read more

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Love this place for healthy food. Great spot for nutritious juice and açaí bowls. Extremely friendly staff - kept the store open once for me. Thanks, Playa Bowls, Durham. read more

Absolutely amazing!! Ingredients were very fresh and the last bite was just as stacked with toppings as the first. Loved that if you are an indecisive person(like myself) you can choose two bases for your playa bowl. I chose a coconut and acai base and both were equally as good-- though I will say the coconut was VERY unique and very refreshing. Something of dreams honestly. Make sure to sign up with your phone number on the reward program because we saved a buck by doing so. :) CAN'T WAIT TO COME BACK!! read more

Playa Bowls - Seaside vibes!!!! - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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"Bowls, juice, and smoothies on Ninth Street" Let me preface my review by noting my son and I only had the smoothies here, so it's possible my rating would be a lot higher if we tried the bowls. We came on a HOT Saturday afternoon eager to get some smoothies. The line was short, and there were multiple tables in the restaurant-- all had emptied by just after we ordered. Many people walked in to pick things up as we waited-- presumably they ordered online. Positives: + Friendly service. Folks behind the counter were very nice. + Fresh ingredients. We saw them using fresh fruits in both of our orders. + Coconut milk -- great for us lactose-intolerant folks, and that often has a rich flavor. Negatives: - Wait time for in-person. Other reviews commented about the long wait-time, and it was odd waiting for about 15-20 minutes when there were no other customers. The staff were (understandably) prioritizing those who ordered online, but they eventually got to ours. - Very mild flavor. Maybe we should have ordered smoothies without banana? But both my smoothie and my son's (different flavors) were REALLY mild. Mine (aloha) had mango but I could barely taste it-- mostly tasted like banana. My son said he wasn't especially excited about his either-- also very mild. To be clear, this may also be that they didn't add a ton of sugar, so maybe this should be a positive? - A little pricey. The small was almost $9 before tax/ tip, and it was only 16 oz. Synopsis: Again, I hesitate to rate when I haven't had their signature item (the bowls), but I confess I probably wouldn't come back here to get a smoothie. Will re-review if/ when I get a bowl. read more

Sarahy The Durham location is fabulous. Not only are the bowls awesome, but the staff is friendly and welcoming. Special shout out to Sarahy for being so nice! read more

Great variety of bases for your bowl - of course açaí, also pitaya, coconut, mango. Pura vida was a hit. Their granola is a bit sweet for my taste. Appreciate that it is gluten free! read more

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It was my first time ever going to a Playa Bowls establishment and I am so happy that it was the Durham location. The store is clean, the atmosphere is very chill and the service is AMAZING! I had such a difficult time trying to decide what to order- (the menu is extensive in a good way), but Sophia was so enthusiastic and helped me decided to order the Mucho Mango bowl. The bowl size is a good portion and the ingredients are fresh. The sitting area is bright and clean and the music is great! I want to go back and try all the bowls on the menu now! read more

Another great spot in downtown Durham by Duke. With a bit of home in the south, we stopped by for bowls. As a Jersey Transplant we are excited to have this semi-close to home. We ordered 2 Açaí Bowls and a Pitaya Bowl and it was delish. read more

Playa Bowls - Pink Flamingo Pitaya Bowl - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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We visited Playa Bowls' location on 9th Street, which has a few seats inside if you want to enjoy your bowl there. We ordered a Beach Bum Bowl, one of their summer special items. The ingredients tasted fresh, but we felt like the base was a bit mild in flavor. Though we liked our bowl, it can get pretty pricey. Would recommend coming with one of the discount codes from their app! read more

Playa Bowls - Beach Bum Bowl - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I've thought about my Electric Mermaid bowl from Playa Bowls no less than 5x since going for the first time only 24 hours ago. It was delicious. Refreshing. Fresh. Cold. Healthy. All the good things. Eating it made me feel happy! The service was great too! If I lived closer to Playa Bowls then my pockets would definitely be in trouble. It's a small spot but if it's not busy then you can enjoy your bowl at a table while listening to their dope playlist. Can't wait to go back. read more

Playa Bowls - Electric Mermaid Pitaya Bowl - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Enjoyed our bowl today at playa the ingredients were fresh. It was refreshing. Great customer service and we would highly recommend if you like açaí read more

