Great small bites. I recommend you trying the Elote dip it was AMAZING and perfect for sharing with…read moretwo or more friends! They have great drink specials for different days of the week! Very speedy service all of their bartenders are very sweet and will fix whatever drink to your liking The vibes are disco balls on the ceiling very open very Miami Beach vibes they have an indoor and an outdoor seating area not only that they have fireplaces. If you get a little too far from their heated porch area! The vibes just don't stop. They have an aesthetic fireplace in side as well as a fake tree in the middle beautiful for taking pictures Their bathrooms are adorable, but you might have to wait a little bit on a busy day. But this is the same problem with every bar. Very glad that they have more than one bathroom.

Stopped by the Velvet Hippo while out in downtown Durham. When you arrive parking can be a bit…read moretricky in this area as you'll need to find street parking or park in a nearby lot. When you walk in you'll need to either take the elevator or stairs up to the third floor. Once inside the bar you'll feel like you've been transported to an upscale, tropical bar. To order you'll need to walk up to the bar to place your order. I ordered the Hot Girl Summer (Olmeca Altos Reposado, fresh watermelon, Gran Gala orange liqueur, house-made habanero syrup, lime, salt half rim) which was so good. I also ordered a cheetahs do it in the dark (Astral Añejo tequila, Licor 43, Caffè Borghetti liqueur, espresso, orange twist) which was also excellent. I'd recommend walking out to the rooftop if it isn't too hot. There are several tables and the views of the city are nice. Definitely will come back to the velvet hippo next time I'm in Durham.

Came here for lunch on a Sunday. Did a flight and had some lunch. The staff were nice. Not many…read morepeople in there. Nice location and nice bar. Plenty of seating. The apple flavor whiskey was not good. Too syrupy and the peach flavor is insanely sweet; may be good in a mixed drink. The sweet potato was good. I could sip that easily. For food I had deviled eggs and brisket nachos. The deviled eggs weren't that good. The nachos tasted good and a nice portion. Though it's not bad, it also wasn't good. Glad I tried it off my list, but won't be back.

We came here on a whim and at the recommendation of my friend. First off, the aesthetics were…read morepleasing and we entered to the sound of live jazz filling the space. The acoustics were amazing and it added to the ambiance. There wasn't a hostess so we weren't sure how seating worked until we were approached by a someone working there who advised us that we could sit anywhere. While the ambiance was pleasant, the literal chairs that we were sitting in were falling apart and actually hazardous to the point that we advised the manager that the chairs had dangerously wobbly legs. Our server seemed pleasant and we ordered wings, a chicken sandwich, the Main Street old fashioned and the Ehh what's up doc. The drinks took a while to come out but they were delicious. Our food on the other hand took about 40 minutes to come out. The menu indicated that my sandwich came with kettle cooked chips but l didn't expect that it would be a literal bag of chips. I actually expected the chips to be made in house so it would be good if the menu actually said "bag of chips". Our server stated that the delay was because there was a large order that came into the kitchen but the large party that was there was actually leaving and didn't leave with a large food order. As it turns out, the food that came out before ours belonged to our server and her friends who were eating at another table close to the bar. We declined the free drink we were offered as an apology and had beignets to-go instead but being lied to about the reason for the wait on what appeared to be a slow night was unacceptable. Do better.

Kingfisher is the cutest cocktail lounge located in downtown Durham. I struggled to find it at…read morefirst, but it's down the stairs. The service was great, drinks were delicious, and the aesthetic make for a great night! Also, the music was enjoyable and at the perfect volume. I will definitely be back!

Another disappointing stop on our GNO. I had been looking forward to this speakeasy vibe with…read moreinventive drinks...but ugh. We got here at 8pm and wanted to sit outside but they told us there was no service out there since it could start raining at any time. It was not busy at all so we went back in and got seated in an admittedly very cool round velvet sofa. All of the decor (that you could see) was really fun and I liked it a lot. However, it was extremely dark inside and it made me wonder exactly what they were trying to hide. Nina was out server and she was really fun. We ordered a round from her and waited. And waited. She finally returned TWENTY MINUTES later with our drinks. By that time we asked for our check because that was ridiculous. I had a Paloma and it was disgusting. Bottom shelf tequila. And then we got the bill...I knew from yelp that we were going to have automatic gratuity but it was $70 for 4 drinks. SEVENTY. Do they do automatic gratuity because it takes them 20 minutes to make some drinks? Yeah, I'm not coming back here.

As a first time visitor, the ambience was a whole vibe. I enjoyed the music, seating, service, and…read moreexperience. The bartender made a special drink for my mother and me. We are pleased and will return again. Thumbs up for me. The lounge was not smoky or loud. The location is convenient, and is central to downtown stores and restaurants in Durham, NC.

