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    Ramblers

    4.6 (25 reviews)
    ModerateWine Bars, Beer Bar
    Closed 12:00 pm - 11:00 PM

    Ramblers Photos

    RAMBLERS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Intimate
    Good for groups

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    Games inside the bottle shop: two dart boards.
    Rose L.

    Durham's newest bottle shop, Ramblers, competes with long standing Sam's Quick Shop as well as a newer establishment Beer Durham, but Ramblers has a long way to go to become more than a neighborhood go to shop. Located on the corner of the the parking garage of Village West, Ramblers is a small, but open space, with lots of natural lighting. A couple bar seats surround a small bar with six tap handles. Along the walls of the bottle shop you'll find eight metal shelving units filled with a good selection of bottles. The shop also includes a small cooler with bottles and cases to go (everything from Coors Light to local bevies and a few in between. The bottle shop lacks prices on all bottles currently and beers are served in insurance labeled wine glasses. You might have the lights turned off on you during the afternoon, not a problem with all the natural lighting, but I definitely got the feel that they are looking to save money whenever possible. Overall, Ramblers feels like a neighborhood bottle shop, geared at residents living directly downtown, but not fancy enough or with a competitive enough selection to draw in tourists or regulars of other competing shops in the area.

    Burial Blade & Sheath
    Olivia K.

    Ramblers is right across the street from my apartment - I love the location. The owners always have a a varied selection on tap. They have only six taps but it's clear a lot of effort goes into selecting what beers to have on in order to keep it balanced. The beers are always great quality beers (example - today they have Burial and Mikkeller on two of the taps) and there's always something I want to drink. They also have cans and bottles of beer and wine bottles. The wine is very good - the owners clearly know a lot about both beer and wine. The space is clean and large enough that you never feel overcrowded. The layout works very well. It's also attractive inside with a nice wooden bar, brick walls, many huge windows, and beautiful plants. There are often food trucks around but if there aren't, Ramblers is located in a great location to order delivery or bring takeout from one of the many delicious restaurants in downtown Durham. The staff are always very pleasant - they'll talk to you if you want or they leave you alone when you're busy. I definitely recommend this bottle shop to anyone in Durham.

    Puppy play at Ramblers
    Jason J.

    Great place to hang out! Every time I've walked into Ramblers the owner, Justin, has been working. He's great at what he does and is extremely knowledgable about beers. You can tell he's excited about his new business and it's great to see another locally owned, independent business start up. I like this place because it's low key, laid back, and they carry some great beers. Not to mention its pet friendly! There are 6 rotating beers on draft, a cooler, and racks of different beers to choose from. If you walk in, check out the upcoming events on the chalkboard. Usually they have several breweries lined up to do tastings. There's also food trucks there most days. Been there 5 or 6 times since they've opened and each time has been great. I highly recommend making a visit.

    Great selection

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    Ask the Community - Ramblers

    Review Highlights - Ramblers

    It's located right in a parking garage over in West Village - a real neighborhood bar feel.

    Mentioned in 2 reviews

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    Killer Queen

    Killer Queen

    4.9
    (33 reviews)
    0.5 mi

    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.

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Killer Queen
    Killer Queen

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    The Wine Feed

    The Wine Feed

    4.6
    (57 reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $$

    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
    French toast
    French toast
    Entrance from the back room
    Entrance from the back room
    The Wine Feed

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    Liberty & Plenty Distillery

    Liberty & Plenty Distillery

    4.8
    (16 reviews)
    0.4 mi

    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!

    Really fun cocktail bar- that specializes in rums! First impression- I called ahead to see if our…read moredog was allowed to sit on the outside patio, and they told me not only is she allowed, but we aren't allowed to come without her. That response will get a smile every time. Super dog-friendly, to say the least, both outside and inside. Outside has several tables under a covered area, and inside has a few couches (with tiny tables) and a long bar you can sit at. We've been a few times now, and the service is super friendly and helpful, every time. It's small and intimate inside, but we never have a problem finding a seat! I love that they have snacks you can help yourself to, in airtight jars at the bar (peanut butter filled pretzels, sour worms, etc). Also important to note- the inside is NOT air conditioned. We stopped in on a HOT day, and it's brutal inside, with cloth couches and just one small fan. Love this bar, all of their cocktails (wine available too), and all of the staff! Will be back (a lot)!!

    Photos
    Liberty & Plenty Distillery
    Liberty & Plenty Distillery
    Damn good Espresso Martini

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    Damn good Espresso Martini
    Alley Twenty Six

    Alley Twenty Six

    4.3
    (433 reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $$

    We had an extremely memorable experience at Alley Twenty Six, in large part to our amazing server,…read moreAnthony! We made a reservation for a Saturday night dinner and he made sure we were well taken care of all night. We started the night with their James Bears award winning cocktails, and every drink we ordered was a hit! Spiced strawberry mule, Sunset Sipper, and the table favorite: Earl Please. The latter two drinks were mocktails and they were still standouts! As for the food, the Alley burger was perfectly cooked: juicy patty paired with truffle cheese and simple toppings that really highlighted the burger itself. And shoestring fries are always a good choice with a delicious burger. Ricotta gnocchi was also very good. As our server Anthony said, let's get this burger nominated!

    We hav been here twice and gotten a burger each time. Foie burger is the way to go. Hands down one…read moreof the best burgers I've had. The "wings" were absolutely killer with the perfect sweet and spicy flavor and that dipping sauce with them is out of this world. I would get the burrata again too, the only miss was the gnocchi and I say that but I ate every bite... so it's old a miss compared to everything else. Service was top notch and the drinks are delicious. I want to go get a drink at the funky little ally window one night. Go here! Get the burger! You will not regret it

    Photos
    Pimento cheese & pepper jelly
    Pimento cheese & pepper jelly
    Pimento cheese on baguette
    Pimento cheese on baguette
    House-made tonic soda mocktail

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    House-made tonic soda mocktail

    Ramblers - wine_bars - Updated August 2026

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