Playa Bowls - Nutella Acai Bowl with pineapple - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Visited Playa Bowls for the first time and was absolutely impressed by the variety of bowl, smoothie, and juice options! I'll admit, I can be a little indecisive, but I was expertly guided by the super friendly employees to select the Electric Mermaid bowl. On this absolutely grey February day, the fresh fruits, coconut flakes, honey, and granola brought COLOR into my life. This location has an additional base option--mango!--that isn't on their extensive menu, so I split that with the pitaya base for this bowl. I can't wait to come back and try some of the other base and bowl options; I was very much eyeing the chia pudding base option read more

The bowls are excellent! Everything is fresh and can be customized to exactly what you want. Each time we go there, the staff is friendly and welcoming. They always remember us and make us feel special. Sarahy is like a ray of sunshine, always happy and upbeat. So glad they came to Ninth Street! read more

Went in 15 minutes before closing to order a smoothie, watched the girl make the smoothie and noticed she never added the protein that is included in an already $10 smoothie. I tasted it to make sure I didn't just overlook her putting it in but it was not in there. When I asked if it was in there she said it was, even though I watched her make it and it was not. Also tried to order another smoothie and she refused to make it saying it was too late, even though there was still 10 minutes to closing. If you close at 9, then close at 9. Not 8:45. read more

Playa Bowls is a go-to spot for refreshing and healthy treats, especially if you're a fan of açaí bowls, smoothies, and fresh fruit. Vielka provided great customer service! read more

So bomb, Second time her and i would totally recommend, Its so nicely decorated and the mango bowl and acai bowl was really good read more

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Pricey compared to Jamba Juice. Açaí smoothie is pretty standard. Would maybe order something else more adventurous next time like a bowl. Inside is small and tight, someone's back was faced away from me with their chair basically touching my table. read more

Playa Bowls - Açaí energy smoothie - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I loved the atmosphere in this place. It was giving a beach vibe. The price of the bowls was a bit pricy, ranging from $10-14. It was good, but honestly, I could make it at home. None the less it was nice to try it out. Filled me up for my dinner and was satisfied. read more

Me and my coworkers order playa bowl several times a week and we hardly ever get our order! We order through Door Dash at around 8pm sometimes 8:30pm and they don't close until 9pm but when the driver gets there to pick up our order they won't let him in. And other times he gets there and they only give him one playa bowl and we paid for 4 read more

This playa bowls location taste exactly like your classic location. Everything was fresh, the granola was crunchy and the fruit was fresh. Even when our order was messed up they were super patient and were more than willing to get our order right. This location feels fresh, light, and airy. I am definitely excited that this Playa Bowl got added to the area. read more

Playa Bowls - Coco Berry -Add Pitaya- Remove Honey -Granola -Strawberries, Blueberries, Banana -Half Peanut Butter- Nutella - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Yummy, light, and fresh! The staff was kind and helpful. The menu is clearly displayed and explains all ingredients used.

Amazing food! The service was amazing. I had Payton serve me and she did an amazing job.

My first experience at Playa Bowls was a 1000/10 thanks to Blair! From the moment I walked in, Blair greeted me with a warm smile and was incredibly helpful in guiding me through the menu. She helped me pick the Pura Vida bowl with nutella. It was the best thing i've ever eaten! I will definitely be coming back again to try more things! read more

Yummy and nice service. I enjoyed the half chia pudding and half açaí bowl with banana and granola. Very yummy.

Took an hour for one bowl I was the only customer . The girl just kept washing her hands and changing her gloves instead of making the bowl refused to let the other workers help her or apologized. She purposely kept walking off and walking around . She didn't even say anything when she finished the order just dropped it on the counter and went to the back read more

Playa Bowls - Took a hour for one bowl and I was the only person there - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I love this place. I come at least once a week. Today was terrible. The young lady told Me she was a staff member short, however she stood there and watched me at the counter for 10 mins before coming to take my order. She was changing clothes behind the counter, and as soon as someone FINALLY showed up to help her she stoped mid bowl and left. I've never had poor service like I had today. I'm very disappointed in the service today. read more

I love playa bowls, but they take forever at this location and forget a lot of aspects of my order. I door-dashed a bowl and it didn't have any of the additions/changes I made. Also, my friend has a nut allergy and always orders in advance to mention that. When we go together to pick it up, I order my bowl at the cashier and it is always ready before my friend's order is ready. Another one of my friends with a nut allergy had an allergic reaction to the bowl even after specifying that she was allergic. Not happy. read more

Great Açaí bowl! I am Brazilian so I know a good quality açaí bowl and playa bowls is where it's at. I also tried the smoothie and it was very good. The service was also very good and efficient. Highly recommend it. read more