My best friend and I came here to jointly celebrate our birthday. You cannot beat the vibe in here…read more All the artwork was hysterical and the rose wall was absolutely stunning. Actually, all of the decor was stunning. I absolutely adored it. It was actually relatively early on a Saturday evening when we came so it wasn't super busy. It was also the Duke-Carolina game so maybe it was less busy because of that? Although the game was on at the bar. I feel awful, but I don't remember the names of the drinks I had, but I do know that they were excellent. There are a few places downtown that sell pricey cocktails that sound good but are so disappointing when you drink them. I had three different cocktails here and they were all really good. I look forward to coming back here! (We parked in the parking deck at Mangum, and it was a very short walk.)

Grabbed a drink here recently and had an OK time…read more First, parking was easy in a nearby garage. My wife and I came at opening so the bar was completely empty initially, but it filled up by the time we left. There was a pretty impressive array of comfortable seats, although they looked a little dusty to me. When we chose our initial seats, the bartender came over, apologized, and told us that the chairs we had chosen were only for parties of 3 or 4 :) Kind of strange but whatever. We chose a different set of chairs and ordered our beverages. Honestly, it took a very long time to get our drinks. They were pretty well made but were also extremely expensive (all of the cocktails were around $17 to $19). Other than the delay, the bartender was nice and did a pretty good job throughout our time there. The venue also served food but we didn't partake this time. Overall, not a terrible experience or anything, but the high prices and slow service make me a little hesitant to return.

This cozy bar & lounge set between the American Tobacco Campus and the DPAC is a great place to…read moreunwind and chill. Got a show coming up? You can come here for a pre-show drink. There is waiter service at the lounge tables. I enjoy the bar service: plenty of seats and friendly bartenders. Old Bull Apartments residents have it best. They can hang out here, steps from their homes.

I thought my visit here was great! I sat at the bar and the bartenders were wonderful. I started…read morewith the coconut shrimp and I absolutely cannot stop thinking about it. It was absolutely one of my favorite dishes I've ever had. I got the spam burger for my entrée and I thought it came with fries and salad but the bartender kind of confused me about it. Otherwise I felt like it was a little dry, but otherwise he was decent. Then I ended with the Keylime pie and I still think about it to this day. It was absolutely one of my favorite Keylime pies I've ever had.

Lovely vibe. Fantastic cocktails. Excellent service. Delicious burger. The shoestring fries are…read morekiller.

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.

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!

If you're looking for a place that will make you a good, strong classic cocktail this is it. They…read morehave a rotation seasonal menu but don't expect the theatrics. It will be delicious and balanced.

Came here on new year's eve with some friends! The ambiance is great. Nicely lit and the bar is big…read moreand beautiful. We all ordered the seasonal holiday drinks and were pleased. Service was good. At first we had to sit outside because inside was full, but tables opened up quickly. Nice place to dress up and get flavorful drinks!

If I could give this place 100 stars, I would! From the…read moreoutside, you would never guess what awaits inside. It looks like a small neighborhood spot, but the moment you walk through the doors, you're immediately welcomed by a charming bakery counter filled with fresh pastries, coffee, and sandwiches. Then, as you make your way to the restaurant in the back, the entire experience transforms into something truly special. The ambiance is absolutely stunning--warm, inviting, and thoughtfully designed. I honestly spent half the meal just taking it all in because every detail was beautiful. Now, let's talk about the food... phenomenal doesn't even begin to describe it. Everything was incredibly fresh, beautifully presented, and absolutely delicious. Our brunch came out surprisingly fast without sacrificing quality, and every bite was bursting with flavor. The service was equally impressive. Everyone was welcoming, attentive, and genuinely seemed to enjoy making sure guests had a great experience. You could tell there was pride in both the food and the hospitality. If you're anywhere near Durham, this restaurant is an absolute must-visit. Whether you're stopping in for coffee and a pastry, grabbing a sandwich, or sitting down for brunch, you won't be disappointed. I'll definitely be back, and this has quickly become one of my favorite restaurants in the area. Five stars isn't enough--this place deserves 100.

I have frequently gone here as it's my favorite place to grab curry mussels. With that being said I…read morecame here today to celebrate my girls birthday and it was one to remember for all the wrong reasons. 3/4 of us ordered the same exact meal and I never received my dish. By the time I was able to waive down the waiter , the table was finished eating and they brought out my meal 25-30 min after the fact. I was hopeful that management would own the mistake, but when my bill came nothing was comped. I had to raise my concern with a waitress and she got a manager. Frankly I am disappointed all around by the experience. "Worse birthday ever" was stated a few times by the birthday girl so idk if I'll be coming back. If I'm going to spend $200 on a meal I at least want to eat.